Poet Biographies
Abbie Logan has been writing since she was 7 and has always maintained a passion for poetry and written word. She has never been published but writes more for the release and expression. Having travelled extensively around Asia, she has found it to be the best way to capture the world at large. She currently resides as a chef in Edinburgh.
Adrian McRobb has been writing for 30 years and is a founding member of Cramlington Writers Group. He is a Performance Poet, and the past holder of the Lowford Trophy. Adrian has performed his work, at Open-Mics in Morpeth and Newcastle.
Aiyana Rosel is a registered healthcare professional with a degree in Psychology, based in the UK. Her passions are helping people, promoting peace and writing. She shares her poetry on her Facebook page ‘Aiyana Rosel’ and writes a blog about her adventures into spirituality and consciousness on ‘A Personal Spiritual Journey’. She has a vision and mission to help people heal their mind, body and spirit to reach their full potential.
Alan Savage comes from Middlesbrough in Teesside, UK, and currently lives in Cippenham, Slough. Alan works as a secondary English teacher and likes to write verse/poetry as an obsessive compulsive hobby (meaning he can't really stop himself!) Alan has written a series of poems called 'The Teesside Verses', available online as a downloadable PDF and is currently writing a collection of poems aimed at children. Alan is happily married with two children and a dog.
Alison Down is an award winning Liverpool based performance poet, screenwriter and dramaturg.
Andrew Barnes is developing his reputation as a poet through publication of work in a range of literary magazines, and through performance including regular readings at Kitchen Garden cafe Kings Heath and on Internet Radio Wildfire.
Andy Horwood is a self published poet, who started writing poetry to deal with his mental health and never stopped. He has covered themes such as love, gender identify and mental health in his poems and has been published in anthologies.
Andy Humphrey was born in the Wirral and now lives in York where he works as a legal adviser with individuals who are homeless or facing loss of their homes, a great many of whom have suffered serious mental ill health. For 10 years he has been MC of The Speakers' Corner open mic in York and he has published two collections of poetry, A Long Way to Fall (Lapwing, 2013) and Satires (Stairwell Books, 2015). Much of his poetic output uses the timeless language of nature, myth and fairytale to tell stories with a contemporary relevance. Website: http://andyhumphrey1971.webs.com.
Andy N is a writer and sound artist from Manchester, UK. He is the Author of 'Return to Kemptown' and 'The End of Summer'. His website is: Andy N - Writer and Experimental Musician
Angela Topping is the author of eight poetry collections and four chapbooks. Her work has featured on BBC Radio’s Poetry Please and she is a former writer in residence at Gladstone’s Library. Angela Topping’s latest collection is ‘The Five Petals of Elderflower’ (Red Squirrel Press).
Anna Kander is a writer in the Midwestern US. She trained as a psychotherapist and remains licensed to practice. Her first book, ‘Slide a Mirror to Me’, is forthcoming from Transcendent Zero Press. Her poetry and fiction have appeared in Gone Lawn, Ellipsis, Train, and other magazines. Find her at http://annakander.com
Anna Matyjiw has been writing poetry and Lyrics since 2009 and has worked as a Performance Poet.
Anne Walsh Donnelly lives in Mayo, Ireland with her two teenage children. She writes short fiction and poetry. Her work has previously been published in various print and online magazines such as Crannog, The Blue Nib, Star82 Review and Cold Coffee Stand. Her poems were highly commended in the Over The Edge New Writer of the Year Award (2017) and commended in the Westport Arts Festival poetry competition (2017). She sometimes writes about her own experience of depression and hopes these poems resonate with readers and contribute to raising awareness around mental health. Anne would like to dedicate her poem in this anthology to anyone who has ever felt like her little hamster.
Avantika Singhal is a poetess and spoken word artist living in Jaipur, India. Over the course of her writing career, she has gotten her poetry published in respected literary magazines such as Writer's Asylum, Red Fez, Textploit, Jabberwock Online, The Indian Review, Spillwords, Emerald Hues Anthology, Hall Of Poets-Valentine Anthology, United We Stand: Poets Against Terror Anthology, Parasva Anthology, Germ Magazine, Pressure Gauge Press and Our Poetry Archive etc. She aspires to make a positive impact with her writing. She has also contributed her literary creations to a bedtime story book named Tales By Teens, online platforms like Half Baked Beans and Indian Women Blog. She hopes to start studying English Literature at Regent’s University, London soon.
Barbara Derbyshire is an author of short fiction and poetry. Originally from London and now an Irish citizen, her home is in Kerry where, with more time to think, observe and remember, she has rediscovered her love of writing. Her first published book is ‘Tapestry of Love, Life and Spirit’, and, together with other writers from North Kerry and West Limerick, she has contributed to the anthology, ‘Striking A Chord’.
Barry Fentiman Hall is a Medway based poet of place, even if that place is sometimes between his ears. He has been published in a number of journals such as Crack The Spine, Anti Heroin Chic, and Picaroon. His first solo pamphlet ‘The Unbearable Sheerness Of Being’ came out on Wordsmithery in 2016, which he recently performed as a solo show at Sheppey Little Theatre. He is also the editor of Confluence Magazine. He likes cats and has an affinity with hares.
