Authors' Biographies
Julianne Benford
Julianne Benford graduated with a BA (Hons) in Media and Modern Literature from Goldsmiths last year. Born, bred and resident in south London, she writes short stories, occasional poetry, the odd play, has several novels in progress and also blogs about fashion and literature. The blogs and more information about her can be found at www.ladyjulianne.com. Her e-mail address is juliannelefay@googlemail.com.
Novel Excerpt: Almost Ordinary – Chapter 2
Adam Blakely
Adam Blakey is from Nottingham. His meta-literature deals with Functional Boredom and his anger towards his main two characters; Robert and Alex. As well as football, Adam enjoys existentialism and Russian novels. He is currently working on a collection of short stories about the public executions of all the Channel 4 Chefs in a socialist, utopian future after the economic downturn. His email is adamjjblakey@yahoo.co.uk.
Novel Excerpt: Better To Be Fucked and Fucked Off, Then Never Fucked At All
Neil Bradley
A native South Londoner, Neil Bradley is the former spoof Wildlife Editor for BBC Radio London’s Vanessa Feltz Show, who describes himself as the “Charlie Drake of the literary world. In his spare time he is a football fanzine columnist and serial letter writer. He also, somewhat bizarrely, writes eulogies and personal histories, which he performs at the funerals of strangers. Neil has long since abandoned hope of ever completing a trilogy of novels, and is currently working on a memoir. He one day hopes to write The Great American Novel or, failing that, a “Very big Cheque!”
Life Writing: The Telephone Call
Sara Bynoe
Sara Bynoe grew up in Canada and works as a writer and an actor. As a writer Sara has worked in radio, newspapers, magazines and the internet. She is the editor of Teen Angst: A Celebration of REALLY BAD Poetry (St. Martin’s Press, 2005). Career highlights include: book launch at the KGB bar in NYC, selling out her show at the High Performance Rodeo in Calgary, her minute on an American TV show, her ‘music’ getting radio play, being quoted on NPR’s All Things Considered, and packing the theatre for her solo show at Bumbershoot 2008. Her website is www.SaraBynoe.com.
Life Writing: Zipster: My Life on the Streets
Juliet Cochrane
Juliet is 23. When she grows up she wants to be a writer and be paid to do what she’s done since she was a tiddly-wink. At 19 she won 1st prize in the ‘under 25s’ section of a poetry competition in Australia (where she partly grew up); at 20, 1st prize in a short-story competition in Falmouth (listen here) during her undergraduate degree in English Literature and Creative Writing; and last year was asked to release part of her dissertation for publication in the London ‘new talent’ magazine Art and Things (read here). Anything else you’d like to ask? Email: julietcochrane@hotmail.com.
Adrian Cross
In addition to the MA in Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths, Adrian Cross has attended a residential fiction writing course with The Arvon Foundation. He lives in London, having previously resided in India and Spain, and is a graduate in Philosophy. He has been a teacher and journalist and now works with children in care. He is the author of a collection of short stories called Tales From The Baggage Carousel, one of which has been previously published in Dreamcatcher.
Novel Excerpt: Set Me Down City
Clare F Davies
Originally from North Wales, Clare received a 1st class honours degree in English and Philosophy and an MA in Critical Theory from Manchester Metropolitan University. She has been writing poetry for a number of years but is now attempting to cross the dizzying heights into life writing and fiction. She is also a songwriter and performer. She lives in Brighton by the sea. Website: www.hunterisasleep.blogspot.com. Email: daisyfdoo@hotmail.com.
Short Story: Murder At Fall River
Catherine Dyer
Catherine Dyer is a writer-artist based in London. Catherine is interested in poetical prose and in the short-short story form. She has come to fiction writing through making process-led art documentaries (graduating from Central Saint Martins’ MA Fine Art 2003) and an exploration of language and subjectivity are main concerns. Catherine has a special interest in modernist literature and is currently developing a body of short prose pieces. Email: catherinedyer@gmail.com.
Short Stories: Untitled; Life's Conundrum (A)
Matthew Gregory
Matthew Gregory was born in Suffolk, in 1984. He was a student of the Norwich School of Art and Design. His poems have appeared in the anthology 'Stop Sharpening Your Knives So I Can Think For A Second'. In 2007, he was one of the readers at the Wells Poetry Festival. He has lived in Prague, St Petersburg and New York.
