Rodge Glass
(1978 – present) - Glasgow
Rodge Glass is originally from Cheshire where he had a Jewish upbringing of sorts, with a sortie to a Catholic school and some time spent at a Kibbutz in Israel. He then attended Strathclyde University before embarking on the famous M.Litt in Creative Writing at Glasgow University, where he was tutored by James Kelman and Janice Galloway.
Glass spent a year back in England before deciding to return to his spiritual home, Glasgow. His first novel, No Fireworks, took three years to write before Faber and Faber published it in 2005.
While studying at Glasgow University Glass became close to one of his tutors, Alasdair Gray, the Scottish writer and artist, and became his assistant. This relationship led to Glass being commissioned by Bloomsbury to write a biography of Gray, which is due for release in 2008. The work on this book will go towards his PhD, which he is undertaking at Glasgow University.
In the meantime he is just about to have his second novel published, Hope for Newborns. He writes book reviews and articles for The Herald and the Scotsman and has written for the Big Issue and City Life magazines in Manchester.
- Hope For Newborns
After serving in the British Army, Lewis's grandfather founded the Victory Barber Shop in Manchester in 1945. But three generations later the shop is being attacked by anti-war protesters and Lewis isn't sure what side he's on any more. Then an invitation arrives to join the charity Hope for Newborns. - No Fireworks
Abe is a 61-year-old alcoholic with a Henry VIII fixation going through his third divorce. When he starts receiving letters from his dead mother, Evelyn, he is thrown into an identity crisis. His grand-daughter is expelled from school and the pair embark on a quest to work out what Evelyn is trying to impart.
Bibliography
- No Fireworks - 2005
- Hope for Newborns - 2008