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

Now Then - Word Life 62

 Hello!

 Issue 62 of Now Then Manchester's Word Life was fun to curate as it  was all about "Magic". I hope you enjoy this selection of creative writing, whose authors interpreted the theme in many ways, from fantastical to humorous to poignant. 

 We have work from Kersten Christianson, Joan McNerney, Linda Imbler, Joyce Graham, Ann Christine Tabaka, Sarah Hulme, Roy Moller, Kayleigh Jayshree Hicks and Ken Allan Dronsfield. There are also the usual listings for literary events in and around Manchester.

 I hope you enjoy Word Life 62.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 58

 Hello!

 September's issue of Now Then Manchester has arrived, and I enjoyed curating the Word Life section. I set this month's theme as "Messages" and received a variety of responses, some quirky, some moving. 

 I hope you enjoy the pieces I chose: fiction from Anne Sheppard, and poems from Kieran Egan, Lisa Reily, Peter Burrows, Antony Owen, Ann Christine Tabaka, Joan McNerney, Glen Sorestad and Ion Corcos.

 There are also listings for literary events in and around Manchester this month. There are quite a few, from the Northern Quarter to Levenshulme to Stretford to Salford. Hopefully if you live in the area you will find something for you.

 Enjoy Issue 58!

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 56 and Raspberries

 Hello!

 I have been Editor of the Word Life section of Now Then Manchester for a year and a half now, and something I have been wanting to do is to curate an issue devoted to showcasing LGBTQ+ writing.

 I waited because I hoped to make as many people as possible aware of Word Life, so they knew to submit their work. I also reached out to people who may not usually share their writing through magazines, through getting in touch with the LGBT Foundation, who helped spread the word. 

 

 Now, after a lot of work, Issue 56 is now here, and I am very proud and happy. It features my poem "Raspberries" as well as writing by Emily Cave, Naomi Sampson, Frankie Blaus, Jasmine Taylor, Caitlin Johnson, Roma Havers and Leah Johnson.

 As always, the page also has listings for literary events and workshops in Manchester, so if you live locally, perhaps you could try something new or practise a skill.

 I hope you enjoy July's Word Life.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 55 and Sara

 Hello!

 Issue 55 of Now Then Manchester has arrived. As usual, I curated Word Life and this month I chose the theme of "Nature". My poem "Sara" features, as well as work by Caitlin Johnson, Peter Burrows, Ann Christine Tabaka and Joan McNerney. 

 There are also listings for all kinds of literary events in and around Manchester. 

 I hope you enjoy June's issue.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 54 and Oranges

 Hello!

 May's issue of Now Then Manchester is here, and I enjoyed curating the Word Life section. This month I chose the theme of "Friendship".

 My poem "Oranges" features, along with pieces from Kristi Rose, Hannah Downs, Glen Sorestad, Nasima Begum, Jake Ormrod, Karen Dennison, Paul Waring and Kersten Christianson.

 There are also listings for literary events and workshops around Manchester. If you live in the area perhaps you will find one you like, or something new to try.

 I hope you enjoy Issue 54.

 Liz x

Verbose - Coming of Age

 Hello!

 I'm very happy to have had the opportunity to read a set of my poems at Verbose, a wonderful spoken word night at the Fallow Cafe in Manchester. 

 The theme of the evening was "Coming of Age" and it was intriguing hearing how each performer put their on spin on it. My poems were all inspired by travel, as I feel my time living, working and studying in France and Spain was a coming-of-age for me.

 I look forward to reading at more spoken word events in Manchester and beyond.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 53 and In Cambridge

 Hello!

 Issue 53 of Now Then Manchester is here, and as always I enjoyed putting together the Word Life section. This month we have listings for a wide range of events in Manchester, from spoken word to theatre to comedy.

 We also have a diverse set of poems on the theme of "Travel", from Ray Ball, Peter Burrows, Lisa Reily, Glen Sorestad and John Grey. My own villanelle "In Cambridge", which was first published in Picaroon Poetry, also appears.

 I hope you enjoy this month's Word Life.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 52

 Hello!

 March's issue of Now Then Manchester is here, and as always I really enjoyed curating the Word Life page. This month's theme is "Hope" and I received some beautiful and powerful creative writing submissions. I am very happy with the set I chose.

 We have poetry from Nasim Asl, Hannah Downs, Ken Allan Dronsfield, Ann Christine Tabaka, Carl Boon, John Michael Flynn, Ray Ball and Peter Burrows, and short fiction from Sandra Arnold, Joan McNerney and Samuel Bigglesworth.

 There are also the usual listings for a wide range of literary events in Manchester.

 I hope you enjoy Issue 52.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 51

 Hello!

 February's issue of Now Then Manchester is here. As always, I enjoyed curating the Word Life section and providing listings for literary events throughout Manchester.

 For this month's creative writing selection I chose the theme of "Love" and was sent some beautiful writing. You can read work from Robert Pelgrift, Tallulah Howarth, Joan McNerney, Kersten Christianson, John Grey, Chrissi Sepe, Elspeth Vischer and Lisa Reily.

 I hope you enjoy the issue.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 47

 Hello!

 Issue 47 of Word Life is here. Curated by me, it lists various upcoming literary events in Manchester and showcases creative writing on the theme of "Memories".

 I hope you enjoy this set of poems from James Diaz, Ann Christine Tabaka, Genevieve Carver, Claire Sexton, Ryan Quinn Flanagan, Elliott Mills, Fabrice Poussin, AM Roselli.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 46

 Hello!

 Issue 46 of Now Then Manchester is here, and this time we have not one but two Word Life pages - one for events listings and poetry, the other for fiction. Hopefully this can continue. 

 September's theme is "Family" and we have some great writing from Jo Boon, Meredith LeMaître, Ray Ball, John Grey, Rachel Bower, Ann Christine Tabaka, Claire Sexton, Glen Sorestad, Michael Griffith and Elspeth Vischer.

 I hope you enjoy this month's issue.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 43

 Hello!

 Issue 43 of Now Then Manchester's Word Life is here, curated by me and featuring some of June's top poetry and spoken-word events in Manchester as well as five great pieces of writing on the theme of "you" or the second person.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x