In conversation with Ralph Dartford with readings from her new collection, ‘Constructing a Witch’’.
Ralph Dartford and JP Seabright. Readings and in Conversation – 14th November.
Join Ralph Dartford and JP Seabright as they read for their latest collections, ‘House Anthems’ and ‘White Cloud Over Purple’.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE THIRTEENTH EDITION
Welcome. Thirteen is supposed to be unlucky. Now, we’re not a tremendously superstitious bunch. We try not to walk under ladders, but we don’t steer clear of black cats and you won’t catch us chucking […]
The Writing Reader by Jo Bell
Reader, if you have a printer then print this article out, step away from the screen and read it in one sitting. I say this because I’ve been thinking about reading, and reading about thinking. […]
The Coconut Shell by Jeremy Hinchliff
Floods spread out like a bad feeling, getting everywhere you could imagine. They did so by stealth, bringing fear, as though a murderer was on the loose, not just an extra ten square miles of water. Rivers crossed smaller rivers and absconded with them.
Poems by Penny Sharman
Penny Sharman started writing poetry in her fifties. She is inspired by wild landscapes and relationships between the seen and unseen. She is a published poet, photographer, artist and therapist. Penny has an MA in Creative Writing from Edge Hill University, has had poems published in The North, Mslexia, Candlestick Press and many others.
Poems by Barbara Bleiman
Barbara Bleiman is an ex-English teacher and education consultant at the English and Media Centre (EMC), with a keen interest in poetry. She has written numerous articles and blogs and a book about English teaching, What Matters in English Teaching.
Adrift by Erin Braithwaite
Barbara from channel four is halfway through her report on the boats when it happens. The sudden silence. The red of her blazer is replaced by a blue screen.
NO SIGNAL.
Check your internet connection and try again
Poems by Caleb Parkin
Caleb Parkin, Bristol City Poet 2020 – 22, has poems in The Guardian, The Rialto, The Poetry Review and was guest poet on BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Please. He has three pamphlets.
The Think Chair by Rachel Burrows
Today, I had to sit on the think chair. Because I ate Maggie’s lunch.
‘It was not yours to eat,’ the teacher said.
‘But I was hungry,’ I said, but not out loud.
I had to sit on the think chair and think.
Exotic Crash by Barry Charman
The morning after the exotic crash, Zeff wasn’t sure what could be done. He’d spent hours making calls, telling everyone who needed to know. Most of them were asleep, some of them couldn’t even understand.
Poems by Tommy Sissons
Tommy Sissons is a novelist, poet, playwright and educator based in London. He is the author of the polemic ‘A Small Man’s England’, and the novel ‘Cautious, A Boat Adrift’.
Poems by Claire Schlinkert
Claire Schlinkert is a British children’s writer, currently living with her family in Belgium. She loves writing poems and playing with words, and she has published her writing in anthologies and magazines, including Tyger Tyger, The Toy and Little Thoughts Press.
The ocean is only there to make us feel stupid by Mark Holmes
You picked up a stone and threw it hard, overarm towards the horizon, dusting the sand from your fingertips onto the oversized woollen jumper that hung low beneath your zipped up cagoule.
Poems by Andrea Holland
Andrea Holland has two collections of poetry, ‘Broadcasting’, which won the Norfolk Commission for Poetry and ‘Borrowed’ (Smith/Doorstop) a first-stage winner in The Poetry Business contest. Individual poems appear in journals and anthologies.
Silver Linings by Liam Hogan
The horse pulled up with a snort in front of the next dwelling on their list. The wizard, dozing in the cart behind, tugged the floppy hat from her eyes and did a double blink. An unusual place to live. But this was the Enchanted Forest, where building permission was granted retrospectively by council workers wary of the threat of curse and counter curse.
Getting Away With Murder: The Art of Writing Suspense with Russ Thomas (22nd August, online)
Russ Thomas is the bestselling author of the DS Adam Tyler novels, which include Firewatching, Nighthawking, Cold Reckoning, and his latest work Sleeping Dogs. He is published by Simon and Schuster in the UK, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Random House) in the US, and is represented by Sarah Hornsley of Peters, Fraser + Dunlop.