Bert Flitcroft grew up in Lancashire and is a graduate of Sheffield University. He is an experienced and accomplished poet who has two collections of poetry published: 'Thought-Apples' with Offa's Press and 'Singing Puccini at the Kitchen Sink' with Fineleaf. He was Staffordshire Poet Laureate 2015-2017 and curated 'The Staffordshire Poetry Collection' which is now available on-line. In 2015 he was Poet in Residence at The Southwell Poetry Festival, and in 2016 at The Shire Hall Gallery, Recently he has been Resident Poet at The Wedgwood Museum and The Brampton Museum and Gallery in Newcastle.
Bethany Gordon grew up in a small village and often wrote poetry with her Grandfather. Now in her mid-twenties, Bethany has continued to write after the loss of her Grandparents, and has performed on local radio, regular open mic nights, as well as the finale night of a mental health arts cabaret. She is currently working on her first book. Writing every day, Bethany uploads to her Instagram page @bethrosewrites, with a typewritten vintage-style, lost letters approach to poetry and spoken word.
Bethan Rees is fairly new to the poetry scene and thoroughly enjoys her time as a friend of Poetry Swindon. She is currently studying an MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes and hopes to travel workshops in the future. Although now living in Swindon, Bethan grew up in Neath, South Wales and spent some time living in South Dakota, USA. Her favourite things are words, nuzzes and her useless, ancient dog Mitzie.
Carla Stein has been published in Sustenance, an anthology (release date: October, 2017), Ascent Aspirations Magazine, An Anthology of Nanaimo Poetry, and Island Woman Magazine. She regularly reads at a variety of venues on Vancouver Island and has produced her first chapbook titled, ‘Sideways Glances of an Everyday Sailor’. She is a member of the Federation of BC Writers and a board member of Wordstorm Society of the Arts. Carla recently completed a poetry course with Fiona Lam and Evelyn Lau through Simon Fraser University as well as a course through the University of Iowa Writer’s Studio. Until leaving the field to re-focus on writing, she worked as an accredited mental health and addictions counselor. She holds a Masters of Education degree and a diploma in Fine Art. Her career path previously included writing as both a freelance and broadcast journalist.
Carole Bromley has three books with Smith/Doorstop, the most recent being ‘Blast Off!’, a collection for children. www.carolebromley.co.uk
Carrie Danaher Hoyt is a life-long lover and writer of poetry. It is her humble opinion that poetry is the highest form of human communication. Poems (she says) at once highlight what is unique and what is universal in humanity. Carrie lives in Massachusetts where she is a wife and mother of three school-aged kids. To pay the bills (as her poems don’t yet do this) she works as an estate planning attorney. Beside family and poetry, she loves travel, volunteer work and concerts. You can read more of Carrie's poems published by Twitterization Nation, www.twitterization.wordpress.com and @nationOtwits and follow her on Twitter @CDanaherH
Cathy Whittaker has had a sequence of 15 poems published in Quintet, Cinnamon Press. Her work has also appeared in Under the Radar, Prole, The Interpreters House, Envoi, Orbis, Ink Sweat and Tears, Southlight, Obessed with Pipework, The Magnolia Review, Mslexia, and many other magazines and anthologies. She was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize. She won the Southport Writers Competition and was runner up for The Baker Prize. Cathy is a tutor in Creative Writing.
Charley Reay is a Newcastle based writer from the Lincolnshire Fens. Her poems are published by Obsessed With Pipework, Ink, Sweat & Tears, and Three Drops Press among others. She also performs on the North East spoken word scene.
You can find her on Twitter @charleyreay
Cheryl Pearson lives and writes in Manchester. Her poems have appeared in publications including The Guardian, Southword, Under The Radar, and Frontier. In 2017 she won the Torbay Poetry Competition, and was awarded second prize in the Cannon Poets Competition. Her first collection, ‘Oysterlight’, is available now from Pindrop Press.
Christopher Hopkins grew up in Neath, South Wales during the 1970’s surrounded by a landscape of machines and mountains. Christopher currently resides in the Canterbury area with his wife and baby daughter and works for NHS cancer services. His debut chapbook ‘Take Your Journeys Home’ has been released with Clare Songbirds Publishing House, New York and his second is due out in Spring 2018. He has been nominated for IPPY book award for poetry and has been nominated twice the for Pushcart Prize (2018) for his poems ‘Sorrow on the Hill’ and ‘Smoke and Whiskey’. Christopher has had numerous publications including The Morning Star Newspaper. His spoken word poetry has also featured in a podcast of Golden Walkmen Magazine.
Colin Dardis is a poet, editor and freelance arts facilitator from Northern Ireland. His work has been widely published throughout Ireland, UK and USA. Colin co-runs Poetry NI is the editor of FourXFour and Lagan Online, and was one of Eyewear Publishing's Best New British and Irish Poets 2016. A collection with Eyewear, ‘The X of Y’, is forthcoming in 2018. www.colindardispoet.co.uk
Connie Ramsay Bott grew up in Michigan, where many of her poems and stories take place. She teaches Creative Writing courses with a colleague (openmindwriting.com). Her novel Girl Without Skin was published by Cinnamon Press in September 2017.
CR Smith has been published both online and in print. You can find examples here https://crsmith2016.wordpress.com and instagram.com/smith.cr/@smith.cr and Twitter: @carolrosalind
Dave Kavanagh lives and writes in a small fishing village in North Count Dublin.
His work includes poetry, prose & short fiction. Dave has had work been recently published online at, Fourth & Sycamore, Algebra of Owls, Taxicab and others. His poetry has recently been included in the anthologies Poetry Soup (International Poetry Foundation) and Indelible Poets. Dave is originator and co-editor of The Blue Nib.
