Our Voices

A loving look into the minds and lives of some of the contributors who helped us create this issue.

Kirsty Taylor

Kirsty is our founder and head editor, when she isn’t working on Continue The Voice she is studying, writing poetry or podcasting normally with a cup of peppermint tea or a glass of white.

I tend to live very passionately in everything I do but something particularly close to my heart that I’m keen to continue the voice on is ensuring we have education for our children that is truly inclusive of all history that has existed in this world. What is your favourite thing to do on a staycation? . I love waking up slowly and enjoying the morning light worry free, and with no alarms set. Where has been your favourite place you have ever staycationed to? Scotland is such an incredibly stunning place but I’d have to say my favourite place so far was Oban which we cycled to from Inverness. What are you currently loving? I am absolutely in love with ‘Women Don’t Owe You Pretty’ by Florence Given at the moment You can find Kirsty on her poetry (@observeabsorbwrite) or her podcast (@fancyablether) Instagrams

Pooja Sharma

Pooja is from India and discovered she could write two and a half years ago, and her passion for writing has only increased since that time. She is a spiritual, music and dance person who is learning to take life happenings in her stride and stay happy because that’s what matters.

I am developing the passion to serve animals. These voiceless beings are treated cruelly by so many of us. So, I’d like to do something for them. Starting a shelter home is a plan which I hope gets fulfilled with God’s grace. I like to explore the place, food and people. I’m always interested in finding or discovering something new. I haven’t travelled a lot and I’m also a sort of stay at home and chill type of person so I’d say my favourite place for staycation would be my home only with my people. I’m the kind of a person who rarely has any favourites. If I spot something interesting, I have to watch it, read it or listen to it. It can be quotes, stories, books, podcasts or a movie/Tv series.

Katie Daniels

Katie works in marketing for Scotland’s leading contemporary dance company but she also loves to write, read, blog, take photos, watch theatre, listen to podcasts, cook and dance.

I am passionate about reminding others to be kind to themselves. The world is mad and it demands our attention from every direction so we need to protect and care for ourselves so that we have the energy to fight for what’s right. My favourite thing to do on a staycation is to spend time adventuring with friends and to capture the beauty of the world around us with my camera. I just love exploring the coastline around my home, up here in Aberdeenshire. The sea is both calming and frightening so it can be pretty epic to look at from all sorts of vantage points. So even staying at home, I’m able to hop in the car and get somewhere really beautiful (if the weather is on my side, that is!). I’m currently loving the Magic Lessons podcast from Elizabeth Gilbert, it’s a couple of years old but full of inspiring creative chats. You can find Katie and her work on her blog.

Kirsten Warrender

Kirsten is a freelance marketer and oil painter from Aberdeen, currently based in Edinburgh.

I am passionate about contin uing the voice with regards to the cathartic qualities of creat ing art. Art connects us to the world, promoting a healthier state of mind and an inner har mony. Schools focus heavily on common core subjects whereas art in education is considered a luxury - I believe that creating is a primal behaviour and so it should be encouraged and feel accessible to everyone. My favourite thing to do on a staycation is to explore all the hidden quirks the city has to of fer. For example, after living in Edinburgh for seven years I only recently discovered its hidden ‘Wild West’ and the Colinton tunnel. I love going to Crieff – a Scottish town between Perth and Kin ross. Its an incredible location with access to beautiful moun tains making it a nice escape from the city. I am currently reading “21 Les sons for the 20th century by Yu val Noah Harari, listening to a lot of Sasha Sloan and getting hyped about “Psycho” being back in cinemas for its 60th an niversary. You can find Kirsten and all of her work on Instagram ( enwarrender.art)

Kirsten Warrender

Kirsten is a freelance marketer and oil painter from Aberdeen, currently based in Edinburgh.

I am passionate about continuing the voice with regards to the cathartic qualities of creating art. Art connects us to the world, promoting a healthier state of mind and an inner harmony. Schools focus heavily on common core subjects whereas art in education is considered a luxury - I believe that creating is a primal behaviour and so it should be encouraged and feel accessible to everyone. My favourite thing to do on a staycation is to explore all the hidden quirks the city has to offer. For example, after living in Edinburgh for seven years I only recently discovered its hidden ‘Wild West’ and the Colinton

I love going to Crieff – a Scottish town between Perth and Kinross. Its an incredible location with access to beautiful mountains making it a nice escape

I am currently reading “21 Lessons for the 20th century by Yuval Noah Harari, listening to a lot of Sasha Sloan and getting hyped about “Psycho” being back in cinemas for its 60th an-

You can find Kirsten and all of her work on Instagram (@kirst)

Thomas Stewart

Thomas is a writer, born in Wales, currently living in Scotland. His debut poetry pamphlet, empire of dirt, was published by Red Squirrel Press in 2019. His work has been featured at Best Scottish Poems 2019, We’ve Done Nothing Wrong, We’ve Nothing To Hide (Verve Poetry Press, 2020), The Amsterdam Quarterly, fourteen poems, The Glasgow Review, Ink, Sweat and Tears, among others.

