Ali Smith was born in Inverness in 1962. She is the author of several novels and short story collections including The Accidental, Hotel World, How to Be Both and the Seasonal Quartet, the latter described by The Guardian as masterful works of deeply moral writing. She has been four times shortlisted for the Booker Prize, has won the Goldsmiths Prize, Orwell Prize, Costa Best Novel Award and the Womens Prize. Ali Smith lives in Cambridge. This event is held in partnership with The Highland Book Prize, with support from the William Grant Foundation.