D. E. Kerr writes confessional poetry and fiction within Melbourne, Australia, on a phone, laptop, scrawled in notebooks, or on napkins - whatever she can find to write upon. Her debut poetry collection, ‘Carnival Games’, will be released in 2018. You can find her on instagram (d.e.kerr), facebook (D. E Kerr) or twitter (@d_e_kerr) for updates on her work.
Des Mannay is the winner of the rethinkyourmind poetry competition (2015). He is the 'Gold Award' winner in the Creative Futures Literary Awards (2015), and was shortlisted for the Erbacce prize for poetry (2015, and 2016), Welsh Poetry Competition (2015), The John Tripp and Idris Davies poetry competition; as well as being part of the Rhymney Valley Literature and Arts Festival 2016, and the Disability Arts Cymru poetry Competition (2016). He has poems published in I Am Not A Silent Poet online journal, The Angry Manifesto, Proletarian Poetry, Yellow Chair Review, Indiana Voice Journal, Stand Up And Spit, Red Poets, The Scum Gentry and work in a number of poetry anthologies. Des is on Facebook as ‘The stuff wot I wrote’ Des Mannay - Hooligan Poet and Twitter as @hooliganpoet
Earl. J. Guernsey Jr. was born in Syracuse, NY. He has been writing poetry and fiction since his early childhood days, many of which got published in local school magazines and journals. He published his first poem when he was nine when he won a local newspaper contest. His poetry is a reflection of his lifelong struggle with mental illness. A platform of which he uses to raise awareness about mental health and to advocate for better mental health services.
Eddie Carter writes mainly about insomnia, depression, lost love and how the modern working day can leave you feeling low. For Eddie, writing is therapeutic and a way of coping with depression. Eddie blogs at: http://gluebagsandlostlove.blogspot.co.uk/
Eduardo Escalante is a writer and researcher living in Valparaíso, Chile. He publishes regularly in Hispanic Reviews (Signum Nous, Nagari, Espacio Luke, Lakuma Pusaki, Sur Revista de Literatura, Revista Ariadna, Aurora Boreal, among others) and also in Spillwords, Slamchop, Writer Resist, Constellations, Peacock Journal (forthcoming), Adelaide Literary Magazine and, Gramma Poetry. His writing tells stories with a contemporary relevance and he write poems everyday.
Eithne Cullen was born in Dublin; her family moved to London when she was six years old. She has taught in East London secondary schools for 37 years. An avid reader, Eithne takes great pleasure from her reading group, which encourages an eclectic mix of books. She likes to write stories and poems and is a member of Forest Poets and Write Next Door writing groups. She lives with her husband in East London, is unashamedly proud of her three grown up children and endeavours to embarrass them as often as she can.
Eithne Lannon is a native of Dublin, Ireland. She’s been widely published in various magazines such as Boyne Berries, The Ogham Stone, Skylight 47, Stanzas, The Limerick Magazine and FLARE. On-line she’s published with Sheila-na-Gig, Headstuff, Barehands, BeZine, Tales from the Forest, A New Ulster and The Galway Review among others. She was Artist in Residence in Loughshinny Boathouse, Co. Dublin, during the summer of 2016.
Emma Lee has most recently published the book ‘Ghosts in the Desert’ (IDP, 2015). She co-edited ‘Over Land, Over Sea: poems for those seeking refuge’ (Five Leaves, 2015) and reviews for poetry journals and on her blog http://emmalee1.wordpress.com
Emma Major has been writing poetry since childhood but only started sharing it online in her 30s when she started writing poems about depression and baby loss. She writes in many poetic forms from haiku and cinquain to free prose, taking the lead from the subject matter and her emotions. She has written two collections of poetry ‘This is my story, this is my song’ and ‘An alphabet of mental health’ and has had poems included in two poetry anthologies. Emma is currently working on a book of poetry and reflections about her recent loss of eye sight due to a neurological condition.
Emma Mooney is a poet and novelist. Her novels, 'A Beautiful Game' and 'Wings to Fly' are published by Crooked Cat Books. She is currently completing her Master in Creative Writing at the University of Stirling and is working on her third novel. Emma believes passionately in giving everyone a voice. Find out more at www.emmamooney.co.uk
Emma Page was born and brought up in the Midlands, and has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pen. A politically active law graduate with a massive case of wanderlust, Emma has lived in both Italy and Jamaica. She performs at spoken word events and after a life-long wrestling match with depression and anxiety, the theme of mental health is a subject close to her heart.
Faatima Saleem is a 20 year old student at the University of Salford, currently studying Drama and Creative Writing. Faatima has been writing poetry for over two years online and more recently reading poetry at various different venues.
Faatima’s work often explores the elements and nature.
F.A. Peeke is a poet from South London. She began to explore her passion for writing at the tender age of seven and has been attempting to express a version of events through her eyes ever since, whether that be through her poetry, lyrics or photojournalistic exploits. Her debut poetry collection is due out in February 2018, called ‘Crossing Paths’ and will be available to buy on Amazon. You can also join the author on her popular Instagram page: @f.a.peeke or at her website: www.fapeeke.com
Finola Scott is a Slam winning granny whose poems are widely published in anthologies and magazines including And Other Poems, Obsessed with Pipework, The Ofi Press and Clear Poetry. Liz Lochead was her mentor on Glasgow's Clydebuilt Scheme.
