East Midlands

East Midlands Arts is now Arts Council England, East Mdlands. The information on this page is not necessarily up to date (last updated 2001)

East Midlands
Directory of Writers and Storytellers
Writers' Information Pack
Foreword
Literature Development Officers

EAST MIDLANDS ARTS
DIRECTORY OF WRITERS AND STORYTELLERS

Contents
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Robert Shaw

Tous les Deux
1 Peaks Mews
Market Rasen
Lincolnshire
LN8 3BB

Performance, Poetry
Poet, critic, jazz musician, continuing pioneer of Poetry Jazz fusion in performance (since 1972) - LP (1976) is sole poetry & Jazz 3-star entry in Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. Worked as reporter (including Melody Maker) before studying English Lit at Leeds University; then lecturer - York, Leeds, Southampton Universities before freelancing from 1972 as poet, TV & Radio critic, poetry & jazz touring all over Britain. Active in adult creative writing (new towns, prisons) & schools - including mega community linked poem. Was on literature panels of Yorkshire Arts and Southern Arts.
BBC TV film featured relationship between my poems and their setting in the people and landscape of the Pennine Village I lived in (1973-88). From 1993-1998 worked in France & Spain as jazzman with keyboardist Angharad Griffiths, returning to Britian to restart poetry & Jazz (2000). Published in 'Times Literary Supplement', 'Poetry Review', 'Spectator', 'The Scotsman', 'Tribune' etc. and broadcast on BBC radio and TV, including commissioned poem for film. The Times Literary supplement praised my poetry's "wry humour...a refreshing antidote...peopled with charmless eccentrics, but treated with respect...a characteristic irony".

Publications
Founder, editor, 'Yorkshire Review' (Yorks Arts Association); critical anthology of 20th C British poetry 'Flash Point' (Arnold 1964); 'John Clare' (RICP, 1973).
Own poetry 'Private Time, Public Time' (Poet & Printer Press, 1969); 'Causes' (Byron Press, Nottingham Univ, 1972).
'Work in Progress' (P&P, 1975); 'Poems from Haworth' (Haworth Press, 1975); 'The Wrath Valley Anthology' (P&P, 1981); 'The Lead Age' (Papyrus, 1985); 'Masquerade' (Papyrus, 1986); 'Grindley's Bairns' (P&P, 1988); LP Poetry and Jazz on record (1973) - 3 star choice of Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz.

Performance Work
Since 1963 have toured as solo poet and in poetry and jazz throughout GB - arts centres, festivals (Pitlochry, Ikley, Southern Arts, Yorkshire Arts, West Midlands), prisons, newtowns (writer in residence, Peterborough), Jazz clubs, art galleries, theatres, schools (Arts Council, WH Smith, Boots; writer in residence, middle schools, Sixth form colleges Thronham, Rochdale & EGS, Darlington) - reading own poems and stimulating creative writing. Also creative writing fellowship. NW Universities (USA). Have read from Isle of Wight to Pitlochry, Llandudno to Cambridge, over 37 years.

Availability
General - specially interested in work using our present economic (2 performers) Poetry & Jazz - fusion & poetry and Jazz - programme

Steve Skidmore

Email: steve . skids @ lineone . net

Children's Writer, Playwright
Children's writer (with Steve Barlow) - Drama, fiction and non-fiction. Series editor for playscripts for O.U.P, Heinemann and Ginn. Inset available for teachers of drama and on creative writing and reluctant readers.

Publications
Includes: 'What a Load of Rubbish!' (Cassells, 1990) 'Poison! Beware!' (Cassells, 1990) 'Paper Tigers' (Oxford University Press, 1991) 'I Fell in Love with a Leather Jacket' (Piccadilly Press, 1993 and Puffin, 1994); 'In Love with an Urban Gorilla' (Piccadilly Press, 1994 and Puffin, 1995); 'Ginn Plays Reading 360: New Plays' (1993-1997); 'Stone Me! and Thingumybob' (Ginn Educational, 1994); 'Dramaform' (Hodder Headline, 1994); 'Stone Me!' (Dutton, 1995 and Puffin, 1997); 'Colin the Barbarian' (Ginn Educational, 1995); 'The Diary of a Mega Hero' (Ginn Educational, 1995); 'Get Better Grades' (Piccadilly Press, 1995); 'Oxford Playscripts' (1996-1997); 'Mind the Door!' (Hamish Hamilton, 1996 and Puffin, 1997); 'The Lost Diary of King Henry VIII's Executioner' (Harper Collins, 1997); 'The Lost Diary of Erik Bloodaxe, Viking Warrior' (Harper Collins, 1997); 'The Lost Diary of Julius Caesar's Slave' (Harper Collins, 1997); 'A Touch of Wind!' (Puffin, 1998); 'The Lost Diary of Hercules' Personal Trainer' (Harper Collins, 1998); 'Must Fly!' (Puffin, 1998). The Lost Diary of Shakespeare's Ghostwriter (Harper Collins 1999); ' Dream On'! (Piccadilly 1999)

Performance Work
A lot of school visits. Vernon Bright Series (Puffin 2000) with Steve Barlow. Literary Festivals (NCBF, Edinburgh). Many library visits. Residencies also undertaken.

