I’m not alone as I wave 2016 a very earnest farewell. It is what it is, and I hold no malice for anyone whose political viewpoints differ from mine. We are in a mess right now, and it will take resistance and love, not resentment, to put it right. am very glad to live near the beach – it helps me keep …
New Works in Progress
I’ve spent the last year working on some new projects and am almost, almost at the stage of seeing that hard work pay off. Some new poetry is emerging, mostly inspired by the 19th century feminist and social activist Josephine Butler, as I’ve been poet in residence at the Northern Poetry Library which houses some works on Butler, and also she …
2015 Round-Up
I’m excited for 2016. This may not sound terribly rational, given the terrible floods just down the road from me and much, much worse to come on a global scale, but I am genuinely glad of the chance for a fresh start and a new perspective on things. 2015 was a great year. I left the terribleness of 2014 behind …
Free copy of creative writing article
Last month my first academic article in 8 years was published in New Writing: The International Journal for the Practice and Theory of Creative Writing. Usually access to these journals is via the University’s subscription (if you’re a student) or personal subscription, but GUESS WHAT? I get 50 free e-prints to share with you lovely people! The article is titled ‘Should Taught Creative …
VOICING SHADOW, SINGING LIGHT
Mental illness affects all of us. More than a third of the population of Europe is affected by mental illness every year, with depression now recognised as Europe’s leading chronic condition. Mental illness is strongly linked to suicide; according to the World Health Organization, by the time you have finished reading this paragraph at least one person will have committed …