Galya Varna is a poet, book reviewer and visual artist. Born in Varna, the summer capital of Bulgaria, on the Black Sea Coast, Galya Varna now lives in Greece, on the coast of the Aegean Sea. She has been writing poetry, short stories and plays for many years and is currently working on her first poetry book to be published at the beginning of 2018. Some of her poems are freely available on her blog www.galyavarna.wordpress.com. Galya is also the driving force behind the new creative project WeArtFriends and the bimonthly online magazine Doorway to Art. Galya Varna holds a MA in English literature and linguistics and language acquisition is another passion of hers. For many years she used to work in the area of social work, setting up and managing services in Bulgaria and South Eastern Europe for adults and children with mental health issues. You can contact Galya Varna on Twitter @GalyaVarna; Blog www.galyavarna.wordpress.com and through the website www.we-art-friends.com
Geraldine O’Kane is a poet, creative writing facilitator and mental health advocate. Her work has been published in numerous anthologies, journals and zines in Ireland, the UK and the US, most recently Arlen House, Eyewear Publishing, Flare Magazine, and Poems in Profile. Her manuscript was recently shortlisted for the 2017 Melita Hume poetry prize. Geraldine is co-host of Purely Poetry, a monthly poetry open mic night, run in partnership with the Crescent Arts Centre. Currently she is working towards her first full collection of poetry and was a recipient of the Artist Career Enhancement Scheme (ACES) 2015/16 from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Genevieve Glynn is a twenty one year old poet currently living in Liverpool. Her poem for this anthology is about depression and the knock on effect it has on loved ones. It was inspired by Bed by Tracy Emin which Genevieve saw displayed in the Tate Liverpool - she couldn't help but see the resemblance between the work and the spaces occupied by loved ones.
Glen Wilson lives and works in Portadown, Co Armagh. He has been widely published having work in The Honest Ulsterman, Foliate Oak, Iota, Southword and The Incubator Journal amongst others. In 2014 he won the Poetry Space competition and was shortlisted for the Wasafiri New Writing Prize. He won the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing 2017. He is currently working on his first collection of poetry.
Greg Robertson is a removal porter and a poet from sunny Leith, Scotland.
He picked up poetry through a love of language and self expression, revelling in the power of the word both written and spoken. This is his first publication.
Harriet Cooper was born in Solihull Hospital, screaming, 1985. Loves the colour purple, hates energy drinks; discovered the art of writing as a means of self-expression, via Bradgate Writers group. Her work is published in ‘A Visitor Calls’ an Arts Council England funded anthology (edited by Lydia Towsey and Peter Buckley) and recently featured as part of an installation exploring mental health and detention, created by artist and writer, David Parkin. Harriet is committed to challenging stigma, a subject close to her heart as a result of her own personal experience and many diagnoses. Loves the sunshine and being around water; the dog, Sonny - and beaches.
Hilary Robinson lives in Saddleworth and is a retired primary school teacher. She has had work published in The Interpreter’s House, Obsessed with Pipework, Avis, Strix and Riggwelter. Her poetry has been included in several anthologies such as ‘A New Manchester Alphabet’ (Manchester Writing School 2015) and ‘Noble Dissent’ (Beautiful Dragons Press 2017). Hilary has recently completed her MA in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. Since coming to poetry writing late in life, Hilary is trying to cram in as much of it as she can and will often be found at readings, workshops and launches. You can follow her on Twitter (@Hilro1) or on her occasional blog (mamierob.wordpress.com).
Hilary Walker began writing poetry at the suggestion of a friend and now enjoys writing and performing poetry on a regular basis. Hilary believes that within her poetry she creates a space of honesty that is difficult to find in any other aspect of her life. She writes passionately about life experiences in order to understand and make sense of the world. The poem featured in this anthology has recently been made into a video available on You Tube under Poet Mark Mace Smith.
Jade Moore is a freelance writer, journalist and poet living in Beeston, Nottingham. She uses poetry as a form of therapy to deal with her anxiety and relationship with her body. Often poetry is the best way for her voice to be heard, and she is steadily navigating Nottingham's spoken word scene. Her poems have appeared in oneiroi zine, Small Acts of Kindness Anthology, and Christmas Zine Vol. 2 published by Mud Press. Blogger at: advocateofbooks.wordpress.com
Jane Burn is a North East based artist and writer originally from South Yorkshire. Her poems have been featured in magazines such as The Rialto, Under The Radar, Butcher's Dog, Iota Poetry, And Other Poems, The Black Light Engine Room and many more, as well as anthologies from the Emma Press, Beautiful Dragons, Poetry Box, Emergency Poet and Kind of a Hurricane Press. Her pamphlets include Fat Around the Middle, published by Talking Pen and Tongues of Fire published by the BLER Press. Her first full collection, ‘nothing more to it than bubbles’ has been published by Indigo Dreams. She also established the poetry site The Fat Damsel. She was longlisted in the 2014 & 2016 National Poetry Competition.
Janet Dean lives in York. She has been shortlisted in the Bridport Prize and commended in the Stanza Poetry Competition. Most recently, her poems have been published in magazines and anthologies by Ariadne’s Thread, Paper Swans Press, The Morning Star, Templar Poetry and Clear Poetry. In 2016 she co-edited ‘The Friargate Anthology’ which was launched at the York Literature Festival, and in 2017 her poems appeared in The York Literary Review and The Valley Press Anthology of Yorkshire Poetry.