Welcome to the Gravy Post
A brand new feature from Northern Gravy. News direct to your inbox covering our thoughts on all things Poetry, Fiction and writing for Children. Plus tips on how to get published by us!
How to and how not to write a memoir, with Vicky Foster (18th July, 2024.)
Vicky Foster is an award-winning writer, performer and poet who has broadcast extensively across the BBC. In this practical workshop, Vicky Foster discusses her new memoir, “It Happened Like This.” There will also be essential exercises on how you could write one too!
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE TWELFTH EDITION
Edition Twelve is here, and it marks the end of year two of Northern Gravy. Two years is, paradoxically, both a long time and a very short time. It seems like only yesterday we were […]
Where Everybody Knows Your Name by Russ Thomas
Author of the DS Adam Tyler series Fire watching, Nighthawking and Cold Reckoning. Published by Simon & Schuster in the UK and by G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Random House) in the US. I’m represented by Sarah Hornsley of Peters, Fraser + Dunlop.
Poems by Wendy Dossett
Wendy Dossett lives in rural Eryri. She’s fascinated by the experiences classified in some forms of Buddhism as craving, desire and aversion. She’s drawn to earth-bound and narrative sources of healing and hope that fully acknowledge the realities of suffering and inadequacy.
I Applaud as Stars Shoot Across the Sky by Emma Burnett
Just like I applaud when she makes dinner appear on the table like magic, or when she manifests tickets to the coolest new shows in town. She likes the recognition, likes to be seen. It’s something I noticed about her, even on our first date, when she made the wilting restaurant flowers re-bloom, and I had gasped in wonder.
Poems by Arlette Manasseh
Arlette Manasseh likes films, novels, poetry and chocolate. Some of her favourite reads are middle grade verse novels. These poems are taken from a verse novel she is writing about a thirteen year old girl called Breeze who lives in a small coastal town, where bullying has become a big problem.
Poems by Matt Gilbert
Matt Gilbert is a freelance copywriter. Originally from Bristol, he currently gets his fill of urban hills in South East London. He has had poems published by Acumen, Atrium, Finished Creatures and The Storms among others. He also writes a blog about place, books, poetry and other distractions at richlyevocative.net.
The Pros and Cons of Conditioning by Laura Besley
I research how to make my boys’ hair grow faster: I wash it in special shampoo and ignore them when they complain I rinse it in cold water; I make them take additional vitamins after breakfast and massage their scalps while they’re watching TV; I buy a special brush with bristly bristles to distribute their natural oils and I do this two, three, four times per day.
When The Moon Goes Down by Kelly Burden
Kelly Burden is a primary school Teaching Assistant, living in West Sussex with her husband and young daughter. She recently graduated with distinction from The University of Winchester’s MA in Writing for Children and is currently working on her first middle-grade novel.
Poems by Hannah Stone
Hannah Stone lives in Leeds, where she is involved in various community poetry events, including as convenor of the poet-composers forum for Leeds Lieder, compere of the monthly Wordspace open mic in Horsforth and free lance work as poet-theologian for Leeds Church Institute as well as events at East Leeds Community FM Radio.
Tough Love by Ava Sedgwick
“You need fattening up.” Mrs Murphy slapped another ladleful of boiled turnip onto her grown son’s plate. “Anyone would think I wasn’t feeding you.” Three months ago, when Alan returned to the nest, she bought him a set of matching shirts with the same confidence as she used to buy his nappies.
Poems by Sinéad Callanan
Sinéad Callanan is a teacher and poet from Limerick, Ireland. She is currently completing a Masters in Children’s Literature and Media. Her work has appeared in PaperBound Magazine, Little Thoughts Press and Paper Lanterns. Even more of her work has gone into making her friends, family and young pupils laugh.
Poems by Steve Denehen
Steve Denehan lives in Kildare, Ireland with his wife Eimear and daughter Robin. He is the author of two chapbooks and five poetry collections. Winner of the Anthony Cronin Poetry Award and twice winner of Irish Times’ New Irish Writing, his numerous publication credits include Poetry Ireland Review and Westerly.
