Writer. Believer in the positive power of prison libraries. Managing editor of Forge Literary Magazine. Creative writing teacher.
I published Aaron Burch's CNF The Idea of it All at this week at The Forge. I love how this tiny piece builds, how poignant it is. And I got to interview Aaron too. 1) What would your superhero power be? So, I have this lesson plan built around this This American Life segment about flight vs.... Continue Reading →
I was delighted to publish a wonderful flash by Angela Readman at The Forge - you can read A Quiet Like This here. And she kindly took part in an interview too. 1) What is your superpower? I can make anything & anyone smell of loads and loads of garlic. Think about, I can make... Continue Reading →
The House On the Corner - and ooh, look who is quoted on the back cover! It’s astonishing how The House On the Corner takes us through eight years of the King family in just forty-five pages. How can a novella in flash have the feel of a saga? Each chapter adds layers to our... Continue Reading →
Thank you, Aaron Burch, for publishing Nine Endings at Hobart. (My first piece of nonfiction - which turns out to feel pretty exposing. Who knew, right?) Hobart has long been a journal I hoped I'd one day find a way into and I'm pretty damn chuffed. If you'd like to, you can read Nine Endings... Continue Reading →
I work in a prison library and alongside all usual library duties, I also run a creative writing group. I began it a couple of years ago when some of the prisoners said they'd really enjoyed a one-day poetry workshop and would appreciate the opportunity for a more regular creative outlet. As a writer and... Continue Reading →
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54513072 Mine is a familiar story. I was in total agony every time I had a period. In my teen years and twenties, I always knew at least 2 days of the month would be spent curled in a ball, weeping, puking, trying to breathe my way through the worst pain in the world. I... Continue Reading →
I published a great little flash at The Forge today - Mams Being Mams by Sean Tanner. It packs quite the punch and you should go and read it here: https://forgelitmag.com/2020/10/12/mams-being-mams/ I also interviewed Sean and just as Susannah did he also chose Alf Stewart as his fave Neighbours character despite Alf not being in... Continue Reading →
I recently published a gorgeous nonfiction piece by Susannah, https://forgelitmag.com/2020/09/14/hartlepool-beach-extras/. I read it as not only being a memory of a very particular time, but also a meditation on the importance of creativity in a life whether or not anyone else is there to see it. I also interviewed Susannah about the really important stuff;... Continue Reading →
I hate how it often feels as if the writing world is only opened up by having money. If you can afford to pay for an MA, a writing retreat, a workshop, then you not only pay for the knowledge you gain but also the connections you make. The internet is a leveller. I joined... Continue Reading →
This is one of those deceptively slight books - it is packed with meaning. Offill writes bitesize witticisms (perfect for these tweety doom days) as we spend time with Lizzie the college librarian, a woman who feels so familiar to me, only way smarter and funnier than anyone I actually know. "I remind myself (as... Continue Reading →
