Saturday 16 December 2017

Now Then - Word Life 49

 Hello!


 Issue 49 of Now Then Manchester is here. This month's Word Life section is a collaboration with Manchester Creative Writing Society: I interviewed the Society's Chair, Roma Havers, and curated work from members Shenez Khanum, Grigorii Timofeev and Chhavi Mahajan.

 There are also listings for upcoming literary events and workshops in Manchester from groups such as Young Identity, Bad Language, First Draft and The Real Story.

 I hope you enjoy the issue.

 Liz x

Saturday 2 December 2017

Tuesday 28 November 2017

The Cluny - Salamanca and Peaches

 Hello!


 Back in January I had two poems published in The Cluny MCR. I am very happy that they have just published two more of my poems, in the new Glad & Sorry Issue. I attended the launch in Manchester - it was a great night. 

 I hope you enjoy "Salamanca" and "Peaches", inspired by my travels in Spain and France respectively.

 Liz x

Thursday 16 November 2017

Sincerely Magazine: Volume 5 - Onism

 Hi!


 I am very happy to have two poems, "Orbits" and "Gold", in the latest issue of Sincerely Magazine. Sincerely is always a beautiful publication, combining word and image incredibly well. You can buy Volume 5 as an eBook or a paperback.

 I hope you enjoy my poems.

 Liz x

Wednesday 15 November 2017

Now Then - Word Life 48

 Hello!


 Issue 48 of Now Then Manchester is out now. For this month's Word Life I decided to celebrate flash fiction, with four very different pieces of writing from Glen Sorestad, Maria Sledmere, AM Roselli and Ray Busler.

 I hope you enjoy it.

 Liz x

Tuesday 14 November 2017

News - September and October 2017

 Hello!


 I am back from my year in France and Spain and am getting stuck into my Masters. It is lovely being back in Manchester - I can review local gigs for The Mancunion and be a Digital Reporter for Manchester Literature Festival. I have also been involved in some creative projects around the city and with The Writing Squad.

 Firstly, I want to tell you about some publications I have been a part of. Two of my poems, "Bartók's Dance Suite and sour" and "Green Flash", were published in The Compass, and my poem "Serpentine" appeared in Planet Slop. My flash piece "Stuff and sales" was published in both Visual Verse and Creative Review.

 My poem "Anatomy" appeared in Papaya Press's What She Knew zine, and my "Things that are inexplicably similar" was chosen for the 2017 Peeking Cat Poetry Anthology. Three of my poems, "Old rain", "Eden" and "Going", were published in Introduction X: The Poetry Business Book of New Poets.

 It has also been good to see some projects I have edited for coming to fruition, such as The Rebirth Issue of Miracle Magazine, for which I was Head Poetry Editor. September's Word Life had the theme of "Family"; October's, the theme of "Memories".

 We celebrated one year of Foxglove Journal, my online venue for poetry and fiction. I am very proud of all that the Journal has achieved. I also did an interview with Peeking Cat Poetry, and have a snazzy new profile on The Writing Squad's site. I hope you enjoy learning more about my writing.

 I reviewed several books for Cuckoo Review: Tender Earth by Sita Brahmachari, Songs About Us by Chris Russell and The Secret Cooking Club: Confetti & Cake by Laurel Remington. I also wrote a piece on Indigo Girls' 1994 album Swamp Ophelia for The Mancunion.

 I reviewed Honey G and Gabrielle Aplin for The Mancunion, and Roddy Doyle for Manchester Literature Festival's Chapter and Verse Blog.

 Finally, I took part in a writing residency in Northumberland, as part of my prize for being announced as a New North Poet in the Northern Writers' Awards. It was a great weekend and the countryside was truly beautiful. I enjoyed getting to know the other four winning poets.

 So, I had a productive two months. Here's to a fun, creative winter.

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

Monday 13 November 2017

MLF17: Roddy Doyle

 Hello!

Photo from Manchester Literature Festival website
 You may remember that I reviewed Roddy Doyle at Manchester Literature Festival back in 2013. This year I was once again a Digital Reporter for the Festival, and was lucky enough to attend and review Roddy's event for the Festival's Chapter & Verse Blog.

 I hope you enjoy my thoughts on the evening.

 Liz x

Sunday 12 November 2017

The Mancunion - Gabrielle Aplin

 Hello!

Photo: Wikimedia Commons. From The Mancunion's website

 You may remember that I reviewed Gabrielle Aplin for The Mancunion a couple of years ago. I was very happy to have the opportunity to see her again, this time in the unique setting of Manchester Cathedral and with South Shields singer Sonny as support.

 I hope you enjoy my review.

 Liz x

Friday 10 November 2017

The Mancunion - Honey G review

 Hello!