Ali Hale
After abandoning her early ambitions of ruling the world (aged three) and becoming an astronaut (aged twelve), Ali graduated from Cambridge University with a BA in English in 2006. She is now enjoying life as a freelance writer (see www.aliventures.com). She has won prizes in two Writing Magazine short story competitions, and has had a short story accepted by My Weekly magazine. As this extract from her novel-in-progress Lycopolis indicates, she is keenly interested in how imagination forms a bridge between reality and fantasy. Ali can be contacted at ali@aliventures.com.
Novel Excerpt: Lycopolis – Chapter 1
Sybilla Harvey
Sybilla has lived in Abergavenny, South Wales for most of her life, but moved to Birmingham to complete a degree in English Literature and then to Stepney Green. Upon doing so she decided that both of these places are considerably less green than Wales. Sybilla is currently working on a collection of short stories, using her hometown as inspiration. Sybilla works for the website www.worldreviewer.com writing about anything from underwater hotels to ventriloquist museums. She has a lot of favourite things and favourite people. Her best friend is Haruki Murakami. They get on really well.
Short Story: Special Eyes
Jonathan Holt
Jonathan Holt lives in London and works as a self-employed copywriter and editor. He is originally from the United States. His short story ‘The experiment of life’ appears in The Global Village (Tell Tales, March 2009). You can contact him via his bloggie website, www.woobiquity.com.
Novel Excerpt: Orlean’s Dream
Patrick Hudson
Patrick Hudson lives in London and has recently had stories in Premonitions and the webzine Abyss & Apex (www.abyssandapex.com/200710-numberone.html). He also writes occasional criticism and non-fiction for the online zine The Zone (www.zone-sf.com/home.html).
Short Story: Wonder Pets
Graham Jameson
Graham Jameson once met Paul Simon in a lift.
“You’re Paul Simon,” he said.
“Yeh, that’s right,” said Paul. “Who are you?”
“I’m Graham Jameson.”
“What? The Graham Jameson?”
A good question given that Graham is a fan of the construction of social identity in writing he consumes and produces. Graham spent more years than care to remember him in schools and then stopped. Currently working on short stories, a longer novel for children and a play, Graham lives in the sylvan heartland of New Cross and has two or three delightful children. He is younger and taller than Paul. Email: grahamjameson255@hotmail.com.
Short Story: John Stockley
Matthew Joseph Johnson
Matthew Joseph Johnson was born in 1983 to a nice pair. He grew up in Derby, was educated in Nottingham, and presently finds himself in London. He has come far. If he could describe himself satisfactorily in 100 words he would either be quite dull or a master of concision. He is neither. He is 0.00111 miles long. Email: matthewjjohnson@hotmail.co.uk.
Poetry: The Mobile Library; Boxing Day
Thomas Kendall
Thomas Kendall is currently working on a novel entitled ‘a crack in the heart some light goes through’ as well as the script for an avant-garde graphic novel in collaboration with the artist Kier Mcgregor, portions of which can be seen here: www.ityrantthefoundling.blogspot.com. His work has previously appeared in the Dennis Cooper edited anthology ‘Userlands’ and online at www.decongested.com. He can be contacted at t.pkendall@hotmail.co.uk.
Short Story: Three Brothers of Three Mothers
Seraphima Kennedy
Seraphima Kennedy was born in London. Originally a short story writer she began writing poetry a year ago. Her work explores themes of identity, longing and music. ‘The Uses of Papyrus’ was written as part of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s ‘Hear Here!’ project in 2008. Seraphima will be taking up an exchange in the Italian city of Trento in April 2009 for three months, where she will be working on a series of stories about migration and the Italian nightclub scene in the 1970s. You can contact Seraphima by email at phimbaloo@hotmail.com.
Jenny Kingsley
Jenny Kingsley is a full time student on the MA Creative and Life Writing course. She grew up in New York City and received her first degree in social anthropology from the London School of Economics and a Master’s degree in government from Georgetown University. Jenny has been a journalist with women’s magazines and an elected politician. She has written and published non-fiction for many years and contributed a column to an American newspaper called ‘Letter from London’. Please contact Jenny at jennykingsley@btopenworld.com.