Jan Hedger started writing children's poetry in 2001 and this grew into what it is today, a diverse mix of dancing trees, to the reality of war, from deep emotion to gentle humour. Jan believes poetry should be accessible to all and one of her greatest joys is performing her poetry. Jan has self published 2 poetry books –‘Words in Imagination’ and ‘On Calico Wings’, and in 2013 produced, designed & printed ‘Our Friends & Their Habitats Near & Far’ - an animal poetry book. Jan is on the steering committee for the Wilfred Owen festival to be held in Oswestry in Nov 18’.
Jan McCarthy is a Mind member from the Black Country. She was a finalist for the Asham Literary Award 2011. She writes novels, poetry and short stories, and has also had articles on bipolar self-management published. She leads a Birmingham-based writing group and occasionally performs her poems at open mic nights. Website: www.janmccarthyauthor.com
Jacqueline Pemberton has been writing poetry for many years and is an active member in local poetry groups and open mics in Lancashire. Jacqueline has previously taught English and now she volunteers as a befriender for Age UK and for The Reader Charity. A number of her poems have been published and she has self published her own poetry collection and cd.
Jean O'Brien is the author of five collections, the most recent being ‘Fish on a Bicycle’ (Salmon Pub). She has won awards for her work including the Arvon International Poetry competition (2010). She holds an M.Phil in creative writing from Trinity College, Dublin (Irl.) and she currently teaches creative writing in places as diverse as schools, community groups, prisons and the Irish Writers Centre. www.jeanobrien.ie
Jeel Chung (Jeleen Tycangco) is a Philippine based writer aspiring to become a hybrid of a mermaid and a dragon, however life happened and she pursued a career in Engineering. If she is not crunching numbers and data, she is pouring out her heart to poetry and for her passion in sharing her advocacy. You can find out more at her Instagram: @jeelcheng
Jennie E. Owen has won competitions and has been widely published online, in literary journals and anthologies. She is a University Lecturer of Creative Writing and lives in Mawdesley, Lancashire with her husband and three children.
Jeremy Mifsud is a twenty-three year old psychology student from Malta. During a two-year phase of depression, poetry was vital to channel his emotions in a healthier way. Writing became a therapeutic method that worked wonders for his mental health. Even though almost 4 years passed since then, Jeremy has kept poetry as a main tool for expression. Jeremy also engages in mindfulness meditation, writes poetry every day and post some poems on his site as well as work on self-publishing projects.
Jinny Fisher is a member of Wells Fountain Poets. Print and online publications include The Interpreter’s House, Under the Radar, Prole, Tears in the Fence , Ink Sweat & Tears and The Poetry Shed. Her poem ‘Transition’ won 2nd Prize in The Interpreter’s House competition, 2016. She likes to push around her Poetry Pram, particularly at poetry and rock festivals. https://www.facebook.com/PoetryPram/
Jonathan Humble is a deputy head teacher in Cumbria. His poems have appeared in a number of publications online and in print, including Ink, Sweat and Tears, Obsessed With Pipework, Atrium, Riggwelter, Amaryllis and Fair Acre Press. My Camel’s Name Is Brian, his collection of light poetry, is published by the Tripe Marketing Board.
Jonathan Taylor is an author, lecturer, editor and critic. His books include the memoir Take Me Home: Parkinson's, My Father, Myself (Granta, 2007), the novel Melissa (Salt, 2015), and the poetry collection Musicolepsy (Shoestring, 2013). He directs the MA in Creative Writing at the University of Leicester.
Judith Carmody is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) from Co Kerry, Ireland. She is a published Author and Poet. She completed a foundation in counselling and a research thesis in communication. She has recently published Co-Bully No More and co-authored FINDING YOUR VOICE: The Assertive & Empowered Woman.
Kathryn Metcalfe has been published in several anthologies and literary magazines. She is a member of the Mill Girl Poets, a group of women who wrote and performed a stage show about the lives, loves and heritage of the Paisley Thread Mill workers. She also founded and runs a monthly poetry/spoken word open mic session in a local coffee shop.
Katie Lewington has been writing ever since she can remember, developing her unique style of writing. She has self-published several chapbooks of poetry on her travels, experiences of love, and humorous food themed pieces too. She works on her blog The Poetry Hub reviewing books, sharing poetry, and interviewing writers. She likes to engage with other writers and bibliophiles through social media.
Kelsi Rose is a Central Pennsylvania-based Poet stuck in her own head who has, for the past twelve years, crafted poetry that caters to a range of emotions, people, and personalities. Her first collection, ‘Sparrow’ debuted in early 2016 from Winter Goose Publishing, who will also be publishing her second collection at an undisclosed date. Additionally, Kelsi Rose’s writing has appeared in Eskimo Pie and is forthcoming in ‘Heart of Courage’, an anthology coming from Swyer’s Publishing Summer 2018. As a person who has struggled with various mental health issues over the past decade, Kelsi Rose understands the importance of mental wellbeing and has often used her writing as a coping mechanism.
Kim Goldberg is the author of seven books of poetry and nonfiction. She is a winner of Canada's Rannu Fund Poetry Prize for Speculative Literature and other distinctions. Her poems have appeared in magazines and anthologies around the world. She lives on Vancouver Island, Canada. https://pigsquash.wordpress.com/
Kitty Coles has been widely published in magazines and anthologies. She was one of the two winners of the Indigo Dreams Pamphlet Prize 2016 and her debut pamphlet, Seal Wife, was published in 2017. www.kittyrcoles.com
Laura Ashley has been writing since she was in Middle school and became a lot more active with writing in her 20s. Poetry collection ‘Table for One’ was released in May 2017. Through writing Laura has learned so much and through the writing community. Suffering from anxiety and Multiple Sclerosis, Laura is no stranger to mental health lows but hopes her words will remind others that they are not alone in the fight.