Availability
Most days, but need at least 3 months notice as we get booked up!

Janet Slattery

76 Loughborough Road
Whitwick
Coalville
Leicestershire
LE67 5AQ
01530 839969
Email: janet @ slatteryj . freeserve . co . uk

Freelance, Non-fiction
Born in Leicestershire in 1944. Began feature writing in 1986 for pleasure but has had many published in national magazines, regional and local newspapers. Former member and chairlady of Ashby Writers' Club. Features include: Village Life, Words and Pictures, Personality Profiles, Village History, local news. Currently the East Midlands Feature writer for Linedancer Magazine (published by Waypride publications). Has own column in the Leicester Mercury Group daily newspaper. Coalville Mantle Arts Writers' Workshop winner in 1994.

Publications
Features have appeared in: The Lady, Choice Magazine, Annabel, Caring (for Handicapped), Popular Crafts (Nexus publications), Evergreen (sister quarterly publication to This England) and Yours Magazine as well as letters in The Sun and News of the World newspapers. Designed and wrote the Whitwick Charter 700 Memorial booklet in 1993 which was produced for Whitwick Historical Group. Awaiting works being published in a Lincolnshire publication called "The Poacher", "5,6,7,8" a sister Magazine to Linedancer (Waypride Publications), and in "Evergreen" magazine. In February 2001 was a guest speaker at the "Bookends" Club at Hinckley Library, and in March 2001 will be at Kegworth W.I.

Performance Work
Guest speaker on BBC Radio Leicester's Talkback programme in 1993. Ran a creative writers' workshop at Thringstone Community Centre. Speaks at W.I's, church groups and others where invited, presenting a lively talk and taking along press cuttings, scrapbooks, magazines of published works and photographs of celebrities/events. Taken part in readings at Ashby Writers' Club. In 1999 was invited to the studio by the producers of "Thats Life" to write about the unfolding of the first Esther Rantzen show, featuring a Whitwick Dance Teacher which was published in Linedancer magazine.In 1999 she was invited to Meridian Studios by the producers of "That's Esther" to write about the show in which a local choreographer Nita Pearson was apperaing. The story was published in Linedancer magazine.

Availability
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, daytime or evenings. Not available daytime on Thursdays or Fridays. Occasional weekends if pre-booked well in advance.

Laura Smith

Borderland Productions
Broadway
14-18 Broad Street
Nottingham NG1 3AL
Tel: 0115 911 1721
Fax: 0115 911 1721
Mobile: 07887 714179

Email: borderland@xfactory.demon.co.uk

Film & Television, Freelance, Fiction/Non-Fiction
Laura Smith has worked as a writer, director and producer in England and mainland Europe. Her films have been shown at cinemas and festivals nationally and internationally, sold to television in Canada and Norway and broadcast on-line. Other work includes script editing and teaching at degree and post-graduate level. She is also an experienced editor cutting drama, documentary, sports and educational for clients including BskyB and the BBC. Prior to working in film she spent several years exhibiting as an installation artist in gallery based and site specific shows including "Quick" South Bank Centre, London and the International Photographic Biennale, (Republic of Slovakia).

Publications
2000 - Co-Writer/Director `Shaker' drama/dance collaboration with choreographer Peter Shenton, commissioned by the Arts Council. 2000 - Writer/Director `Just Like My Dad' drama, commissioned by the Film Council/EMMI/EMA. 1998 - Writer/Director `King of the Road' drama, commissioned by Channel 4/British Film Institute. 1998 - Producer `Martha's Whiter Wash' animation commissioned by Carlton TV/EMA. 1997 - Writer/Director `The Safe House' drama, commissioned by Werkleitz Gesellschaft (Germany) Hull Time Based Arts; England. 1997 - Co-Writer/Director ` Grandad's Not in Heaven', drama commissioned by Carlton TV/EMA.

Availability
Freelance. London and Nottingham base.

Martin Stannard

Email: martin . stannard @ talk21 . com

Poet
Martin Stannard's poetry has appeared in numerous magazines and journals, including New Statesman, London Magazine, Ambit, The Rialto etc. and in a number of anthologies including 'High On The Walls' (Bloodaxe). He was the founding editor of the magazine 'Joe Soap's Canoe'; he also regularly reviews poetry for literary journals. He has tutored in poetry on residential courses for the Arvon Foundation and East Midlands Arts.