Bernauer Strasse, 13th August 1961 by Emma Venables
I stand on Bernauer Strasse, looking at metal curls, wondering how high I can jump; whether I should be wearing trousers rather than a summer dress; whether I really should chance my luck now – maybe the rumours of concrete blocks to come, obscuring the view as well as the access to the other side of the street are false.
Poems by Mark Bird
Mark Bird is a children’s poet and teacher. He was born in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire and now lives in London. Mark’s debut picture book, ‘Halloween Date From Hell’ came out in October 2022. Mark has featured in The Caterpillar, Gill Education’s ‘Over The Moon’ series, Brian Moses’ ‘The Best Ever Book of Funny Poems’ anthology and many magazines.
The Secrets to Writing for Children – Create, Educate, Illuminate! – Thursday, 18th April, 2024.
Want to write for primary aged readers? This interactive workshop has the secrets you need to write stories and poems for kids!
An Introduction to the Eleventh Edition
Welcome 2024 is upon us, and with it comes many new things. Spring lambs, poets sitting in meadows beside babbling brooks (sorry Ralph!), and a flurry of new writing. It’s also a time for seeing […]
WRITING POETRY FOR CHILDREN by Brian Moses
Brian Moses has been a professional children’s poet since 1988.. To date he has over 220 books published and over 1 million copies sold. His new book On Poetry Street will be published in May.
Poems by Linda Middleton
Linda lives in a leafy corner of England and is passionate about inspiring others with her poetry for children. Her work has been published widely online and in journals and anthologies.
Gavin Jones – The Constellation of the Little Fox
“If you know what you’re listening for, and you concentrate hard enough, you’ll hear them up here, away from it all. We’ll see them.”
I listen. A fox barks.
Poems by Joe Williams
Joe Williams is a writer and performing poet from Leeds. His latest book is ‘The Taking Part’, a short collection of poems on the theme of sport and games, published by Maytree Press.
Decisions, Decisions by Laura Cooney
You are on a quest to save the forest. Exhausted you sleep for the first time in three days, and awake to find that you are in a dark woodland glade …
The IRA Bombed Brighton in 1984 by Stephen Sharp
1
A tabby was sleeping by four ripening peaches as its feeder asked: do Jesuits make the best writers?
‘Your eyes are moist’.
Poems by Hilary Elder
Hilary (she/her) was born, raised and lives in the Far North of England – though she has been to other places. She writes fiction and poetry for children and adults, runs workshops and does collaborative projects.
Two Hundred Years is a Long Time by June Gemmell
I pressed myself into the soft shadows as the dark figure hovered a few feet away. Pencil thin, dressed in a frock-coat and top hat, he seemed to be looking for someone. He may have breathed my name just then, but it was faint, a mere murmur.
Cate West – The Thumb
His uncle was famous for shooting his thumb off while climbing a stile. He’d show you the result, given half a chance, thin hard hands cupped and shaking, the left side whittled, a seam of scarring.
Poems by Rob Walton
Rob Walton is a working class writer from Scunthorpe, who now lives in Whitley Bay. His poems, flash fictions and short stories for adults and children have appeared in various anthologies and magazines in the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand.
Poems by Jane Thorp
Jane Thorp has had many poems published in magazines. She won the Yeovil Literary Prize for Poetry in 2023. She was shortlisted in The Plough Poetry Prize 2013, children’s category, and has been commended and shortlisted in other poetry prizes.
Angry by Bob Johnston
Lord Serriorth’s name originated on an island far to the west. It related to anger, and he embraced that without even knowing the fact. He was simply a furious person, from the moment he woke in the morning, until the last moment he fell into bed, huffing, puffing and enraged about something or other.
Poems by Carson Wolfe
Carson Wolfe (they/she) is a Mancunian poet and winner of New Writing North’s Debut Poetry Prize (2023). Their work has appeared or is forthcoming with Rattle, The Rumpus, The North, New Welsh Review, and Evergreen Review.