Students' Union Awards 2018

 Hello!

 You may remember my article "What I learnt from starting a literary journal", which I wrote for The Mancunion. In it, I tell the story of how I founded and developed Foxglove Journal, and I encourage readers to follow their own dreams.

 I am very happy that the article was shortlisted for Best Article, in the Media Awards section of the 2018 Students' Union Awards.

 I was also shortlisted for Best Placard in the Communities Awards section, with the placard I made for the Reclaim the Night march. You can see its two sides above. It sadly disappeared after the march - if you have any idea where it could be, please let me know.

 Congratulations to everyone who was shortlisted or a winner at the Awards. For me this was a great way to celebrate my six years of studying at the University of Manchester, writing for The Mancunion and taking part in community projects.

 Thanks to everyone who has supported my writing, art and other creative missions. I am very excited to see what the future will hold.

 Liz x

The Mancunion - Niall Horan

 Hello!

 My review of ex-One Directioner Niall Horan's folksy and uplifting gig at the O2 Apollo has been published in The Mancunion.

 I hope you enjoy it.

 Liz x

The Mancunion - Gabrielle Aplin

 Hello!

Photo: Wikimedia Commons. From The Mancunion's website

 You may remember that I reviewed Gabrielle Aplin for The Mancunion a couple of years ago. I was very happy to have the opportunity to see her again, this time in the unique setting of Manchester Cathedral and with South Shields singer Sonny as support.

 I hope you enjoy my review.

 Liz x

The Mancunion - Honey G review

 Hello!

 Just letting you know that my review of Honey G's show at Manchester Academy 3 has been published in The Mancunion. This was the rapper's first ever headline gig, so it was exciting to be there.

 I hope you enjoy learning my thoughts on this controversial X Factor star.

 Liz x

The Mancunion: Foxglove's first year

 Hello!

 I've written a piece for The Mancunion - both the print and online edition - telling the story of Foxglove Journal.

 With my magazine approaching its first birthday, I really enjoyed looking back on how it all began and how far we have come.

 I hope you enjoy the article, too.

 Liz x

The Mancunion - Indigo Girls: Swamp Ophelia

 Hello!

 My write-up of Indigo Girls' 1994 album Swamp Ophelia has been published in The Mancunion, both in print and online.

 I also reviewed their earlier Rites of Passage earlier this year, so feel free to have a look at that, too.

 I hope you enjoy my reviews.

 Liz x

News - January and February 2017

 Hello!

 What with arriving and settling in Spain, where I'm currently on a study placement, and some extreme weather, I wasn't able to do a news post for January or February. So, I thought I'd combine them. Both months were really exciting for me, with a lot happening writing-wise. 

 Firstly, 2017 has been great so far for my fiction. I have had a number of stories and flash pieces published: "The tooth" in Jellyfish Review, "Lady Waker" in Myths of the Near Future, "Lemon summer" in Storgy, "The moon and river" in Visual Verse and "Five things I wish I could still do (and one I'm glad I forgot)" in Halo Literary Magazine.

 I've also had several poems published: "Blood orange" and "Green grapes" in The Cluny, "In Cambridge" in Picaroon Poetry and "Segovia" in The Mancunion, where I was also featured as Poet of the Week.

 The creative highlight of the two months was being asked to edit the Word Life section of Now Then Manchester. I was already a big fan of Word Life and some of my poems had been published there, so I was delighted to be chosen to take care of it. I spent much of February working on March's issue - I hope you enjoy it.

 Other bits and bobs: I reviewed Indigo Girls' album Rites of Passage for The Mancunion, and I continued to enjoy success with my music and travel blogs, reaching major pageview milestones. At present my travel blog is at just past 75,000 views, which is amazing. Thank you for sharing my adventures!

 Foxglove Journal is also doing well - please feel free to send us some poetry and/or fiction.

 Thanks for reading - here's to a bright and positive spring.

 Liz x

The Mancunion - Poet of the Week and Segovia

 Hello!

 I'm very happy to be the first Poet of the Week in The Mancunion! I hope you enjoy the feature, which tells you a bit about me and showcases my poem "Segovia".

 If you would like to learn more about this Spanish city, check out Parts One and Two of my travels there.

 Liz x

The Mancunion - Indigo Girls: Rites of Passage

 Hello!

 Just letting you know that my piece about Indigo Girls' 1992 album Rites of Passage has been published in The Mancunion.

 I hope you enjoy learning about this vibrant record.

 Liz x

How to get published in literary journals

 Hello!

Severine, where my poem "Trailing Jasmine" was published. And a cat

 Just letting you know that for The Mancunion Books Section, I have written a guide to getting your creative writing published!

 It outlines the different stages of the literary submission process - choosing your work, formatting it and sending it out - as well as some tips and tricks that might give you the edge over the competition.

 I hope you find my advice useful. Please consider sending some poetry or fiction to my own new magazine, Foxglove Journal!

 Liz x

20,000 views!

 Hello!

 I am delighted to announce that my music and lyrics blog has reached 20,000 pageviews! 

 I started it in 2011 because I felt a real urge to share with others the songs and artists I respect and to give my opinion on musical issues. Four years later, I feel I have succeeded. 

 Highlights have included choosing songs for Radio 2, interviewing The Kennedys and Eddi Reader, meeting Edwina Hayes and Kieran Goss and attracting the attention of Martika, Paul Young, John Illsley and Mark O'Connor. 

 I want to thank all of my readers for your support. Here's to another four years and hopefully many more views!

 Liz x