Victoria MacKenzie

Welcome

I am a fiction writer, poet and essayist based in Scotland. I teach creative writing and offer one-to-one creative mentoring – see my teaching page for more information and do get in touch via the contact page if you’re interested in working with me.

My first novel, For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain, was published by Bloomsbury in 2023. The novel explores the lives of two medieval mystics, Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe, who wrote the first known books in English by women. My second novel is about the Victorian art critic and social reformer John Ruskin and will be published by Bloomsbury in 2025.

Books

For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain

In the year of 1413, two women meet for the first time in the city of Norwich.

Margery has left her fourteen children and husband behind to make her journey. Her visions of Christ – which have long alienated her from her family and neighbours, and incurred her husband’s abuse – have placed her in danger with the men of the Church, who have begun to hound her as a heretic.

Julian, an anchoress, has not left Norwich, nor the cell to which she has been confined, for twenty-­three years. She has told no one of her own visions – and knows that time is running out for her to do so.

The two women have stories to tell one another. Stories about girlhood, motherhood, sickness, loss, doubt and belief; revelations more powerful than the world is ready to hear. Their meeting will change everything.

Teaching

I’m an experienced creative writing tutor, having tutored for the Creative Writing Summer School at the University of St Andrews for ten years and for the Open College of the Arts  for eight years. I now work freelance, offering one-to-one creative writing mentoring services, so whether you’re a  beginner looking to get started with creative writing, or have a piece almost ready to submit to agents/editors that you’d like to polish, I would be delighted to work with you.

Readings and Media Appearances

Events and readings for 2024 tbc very soon!

For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain has been abridged for Radio 4 and will be read on Easter Saturday (30th March) 2.45 – 4pm.

Previously I have read at many book festivals and literary events including the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Wigtown Book Festival, Outwith Festival, the National Centre for Writing (Norwich), the Ullapool Book Festival, The Scottish Poetry Library, Topping & Company Bookshop (St Andrews and Ely), Lighthouse Books (Edinburgh), The New College Festival of Books & Belief (University of Edinburgh), The University of Oxford and MTNS MADE Creative Salon in Katoomba, Australia.