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An introduction to the seventeenth edition
Welcome And that, as they say, is that Edition 17 is here. Usually, we like to start these introductions with a little witty joke, a point about writing, or some reminder about the power of […]
What’s next? By Jonny Syer
When one door closes another one opens? I’m not so sure… sometimes, you have to kick the door down. I have often been told I live with my head in the clouds, I am happiest […]
On Knowing When To Stop by Nick Jones
The hardest part of being an editor for Northern Gravy, without a shadow of a doubt, has been all the rejections. I’m no stranger to rejection myself, having written six unpublished novels. I did manage […]
This Poet’s Life by Ralph Dartford
How do! This is my last article as poetry editor for Northern Gravy. As much as I have loved the role and working with the great Jinny Syer and Nick Jones, it’s time to move […]
Poems by Jane Newberry
Jane Newberry is a children’s writer, living in Cornwall and yearning to be a grown-up poet. Retirement three years ago brought more time for trying new literary genres. Hoyden’s Trove (Wheelsong Books) is Jane’s debut […]
The Lake by Jo Barsdsley
If Radclyffe hadn’t had to be put down at the same time Hatton had been nominated for Conservationist of the Year for the lake, Alice probably would never have considered arson. Or at least not […]
Poems by Pamela Galloway
Pamela Galloway lives in Manchester, her birthplace, having returned from 39 years in BC, Canada to help care for her elderly mother. Pam’s recent writing has focused on this time. The poems explore aspects of […]
Death Waiver by Taslin Pollock
“Oi, reckon somethin’ is followin’ you,” crowed a melodic voice in her head. Rimsha ran her hand through her raven cropped hair and moved away from the lingering remnant of death through which the voice […]
Honey for the Soul by Zelda C. Thorne
Ten-year-old Lea Wilde had a secret. A nasty one that gnawed inside her as she peered into the oven, pretending she didn’t want to cry. On a stool in the corner, her mum, who used […]
Poems by Carole Bromley
Carole Bromley lives in York and writes for both adults and children. She has five titles with Smith/Doorstop and one with Valley Press. She has won a number of prizes, including the Bridport, the Hamish […]
The Sleeping Giant by Moira McPartlin
I have to put Dad to bed again. Not strip him or anything, that’s just gross. I take his manky slippers off his cheesy feet, try to fold the hole of his socks over so […]
How to Handle Unsolicited Opinions by Amanda Marples
Enough now, Anna-piana. The day may have proceeded the usual way, had Grandy’s voice not arisen in Anna’s mind with the suddenness of a fired gun. It would have been more of a shock after […]
Poems by Mark Lambert
Mark Lambert came to writing late. It started as a way of providing context for his photography, printmaking and painting. Mark writes as part of his visual art practice- providing content for handmade books and […]
Spirit Song by Sian Chaney-Price
My people have lived at the bottom of the Mourn Mountains for as long as time has been recorded. It is our duty to look after the sacred mountains and to accompany those who come […]
Skin by Florianne Humphrey
She’d shed so many times. Sometimes her skin lightly fell and gathered in icing-sugar piles on the carpet. Sometimes, snake-like, she sloughed off an entire girl-shaped shell. That Halloween, instead of decorations, her mum hung […]
Poems by Pippa Little
Pippa Little lives in Northumberland with her rescue dog Lucy. She’s currently working on her fourth collection, as yet untitled. Recent poems have appeared in The Robert Graves Review and Mugwort. She has taught poetry […]
An introduction to the sixteenth edition
Sometimes we have great ideas. Launching Northern Gravy was a pretty good one, look how that’s turned out. And sometimes, we just do things that are, well, let’s just say they look good on paper. […]
The Poem and the Poet (Ralph Dartford). Adlestrop by Edward Thomas.
Occasionally, our poetry editor, Ralph Dartford takes a personal look at a specific poem he loves and investigates his own relationship with the poem and the author’s motivations to write it. Does the poem reflect […]
WHY I CHOSE (Nick Jones) – THE WRONG BONES, BY HILARY ELDER
Last time I wrote one of these, I spoke on the incomparable Mollusc, by Dan Draper. In that article, I admittedly openly that I never expected it to be a story that people cited as […]
Pivotal paragraphs and the importance of structure in writing for children (Jonny Syer)
I think I get a lot of submissions from writers who don’t read many modern children’s books… I could never be entirely sure, of course, but it’s my gut feeling. I’m not unkind to these […]
The Book of Best Days by Chris Cottom
It’s inconvenient of my mother to die the day after our house goes on the market. I end up calling family and funeral directors while Carys shows people around our four-bedroomed detached. ‘Although,’ I say […]
Poems by Lindy Newns
Lindy Newns lives in Manchester, UK where they can be seen jogging along the Bridgewater Canal trying to rhyme. They appear at open mics around the city and facilitate Mostly Manchester, an online Stanza group. […]
Five Minutes by Joanna Todd
You’ve got five minutes, Year 7,’ Miss Peters says. ‘Chop chop.’ Five minutes. Always five. We’re leaving in five minutes. Just give me five minutes. HARVEY, WILL YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE FOR FIVE MINUTES […]
Herself Anodyne by Emma Burnett
She is herself anodyne. Off the train and into the queue, she offends no one shuffling forwards with her papers in hand. Here, the guard says, bored in his booth. Pick one. She holds her […]
Poems by Dino Mahoney
Konstandinos (Dino) Mahoney lives between London and the Greek island of Aegina. He won publication of his second collection, THE GREAT COMET OF 1996 Foretells, in the Live Canon Collection Competition 2021. His first collection, […]
