(Former)
1/10/10 → 5/10/17
Practice-based PhD in Creative Writing (Poetry), completed in 2017.
Supervisors: Professor Jo Shapcott, Dr Kristen Kreider
Thesis: On the Threshold: the Polyphonic Poetry Sequence
My research focuses on the distinguishing features of multiple-voice contemporary poetry sequences and their connections to music, especially through the metaphor of polyphony. The primary sequences under examination are The Adoption Papers by Jackie Kay, Room of Leaves by Amanda Dalton, and Circus Fire, 1944 by Gabrielle Calvocoressi. The creative component is a collection of polyphonic and poly-vocal poetry including ‘The Calling’, a pamphlet-length work for four voices, and ‘Composition’, a sequence comprised of sixteen vocal portraits.
I am a keen observer of borders, with an interest in hybrid and multi-media forms and where boundaries blur between poetry / prose / travel & nature writing / music / drama / visual art / languages. I am a member of the International Society for the Study of Narrative, the National Association of Writers in Education, and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I write poetry book reviews for Frogmore Press and blog about writing and reading at http://whenyoureadtome.blogspot.co.uk/
My poetry has been published in a wide variety of magazines and journals including Envoi, HARTS & Minds: The Journal of Humanities and Arts, The Interpreter’s House, Iota, Magma, Mslexia, The North, The Rialto, Southword, The Still Point Journal, Wasafiri, Visual Verse. Poetry and flash fiction have also placed or won awards in Troubadour International Poetry Prize (2011), Wasafiri New Writing Prize (2013), Magma Judge’s Prize (2014), The Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition (2015), Literary Kitchen Flash Fiction Contest (2015), Mslexia Women’s Poetry Competition (2015).
Conferences and Performances
International Conference on Narrative, University of Kentucky, Speaker, March 2017
Creative Historiographies, Royal Holloway Seminar Series, Speaker, March 2016
The Calling, New Writing South Brighton, December 2015
Written & Composed: Truth / Lies, Hackney Picturehouse, Sept 2015
The Place for Poetry Conference, Goldsmiths University, Speaker,May 2015
Confessions of a Writing Group, New Writing South Brighton, April 2015
Needlewriters Anthology Launch, East Sussex, March 2015
Needlewriters, East Sussex, Headline poet, October 2014
Margins, Oxford English Faculty Graduate Conference, Speaker, June 2014
The Silence of the Bees: A Science Opera, RHUL Science Festival, March 2013
Royal Holloway Research Forum, Science Opera, Speaker, November 2012
Poets’ Research Forum, Royal Holloway, Speaker, December 2011
Runnymede International Literature Festival: Poetry Symposium, 2011
Event Coordination:
PhD Creative Writing: Poetry, Royal Holloway, University of London (2017)
MA: English Literature: Sexual Dissidence and Cultural Change, University of Sussex (2003)
BA (Hons): English Literature and Creative Writing, University of Florida (2000)
Associate of Arts: World Religions; Women’s Studies, University of Florida (2000)
Semester Abroad, University College Cork, Ireland (1999)
Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
ID: 4205