I’m really interested in exploring characters living with trauma. I’m trying to have this conversation in my work about the point where trauma can jade a person or enlighten one. I’m intrigued by the point that becomes a choice – do I continue to be jaded forever and ruin everything in my path or do I become enlightened and do something good with this shit? Read and write. I always take too many books away with me when I go on a staycation, and don’t write as much as planned, I always seem to spend my time walking, and talking, and drinking wine with my pals, but yes, reading and writing are my top favourite things to do. The Lake District. My friend’s parent’s own a house down there and it’s a sanctuary. I’ve recently finished ‘Borgen’ which I absolutely loved. It’s a Danish TV show about the first female prime minister. I wept, I laughed, I sat back in awe, it’s the whole package. You can find Thomas on Instagram (@tomstewart0808)

Hannah Matheson

Hannah is the editor for Continue The Voice and a marketing student in Aberdeen. She loves the simple things in life like a good cup of coffee, spending time with friends and walks with her dog.

I think in general there needs to be a little more kindness in this world. As well as taking time to be kind to ourselves, it’s important especially in 2020 (what a year) to show a little kindness to each other whether that is a stranger, retail workers etc. It’s literally the easiest and most simple thing you can do and it might just make someone’s day. I like spending time with the people around me, taking in my surroundings and enjoying time without my phone and internet. I spent a couple of nights at Loch Tay a few years ago and I loved it! I couldn’t believe that such beautiful scenery existed just over an hour from my house. I’m always looking for new shows to watch on Netflix and after it made history at The Emmys, I decided to start Schitts Creek and it’s absolutely hilarious! You can find Hannah on Instagram (@hannahmatheson)

Manon MarrumSauvageot

Manon is Continue the Voice’s art director and a 21 year old Film and Media student based in Edinburgh, she has a passion for the arts but she sold her soul to good food and good wine.

I am passionate about promoting underrepresented voices in film and media My favourite thing to do on staycation is to learn about local history and explore hidden gems of the area Recently I have been to Felixstowe Ferry, it’s beautiful in the bright sunshine AND in the throngs of winter I am currently loving the Haunting of Bly Manor - It’s really helping me get into spooky season! You can check Manon out on Instagram (@manon.marrum)

Sophie Freestone

Sophie’s first children’s book was published soon after she graduated from the Falmouth School of Art in Cornwall. However, she decided to put art on hold and pursue her other life’s passion for a while; skiing. She spent a ski season in the French Alps last winter and will be returning to the mountains next month. However, Sophie really enjoys illustration projects when she has the time, such as getting involved in the first issue of Continue the Voice.

I am currently passionate about saving the arts industry. My favorite thing to do on staycation is to find a random cat. My favourite place I’ve staycationed, was in Cornwall- my friends and I would pile into my housemate’s campervan and explore a new beach or cove that we hadn’t been to before. We found crystal waters on the Helford Passage, saw hundreds of seals at Godrevy, cliff jumped at Fisherman’s Cove, went on the back of our friends’ motor bikes from Falmouth to Zennor to Penzance. One time we hand-made gnocchi on a cliff at Hell’s Mouth in Ellie’s converted van. I am currently loving Audible. I recently finished listening to ‘The Midnight Library’, by Matt Haig (it was excellent; I would also recommend ‘How to Stop Time’). I subscribed to Audible over lockdown and have got through so many good books as a result, including Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, 1984 by George Orwell, The Beauty Chorus by Kate Lord Brown and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. It’s great to have on whilst driving or when I’m making art. Find me at @sophiefreestoneillustration.

Anna McFarlane

When Anna is not shaking up fancy cocktails in her primary job in hospitality she can be found working as a graphic designer, such as her role here. She is hoping to return to University to study a masters in the not too distant future but has been enjoying putting that off by traveling around as much of the world as possible.

I am passionate about the fight for equality and more generally about just doing right by people when you can. When I think about staycations, I think about family, as otherwise I’d probably be drawn further afield. My favourite staycations have been getting a cottage in the scottish countryside with my whole family- these have been some of the happiest memories I have. One of the most prominant was in Dollar celebrating my grandparents dimond wedding anniversiery. I am currently loving Sapiens, I’m re-reading and loving it as much as the first time (slightly less highbrow but I am also watching a conciderable amount of below deck- for switching-offto TV it is ideal!).

YOU?

We want your work!

We are looking for creative work of any kind relating to the theme of ‘Save The Arts’, this includes poetry, music, dance, film, photography, short stories but is not limited to these forms of art. We are interested in all forms of art. Send all work or pitches to continuethevoice@gmail.com or dm us on Instagram. The deadline is November 18th at midnight, please send your work with a short (1 - 2 sentences) ready to print bio. Max word counts are 800 for articles and 1500 short stories.

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