Karen Campbell - This Bright Life

For the latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast Ali caught up with writer Karen Campbell to talk about her latest novel This Bright Life, which will be published later this month with Canongate Books.

Karen gives a synopsis of the novel before breaking down the three central characters of Gerard, Margaret and Claire and their role in events, why it had to be set in Glasgow, and, more widely, the importance of place.

The two then talk about Karen's novels more generally (this is her ninth), the themes and ideas which interest her, writing about people who all too rarely appear on the page, and how she has changed as a writer over time. 

There is also a conversation about other Scottish novels, Lewis Grassic Gibbon and Hugh MacDiarmid, and the notable impact of, and response to, her previous novel Paper Cup. It's always a pleasure to talk to Karen, and with This Bright Life one of SWH!'s Ten Books for 2025 it was a privilege to be able to discuss it in such detail.

Full details, including all the ways to listen, are over at scotswhayhae.com