Stewart Conn was born in Glasgow, grew up in Aryshire and for many years has lived in Edinburgh shere, until 1992 he was based as the head of BBC Scotland's radio drama department. In 2002 he was appointed the capital's first makar, or poet laureate. His poetry has been widely anthologised and translated. He has received awards from, amonc others, the Scottish Arts Council, the Society of Authors and the Poetry Book Society. Besides regularly appearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival he has participated in poetry festivals from Aberdeen to Zagreb. His latest poetry collections are 'Ghosts at Cockcrow', Bloodaxe Books (ISBN 1852246863) and 'The Loving-Cup', Mariscat Press (ISBN 0946588430).