Room for an Elephant by Louise Jones
Tibs was washing his paws when he overheard his folks having an alarming conversation. He pricked his ears and crept closer to the kitchen table. ‘Pleeeeeeease, Dad!’ pleaded Molly, crunching her crackly cereal. ‘She’s got […]
Grief Owe Us Nothing by Deb Waters
Our town is in a county no one wanted. Dad says to me, ‘Julie, Humberside was formed to put us on the map,’ but he still calls it East Yorkshire. Even with a new name […]
Poems by Kristina Diprose
Kristina Diprose co-runs the Rhubarb open mic in Shipley, and co-edited its anthologies Un/Forced and Seconds. She won the inaugural Oxford Canal Festival poetry competition in 2024, has been shortlisted in the Wolverhampton Literature Festival, Ginkgo Prize and […]
Poems by Emma Lee
Emma Lee’s publications include “The Significance of a Dress” (Arachne, 2020) and “Ghosts in the Desert” (IDP, 2015). She co-edited “Over Land, Over Sea,” (Five Leaves, 2015), reviews for magazines and blogs at https://emmalee1.wordpress.com. Her […]
Prick by Mal Ellison
“You got silent eyes,” I said. “Silent as dolls.” “That doesn’t make sense,” she said and sucked away on her Marlboro light. “The best things don’t make sense,” I explained. And she smiled but then […]
Poems by Inga Piotrowska
Inga Piotrowska is a Polish poet based in Manchester, UK. Her debut poetry collection was published in Poland in 2018, marking the beginning of her literary journey. In 2023, she was shortlisted for The Bridport […]
Estie’s Place by Sarah Connell
Portcreif, 1952 Estie toed the edge of the shallows and contemplated shoving Jago off the harbour wall. It would make a satisfying splash, she decided, and put an end to his triumphant crowing. ‘Fancy a […]
The Northern Gravy Children’s and Young Readers Anthology
Our children’s anthology features poetry and stories for young readers. The poems and stories within this collection are fun and exciting, meaningful and inspiring. Adventure awaits within these pages.
The Northern Gravy Fiction Anthology
The Fiction in this collection crackles with emotional charge. There are moments in here that will snatch your breath, make you laugh, make your heart ache or your tears fall. Work that will keep you up at night, both afraid and deep in thought. It will stay with you, long after you finish it, begging to be read again and again.
The Northern Gravy Poetry Anthology
So here we have a selection of poems that charm, challenge, weep and argue. They tell stories not just of the individual poet, but of the world we dare to live in. They demand to be read and reread, shared and debated. With poetry in our lives, our hearts miss a beat, the unseen becomes revealed and understanding closer within our reach.
An introduction to the fifteenth edition
Welcome Hello again old friends and new friends alike. It’s the season of love. Valentines is either a sweet or bitter memory for many of us, but let us not get our heads crowded with […]
In defence of the joyful writer by Beverley Ward
I took my teenaged son to an intimate gig with bluegrass singer, Lewis Pugh, last night. It’s our new favourite pastime, to explore the musical scene of our hometown, this steel-strung city. Because, after fourteen […]
Poems by Mark Connors
Mark Connors is an award winning writer, creative writing facilitator and publisher from Leeds, UK. Mark has had over 300 poems published in magazines and anthologies. His debut poetry pamphlet, Life is a Long Song was published by OWF Press in 2015.
My Friend Oliver by CS Mee
I always asked for him first, before they even took my coat. I would search for his face, his gait, the red lace-ups that caused him so much trouble.
Poems by Charlotte Oliver
Charlotte Oliver is an Ilkley Literature Festival New Northern Poet 2023 and was recently Lead Artist for the Yorkshire Coast on Spoken Word Power 2024. Published widely in journals and anthologies including Candlestick Press’ Christmas Walks, she has placed in a number of competitions including Wirral Poetry Prize, the Patricia Eschen Poetry Prize 2022 and Wetherby Festival Poetry Competition.
Poems by Kathy Miles
Kathy Miles lives in West Wales. Her work has appeared widely in magazines and anthologies, and her fifth full poetry collection, Vanishing Point, was published by Palewell Press in April 2024. She was the winner of the 2024 Frogmore Poetry Prize, and is a previous winner of the Bridport Prize.
The Long, Slow Taste of Disappointment by Emma Phillips
I taste people. Where others form first impressions with their eyes, I see in flavours. The man on the bus is chicken fried in oil. Our neighbour, Julie, is a doughnut.
Poems by Amy Fox
Amy Fox loves writing, nature and the outdoors. She is especially passionate about connecting people with the nature on their doorsteps and enjoys appreciating small, often overlooked details while finding fresh ways to observe and celebrate them.
Poems by Safa Maryam
Safa Maryam is a poet and doctor from the North. Her work has appeared in Dear Damsels, Mslexia, Medical Women, and Anthropocene amongst others. Most recently her work has been anthologised in Thresholds (Butcher’s Dog Publishing 2024) and COAL (Smith|Doorstop 2024).
The Deer and Alice by Jon Rand
I wasn’t allowed but I followed him. Daddy had a gun and I followed him. I got so close, but he never saw me. Then the bang went around and I saw. He killed her.
Poems by Philip Waddell
Philip Waddell was born in the former British Guiana but has now lived for long enough in his Oxfordshire village to properly qualify as a villager. Since the 90s his poems for children and young people have appeared in anthologies by Macmillan, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Nosy Crow and many others.
Poems by Jen Feroze
Jen Feroze lives by the sea in Essex. Her work has appeared in publications including Acumen, Under the Radar, Butcher’s Dog, Poetry Wales, Black Iris, Magma, And Other Poems and Berlin Lit.