A L Kennedy

A L Kennedy is a Dundee-born writer of novels, short stories and non-fiction. She taught Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews and now works the same magic at the University of Warwick, where she is an associate professor. Her back catalogue includes Everything You Need (1999), Day (2007) – which won a bevy of awards including both the Costa and Saltire Book of the Year – and What Becomes, her 2009 collection of intimate short stories. A L (her website claims that these initials stand for ‘Almond Ladybits’) is also a blogger for the Guardian and a critically-acclaimed stand-up comedian whose strikingly funny deadpan wit is always a key attraction at her Book Festival events. The Guardian described her as ‘radiantly well-scrubbed-looking, with a big, warm, enthusiastic manner’ – to which Kennedy replied: ‘must have been an off day’. In the Independent, Katy Guest spoke to Kennedy about her work and life. You can also watch her speaking at An Evening with A L Kennedy, discussing her work on YouTube, and talking at Central Reference Library in Edinburgh.