Book launch - Tigerish Waters in partnership with SAMH

9th November 2017

Includes readings and short play performed by BAFTA Scotland new talent winning actor Daniel Cameron & Miranda Langley

Sophie Reilly aged 21 tragically took her life last year.  Her struggle to make sense of her illness was left in a series of writings, in prose, drama and poetry, which will be available as a short volume – entitled Tigerish Waters – on Thursday 9th November 2017, with a book launch at The Hidden Lane Gallery Glasgow.  All proceeds will be donated to the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH).

Her brother Samuel Reilly – a first class honours graduate of Oxford University who is keen to share Sophie’s work with a wider audience – has edited the volume, in order both to help other families coping with a family member with a mental illness, and to gain recognition of Sophie’s emerging literary talent.

‘This writing is riddled with honesty, with a delight in what most people take for granted and a continual attempt to communicate the difficulties of survival. That she succeeds – and the measure of her success – simply magnifies the loss.’ – Carl MacDougall, writer, President of Scottish PEN.

‘Sophie Reilly’s writing is powerful. A vivid cocktail of pain, honesty, intelligence and humour. But what shines through most of all is Sophie’s humanity, her compassion. These are extraordinarily insightful pieces from a hugely talented young writer we have lost way too soon.’  – Magi Gibson, poet, author of Washing Hugh MacDiarmid’s Socks (Luath Press, 2017) and Graffiti in Red Lipstick (Curly Snake, 2003).

‘Sophie’s voice rings out in these pages through her characters, achingly true vignettes of broken and lost souls searching for some kind of way out. Truly remarkable pieces of writing.’ – Frank Turner, singer/songwriter, winner of Kerrang! No Half Measures Award (2010) and two Association of Independent Musicians Awards (2011).

‘This collection is not only the moving record of a young woman’s struggle with mental illness, but evidence of a lucid, resourceful, and often witty literary imagination taking shape.’– Patrick Hayes, Tutorial Fellow in English Literature, St John’s College, University of Oxford.

‘Tigerish Waters is both a celebration of her creative energies, and a record of their destructive bent. We hope it reveals Sophie as she was, and in so doing, encourages her readers to reflect on the mental illnesses she suffered, and which continue to afflict so many young people today. This poignant, strangely uplifting document of her life and thought, is encapsulated in her rallying cry: “We are people, not diagnoses”.’ – Samuel Reilly, Editor, and Sophie’s brother 

“Sophie’s writing details a brave and honest account of her struggle with mental ill health. Her reflections on all of us as people and not diagnoses are beautifully crafted.  Knowing how important it can be to open up and talk we hope people who read these works will be encouraged to start their conversation.Thank you to Sophie’s family, who are raising money for SAMH through the sale of Tigerish Waters. This generosity will help us to raise awareness and most importantly be there for people when they need us.”   - Jo Anderson, Director of External Affairs at SAMH.