 Just letting you know that my review of Honey G's show at Manchester Academy 3 has been published in The Mancunion. This was the rapper's first ever headline gig, so it was exciting to be there.

 I hope you enjoy learning my thoughts on this controversial X Factor star.

 Liz x

Tuesday 7 November 2017

Creative Review and Visual Verse

 Hello!


 I am delighted to have a flash fiction piece simultaneously in Creative Review and Visual Verse, as part of a collaboration between the two publications.

 You can read "Stuff and sales" online in Visual Verse here, and check out Creative Review here.

 I hope you enjoy my writing.

 Liz x

Monday 23 October 2017

Friday 20 October 2017

The Secret Cooking Club: Confetti & Cake

 Hello!


 Just letting you know that my review of Laurel Remington's The Secret Cooking Club: Confetti & Cake has been published by Cuckoo Review.

 I hope you enjoy learning my thoughts on this new novel.

 Liz x

Tuesday 17 October 2017

Now Then - Word Life 47

 Hello!


 Issue 47 of Word Life is here. Curated by me, it lists various upcoming literary events in Manchester and showcases creative writing on the theme of "Memories".

 I hope you enjoy this set of poems from James Diaz, Ann Christine Tabaka, Genevieve Carver, Claire Sexton, Ryan Quinn Flanagan, Elliott Mills, Fabrice Poussin, AM Roselli.

 Liz x

Friday 6 October 2017

Introduction X: The Poetry Business Book of New Poets

 Hello!


 I'm very happy to announce that three of my poems, "Old rain", "Eden" and "Going" will appear in Introduction X: The Poetry Business Book of New Poets. It is a real honour to be a part of such an exciting project.

 I hope you enjoy my contributions.

 Liz x

Thursday 5 October 2017

The Mancunion: Foxglove's first year

 Hello!


 I've written a piece for The Mancunion - both the print and online edition - telling the story of Foxglove Journal.

 With my magazine approaching its first birthday, I really enjoyed looking back on how it all began and how far we have come.

 I hope you enjoy the article, too.

 Liz x

Wednesday 4 October 2017

The Mancunion - Indigo Girls: Swamp Ophelia

 Hello!


 My write-up of Indigo Girls' 1994 album Swamp Ophelia has been published in The Mancunion, both in print and online.

 I also reviewed their earlier Rites of Passage earlier this year, so feel free to have a look at that, too.

 I hope you enjoy my reviews.

 Liz x

Sunday 24 September 2017

The Compass

 Hello!


 I am delighted that two of my poems have been published in The Compass. 

 I hope you enjoy "Bartók's Dance Suite and sour" and "Green Flash".

 Liz x

Monday 18 September 2017

What She Knew zine

 Hello!


 I'm very happy to have a poem, "Anatomy", in What She Knew, a zine published by Papaya Press and dedicated to the work of Lydia Davis.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x

Tuesday 12 September 2017

Writing Squad profile

 Hello!


 I'm delighted to have an elegant page on the new Writing Squad website. You can find out about my achievements as a writer, and there are links to my social media and online projects.

 The Writing Squad have also shared the news about my Northern Writers' Award.

 I hope you enjoy the new site!

 Liz x

Saturday 9 September 2017

Songs About Us

 Hello!


 Just letting you know that my review of Chris Russell's Songs About Us has been published in Cuckoo Review.

 This sequel to Songs About a Girl deals with friendship, family mysteries, complicated relationships and, of course, music.

 I hope you enjoy learning my thoughts on it.

 Liz x

Wednesday 6 September 2017

Now Then - Word Life 46

 Hello!


 Issue 46 of Now Then Manchester is here, and this time we have not one but two Word Life pages - one for events listings and poetry, the other for fiction. Hopefully this can continue. 

 September's theme is "Family" and we have some great writing from Jo Boon, Meredith LeMaître, Ray Ball, John Grey, Rachel Bower, Ann Christine Tabaka, Claire Sexton, Glen Sorestad, Michael Griffith and Elspeth Vischer.

 I hope you enjoy this month's issue.

 Liz x

Tuesday 5 September 2017

Tender Earth

 Hello!


 My review of Sita Brahmachari's new novel Tender Earth has been published by Cuckoo Review.

 I hope you enjoy learning my thoughts on this latest installment in the Levenson family's story.

 Liz x

Monday 4 September 2017

News - July and August 2017

 Hello!


 After returning from my hectic but wonderful semester in Galicia, I enjoyed spending summer with my family in the UK. I celebrated some creative achievements, which I'm looking forward to sharing with you.

 Firstly, I had poems published in several journals: "December, Manchester" in Minute Magazine, "Perpignan sestina" in Cake Magazine and "The shady part" in Atrium Poetry.

