Rachelle Atalla

We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that our Creative Commission for 2026, in partnership with Creative Writing at The University of Strathclyde, has been awarded to the acclaimed short story writer and screenwriter RACHELLE ATALLA!

Rachelle Atalla is a Scottish–Egyptian novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter based in Glasgow. Her work has appeared widely in print, she has written for BBC Radio 4, and she is a recipient of a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award.

Rachelle says: ‘I am delighted to be The Alasdair Gray Archive Creative Commissioned writer (with Creative Writing at The University of Strathclyde) for 2026. As a Glasgow writer and someone who has always taken inspiration from Gray’s imagination, this is a special opportunity to create something new, while reflecting on his incredible body of work.’

Her debut novel The Pharmacist was shortlisted for Scottish Fiction Book of the Year and is currently being developed for film with Compact Pictures and the BFI. Her second novel, Thirsty Animals, has been optioned by Tod Productions, and her most recent book, The Salt Flats, was one of our standout reads of 2024.

Each year, our Creative Commissions invite an artist or writer to respond to some aspect of Alasdair Gray’s work, practice, or approach – creating a new piece that stands alone while remaining deeply connected to Gray’s legacy.

These commissions are shared with students on the MADE project module on the MLitt in Creative Writing at The University of Strathclyde, offering a glimpse into diverse creative responses. The commissioned writer also presents their work at our annual event at Oran Mor, Glasgow on 25.02.26.

You can find out more about past commissions through exploring our website. Design by @abbycarterstudio