Hi all I used to write a blog called the Sunday Poem. Unsurprisingly, it appeared every Sunday. I would talk about my week and then post a poem that I’d read that I’d enjoyed. A long time ago, my old…
The Commissioned Poem: A Leap of Faith
A Poem to Celebrate 100 Years of BBC Radio Woman’s Hour Soundscape – A Commissioned Poem I was recently commissioned to write a poem for Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4. to celebrate 100 years of BBC Radio. The poem…
Recent News
Best Collection 2022 Shortlist I’m really excited that All the Men I Never Married has made it onto the Forward Prizes for Poetry Best Collection shortlist. Shortlisted alongside me are Kaveh Akhbar, Anthony Joseph, Shane McCrae and Helen Mort. I’m massively grateful,…
Kendal Poetry Festival is Almost Here
Kendal Poetry Festival 23rd-26th June One of the reasons why this blog has been particularly quiet (ok, silent) since the New Year is that I am a co-director of Kendal Poetry Festival (along with Clare Shaw) and we found out…
Poetry Carousel 2022
with Kim Moore, Jacqueline Saphra, Roy McFarlane and John McCullough 1st-4th February 2022 To book, please ring Rydal Hall on 015394 32050 £420 single room Includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch, three-course evening meal and all workshops and readings During the Poetry…
Podcast Radio Hour – presented by Laura Grimshaw and Salena Godden
Poetry and Flugel Horns A few months ago I sent a recording of myself reading one of my All The Men I Never Married poems to one of my best friends in the world, trumpet player and professional musician Dave Boraston. …
Welcome to my website!
New Book, New Look! Welcome to my new website! With the arrival of my second collection All The Men I Never Married, I thought it was about time I got myself a proper, grown up website. Thanks to Claire Steele…
PhD Viva and Other Stuff
Viva! Those of you who are not on social media may not know that I passed my PhD viva last Wednesday, with ‘minor typographical amendments’. This means I was given an A4 list of typos to correct, and I have…
35 Weeks and counting and poetry updates
It’s been a while since I blogged again but I’ve been busy getting more and more pregnant and trying to get as much of my PhD done as possible before the baby arrives. I’m now 35 weeks pregnant and officially…
Poems from the Duchess High School in Alnwick, Northumberland
I’m always touched when teachers contact me to say they are using my poetry in their lessons, and I thought I’d share with you some work from pupils from the Duchess High School in Alnwick, Northumberland. These pupils are lucky…