 Additionally, three of my flash fiction pieces - "Montgomery Road", "Something like soap" and "Climbing the mountain"- appeared in Open Pen.

 Secondly, I interviewed one of my favourite songwriters, Amy Ray of Indigo Girls, for Now Then Manchester, before reviewing Indigo Girls' RNCM gig with Lucy Wainwright Roche for the magazine.

 Also in Now Then are my thoughts on Available Light, a dance spectacle that was performed at the Palace Theatre as part of Manchester International Festival.

 July's Word Life had the theme of "Colours", and August's had the theme, "Stages of life". I love curating these monthly sets of writing and spreading the word about upcoming events in Manchester.

 I shared my thoughts on two new books for Cuckoo Review: The Girl of Glass by Holly Webb and The True Colour of Forever by Carrie Firestone.

 Foxglove Journal held a Summer Writing Week, which was a huge success. I'm very proud of how my magazine is doing - soon it will be celebrating its first birthday!

 With autumn and a new semester arriving, there are some exciting times ahead. I have several exciting pieces of news that I will soon be able to share, so watch this space!

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

Sunday 3 September 2017

Miracle Magazine - The Rebirth Issue

 Hello!


 The latest issue of Miracle Magazine - and my last as Head Poetry Editor - is out now and has the theme of Rebirth.

 I have enjoyed being part of the Miracle creative writing team for the last four years and am proud of all we have achieved. I have made some great friends who I know I will stay in touch with.

 I hope you enjoy the issue.

 Liz x

Saturday 2 September 2017

Friday 11 August 2017

The True Colour of Forever

 Hello!


 My review of Carrie Firestone's novel The True Colour of Forever has been published in Cuckoo Review. This new release is set in The Hamptons and is about an unlikely group of friends.

 I hope you enjoy my review.

 Liz x

Wednesday 9 August 2017

Now Then - Available Light review

 Hello!


 Just letting you know that my review of Available Light has been published in Now Then Manchester.

 This dance piece was performed at the Palace Theatre as part of Manchester International Festival 2017 and was fascinating to watch.

 I hope you enjoy learning my thoughts on it.

 Liz x

Tuesday 8 August 2017

Now Then - Indigo Girls review

 Hello!

Photos by me

 My review of Indigo Girls' gig with Lucy Wainwright Roche at the RNCM has been published in August's issue of Now Then Manchester. The show was part of their 2017 UK Tour and was a pleasure to attend.

 I hope you enjoy my write-up.

 Liz x

Monday 7 August 2017

Now Then - Word Life 45

 Hello!


 I'm pleased to introduce Issue 45 of Word Life, which has the theme "Stages of life". It features information on spoken word events in Manchester as well as poetry from Kersten Christianson, Carl Boon, Ken Allan Dronsfield, Jo Boon, Kate Garrett, Allison Grayhurst, Joan McNerney and Ann Christine Tabaka.

 I love editing this page and I hope you enjoy reading it.

 Liz x

Sunday 6 August 2017

Cake Magazine - Perpignan sestina

 Hello!


 When I started sending my writing out to journals, I stumbled upon one in particular that I loved. Cake Magazine was beautifully designed and featured great writers. Every issue was named after a type of cake: Battenberg, Key Lime, Cherry Bakewell. I dreamt of seeing my own work there.

 Now my poem "Perpignan sestina" has been published in Issue 9, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. It is an amazing feeling, and proof to me that dreams really can come true if you work hard. I am very happy, and very grateful to everyone who has encouraged me with my poetry.

 I hope you enjoy the issue and my poem. You can learn more about the city of Perpignan on my travel blog.

 Liz x

Wednesday 26 July 2017

Sunday 9 July 2017

News - May and June 2017

 Hello!


 May and June were hectic months for me, what with doing my exams in Spain and then finishing my semester there and returning to the UK. There have also been some major developments on the writing front, and I can't wait to tell you about them.

 Firstly, I won a Northern Writers' Award! I was chosen as one of five New North Poets. My prize is a year of mentoring with The Poetry School and Clare Pollard. This is a huge milestone in my writing career and I'm very happy.

 Secondly, I've had a number of poems published in magazines and journals. "Perpignan" appeared in The Fractured Nuance, "Why" in Peeking Cat Poetry, "How I could learn to dance" in The Ham, "Waiting" in The Kindling, "Serpentine" in In The Red, "Flowers" in Sea Foam Mag and "Meiga" in Antiphon.

 My poem "Unnaturally blue" was published in Picaroon Poetry's Troubadour anthology and I found out that a story about my cat, Kitt, had been published in Your Cat Magazine back in December. I also wrote an article on French-language musicians for Cuckoo Review.

