Do you like reading or writing about the sea?
A local marine biologist is inviting writers of all levels of experience to attend a series of 10 workshops sponsored by Culture Vannin.
Starting next Saturday 14 September, each session will run from 10am-4pm and will feature themes of global ocean conservation.
Siobhán Fletcher caught up with Dr Fiona Gell in Ramsey to find out more.
Perfect. Okay, so can you introduce yourself for me first of all? My name is Keena Gail and I'm a marine biologist and writer. And so we're here in Ramsey today. We're down at the beach, probably here in the background there, because you've got an exciting series of workshops coming up. Can you tell me a little bit about what you've got planned? So I've got a series of 10 workshops coming up which are each going to focus on one of the Isle of Man's Intial and Marine Nature Reserve. So we have a network of 10 Intial and Marine Nature reserves. And they're so special, but and Daffa in the matter of whether it's just a lot of work highlighting all the special things they've got. But I really wanted a chance to bring together creative writing, which is a passion of mine, with the wonders that are in each of these marine nature reserves. So each workshop is a whole day and it will focus on learning about the marine nature reserve. And each workshop will have a special kind of featured species of habitat. And then there'll be an opportunity to do different writing exercises and to use the the amazing sea and marine life we've got around the Isle of Man as an inspiration for creative writing. Perfect. So why, you talked about linking the two, really linking the kind of the science and the and the unique environments we have here with that creative side. Why do you want to do that? What sort of inspired you to do it? And you mentioned you like creative writing yourself. Yeah, so I've always loved writing. And then just a few years ago, I had the opportunity to actually sit down and write about the marine environment of the Isle of Man. So I did get to combine my two passions and say I wrote my book Spring Tides. And I really enjoyed that so much in terms of being able to take the experiences I'd be really lucky to have like diving down into the sea bed of the Isle of Man and spending a lot of time in the shore and also going out on boats. And so that gave me the opportunity to to write, which I really enjoyed doing. And also to concentrate and celebrate the amazing marine life we have around the Isle of Man. And I enjoyed so much rather than writing in a scientific way, which I was used to actually having the opportunity to write creatively about the sea. And that's one of the things that inspired the workshops, because it's a great thing to be able to focus on to do creative writing, because it's just so much there in terms of the beauty of it, the interest of it, the kind of quirkiness of it. And also, you know, the kind of bigger issues around conservation and climate change. So it brings in so many things that I'm really passionate about into something which I hope will interest a lot of people in different ways. We mentioned your book and we mentioned that sort of thing. So what's your background then in terms of the sea and in terms of, you know, here on the Isle of Man? So I trained as a marine biologist and worked on small islands around the world on marine protected areas and how you can protect areas of the sea that benefit the marine life, but also benefit fishermen and local communities. So I got the opportunity to come back and be the marine conservation officer for the Isle of Man government, and that allowed me to work on all aspects of Max marine life, from basking sharks to plankton and, you know, all different aspects. And then more recently, I've worked on climate change for the Isle of Man government, and now I'm a freelance marine conservationist and writer. So yeah, it's great to have this opportunity to to share the two passions I have of writing and re-conservation. I think maybe we take it for granted a little bit the Isle of Man, and we've got these gorgeous, like, not just like, you know, you'd think the glens and the plantations and like all the inland stuff, but we are surrounded by the sea, obviously, we're on a little island. So you're hoping that people you come along to this, like obviously there's that educational aspect, but also they can leave these workshops and then be inspired by the sea going forward and maybe we might see, you know, some more budding writers writing about this gorgeous place we live in. Yeah, that's what I really hope. I hope that, you know, three of the workshops we're going to be looking at different types of writing, you know, fiction and nonfiction poetry. You know, there's something hopefully there for everyone who's got an interest in some aspect of creative writing, and it would be brilliant to see more writing about the sea and about our relationship to it. You know, everyone on the island sees the sea regularly and has got like a different link to it and, you know, whether it's from actually going out fishing or from going out diving or puddling or a kind of more family connection. So, you know, it's really great to give people the tools to sort of celebrate that and, you know, I really hope it does inspire people to write them. And so where are some of the locations that you're going to be holding them then? So the idea is that the venues are as close as possible to the Marine Nature Reserve that we're focusing on. So, and the first one is being held in in Peel. So that's the West Coast Marine Nature Reserve, which is a really big area. And the focus on that will be on basketball sharks, generally, but specifically, you know, Peel for basketball sharks. And then there'll be some in the south in Porto, and in Port St Mary, and in Cassetown to focus on the Langnese site. In Laxey, and then Douglas and Niabal, we're going to to St. James's Church school room. So, we're using some very different venues that hopefully, either we can look out to the Marine Nature Reserve, or we can even visit it, depending on the weather. Yeah, I was going to say, what a difference of sort of couple hours, mate. We're in Ramsey right now, and it's, I mean, looking out the seat, it's gorgeous. Wasn't so much this morning, it was a rain and a lot. So, yeah, people don't need to fear that they're going to be sat, you know, on a beach in the rain then. No, it's, yeah, they're going to be definitely kind of weather, weather-proofed, but hopefully with the opportunity to get out into nature and to get out into the beaches of the Marine Nature Reserve, wherever possible, and really have that connection. And where we can't maybe have that direct connection, you know, lots of amazing photographers, and amazing videos and things that we can use, that we will take people into water as well. So, hopefully, you know, a combination of the in real life and also, you know, get your chance to look into water like that as well. Perfect, and all the details to book onto these workshops will be available at our website. But you've also got something coming up in amongst Litfest later this month as well. Do you want to tell me a little bit about that? Yes, so, you know, building on the theme of writing about nature and about climate change. As part of amongst Litfest, the Alleman Arts Council have funded some climate writing events, which we're really lucky to have the really esteemed author, Monique Raffi, who won the Costa Book Awards a few years ago for her book, The Mermaid of a Black Conge. And she's going to be doing a talk at the Aeronaut Center about writing and activism. And she was one of the founder members of the Writers' Rebellion, which is the kind of Writers' Wing of Extinction Rebellion. And then she's also going to be running a workshop, a Writers' Workshop about writing for nature and for climate. And that's, again, in the South in St Catherine's Church Hall. And, you know, we're really, really privileged to have her visiting the island. She's, as I say, she's, I think she's written about seven books that, you know, really critically acclaimed. And she's also a great tutor. And I've done a course with her in the past. So I really hope people will take the opportunity to come along and learn from Monique. It's a brilliant opportunity. Perfect. And is there anything you think I've missed anything you want to add at all? I think just hopefully you don't need to do anything about creative writing, or about marine biology to come along to these. They're very much for everyone. So, you know, again, if you are an experienced writer, you know, they're designed so that everyone can get something out of it. So don't be put off, you know, just, I'm getting in touch if you have any questions. People can, you know, get in touch about which workshops. You know, you can just come to one or you can, you can become a few of them. So, perfect. Thank you very much. Spot on. Thank you for making it to the end of the Manx Radio Newscast. You are obviously someone with exquisite taste. 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