Michael Pedersen (writer)

Pedersen started writing in Scots for his Portobello, Edinburgh high school magazine.{{cite web|url=https://forwardartsfoundation.org/in-conversation-with-michael-pedersen-2/ |title=In Conversation with Michael Pedersen |date=16 July 2024|publisher=Forward Arts Foundation}} He studied Law at Durham University (2002–2005) and lived in London for several years before returning to Scotland and turning to writing and publishing full-time.{{cite web |title=Class Notes: November 2023 |url=https://www.durham.ac.uk/alumni/community/class-notes/2023/ |website=Durham University |access-date=12 January 2025 |language=en-gb |date=2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/books/features/whats-he-playing-at-michael-pedersen-explains-himself |title=What's He Playing At? Michael Pedersen Explains Himself |date=1 October 2013 |author=Rushton, Ryan|work=The Skinny}}{{cite web|url=https://list.co.uk/news/42338/michael-pedersen-you-can-roleplay-with-grief |title=Michael Pedersen: 'You can roleplay with grief'|date=19 July 2022|author=Sawers, Claire|work=The List}} Pedersen published two chapbooks before compiling his first full poetry collection, Play with Me, in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://dura-dundee.org.uk/2015/08/25/play-with-me/ |title=Play with Me Review |date=25 August 2015|author=Cruickshank, Gavin | work=Dundee University Review of the Arts}}

In 2010, Pedersen co-founded with poet Kevin Williamson the Edinburgh collective Neu! Reekie!. Through it they produced some 200 showcases for poetry, music and arts, and published writings and poetry compilations. Pedersen continued to be heavily involved with Neu! Reekie! until its winding down in 2022.

Pedersen won the John Mather Trust Rising Star of Literature grant in 2014 and was awarded the Robert Louis Stevenson fellowship in 2015, which allows for a residency at Hôtel Chevillon International Arts Centre at Grez-sur-Loing, France.{{cite web|url=https://poetryschool.com/articles/micheal-penderson-how-i-did-it-the-cat-prince/ |title=Michael Pedersen – How I Did It 'The Cat Prince' |author=Pedersen, Michael|date=15 August 2023|work=Poetry School}}

Pedersen had developed a close friendship with musician and illustrator Scott Hutchison. In 2017 he released his second poetry collection, Oyster, accompanied by illustrations from Hutchison. The publication led to joint performances of poetry and music across the UK and in South Africa.

{{cite podcast |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/michael/id1592481006?i=1000679806930 |title=Promenade - Season 3 Episode 2 - Michael |publisher=The Shift |host=Gaffney, Andy |date=9 December 2024 |access-date=24 December 2024}} 2017 also saw the establishment of the Cold Turkey evenings around the festive season in December, which include performances from Pedersen, Hollie McNish, Withered Hand and special guests. That year's show featured Hutchison.{{cite web|url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/books/features/michael-pedersen-scott-hutchison-on-oyster |title=Michael Pedersen & Scott Hutchison on Oyster |date=7 August 2017|author=Mulley, Claire|work=The Skinny}}

The pair's performances continued into 2018, but the tour was cut short by Hutchison's death by suicide in May 2018, shortly before the two were due to make an appearance at the Ullapool Book Festival. Pedersen, McNish and Withered Hand performed at the 2019 festival as a memorial to Hutchison.{{cite web|url=https://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/surprises-in-store-for-bookworms-heading-for-ullapool-festival-176008/ |title=Eclectic line-up in store for bookworms as Ullapool festival reveals programme |date=21 March 2019|author=MacKenzie, Hector |work=Ross-Shire Journal}} Pedersen also performed at the Edinburgh International Book Festival leading a night titled "Good Grief!", where he and other performers discussed grief and healing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/media-gallery/item/michael-pedersen-presents-good-grief|title=Michael Pedersen presents Good Grief! - Media - EIBF|date=29 August 2021|publisher=Edinburgh International Book Festival}}

In mid-2018, Pedersen took up a writing residency at the Bill Drummond-owned Curfew Tower in Cushendall, Northern Ireland, where he began working on new material. It ended up the base for his next work, the prose book Boy Friends.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbmagazine.co.uk/editorialarchive/michaelpederson |title=Friendship and Loss: A Conversation with Michael Pederson |date=10 October 2022|author=Knowles, Madeleine |work=nb. Magazine}}