Leila Tualla is a Filipino-American memoirist, poet, and Christian author. Leila’s books include a YA Christian contemporary romance called, Love, Defined and a memoir/poetry collection called ‘Storm of Hope: God, Preeclampsia, Depression and me’. Her poetry is featured in two mental health anthologies, ‘Letters of May’ and ‘We are Not Alone: Stories of Mental Health Awareness’. She is currently working on a poetry collection based on Asian American stereotypes, titled the Token Asian writes. Leila lives in Houston, Texas with her first generation Mexican American husband and two miracle “Mexipino” babies.
Lexi Vranick is an independent poet and fiction author based in New York. She is the author of ‘Ready Aim Fire: A Poetry Collection’, ‘Basket Case: A Short (Short) Story Collection’, and ‘Exit Ghost’. She is a member of the Long Island Writer's Guild and a student at Gotham Writer's Workshop. She can often be seen at local book shops, searching for stories at the bottom of coffee cups.
Linda M. Crate has been published in numerous anthologies and magazines both print and online. She is a two-time push cart nominee and the author of four published chapbooks. The latest book of poetry being ‘My Wings Were Made to Fly.’ (Flutter Press, September 2017).
Lorraine Carey is an Irish poet and artist. Her poems have featured in: The Blue Nib, Ariel Chart, Sixteen, Olentangy Review, The Honest Ulsterman, Proletarian, Poetry Breakfast, Atrium, Poethead, Live Encounters, Three Drops From A Cauldron and Picaroon among others. She has poems forthcoming in Prole, The Runt Zine and Laldy. A runner up in both the Trocaire / Poetry Ireland Competition and The Blue Nib Chapbook Competition 2017, she has contributed poetry to several anthologies.
Margaret O'Driscoll is a full time carer of a loved one with mental health issues and is a poet, editor and curator. She published her first poetry collection in 2016 and it has received star reviews. Many of her poems appear in journals, and magazines worldwide and her poetry is translated into many languages.
Martin Swords is a member of Wicklow Writers Group. He runs Glendalough Guided Walks, giving Walks ‘n Talks in the Monastic City and The Valley of Glendalough. He has a background in Communications, Radio and Graphic Design. He has been writing Poetry and short stories since 1990. Martin is published in Lifelines New and Collected, Voyages, Wicklow Writers Anthology, A View from Tiglin, The Space Inside, Wicklow Arts Magazine, Anniversary Anthology celebrating Ten Years of Wicklow Writers; The Prairie Schooner Ireland Edition Winter 2011, University of Nebraska U.S.A., New York Times Blog, and various editions Glendalough and Laragh News. He lives in Tiglin, Co. Wicklow
Melissa Jacob is passionate about inclusion and storytelling. She's most inspired when considering how the latter can facilitate the former. More of her words can be found here: https://sarsaparilla72.wordpress.com/author/sarsaparilla72/
Michelle Diaz has been writing since the late 90s. She has been published by Prole, Live Canon and Amaryllis. She was recently awarded 3rd place in the Mere Literary Poetry competition. She runs a monthly poetry group in Glastonbury. Poetry is her passion.
Mike Gallagher is an Irish writer, poet and editor. His prose, poetry, haiku and songs have been published throughout Europe, America, Australia, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Mexico, The Philippines, Japan and Canada. His writing has been translated into Irish, Croatian, Japanese, Dutch, German, Italian and Chinese. He won the Michael Hartnett Viva Voce competition in 2010 and 2016, was shortlisted for the Hennessy Award in 2011 and won the Desmond O'Grady International Poetry Contest in 2012. His poetry collection ‘Stick on Stone’ was published by Revival Press in 2013.
Melissa Jennings is an English Literature student at the University of Glasgow. They published their debut poetry collection Afterlife in May 2017 and published their first chapbook dear judas in February 2018. Melissa is an avid reader, writer, and reviewer. They are currently working on their next full-length poetry collection, Underworld, which will be released in summer 2018. You can find out more at melissajennings.co
Miriam Calleja is a bilingual author from Malta. Her poetry collections, ‘Pomegranate Heart’ (EDE Books, 2015) and ‘Inside Skin’ (EDE Books, 2016), have been described as ‘fresh’, ‘intimate’, and ‘sensual’. In 2015 she was shortlisted for a literary excellence award for her poem ‘Burying the Dark’, which has been published in an anthology by Magic Oxygen in the UK. She dedicates her time facilitating creative writing workshops, writing for performances or publications, and devouring books. She has read at events in Malta, London, and New York. In 2017 she was recognised by the Network of Young Women Leaders as a leading female artist in Malta. She moonlights as a pharmacist, loves the sea, cats, coffee, and travelling.
Molly Frawley is a poet from Fife who writes primarily about love, sex, and mental health. Whilst studying in Glasgow, Molly discovered the wonders of spoken word poetry and maintains it is the best form of therapy she has ever experienced.
Nancy Matchton Owens, AKA Nancy Dawn Hails, is from Long Island NY. She is a singer/entertainer/ writer living in Dublin, Ireland. She facilitates a writing group in the community and has co-written a play called ‘How safe are your secrets?’, performed in Dublin. She writes short stories and poetry and has been published in The Womans Way. At present she is in the process of putting a blog together called Butterflyblues and a lot of the pieces will be surrounding Mental health and well being.
