News - Spring 2019

 Hello!

 Happy July! I am settled in my new job and greatly enjoying life in Manchester. I have been taking part in a number of creative events, from meeting the recent US Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, to being a member of the newly-formed International Foundation of Us, and having my jumper and scarf become archive items.

 In May I took part in my second film-making weekend in Sheffield with the Writing Squad, and this time I had a starring role! I hope you enjoy Five New Messages and my acting debut as Catherine, the hotel cleaner.

 I reviewed The Space Between by Meg Grehan for North West Libraries' Time to Read blog - I hope you enjoy reading about one of my favourite books.

 I received a free ticket to see Siri Hustvedt at Manchester Literature Festival, as a member of the Festival's YA Steering Group. On a gorgeous spring evening, I headed to Deansgate Waterstones to hear Siri read from her new book, Memories of the Future, and then discuss it with Katie Popperwell. Siri is clearly incredibly intelligent, with her own way of seeing the world and fascinating ideas about time and memory. It was a thought-provoking event.

 I then attended the launch of Manchester Metropolitan University's journal aAh!, at which my friend Laura Potts performed her poetry. It was lovely to hear her, and we enjoyed a meal out afterwards.

 The next day was the Northern Publishers' Fair at Manchester Central Library. I learnt about so many presses and publications, and met some cool people. I had a nice chat with Jo Clement, Editor of Butcher's Dog Magazine, and bought Issue 11, which I read in one sitting and really enjoyed.

 I took part in two spoken-word nights in three days, with Verbose on Monday and Bad Language on Wednesday. It was intense, but fulfilling and fun. May's Verbose had the theme of Zodiac, and I shared my poem "Dogteeth", among others. My set at Bad Language included "Blood ghazal" and "Arrival". At both events I chatted to some new people and had a good time. I also discovered Levenshulme and its colourful bee!

 Again through the Manchester Literature Festival Steering Group, I was offered the chance to see Tracy K. Smith in conversation with Jackie Kay at the Central Library. It was an incredibly rainy June night, but for a couple of hours my world was lit up by incredible poetry and a great chat between two amazing women. I met both afterwards and got my books signed. They were so sweet and really uplifted me.

 I attended a Writing Squad workshop at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, at which we decided to start the International Foundation of Us. We reviewed books we love - guess which is mine! - catalogued our possessions and made podcasts in which we discussed our creative inspirations and work. We also ate a lot of chocolate and grapes. It was a gentle and memorable day.

 The poem I wrote during the Writing Squad Lunch Poems workshop in Leeds earlier this year is also now online - I hope you enjoy "Sweet".

 So, that was my spring, writing-wise. I'm hoping to keep the energy going for a positive, creative summer. I already have some new and exciting things lined up, from mentoring to festivals to radio to poetic film, so watch this space!

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

The Writing Squad - 2018 highlights

 Hello!

Leeds

 This year I officially graduated from The Writing Squad, after two years of workshops and events. However, the great thing about the Squad is that even as a graduate you stay a part of the community and can be very much involved.

 This year, one Squad moment really stands out, and is one of my proudest achievements as a writer. I was commissioned by Manchester Literature Festival to write an original piece about what reading means to me, to encourage young people - and older ones - to read for enjoyment.

 I was incredibly proud to share "On stories and snow" at the Take Ten event at Manchester Central Library, and it felt like a major milestone for me as a spoken-word performer.

 I also attended two Writing Squad workshops, which both happened to be in Leeds. The first was with Hannah Silva, who taught as about performance techniques and technologies, such as using a looping pedal. 

 She also performed for us, and her work blew my mind in how different and brave it is, and how precise her timings have to be for the pieces to work. I was really inspired to try new things and grow as a performer.

 The second workshop was led by Stevie Ronnie, who shared his passion for making books and pamphlets. We learnt how to make precise cuts and folds in paper, and basic book-binding stitches. This workshop included a number of Squad members I hadn't met before, so I made some new friends.

 It was interesting to be so hands-on in a publishing process, making these precious, limited-edition items, and it made me much more aware of the possibilities in putting my work out there. I would definitely consider creating a small run of handmade zines or pamphlets.

 I discussed with Stevie how I wanted to work on the structure and presentation of my poetry on the page, and he was really helpful. Hopefully we can talk more about this in the future.

 I also met with Steve Dearden, the Squad Director, to generally discuss my writing and what will come next. I'm really looking forward to 2019 and moving forward as a creative.