Short Story: Brooklyn Tempest
Rohan Kriwaczek
Rohan Kriwaczek is a writer and musician based in Brighton. As a musician he has recorded 33 albums and worked with Jarvis Cocker, Damon Albarn, Imogen Heap and Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls) amongst many others. In 2002 he founded the Rohan Theatre Band and in 2003 his Concerto for Klezmer Band and Orchestra was performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall under the baton of Benjamin Wolf. His last book “An Incomplete History of the Art of Funerary Violin” generated extraordinary international publicity and has now been published in four countries and translated into German. For more information please visit www.rohan-k.co.uk.
Short Story: Notes On The Aesthetic Decline Of The Mock-Funeral
Mark Lewis
Mark has been an actor for over thirty years, a writer of screenplays and tv scripts, a woodworker to the stars, and a dickhead to many others, but rather a good cook apparently, and an improving poet he reckons, yeah right! Email majl@talktalk.net.
Short Story: Canary Blue
Katya Maddison
Katya Maddison, first year of MA Creative and Life Writing, first worked in the Finance sector, then moved to journalism writing on financial subjects with particular reference to the Middle East, and latterly has worked as an analyst/editor on various geopolitical studies. She has a particular interest in fiction writing now.
Novel Excerpt: Ancient History: Chapter 4 - Davy
Aoife Mannix
Aoife Mannix is an Irish writer based in London. Her first novel Heritage of Secrets was published by Lubin & Kleyner in 2008. She is the author of four collections of poetry; The Trick of Foreign Words (2002), The Elephant in the Corner (2005), Growing Up An Alien (2007) and Turn The Clocks Upside Down (2008) – all with Tall Lighthouse. Her work has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4. Her short stories are included in the anthologies Tell Tales Volume 3 (2006), Small Voices, Big Confessions (2006) and Westside Stories (2003). Contact aoifemannix@hotmail.com or see www.aoifemannix.com.
Novel Excerpt: Falling
Isha Marquez
Isha Marquez lives in London but she was born in Peru. She enjoys travelling, writing and capturing fleeting moments on her camera. You can download her latest short story at www.authortrek.com. Check out her website www.ishamarquez.com where she posts the latest news on the collection of short stories and novel that she’s working on.
Short Story: Leave Your Message After the–
Matthew McCabe
Matthew McCabe (1st year part-time) is a graduate of Anglia Ruskin University. Having written extended pieces of memoir and many short stories, this is his first concerted effort at a longer piece of fiction. The piece, from Free Hands, appears late on and is one of the more graphic scenes of the story, marking a turn for both of the main characters, an adolescent son and his alcoholic mother, as they struggle to come to terms with a near tragic event. Matthew is interested in issues such as family, class, religion and mortality. Contact him at: mistermccabe@yahoo.co.uk.
Novel Excerpt: Free Hands
Jennifer McFaul
Jennifer McFaul is 23 and graduated from St Mary’s University College in 2007. She initially studied drama but realised that paralyzing stage fright would likely hinder her career and so instead now focuses her energy on writing as this can be done alone in a dark room. She studies the MA at Goldsmiths full time whilst living in Essex with a guitarist and two guinea pigs. She can be reached at: ms_microserf@hotmail.com.
Poetry: The Handmaid’s Tale: Reprise
Natasha Mirzoian
Natasha Mirzoian is a full-time student on the Creative and Life Writing MA at Goldsmiths. Born in Russia and of Armenian origin, Natasha moved to London as a child. After completing a degree and Masters at the University of East Anglia in English Literature, she worked in book publishing for some years and is currently working on her first novel. She has had some short stories published in various magazines and is working towards a short story collection. She can be contacted on natashamir@hotmail.com.
Novel Excerpt: (Untitled)
Edwin Morgan
Edwin Morgan is 23. He grew up in London and is now back there after three years studying in Bristol. He has published several short stories in the Bristol University arts magazine, Helicon, and hopes this is just the beginning. He writes as much as possible and tries, in his own way, to reach above the everyday. Email: ed_morgan661@hotmail.com.
