I write poetry, fiction and BAME History in the South West. I have lived in the rural West Country for over thirty years. I am of Ghanaian and White English heritage, and am interested in working with children and young people to develop their interest in creative writing, and to raise awareness about equality and diversity through doing so.
I began writing to explore feelings of 'difference' as I have belonged to various marginalised groups throughout my life, and telling the stories of diverse voices is an important part of my work. My first poetry collection 'Salt-sweat and Tears' which is largely autobiographical and explores the experiences of a mixed-heritage female living in white areas, was published by Cinnamon Press in 2007. Cinnamon also published my pamphlet 'Blinking in the Light', which is about a traumatic year in Lyme Regis, in 2016. More recently I have started writing fiction. My poetry and prose has appeared in various publications including Coffee-House Poetry; Envoi; Wasafiri; The Forward Book of Poetry 2008; Closure (Peepal Tree); Out of Bounds (Bloodaxe); And Other Poems; Under the Radar; Ink, Sweat and Tears; and is forthcoming in Bare Fiction. I have been shortlisted by the Briport Prize and Highly Commended by the Forward Prize. I have written several books (and exhibitions) on BAME history, including 'Dorset's Hidden Histories'; '1944 We Were Here: African American GIs in Dorset'; and 'All Different, All Dorset'. I have recently been awarded a grant from Arts Council England for artistic development, and am working on a third poetry collection, and first short story collection and novel with two mentors. I have delivered many writing workshops in schools, colleges, prisons and universities. I have been Writer in Residence at HMP YOI Portland; Holy Trinty School; Oldway Primary School and currently am the Lit Up! And Poole Libraries Writer in Residence. Recently I was one of the writers on the Arvon Foundation Teachers as Writers project.
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