GASP by the New North Poets

 Hello!

 As you may know, I was announced as a New North Poet at the 2017 Northern Writers' Awards, which was one of my proudest achievements. 

 Part of the prize was working with The Poetry School, Clare Pollard and the other four fabulous winners - Jasmine, Maria, Michael and Rosa - to create an anthology. GASP is now here, and is free to read online. 

 I hope you enjoy my four poems: "Blood ghazal", "León", "Pilot" and "Missing Leo". If "León" and "Missing Leo" inspire you to learn more about my travels in Spain, check out my travel blog posts on León and Salamanca.

 Thank you to everyone who has supported my writing.

 Liz x

Second Highgreen Arts residential

 Hello!

 As a winner of the New North Poets Prize at last year's Northern Writers' Awards, I was invited to take part in two residentials at Highgreen Arts, in rural Northumberland. The first residential was in September; the second was last week. I had a really enjoyable and memorable time there.

 Highgreen is an elegant and comfy old manor house. The five New North Poets and our mentor, Clare Pollard, spent many an hour sitting around the fire doing writing activities and discussing and reading poetry. We also had a full-day workshop with the poet Antony Dunn, which was very useful.

 I walked a lot, and found the local nature calming and inspiring. We enjoyed delicious veggie food and divine desserts - apple crumble, chocolate brownie, poached pear. We had lightning one night, which in the total darkness of the countryside was very dramatic. I would later write a poem about it.

 Overall, it was a lovely weekend in great company. I hope to do more residentials in the future.

 Liz x

News - January and February 2018

 Hello!

 So far for me 2018 has been incredibly busy. I've been working towards finishing my degree and my dissertation, training for my first 10 kilometre run and, of course, writing poetry and stories. I have seen some major milestones, which I am looking forward to sharing with you now.

 In January I went to London to take part in a poetry reading with the other four New North Poets. We read at the Poetry Society's Poetry Café, alongside our mentor, Clare Pollard, and Caroline Bird. Caroline is one of my favourite poets and this was a huge honour, especially when she remembered and referenced specific details of my poems when talking to me later. 

 We attended the TS Eliot Prize Readings and mingled with poets and publishers afterwards. It was great to speak to Andrew McMillan again and to see many other famous faces. We also took part in the Awards workshop with Malika Booker, who told us more about the nominated poets. Overall, it was a very inspiring weekend.

 I continue to enjoy curating Now Then Manchester's Word Life page: January's issue was unthemed, and February's had the theme of "Love". I hope you enjoy them.

 I had a flash fiction piece, "Fall", published in Litro, and two poems, "Ávila" and "Maybe Cygnus" published in Selcouth Station. I also reviewed Annabel Pitcher's "The Last Days of Archie Maxwell" for Cuckoo Review.

 January and February were two intense months, but I feel that I learnt and achieved a great deal. Thanks for keeping up with my news and supporting my writing.

 Liz x

New North Poets at the Poetry Café

 Hello!

 In January I was invited to London to read some of my poems at the Poetry Society's Poetry Café, with the other New North Poets - Jasmine Chatfield, Rosa Walling-Wefelmeyer, Maria Isakova-Bennett and Michael Brown -, our mentor Clare Pollard and guest performer Caroline Bird. 

 It was a wonderful experience. We also attended the T. S. Eliot readings and the lecture beforehand with Malika Booker, and overall it was an insightful and inspiring weekend. I hope to continue doing poetry readings and sharing my work.

 Liz x

Northern Writers' Awards 2017

 Hello!

 I am extremely happy to have been announced as a winner in the New North Poets section of the Northern Writers' Awards. The ceremony, on Thursday night at Northumbria University, was a really lovely evening of food, writing and celebration.

 Receiving such a prestigious award is amazing. I'm greatly looking forward to my prize, which is a year of mentoring with The Poetry School and Clare Pollard. I'm also excited to get to know the four other poets chosen. The next year looks to be a great one for me creatively.

 Many thanks to everyone who has read and enjoyed my writing over the years, and congratulations to all of the award-winners.

 Liz x