2022 saw the release of Boy Friends, an autobiographical work of prose dealing with male friendships, much of it regarding the kinship with Hutchison and dealing with his loss.{{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/culture/books/boy-friends-michael-pedersen-interview-frightened-rabbit/ |title=Platonic Ideals: Michael Pedersen On Boy Friends & Missing Scott Hutchison |date=2 July 2022|author=Inglis, Becca |work=The Quietus}}{{cite web|url=https://therumpus.net/2022/10/31/the-rumpus-talks-with-michael-pedersen/ |title=The Rumpus Talks with Michael Pedersen About the Beauty of Male Friendship |date=31 October 2022 |author=Perri, Shannon| work=The Rumpus}} The book received wide publicity and acclaim.{{cite web|url=https://booksfromscotland.com/2022/07/boy-friends-an-interview-with-michael-pedersen/ |title=Boy Friends: An Interview with Michael Pedersen |date=July 2022|publisher=BooksfromScotland}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jun/30/boy-friends-by-michael-pedersen-review-in-the-company-of-men |title=Boy Friends by Michael Pedersen review – in the company of men |date=30 June 2022|author=Barekat, Houman |work=The Guardian}}

In 2023, Pedersen released a new collection of poems, The Cat Prince & Other Poems, some of whom were written during the extensive work on Boy Friends.{{cite web|url=https://glasgowreviewofbooks.com/2023/08/06/not-given-but-gifted-4-poems-from-the-cat-prince-by-michael-pedersen/ |title=NOT GIVEN, BUT GIFTED: 4 poems from The Cat Prince by Michael Pedersen |date=6 August 2023|work=Glasgow Review of Books}} The poem "The Cat Prince" was shortlisted for the 2023 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem (Performed),{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/30/forward-prizes-for-poetry-add-new-award-for-performed-poems |title=Forward prizes for poetry add new award for performed poems |date=30 June 2023|author=Creamer, Ella|work=The Guardian}} and the book won Best Poetry at the Books Are My Bag Readers' Awards, run by the Booksellers Association.

In 2023 Pedersen was also announced as a two-year writer-in-residence at the University of Edinburgh.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/books/michael-pedersen-on-a-dramatic-semester-as-edinburgh-universitys-writer-in-residence-4908409 |title=Michael Pedersen on a 'dramatic' semester as Edinburgh University's writer in residence

|date=13 December 2024|author=Pedersen, Michael|work=The Scotsman}}

In July 2024, Pedersen was announced as the new Edinburgh Makar, taking over the role from Hannah Lavery.{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/michael-pedersen-elated-and-electrified-after-being-lined-up-as-edinburghs-next-poet-laureate-4723016 |title=Michael Pedersen 'elated and electrified' after being lined up as Edinburgh's next poet laureate |date=31 July 2024|author=Ferguson, Brian |work=The Scotsman}}

Pedersen is set to release his debut novel, Muckle Flugga, in May 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/faber-acquires-rights-to-edinburgh-makar-michael-pedersens-debut-novel |title=Faber acquires rights to Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen's debut novel |date=23 September 2024|author=Snow, Maia|work=The Bookseller}}

Pedersen grew up in Portobello, Edinburgh and has an older sister. His partner is poet Hollie McNish.{{cite web|url=https://www.shakespeareandcompany.com/podcasts/on-friendship-with-hollie-mcnish-and-michael-pedersen |title=On Friendship, with Hollie McNish and Michael Pedersen - Podcasts |date=29 February 2024|author=Biles, Adam| work=Shakespeare & Company Paris}}

• Play with Me (poetry, 2013, Polygon)
• Oyster (poetry, 2017, Polygon, with Scott Hutchison)
• Boy Friends (prose, 2022, Faber)
• The Cat Prince & Other Poems (poetry, 2023, Corsair)
• Muckle Flugga (novel, upcoming - 2025, Faber)

{{reflist|2}}

• {{Instagram|michaelpedersenoyster}}
• [https://edwebprofiles.ed.ac.uk/profile/michael-pedersen Profile page at the University of Edinburgh]

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Category:1984 births

Category:21st-century Scottish poets

Category:21st-century Scottish writers

Category:People from Portobello, Edinburgh

Category:Scottish male poets

Category:Writers from Edinburgh

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of University College, Durham