Author: rachelebower

I am delighted to be judging the Walter Swan 18-25 Poetry Prize this year for the Ilkley Literature Festival. The theme of this year's competition is 'A Kindness'. Please send us your poems and spread the word! Established in memory of the writer Walter Swan, the Walter Swan Trust encourages all forms of creative writing, … Continue reading Walter Swan 18-25 Poetry Prize, ILF 2020 →

It's such an honour to have won the The London Magazine Short Story Prize this year with my story "Against the Tide." I'd like to thank the panel of judges and everyone involved for their time and energy in making this happen, especially during such challenging times. I am sorry that it hasn't been possible … Continue reading The London Magazine Short Story Prize 2019/20 →

I'm very proud to be involved in the Northern Short Story Festival 2020 and I want to thank SJ Bradley and the team for summoning the energy and creativity to get this brilliant festival online! The festival is celebrating its fifth birthday this year - and wherever you are in the world you can now … Continue reading Northern Short Story Festival 2020 →

Over the last year, I've been working on a project called Collections in Verse in Sheffield, commissioned by the British Library and Poet in the City, along with two other brilliant poets - Joe Kriss and Kayo Chingonyi. The idea of the project is to bring the British Library exhibitions to life through poetry and … Continue reading Sheffield Stories – Collections in Verse →

I have been absent because of the current crisis, but I'm here to tell you about the wonderful #StayAtHome!LiteraryFestival, organised at lightening speed by the brilliant Carolyn Jess-Cooke in partnership with Paper Nations. A flood of writers and artists responded to Carolyn's initial Tweet about the idea on Twitter and within a few days the … Continue reading Stay At Home! Literary Festival →

'"Hope" is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul...' (Emily Dickinson) I am delighted that I will be the Guest Editor of the A3 Review for the next few months. The magazine that behaves like a map! We are now open for submissions on the theme of #Hope. Dangerous hope, the audacity … Continue reading A3 Review & ‘Hope’ →

There are only three days left to enter the Liz Ferrets Poetry Competition judged by me, Sez Thomasin and Kate Garrett. Liz was a brilliant poet and performer from Sheffield and the competition celebrates her life and writing. The winners will be announced at The Showroom (Sheffield) on Monday 17 January. The competition is free … Continue reading Liz Ferrets Poetry Competition →