Iain Macdonald’s poems in Plotting the Course offer wise counsel for negotiating the more treacherous edges of existence, wherever those may fall. Moreover, the counsel is delivered in language of clarity and grace, forming images that continue to resonate in the reader’s memory. What I really admire about these poems is that they risk understanding.
—Jim Dodge, author of Fup and Rain on the River
Keen perception and carefully considered expression are the touchstones of
Iain Macdonald’s finely crafted poetry. No wasted word or excess sentimentality are to be found in these thoughtful examinations of family and culture, often accented with his wry sense of humor. Taking us on a journey from the old world of Glasgow to the new world of California, Iain’s poems are brewed much like the beloved single-malt whisky of his native Scotland; distilled from heritage and observation, mashed into a potent mix of insight and mystery and aged to perfection, they take on the character of the landscape around them. Sláinte.
--Tim Ayres, The Mad River Anthology, KHSU-FM
Poised between the securities of shore and the undermined course, Iain Macdonald evokes the loss of culture and language, discloses the tough and tender moments of a new life, and with beautifully controlled phrasing weaves them into a spendid first book.
—Jerry Martien, author of Shell Games and Pieces in Place
Born and raised in Glasgow, Iain Macdonald has earned his bread and beer in a variety of ways, from factory hand to merchant marine officer. He currently lives in Arcata, California, where he works as a high school English teacher.