 Thanks for reading, and thank you to everyone who has followed my writing career so far.

 Liz x

Manchester Literature Festival - On stories and snow

 Hello!

 Just letting you know that you can now read my piece "On stories and snow", commissioned for Manchester Literature Festival, online at The National Literacy Trust. It was a joy to write this piece, and to perform it at the Take Ten event at Manchester Central Library.

 I hope you enjoy discovering how reading has shaped my life.

 Liz x

MLF18: Rommi Smith and Dave Evans

 Hello!

 It was a great honour to be invited to attend and review Rommi Smith and Dave Evans' event at Whitworth Art Gallery as part of Manchester Literature Festival. The pair responded to the exhibition "Bodies of Colour", Smith through spoken word, Evans through music.

 I attended a Writing Squad performance masterclass with Rommi a year or so ago, and she really inspired and encouraged me, so seeing her again was lovely. The evening was extremely powerful and moving. I hope you enjoy my review for Chapter & Verse.

 As with every year, I've enjoyed being a Digital Reporter for the Festival, and hope to be able to do it again in the future.

 Liz x

MLF18: Michael Morpurgo

 Hello!

 I am very happy to once again be a Digital Reporter for Manchester Literature Festival. My first event this year was Michael Morpurgo's Castlefield Sermon at Manchester Cathedral. 

 It was incredible hearing one of my favourite authors speak on something he is passionate about: nature and the environment. I reviewed the magical night for Chapter & Verse - I hope you enjoy it. 

 Liz x

Manchester Literature Festival - Take Ten

 Hello!

Photograph by Steve Dearden

 I was delighted to be commissioned to write and perform a piece on the subject of reading for the Take Ten event at Manchester Literature Festival 2018. 

 I read "On stories and snow" at Manchester Central Library, to an audience including pupils from local schools, teachers, writers and the Lord Mayor of Manchester.

 It was a really lovely experience, and I look forward to doing more work like this in the future.

 Liz x

News - September and October 2017

 Hello!

 I am back from my year in France and Spain and am getting stuck into my Masters. It is lovely being back in Manchester - I can review local gigs for The Mancunion and be a Digital Reporter for Manchester Literature Festival. I have also been involved in some creative projects around the city and with The Writing Squad.

 Firstly, I want to tell you about some publications I have been a part of. Two of my poems, "Bartók's Dance Suite and sour" and "Green Flash", were published in The Compass, and my poem "Serpentine" appeared in Planet Slop. My flash piece "Stuff and sales" was published in both Visual Verse and Creative Review.

 My poem "Anatomy" appeared in Papaya Press's What She Knew zine, and my "Things that are inexplicably similar" was chosen for the 2017 Peeking Cat Poetry Anthology. Three of my poems, "Old rain", "Eden" and "Going", were published in Introduction X: The Poetry Business Book of New Poets.

 It has also been good to see some projects I have edited for coming to fruition, such as The Rebirth Issue of Miracle Magazine, for which I was Head Poetry Editor. September's Word Life had the theme of "Family"; October's, the theme of "Memories".

 We celebrated one year of Foxglove Journal, my online venue for poetry and fiction. I am very proud of all that the Journal has achieved. I also did an interview with Peeking Cat Poetry, and have a snazzy new profile on The Writing Squad's site. I hope you enjoy learning more about my writing.

 I reviewed several books for Cuckoo Review: Tender Earth by Sita Brahmachari, Songs About Us by Chris Russell and The Secret Cooking Club: Confetti & Cake by Laurel Remington. I also wrote a piece on Indigo Girls' 1994 album Swamp Ophelia for The Mancunion.

 I reviewed Honey G and Gabrielle Aplin for The Mancunion, and Roddy Doyle for Manchester Literature Festival's Chapter and Verse Blog.

 Finally, I took part in a writing residency in Northumberland, as part of my prize for being announced as a New North Poet in the Northern Writers' Awards. It was a great weekend and the countryside was truly beautiful. I enjoyed getting to know the other four winning poets.

 So, I had a productive two months. Here's to a fun, creative winter.

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

MLF17: Roddy Doyle

 Hello!

Photo from Manchester Literature Festival website

 You may remember that I reviewed Roddy Doyle at Manchester Literature Festival back in 2013. This year I was once again a Digital Reporter for the Festival, and was lucky enough to attend and review Roddy's event for the Festival's Chapter & Verse Blog.

 I hope you enjoy my thoughts on the evening.

 Liz x