 I'm enjoying my post as curator of Now Then Manchester's Word Life section - May's issue had "The sea" as a theme, and included my poem "Ink sea" along with work from four other writers. June's issue had the theme of "You" or the second person, and included five great pieces.

 Finally, my magazine, Foxglove Journal, celebrated its one hundredth piece of writing. Editing Foxglove has been a wonderful experience, and I look forward to the next hundred pieces and beyond.

 Overall, I'm pleased with how I'm doing with my writing and other projects, and am looking forward to a summer of creativity.

 Thanks for reading.

 Liz x

Friday 7 July 2017

Now Then - Word Life 44

Hello!


 Now Then Manchester 44 is here! This month's Word Life page, curated by me, features seven poems on the theme of "Colours" as well as July's literary event listings for Manchester.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x

Thursday 6 July 2017

Now Then - Interview with Amy Ray

 Hello!


 Issue 44 of Now Then Manchester is out and includes my interview with Amy Ray of Indigo Girls.

 We talk about the folk duo's upcoming UK tour, the secret to their long-lasting success, their solo projects, social media, writing advice and more.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 You can also read my review for The Mancunion of Indigo Girls' album Rites of Passage.

 Liz x

Sunday 2 July 2017

Northern Writers' Awards 2017

 Hello!


 I am extremely happy to have been announced as a winner in the New North Poets section of the Northern Writers' Awards. The ceremony, on Thursday night at Northumbria University, was a really lovely evening of food, writing and celebration.

 Receiving such a prestigious award is amazing. I'm greatly looking forward to my prize, which is a year of mentoring with The Poetry School and Clare Pollard. I'm also excited to get to know the four other poets chosen. The next year looks to be a great one for me creatively.

 Many thanks to everyone who has read and enjoyed my writing over the years, and congratulations to all of the award-winners.

 Liz x

Saturday 1 July 2017

The Girl of Glass

 Hello!


 In 2015 I reviewed Holly Webb's The Water Horse for Cuckoo Review. I enjoyed the novel very much, and so was pleased to get the chance to review another instalment in the Magical Venice series. My review of The Girl of Glass is up on Cuckoo Review now.

 I hope you enjoy learning about this beautiful book.

 Liz x

Friday 30 June 2017

Antiphon - Meiga

 Hello!


 My poem "Meiga" has been published in Issue 21 of Antiphon. It is about a species of flatfish eaten frequently in Galicia, where I lived for several months. You can find it on page 40.

 I hope you enjoy my writing.

 Liz x

Monday 12 June 2017

100 Foxglove Journal posts!

 Hello!


 I'm very happy to announce that Foxglove Journal, the online literary magazine I founded, has published its one hundredth piece of writing! I hope you have enjoyed sharing this journey.

 Please consider sending us your best poetry and/or fiction - it will be treated with respect and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

 Here's to another hundred posts!

 Liz x

Saturday 10 June 2017

Sea Foam Mag - Flowers

 Hello!


 Last year my poem "The stars", along with a selection of my photographs, was published by Sea Foam Mag. I'm very happy to now have a second poem published there, "Flowers".

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x

Friday 9 June 2017

Now Then - Word Life 43

 Hello!


 Issue 43 of Now Then Manchester's Word Life is here, curated by me and featuring some of June's top poetry and spoken-word events in Manchester as well as five great pieces of writing on the theme of "you" or the second person.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x

Thursday 8 June 2017

In The Red - Serpentine

 Hello!


 I'm very happy to have a poem in In The Red 15. "Serpentine" is part of my series on Chinese zodiac animals, along with "Rooster" and "Sheepgoat".

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x

Wednesday 7 June 2017

Troubadour anthology

 Hello!


 My poem "Unnaturally blue", which previously appeared in Rising Phoenix Review, has now also been published in Picaroon Poetry's Troubadour anthology. I'm very happy to be a part of this music-themed project.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x

Friday 2 June 2017

Thursday 1 June 2017

Your Cat Magazine - Little and large

 Hello!


 A few years ago an article I wrote about my late rescue cat Murphy was published in Your Cat Magazine. I recently found out that another piece I wrote appeared in the December 2016 issue. 

 "Little and large: A tale of two tabbies" completes Murphy's story and introduces our current cat, Kitt. It also features photos by me. The issue seems to currently be out of print but if you do find it, I hope you enjoy it.

 Liz x

Monday 22 May 2017

Now Then - Word Life 42

 Hello!


 I'm very happy to announce that May's issue of Word Life is here! It is my third as editor and has the theme of the sea. 

 My own poem "Ink sea" features, alongside four others and my round-up of literary events in Manchester.

 I hope you enjoy it!

 Liz x