Publications
'Half Man Half Hammock Half Marlon Brandon' (syntaxophone), 1979; 'The Private Life of the Gauze Butterfly' (Kawabata), 1980; 'The Lotte Poems' (Torture Books), 1981); 'Baffled in Nacton' (Greylag Press), 1983; 'The Flat of the Land' (Wide Skirt Press),1987; 'Something Cold and White' (Bad Seed), 1987; 'The Gracing of Days: New and Selected Poems' (Slow Dancer), 1989; 'Denying England' (Wide Skirt Press), 1989; 'Easter' (Waldean Press), 1994; 'A Hundred of Happiness and Other Poems' (Smith/Doorstop), 1995; 'Conversations with Myself: selected reviews and notes 1984-1998' (Stride), 1999; 'Poems on Various Subjects' (Shoestring Press), 2000.

Performance Work
Has read at innumerable venues throughout the UK and the USA, including the Poetry Society, Morden Tower (Newcastle), Brighton Festival, Essex Festival, Madrid, Gibralter and St. Marks (New York City).

Availability
Available for readings, workshops etc.

Vivien Steels

Email: vivien @ riverroad2 . freeserve . co . uk

Illustrator, Poet, Short Stories, Children's Writer
Born 1952 and lived mostly in Nottingham. BEd (Hons) Degree (Reading University, 1974) in English Literature and Education. Teacher/lecturer for 12 years but retired due to the illness M.E. Had over 30 poems published in various magazines/presses and is a regular contributor to WRITE-AWAY @ http://www.write-away.co.uk. Illustrating own collection of poems. Written adult and childrens short stories. Just written first 8 chapters of a novel. Former member of writers' groups/workshops and performed poems live. A member of Nottingham Writers' Contact Group.

Publications
Poems published in Broadsheet, Yoga & Life, Poetry Nottingham, Arrival Press, Iota, Smiths Knoll, Envoi, The Frogmore Papers, Memo, Scarlet Woman Press, First Time, Immortal Diamond (anthology of Southwell Diocese poetry), 12th century poem 'Foreign Fields' in 'The Champion' by Elizabeth Chadwick (Little, Brown & Co, UK, 1997), poem 'So Far From Me' used in 'Value Wear' by Chris Barnatt (Adamantine Press, 1998), prayers in Daily Service Prayer Book (Hodder & Stoughton, 1997), Lowdham Book Festival 2000 Poetry Competition - 2nd Prize, CPR International - July & Oct 2000, Panda, Comrades Press/e-zine - Oct 01, Rain Dog 02, 'Ten Days One Summer' (true short story), Cat World Annual 1995. Local exhibitions of artwork and poetry.

Availability
Have M.E. but able to give occasional talks/readings locally. Organising future exhibitions of artwork and poetry.

Colin Sutherill

Two Trees
Yeld Road
Bakewell
Derbyshire DE45 1FJ
01629 813131

email: colinsutherill @ onetel . net . uk

Non-fiction, Poetry
Poet with Blackwater Press collection, "Einstein's Bumblebee". Also journalism lecturer and member of Society of British Science Writers. Founder of Blue Bang Poets. Subject matter includes science. "Poets like these open a door to the future" - Anne Stevenson (of Einstein's Bumblebee)

Publications
As above. Also 'The Blue Bang Theory' with Diana Syder, John Sewell, Terry Gifford.

Performance Work
Many readings including launch events for both publications, a National Poetry Day event at Blackwells and runner's-up appearance at the National Poetry Competition adjudication two years ago.

Availability
Mostly evenings at weekends but Mondays also a possibility

Diana Syder

Chapel House, Main Street
Taddington
Derbyshire SK17 9TU
01298 85336

Poetry
A well published poet in magazines, with one full collection and a second due soon. Science is a recurring theme. Work is included on an A level Physics CD and in 2000 was given a Public Awareness of Science award for writing by the Institute of Physics. Has collaborated with actors, scientists, dancers, acrobats and a composer. Current work is being set to music by American composer W. Neill. Creative writing tutor for Hallam University, Yorkshire Arts and WEA.

Publications
'Hubble' (Smith Doorstop, 1997); 'The Blue Bang Theory' (Redbeck Press, 1997); 'Catching the Light' (Slow Dancer, 1994); 'Folding the Map' (Rotterdam Arts, 1989).

Performance Work
Many readings around the country. Performances in South Yorks with science/dance collaboration.

Availability
Most of the time and flexible, but does sometimes depend on the time of year.

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