Welcome
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, as the song says and adverts constantly remind us. However, unlike just about everything else at this time of year, we’re not about to cost you a fortune.
First of all, we’ve got a little something for you that won’t cost you a penny: Edition 14 of Northern Gravy. 12 pieces of the finest new writing, plus an article by the wonderful Piu DasGupta.
Go ahead, you can open it now, no need to wait until the 25th.
If you are in the market for a lovely Christmas present for someone special and literary in your life, however, we have a couple of suggestions you might like.
Firstly, our very own prince of poetry, Ralph Dartford, has a new collection out. House Anthems is a beautiful book, not just thanks to the gorgeous verse it contains, but the book itself is a proper stunner. You can get your very own copy, or one for a special someone, in our shop
If you want to treat yourself, and you absolutely ought to, why not consider buying yourself a ticket for our next live event? On December 12th, we’re very excited to able to bring you How To Land An Agent, with the marvellous Kesia Lupo. A veteran literary agent and editor, Kesia will help you achieve every aspiring author’s New Year’s resolution: to get published. Tickets and details can be found here: HOW TO LAND AN AGENT – with Kesia Lupo – 12th December
That’ll do for now, we don’t want to spoil your appetite for roast turkey and all the trimmings. Instead, we’ll hand over to our individual editors to introduce you to their picks for this edition:
poA word from our Poetry Editor, Ralph Dartford
The poems selected for edition 14 are playful in their complete seriousness. They look at us as people and reflect on the natural and human made world. These poems are looking for answers and inciting arguments. Read them and join in!
A word from our Fiction Editor, Nick Jones
Many of these pieces deal with time as theme, whether it be an important moment, or the span of a life. Time underpins the novel as a discipline, but here it’s used to spectacular effect by writers of exceptional skill in a shorter, but no less intricate, form.
A word from our Kid Lit Editor, Jonny Syer
For only the second time I have decided to published all poetry, I don’t take this decision lightly but these poems screamed out at me more than any others. They bring together the things I love most about this time of year: fun, wit, humour and thought. The variety is outstanding but they link together like Christmas lights.
Guest Article
Our fourteen article is written by award winning author Piu DasGupta. Piu’s debut middle grade novel, Secrets of the Snakestone, was an Official Indie Children’s Bestseller, a Times Children’s Book of the Week and was widely reviewed in The Guardian, New Statesman and The Observer. Piu’s discusses how to write a page turner for kids!
READ PIU’S ARTICLE NOW.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as we have enjoyed curating it. Northern Gravy continues to break down barriers by paying every writer they feature.
As ever, we would like to thank our friends and advisors: Arts Council England, Sheffield Hallam University, New Writing North, Writing on the Wall, Spread the Word, Harper North, Writing East Midlands and Bradford Literature Festival.
