Award-winning author Graeme Armstrong has joined New College Lanarkshire’s film and TV team for an inspirational discussion.
The Airdrie-born writer’s debut novel The Young Team is currently being adapted for television by Synchronicity Films.
It follows the journey of teenager Azzy Williams from joining a local gang into adulthood.
During a wide-ranging conversation hosted by NCL lecturer Maureen Cuestas Rincon, Graeme shared his thoughts on publishing, public speaking and the importance of storytelling as testimony, recounting candidly his own experiences of gang culture and addiction.
He said: “It was testimony. I went through all that and I want to tell people about it. I love when I get messages from young people – whether it’s kids, whether it’s prisoners or whether it’s anybody – who say that it has had an impact.
“It feels like vindication that all the suffering and struggling to do it was worth it. It makes me feel better – it’s like a healing thing.”
Graeme recalled how reading Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting at 16 was the catalyst for applying to study English at the University of Stirling.
He spoke of the importance of education in his life, and how he has applied to return to university for a PhD.
Graeme also revealed that in the seven years it took to get his first book published by Picador, he received almost 300 rejections.
The online discussion was organised by lecturer Kim Beveridge at the college's Cumbernauld campus as part of the film and TV team’s regular programme of guest speakers.
Kim said: “Graeme has emerged as an authentic new voice in Scottish literature and his story will resonate with many of our own demographic of students who face numerous barriers to education.
“As a department, we encourage the students to explore their own culture within the work they make and use their creative and digital skills to empower their communities, and Graeme’s story is a fantastic example of the power of storytelling.”
Student Sarah Stables, who studies HNC creative industries: television, said: “Having enjoyed the guest speaker slots so far, I was really keen to listen to Graeme’s discussion and get an insight into his thought process as an author moving towards the TV industry.
“It was refreshing to listen to someone who has not only turned his life around for the better, but is carving a career for himself in the creative arts to amplify voices like his own.
“Getting the opportunity to listen to Graeme talk about his life, creative experiences and being unapologetically himself was really emboldening for me, and I’m looking forward to following his work in the future thanks to this introduction through the course.”
Lecturer Maureen Cuestas Rincon, who hosted the discussion, added: “Graeme is a very conscious mind who challenges perceptions through the very words he uses. He is a very inspiring speaker and his commitment to education shines through his authenticity.
“The student feedback has already been overwhelmingly positive and we’re looking forward to developing an ongoing relationship with Graeme.”
The interview with Graeme Armstrong is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFYl4usI1F4
To find out more, visit their website https://www.nclanarkshire.ac.uk/courses/film-and-tv
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