Isla Dewar

(born 1951 -) Edinburgh

Isla Dewar now lives in the coastal town of Crail in the East Neuk of Fife with her husband Bob, a political cartoonist. They have two sons.

Prior to writing and publishing her novels Isla wrote articles for newspapers and magazines. She took a long time to finally pluck up the courage to send her first novel to an agent, but within a week she had been signed up and the first publisher who saw the manuscript offered her a two book deal. Her first book, Keeping Up With Magda, was published in 1995. Dewar found greater success with her second novel, Women Talking Dirty (1996), which was turned into a film starring Helena Bonham Carter. She has also contributed to the collection Scottish Girls About Town.

Isla Dewar has also written for children: the picture book Rosie's Wish and the young adult novel Walking with Rainbows.

Isla continues to write at home in Fife. Her latest novel, The Consequences of Marriage, was published in August 2006.

Breaking Out
Briggsy's family travels with the fairground and when he turns up at Minnie's school, Minnie knows he's not like the other boys. Although not everyone welcomes the travellers, Briggsy's passion for life ensures that the time Minnie spends with him is going to change her life forever.
The Cherry Sundae Company
You have to bide your time when you live a life of crime. That's what we discovered when we founded The Cherry Sundae Company. It seemed to us there was only so much money in the world and some people had too much. Others hadn't enough. You could say we were vigilantes.
The Consequences Of Marriage
When James McElroy reads Bibi Saunders' advert for a lodger, he pictures a glamorous young landlady with whom he will have a pleasant, bantering relationship. In fact Bibi is a much older woman, once beautiful, now wise, and still full of 'joie de vivre'.
Dancing In A Distant Place
When teacher Iris Chisholm arrives in the tiny Highland village, she's still in a state of shock - not just from her husband's death, but from the massive debts he concealed from her. The locals are heartened by her support for the children of her school, but shocked by her feisty approach to life.
Getting Out Of The House
Nora was devastated when her mother, Maisie, told her she preferred her older daughter, Cathryn. Now, Nora lives happily in Edinburgh. But when Maisie's world falls apart, she and Cathryn think it obvious that Nora should be the one to pick up the pieces.
Giving Up On Ordinary
Cleaner Megs Williams spars constantly with her mother, brings up her 3 children single-handed, and drinks away her troubles with her friend Lorraine in a nightclub. But Megs isn't content with her life, and decides it's time for change.
It Could Happen To You
Ever since she can remember, Rowan has cherished a burning ambition to travel the world. Now living a metropolitan life in London, she is about to return to the small Scottish town where she grew up.
Keeping Up With Magda
This first novel brings to life the tiny Scottish fishing village of Mareth, and Magda, a tousle-haired, funny and utterly shameless fortysomething.
Rosie's Wish
Rosie wants the real Christmas, like they have in films. One day she finds Mrs Hawthorn's purse in the street. When she returns it, Mrs Hawthorn gives Rosie a wish from her garden.
Secrets Of A Family Album
This story focuses on several generations of one family during one year of their lives. At the heart of the novel is Lily, sister of Marie and Rory, wife of Art, daughter of Mattie and John and granddaughter of Grandpa.
Two Kinds Of Wonderful
Roz committed the ultimate sin of motherhood - she left her children behind when she couldn't stand another day living with her obsessive husband Matthew. Years later, trying to rebuild the relationship, her daughter is unforgiving.
Walking With Rainbows
Minnie is fascinated by the unusual Briggsy. He shares with her his passion for cooking, the stars and his talent for buying and selling things. But his family works in the fairground, so he never lives anywhere for long. This is a story about growing up, friendship and learning about life.
The Woman Who Painted Her Dreams
Madeline Green adores her father, he is her hero. When he dies Madeline is still in her teens. She stumbles forward into life with one burning ambition - to paint. Seeking release she begins to paint her wild dreams.
Women Talking Dirty
From the author of Keeping up with Madga this novel tells of the lives and loves of two friends, Ellen Quinn and Cora O'Brien. The two of them still have plenty to learn about life, but at least if something goes wrong, there's someone to talk to.

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Isla Dewar

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