Neil Elder has had work published in a number of magazines and journals. In November 2017 his chapbook, 'Being Present', was published by The Black Light Engine Room and his pamphlet, 'Codes of Conduct', was a winner of the Cinnamon Press Pamphlet Competition. Neil's full debut collection, 'The Space Between Us' is to be published in Spring 2018 with Cinnamon Press. Neil lives in NW London where he teaches at a secondary school.
Niall O’Connor is an internationally published poet and blogger, Pushcart Prize nominee, and author of acclaimed poetry collection ‘Change in the Wind’. He now lives in Bunaterin, in Ireland, caught between an ancient Esker and a modern highway. He draws inspiration from both. ‘We are invited into a world where humans live in intimate contact with the earth, sea, and sky—where the elemental and its ancient mysteries and deep truths take precedence over the ego-based jockeying and maneuvering of cities.’
Nina Lewis is published in a range of anthologies including Paper Swans Press and Fair Acre Press, magazines including Abridged, Under the Radar, HCE and online. Nina’s poems appeared on the Poetry Trail at Wenlock Poetry Festival and BIG Lit Festival, 21 Haiku were used in an Art Installation at the MAC. In 2014 she was commissioned to perform at Birmingham Literature Festival. Her début pamphlet ‘Fragile Houses’ was published by V. Press, 2016. In 2017 Nina was in Room 204 Writer Development programme- WWM, appointed Worcestershire Poet Laureate and Reader in Residence at Rugby Library -WMRN. Website: https://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/
Olivia Tuck lives in Wiltshire with her parents, her sisters and her Cocker Spaniel – and with Asperger’s Syndrome and borderline personality disorder! She was a 2014 Wicked Young Writers’ Award finalist, has had pieces published on Amaryllis Poetry, on Lonesome October Lit and in Three Drops from a Cauldron, and recently had a story shortlisted for the Hysteria Writing Competition. Olivia was thrilled to be a guest poet at the 2017 Swindon Poetry Festival. She is due to start at Bath Spa University in the autumn, to study for a BA in Creative Writing.
Owen Gallagher has previously published: ‘Sat Guru Snowman’, Peterloo Poets, ‘Tea with the Taliban’, Smokestack Books, and ‘A Good Enough Love’, Salmon Poetry, Ireland, 2015, which was nominated for the T.S.Elliot award.
Peadar O’Donoghue is the Co-editor of PB poetry magazine, his second collection, The Death of Poetry, is due out in the Spring, from Salmon Poetry. He has been on medication for depression for the past 9 years.
Peter Adair is a 12NOW (New Original Writer) with Lagan Online. He won the 2015 Translink Poetry Competition and the 2016 Funeral Services Northern Ireland Poetry Competition. His poems have appeared in The Honest Ulsterman, The Galway Review, FourXFour, Snakeskin, I am not a silent poet and other journals and e-anthologies. He has read at the Belfast Book Festival and Aspects Festival. He is a member of Queen’s University Writers’ Group. He lives in Bangor, Northern Ireland.
Peter Lilly is a twenty nine year old British poet who grew up in Gloucestershire. After studying Theology in London, he worked for a homelessness charity in Watford for 5 years where he had the privilege to work alongside ‘Mind’. He now lives in Montpellier, France, and has been published in the online journal Barehands.
Blog: http://peterlillypoetry.blogspot.com/ Twitter: @peterlillypoems
Peter Raynard is a poet and editor of Proletarian Poetry: the poetry of working class lives, which has featured over 130 poets (www.proletarianpoetry.com). He is a member of Malika's Poetry Kitchen. His poems have appeared in a number of publications and his debut collection, ‘Precarious’ will be published in April by Smokestack Books. He can be found twittering @peter_raynard; @proletarian_poet
Rachel Burns has been widely published in UK literary magazines. She was shortlisted for The Keats- Shelley Adult Prize 2017. Currently, she is an Arvon/Jerwood playwright mentee. Twitter @RachelLBurnsme; Blog https://rachelburnssite.wordpress.com/
Rachel Davies has been published in journals and anthologies, most recently Riggwelter, The North and Beautiful Dragons Press ‘Noble Dissent’. She has been a prize winner in several poetry competitions. She co-ordinates East Manchester and Tameside Stanza, is on Poets & Players organising committee. She has an MA in Creative Writing and is working towards a PhD in poetry from MMU. You can read her blog here: racheld1607.com
Rachel McGladdery lives and writes in rural Lancashire, with her 4 children and 3 cats. She has been published both online and on paper, most recently in YorkMix, Prole and Atrium and has an upcoming poem in Riggwelter. She has made a number of poetry films in collaboration with Big Tree Productions.
Rachel Stephanie Akinyi also known as Spontaneous the poet is a Kenyan ‘floet’, incorporating both spoken word and music in her artistry. She likes to categorize her works as conscious, inspired by experiences with the Almighty. Aside from artistry, she wears many hats, among them being an Assistant Program Officer at Peace Tree Network, an active humanitarian, and a cofounder and artist manager at ANIKA 254.
Raine Geoghegan, MA, is a poet and prose writer. Her poems have been published in print and online in both literary journals and anthologies. In 2017 she read a selection of poems and monologues in a short film about the Roma, hop picking in Herefordshire, to be screened in 2018. She will also be giving live readings alongside the screenings at various venues and events including Ledbury Poetry Festival. One of her Romani poems will be published in Under the Radar magazine in Spring 2018.
