News - July and August 2018

 Hello!

 This has been an eventful summer, which began with me graduating from the University of Manchester with my Integrated Professional Masters in Languages!

 Since then I have been doing a lot of projects in and out of Manchester, with a sort of culmination being Manchester Pride, where I performed my poetry at Tell It Like It Is, and enjoyed a wonderful weekend of celebration.

 I have done a few other spoken word events: I performed at Stirred and Bad Language in Manchester, Open Mic Poetry at the Old Courts in Wigan, and the launch of Issue 4 of Coast to Coast to Coast in Liverpool.

 An exciting piece of news is that I was shortlisted for the Creative Future Literary Awards, which is very encouraging.

 I have also had some poetry published: "Blue butterflies" in Celebrating Change, "Kiwi fruit" in Strix, "What you are made of" in Coast to Coast to Coast, "Hesitation" in Siblíní Journal, and "Bed Island" and "A door opened" in Confluence Magazine. 

 Additionally, my fiction piece "Sweets on Neptune" appeared in Visual Verse.

 July's issue of Now Then Manchester's Word Life page was an LGBTQ+ showcase, which I am very proud of putting together. It included my poem "Raspberries", along with lovely work from other writers. August's issue had the theme of "Heroes".

 Foxglove Journal is also full of new poetry and fiction, with a Summer Writing Week currently taking place.

 The last couple of months have been busy, and at times tiring, but I feel I have achieved a lot. I am looking forward to the next stage of my life, and will definitely make room for writing and creativity in it.

 Thanks to everyone who has supported me.

 Liz x

The Lampeter Review - Australia

 Hello!

 I'm thrilled that my short story "Australia" - one that is particularly special to me - has been published in Issue 16 of The Lampeter Review, which has the theme of "Staying".

 I hope you enjoy "Australia", a tale of family, loss, wisdom, stars and kangaroos.

 Liz x

Confluence Magazine - Two poems

 Hello!

 I am very happy to have two poems in Issue 7 of Confluence Magazine, an elegant print journal inspired by rivers.

 "Bed Island" and "A door opened" both flowed from my time living in Avignon, by the Rhône. If you would like to learn more about my travels in France and Spain, check out my blog, Neither Here Nor There.

 Liz x

Bad Language Manchester

 Hello!

 I had been hoping to read my poetry at long-running Mancunian spoken word night Bad Language, and was thrilled to get the chance last night. I headed to Gullivers, in the Northern Quarter, and had a highly enjoyable evening. 

 I read some poems I hadn't before - about the body, nature, travel and protest - to a nice reception, which was very encouraging. The other work I heard was diverse, with some of the quirkiest, funniest performances I'd come across at spoken word nights sitting alongside some of the saddest and most thought-provoking.

 I hope to return to Bad Language in the future, and to keep trying new spoken word events around Manchester and beyond.

 Thanks to everyone who has supported me in my writing and performance.

 Liz x

Siblíní Journal - Hesitation

 Hello!

 I'm pleased to announce that my villanelle "Hesitation" has been published in Issue Four of Siblíní Journal, which has the theme of "Body Languages".

 I was published in Siblíní in 2016 with my poem "Ink dragons", and it is great to be part of this elegant journal once again.

 Liz x

Coast to Coast to Coast - Launch and What you are made of

 Hello!

 I am very happy to have a poem, "What you are made of", in Issue 4 of Coast to Coast to Coast, which is edited by Maria Isakova Bennett and Michael Brown.

 This journal is like nothing else I have encountered: it is small and delicate and the cover of every copy is individually hand-stitched by Maria. Each copy is stunning and is its own piece of art, which is very cool.

 It has been a dream of mine to make it into the journal, and it is wonderful to have been chosen. I was invited to read at the launch, in a historic house in Liverpool. It was a great night, and I met some lovely people.

 Musician Nick Branton also responded to the poetry read, and hearing music inspired by my work, and by others' I had just heard, was fascinating, and something different and special.

 My copy of Coast to Coast to Coast is something I will always treasure, and I am very proud and happy to be part of such an unusual and beautiful project.

 Liz x

LGBT Foundation - Tell It Like It Is

 Hello!

 I had a great evening of performance and fun at Tell It Like It Is, an event organised by LGBT Foundation before Manchester Pride. 

 I read my poetry to a really lovely and warm audience. I also made a scrapbook, and met some new people as well as catching up with friends.

 I'm glad I went - it was cosy and relaxed, and hopefully it might lead to some more nice things happening. Watch this space!

 Liz x

Visual Verse - Sweets on Neptune

 Hello!

 My fiction piece "Sweets on Neptune" has been published by Visual Verse. This month, the challenge was to respond to the above image by Jon Tyson. My piece involves sisters, a sweet factory and space.

