Courttia Newland
Encyclopedia
Courttia Newland is a British writer of Jamaican and Bajan
heritage.
, west London, where he became a rapper and music producer who, together with friends, released a Drum n' Bass
white label
. In 1997 he published his first novel, The Scholar. Further novels followed, including Society Within and Snakeskin. He co-edited The Global Village (2009) with Monique Roffey.
In 2000 he co-edited the anthology IC3: The Penguin Book of New Black Writing in Britain, and his short stories have featured in many other anthologies including The Time Out Book of London Short Stories: Vol 2 and England Calling:24 Stories for the 21st Century.
Newland tours extensively for the British Council
, and has been writer-in-residence for Trinity College, Dublin
and Georgetown University
, Washington DC. He is has also been a writer-in-residence for the charity First Story
. He has taught creative writing workshops and performed readings in countries as diverse as Russia
, Gambia, and Singapore
.
He was shortlisted for the 2007 Crime Writers' Association
Dagger in the Library
Award.
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
heritage.
Background
Newland grew up in Shepherd's BushShepherd's Bush
-Commerce:Commercial activity in Shepherd's Bush is now focused on the Westfield shopping centre next to Shepherd's Bush Central line station and on the many small shops which run along the northern side of the Green....
, west London, where he became a rapper and music producer who, together with friends, released a Drum n' Bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
white label
White label
White label records are vinyl records with adhesive plain white labels affixed. Test pressings, usually with Test Pressing written on the label, with catalogue number, artist and recording time or date, are produced in small quantities to evaluate the quality of the disc production...
. In 1997 he published his first novel, The Scholar. Further novels followed, including Society Within and Snakeskin. He co-edited The Global Village (2009) with Monique Roffey.
In 2000 he co-edited the anthology IC3: The Penguin Book of New Black Writing in Britain, and his short stories have featured in many other anthologies including The Time Out Book of London Short Stories: Vol 2 and England Calling:24 Stories for the 21st Century.
Newland tours extensively for the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
, and has been writer-in-residence for Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, Washington DC. He is has also been a writer-in-residence for the charity First Story
First Story
First Story is a literary charity. It was founded in 2007 by Katie Waldegrave and the writer William Fiennes to improve literacy and foster creativity in young people through creative writing...
. He has taught creative writing workshops and performed readings in countries as diverse as Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Gambia, and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
He was shortlisted for the 2007 Crime Writers' Association
Crime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
Dagger in the Library
Dagger in the Library
The Dagger in the Library is an annual award given by the British Crime Writers' Association to a particular author. The award is given to a "living author who has given the most pleasure to readers". Yearly shortlists are drawn up from submissions by libraries across United Kingdom, and the final...
Award.
Books
- The Scholar (London: Abacus, 1997)
- Society Within (London: Abacus, 1999)
- Snakeskin (London: Abacus, 2002)
- The Dying Wish: A James and Sinclair Mystery (London: Abacus 2006)
- Music for the Off-Key: 12 Macabre Short Stories (London: Peepal Tree Press, 2006)
- The Global Village (2009).
Play productions
- Estates of Mind, London, The Post Office Theatre, July 1998;
- Women of Troy 2099, London, The Post Office Theatre, 31 July 1999;
- The Far Side, London, The Tricycle Theatre, Summer 13 August 2000; London, The Tabernacle Community Centre, 22 October 2001;
- Mother’s Day, Hammersmith, The Lyric Theatre, 16 September 2002;
- B is for Black, London, Oval House Theatre, 14 October 2003;
- Whistling Maggie, London, Oval House Theatre Upstairs, 29 November 2005; different production 13 June 2006;
- Sweet Yam Kisses, Hammersmith, The Lyric Theatre, 11 February 2006.
Produced stories
- An Age Old Problem, 10-minute motion picture, Brent Youth Arts Service Crime Diversion Project, Massive Video, 1996;
- Rage, 10-minute motion picture, written and directed by Newland, Massive Video, 1997;