ABOUT ME
I have two published novels, two pamphlets and two collections. I grew up in inner city London and attended state school in Camden. I studied for my BA and MA at Roehampton University. I am the mum of two young children - who are 6 and 3! I was inspired to start MumWrite during lockdown in 2020 when I realised I wasn't putting my writing first and felt guilty about taking time for myself. I couldn't find workshops that could work for me timing-wise, income-wise and in terms of interruptions from kids! So I created MumWrite.
I can guide you, support you and help you develop as I was in the same place as you not long ago - wondering when I would find time to write and feeling like I wasn't doing what I wanted to do! Now, I want to share my passion with you and help you get your writing out into the world! I want to give mums and women writers a safe and supportive space to write, grow confidence, communicate and experiment with new techniques.
streetcake magazine and prize:
I am Managing Editor of streetcake magazine, which I started with Trini Decombe in 2008. streetcake publishes an online issue every 2-3 months and in 2019, we launched the streetcake experimental writing prize, supported by the Arts Council England. The prize offers mentoring and feedback as prizes, which is partly delivered by me.
Workshops:
-I have delivered workshops as part of the Stay at Home Festival, the Stay at Home Fringe Festival, Untitled Writing's underrepped writers' day, the streetcake writing prize, for universities, business clients, and in schools.
-I created the MumWrite development programme- involving workshops, a network of writers, and online community, a toolkit for writers and more.
-I have acted as a visiting lecturer at Roehampton University.
-I have extensive teaching experience as an EFL teacher in London and Madrid.
Published work:
My second novel, Volta, won the Virginia Prize 2020 and was published by Aurora Metro in May 2021. My first novel, Ellipsis, was published in 2010. My chapbook, exits/origins, is published by Knives Forks and Spoons Press (2010) and my collection, Hope Alt Delete, is also published by them (2016). One of my poems was also featured in The Blackpool Illuminations (2016). I also have a hybrid pamphlet about dementia, I'd Better Let You Go, with Beir Bua Press (2021). My latest collection, Fanny B. Mine was also published by Beir Bua Press (2021). I have a forthcoming Legitimate Snack with Broken Sleep in 2022.
Read more about my publications on my site.
Awards:
-Novel, Volta, winner of the Virginia Prize 2020. Published 2021.
-Shortlisted in the London Writers' Competition in 2003 for poetry.
-Won the Promise Prize for poetry in the London Writers' Competition 2005.
-Novel, Ellipsis, shortlisted for the Ideastap Inspires programme in 2014.
I have a background in publishing, teaching and editing. Past and present roles include:
-Marketing for small businesses and charities
-Visiting lecturer at Roehampton University
-EFL teacher (8 years) in Madrid and London
-Freelance editor and proofreader (10+ years)
- Production Manager of magazine supplements (2 years)
- School Programmes' Coordinator at Booktrust, for Booktime (1 year)
- Subscriptions Manager for The Wolf poetry magazine (1 year)
- SYP Production Assistant and Commissioning Editor for In Print magazine (2 years)
I can guide you, support you and help you develop as I was in the same place as you not long ago - wondering when I would find time to write and feeling like I wasn't doing what I wanted to do! Now, I want to share my passion with you and help you get your writing out into the world! I want to give mums and women writers a safe and supportive space to write, grow confidence, communicate and experiment with new techniques.
streetcake magazine and prize:
I am Managing Editor of streetcake magazine, which I started with Trini Decombe in 2008. streetcake publishes an online issue every 2-3 months and in 2019, we launched the streetcake experimental writing prize, supported by the Arts Council England. The prize offers mentoring and feedback as prizes, which is partly delivered by me.
Workshops:
-I have delivered workshops as part of the Stay at Home Festival, the Stay at Home Fringe Festival, Untitled Writing's underrepped writers' day, the streetcake writing prize, for universities, business clients, and in schools.
-I created the MumWrite development programme- involving workshops, a network of writers, and online community, a toolkit for writers and more.
-I have acted as a visiting lecturer at Roehampton University.
-I have extensive teaching experience as an EFL teacher in London and Madrid.
Published work:
My second novel, Volta, won the Virginia Prize 2020 and was published by Aurora Metro in May 2021. My first novel, Ellipsis, was published in 2010. My chapbook, exits/origins, is published by Knives Forks and Spoons Press (2010) and my collection, Hope Alt Delete, is also published by them (2016). One of my poems was also featured in The Blackpool Illuminations (2016). I also have a hybrid pamphlet about dementia, I'd Better Let You Go, with Beir Bua Press (2021). My latest collection, Fanny B. Mine was also published by Beir Bua Press (2021). I have a forthcoming Legitimate Snack with Broken Sleep in 2022.
Read more about my publications on my site.
Awards:
-Novel, Volta, winner of the Virginia Prize 2020. Published 2021.
-Shortlisted in the London Writers' Competition in 2003 for poetry.
-Won the Promise Prize for poetry in the London Writers' Competition 2005.
-Novel, Ellipsis, shortlisted for the Ideastap Inspires programme in 2014.
I have a background in publishing, teaching and editing. Past and present roles include:
-Marketing for small businesses and charities
-Visiting lecturer at Roehampton University
-EFL teacher (8 years) in Madrid and London
-Freelance editor and proofreader (10+ years)
- Production Manager of magazine supplements (2 years)
- School Programmes' Coordinator at Booktrust, for Booktime (1 year)
- Subscriptions Manager for The Wolf poetry magazine (1 year)
- SYP Production Assistant and Commissioning Editor for In Print magazine (2 years)