 I hope you enjoy it.

 Liz x

Marble Poetry - The order

 Hello!

 I am pleased to let you know that my poem "The order" has been published in Issue 2 of the beautiful print magazine Marble Poetry.

 I hope you enjoy my writing.

 Liz x

Now Then - Word Life 57

 Hello!

 Issue 57 of Now Then Manchester is here, and is full of bees! There are bee sculptures all over the city right now, and I love seeing them both in real life and on the site.

 For this month's Word Life I set the theme of "Heroes", and was sent some lovely writing. We have poetry by Ann Christine Tabaka, Selin Candan, Alice Spencer, Robert Pelgrift and Tyler Robert Sheldon. 

 There are also listings for various events happening over summer in Manchester, from writing workshops to spoken word nights to film-inspired performances.

 I hope you enjoy August's Word Life.

 Liz x

Open Mic Poetry at the Old Courts

 Hello!

 I was very happy to read some of my poems at Open Mic Poetry, at the Old Courts in Wigan. This was my first visit to this monthly event, which is hosted by poet Louise Fazackerley, and I was made to feel very welcome. 

 The line-up was diverse - some writing was comedic, some emotional, and I appreciated the chance to hear it all. I met new people, and the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. I was also thrilled to discover I had won the poetry competition, which had the theme of "Growth".

 It was a lovely evening and I hope to return in the future.

 Liz x

Creative Future Literary Awards

 Hello!

 I was delighted to learn that I was shortlisted for the 2018 Creative Future Literary Awards, which had the theme of "Chemistry".

 This is very encouraging news, and I hope to continue entering competitions. Congratulations to the winners!

 Liz x

Stirred - Pirates and Adventurers

 Hello!

 I had a great first visit to the Mancunian feminist spoken word night Stirred, which this month had the theme of Pirates and Adventurers. 

 I read some of my poems - about women and about the sea - and enjoyed hearing the amazing work of the other performers. I met Kate Garrett and Amy Kinsman - writers I knew online through the journals we edit (Foxglove, Picaroon, Riggwelter) - in person, and they were lovely. 

 I also met some new people, and the event had a cosy and welcoming vibe. I am very glad I made the journey - one complicated by train issues and weather - to the Three Minute Theatre.

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

 Liz x

Strix - Kiwi fruit

 Hello!

 I am delighted that my poem "Kiwi fruit" has been published in Issue #4 of Strix, a really beautiful print journal.

 I hope you enjoy my writing.

 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

Celebrating Change - Blue butterflies

 Hello!

 I'm very happy that Celebrating Change has published my poem "Blue butterflies". Thank you to guest editor Degna Stone for her lovely introduction to it.

 It is wonderful to be part of this special year-long project exploring change. I hope you enjoy my writing.

 Liz x

News - May and June 2018

 Hello!

 Well, to say the last couple of months have been hectic is an understatement. However, I succeeded in submitting all of my essays and translations, got my degree (an Integrated Professional Masters in Languages, in French and Spanish) and will be graduating this month!

 I have also been working on my writing and other creative projects, and some exciting things have happened, with more on the horizon. 

 I was shortlisted for The Poetry Business's 2017/18 New Poets Prize, and shortlisted in two categories for the 2018 Students' Union Awards: Best Article (for the piece I wrote for The Mancunion about how I founded Foxglove Journal), and Best Placard.

 I have had poetry published in The Open Mouse ("Urania"), The Cardiff Review ("Before breakfast"), Now Then ("Oranges" and "Sara") and Irisi ("How you arrived", "Scattered", "Portrait" and "Lucy"). 

 I was part of Open Mind Manchester's Mind Full of Art project to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing; my poem "Soap" appeared in the exhibition and the anthology.

 I have continued to edit the Word Life section of Now Then Manchester; May's issue had the theme of "Friendship" and June's the theme of "Nature".

 I have added some posts to my travel blog, Neither Here Nor There, so feel free to have a read and share my adventures in Galicia. Foxglove Journal is also going strong; have a look if you fancy some poetry and prose.

 I am now looking forward to a summer of creativity - I have work coming up in Strix, The Lampeter Review, Coast to Coast to Coast, Novelty, Marble Poetry, Confingo, Far Off Places, the Young Identity Anthology and the New North Poets Anthology. I hope to do some poetry readings, too.

 Thanks for reading, and following my writing journey.

 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

The Poetry Business New Poets Prize

 Hello!

 It is lovely and very encouraging to learn that I was shortlisted for The Poetry Business's 2017/18 New Poets Prize. I look forward to entering more competitions in the future.

 Congratulations to the winners!

 Liz x

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