Short Story: Scraps
Jocelyn Page
Jocelyn Page is a poet from New England. Her work has been published in The Interpreter’s House, Smiths Knoll, City Lighthouse Anthology and various music websites. Her email address is JPageISIS@aol.com.
Poetry: Finally; Dunes; 1999
Abigail Parry
Abigail Parry is a professional Jack-of-all-trades based in London. She likes it when strangers get in touch with her, and they can do so at abigail.parry@googlemail.com.
Short Stories: Tunnel of Love; Chrysalis; New Arrival
Anna Poppa
Anna Poppa began a masters degree in Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths in 2008. She is currently working on her first novel, and developing a collection of short stories. Anna lives in London, and can be contacted via email to annapoppa@mac.com.
Short Story: Mister Thomas
Ruby Radburn
Ruby Radburn is twenty-nine and lives in South-East London. She has written short stories in the past, but now she writes half-novels. The fact that she has yet to finish a novel does not diminish her enjoyment of trying. She also has a two-and-half year old son and enjoys hula-hooping.
Novel Excerpt: (Untitled)
Jonathan Socrates
Jonathan Socrates was born on the tropical isle of Jersey before setting sail to London to seek fame and fortune through writing and music at the age of 13. After ten years of little success he went into self-imposed exile to the Mediterranean. He returned to London in 2006 where he currently resides. He has been published in China in Zing Magazine. Email: jonathansocrates@hotmail.com.
Poetry: Last Night; Paralian; Spying on a Performance-Art Lecture/DemoMike Stephenson
Mike Stephenson has lived in London all his life, with only occasional absences.
Novel Excerpt: The Bumper Book Of Gardening Facts
Jean Stewart
Jean Stewart grew up in South Africa and still has strong connections there. She now lives in London and has worked as a film and TV director, where she collaborated closely with screenwriters – and now she wants to do it herself, but in fiction. Currently she is juggling life as a part-time student on the MA in Creative and Life Writing with writing her first novel and the daily demands of young children. She can be contacted at jeaniestewart@blueyonder.co.uk.
Novel Excerpt: The Changeling Boy
Mariana Swann
Mariana Swann was born in Bolivia and lived there for twenty years. She studied translation (French and English into Spanish) at the University of Geneva. She has been a languages teacher for the past eighteen years. Mariana is writing her Bolivian family’s story as well as her memoirs. She wishes to present the rich history and culture of her country to the reader. As an adolescent, she witnessed social and political upheavals; she remembers the arrival of Che Guevara and the death of her cousins who followed him. Her email address: marianaswann@hotmail.com.
Life Writing: Titicaca: the Sacred Lake of the Incas
Sylvestra Le Touzel Teale
Sylvestra Le Touzel Teale has been an actor for over forty years, having started working professionally at six years old. Most recently she has appeared in Mike Leigh’s film Happy-Go-Lucky and on stage in IVANOV at Wyndhams theatre. She writes Life and Fiction. She lives near Goldsmiths with her husband and three children.
Novel Excerpt: The Mind Robber
David Teall
David Teall grew up near Bath, lived a number of years in Torquay, Devon, and moved to London in the mid-nineties in order to study, first for a degree in English then a PGCE. ‘England’s ark . . .’ is one of a series of stories inspired by aspects of English folklore and is a good example of the author’s lyrical style. Cites many poets as influences, particularly the English Romantics, and the French poets Baudelaire and Paul Valéry. Email: robertcegeste@yahoo.co.uk.
Short Story: England’s Ark . . . (Opening)
Rachel Watson
Rachel Watson grew up in Bolton, Lancashire and now lives in Cambridge with her family. She has worked in Cambodia, Kosovo, New York and Brussels as a journalist and as a press officer for refugee agencies. She was the editor of “Drawing Lessons”, a collection of artwork and writing by children affected by the war in Kosovo. Rachel has spent the last four years at home with her two children writing shopping lists, and now is spending her MA year at Goldsmiths developing short stories and life writing. Agent: http://www.andrewnurnberg.com/author.aspx?author=RW
Short Story: Still