Donald S Murray, recently described in a review as a gallivanting citizen of the universe, is from Ness in the Isle of Lewis. Now living in Shetland, his work includes non-fiction, short stories, drama, poetry the latter including Achanalt which won the Callum MacDonald award and novels such as As the Women Lay Dreaming (Saraband) which won the Paul Torday Award and was shortlisted for others. His play Sequamur has been chosen as a text for Higher English by the SQA. His latest novel, to be discussed at the Festival, has been linked to various musical events, including one at Celtic Connections, and is The Salt and the Flame.