Randall Horton retired in 2016 from teaching philosophy at a community college in Houston, Texas, and moved to Derbyshire County, where he now lives and writes. He holds a PhD in Medical Humanities from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas.
Ravi Naicker was born and raised on the Farm Glen Albyn. He is a retired Teacher, a keen reader and music lover, and an occasional writer of poems. Ravi recently published his anthology of poems entitled, ‘Wellington Rings a Bell’.
Roy Moller was born in Edinburgh of Canadian stock, and now lives in Dunbar, East Lothian. Poetry gives him a way to express the ups and downs of living with dyspraxia. His work has been published by the likes of Ink, Sweat & Tears, Anti-Heroin Chic, And More Poems and in the Neu! Reekie! anthology '#UntitledTwo'.
Ruth Aylett lives in Edinburgh where she teaches and researches university-level computing. She was joint author with Beth McDonough of the pamphlet ‘Handfast’, published in 2016. One of four authors of the online epic Granite University, she performed with Sarah the Poetic Robot at the 2012 Edinburgh Free Fringe. She has been published by The North, Prole, Antiphon, Interpreter’s House, New Writing Scotland, South Bank Poetry, Envoi, Bloodaxe Books, Red Squirrel Press, Doire Press and others. See www.macs.hw.ac.uk/~ruth/writing.html for more.
Sallyanne Rock lives in Worcestershire, raising two daughters, reading, learning and writing poetry & short fiction. She has recently been published in Ellipsis Zine.
Sarah Evans has had many short stories published in anthologies, magazines and online. Prizes have been awarded by, amongst others: Words and Women, Winston Fletcher, Stratford Literary Festival, Glass Woman and Rubery. Other publishing outlets include: the Bridport Prize, Unthank Books, Riptide, Shooter and Best New Writing. Writing poetry is a more recent venture. Twitter: @Sarah_mm_Evans
Sarah L Dixon is based in Linthwaite and tours as The Quiet Compere. She has been most recently published in Confluence Medway. Her first book, ‘The sky is cracked’, was released by Half Moon Press in November 2017. Sarah’s inspiration comes from being close to water and adventures with her son, Frank (7).
Sarah Wallis is a poet and playwright based in Leeds. She works with magical realism and a sense of playful observation both in her stage work, poetry, flash fiction and has been published in numerous journals, most recently the Yorkshire Poetry Anthology from Valley Press, Watermarks; For Lido Lovers and Wild Swimmers by the Frogmore Papers and Ellipsis. She has held residencies at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Harrogate Theatre which supported her plays Laridae and The Rain King.
Seanín Hughes is a poet and writer from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, where she lives with her partner and four children. She has been published in a number of literary journals, including Poethead, Dodging The Rain, Cold Coffee Stand and projects by Lagan Online and A New Ulster. Seanín’s influences and interests lie in a vast spectrum of areas, but she has particular interest in themes involving motherhood, mental health and disability of all forms and types.
SM Jenkin was born in Chatham and is an editorial advisor for Confluence magazine. She performs regularly on the Kent Live-lit scene and has had work published in literary publications including: Anti-Heroin Chic, Boyne Berries, Dissonance Magazine, City Without a Head and The Mermaid.
@sajenks42 and
Spreken began writing prose and poetry at a young age, but began to focus on poetry in her early teens. She headlined ‘Paint it Black’, a poetry night in aid of Mental Health Awareness in 2017, and her first collaborative poetry collection with good friend and poet Matt Chamberlain was published in the same year.
Stephen Byrne is a chef and writer originally from Dublin and now lives in Chicago. His debut book 'Somewhere but not Here' was selected by Vinita Agrawal for the RL Poetry Award, 2016 in the international category. He has been published worldwide and writes about food and recipes for the website, This is Galway. Website:
Stephen Watt is Dumbarton Football Club's Poet-in-Residence. His debut collection 'Spit' was published in 2012 by Bonacia Ltd after beating 8,000 entrants to win the Poetry Rivals slam, and follow-up pamphlet 'Optograms' published by Wild Word Press in 2016. Stephen is one half of experimental gothic music/spoken word project Neon Poltergeist, and became the first 'crime poet' to appear at International Crime Literature festival, Bloody Scotland.
Sue Mackrell has been published in Agenda, The Coffee House, Roundyhouse, Poems in the Waiting Room and Riptide, as well as online. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Loughborough University, where she also taught. More of her work can be found on
Susan Millar DuMars was born in Philadelphia but lives in Galway, Ireland. She is the author of four poetry collections, the most recent of which, ‘Bone Fire’, was published in 2016 by Salmon Poetry. Her New and Selected will appear in 2019. Susan is the co-founder and organiser of the Over the Edge readings series in Galway. OTE will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary in January, 2018.
Victoria Richards is a journalist and writer. She was ‘highly commended’ for poetry in the Bridport Prize 2017, shortlisted in the Hysteria UK Writing Competition 2017 and longlisted in the Yeovil Literary Prize 2017. She lives in London where she is writing a novel, short stories and a poetry collection. Victoria was recently longlisted in the Cinnamon Press Debut Poetry Collection Prize 2017.
William Hatchett is a journalist and the editor of a trade magazine, based in London. William studied English and then American literature at the Universities of Bangor (in North Wales) and Paris VIII (St Denis). His love of writing includes a love of form and structure in poetry and art. The project is close to home for William, who has in the past received treatment for mental health. William is a happy father and granddad.