A UK and New Zealand resident, I’m the author of eight books. I have won and been awarded a number of literary prizes and fellowships. I have been published in numerous international and local journals and anthologies. My work has been selected three times for the Best New Zealand Poems series https://www.bestnewzealandpoems.org.nz/. I hold a BA, MA and PhD in Creative Writing, and have held lecture positions at several universities in UK and New Zealand.
Books (sample)
- Ghosts (Otago University Press 2021) – long-listed for 2022 New Zealand Book Awards
- Essential New Zealand Poems (co-editor), (Penguin Random House, 2014)
- Cloudboy (Otago University Press, 2014) – winner of 2013 Kathleen Grattan Prize for Poetry
- Lost Relatives (Steele Roberts, 2011)
Literary Journals and Anthologies (sample)
- Mslexia
- Structo 12, 15 & 19
- Asian Literary Review 28 (HK)
- Griffith Review 49, 52 & 64 (Aus)
- Out Here: An Anthology of Takatãpui and LGBTQIA+ Writers from Aotearoa (OUP, 2020)
- Strong Words #2 – The Best of the Landfall Essay Competition (2021)
- Feminine Divine: Voices of Power and Invisibility (Cyren Press, US, 2019)
- Stand 12 (4)
Prizes and Fellowships
- 2024 Bridport Memoir Award (UK) – highly commended
- 2023 Landfall Essay Prize – winner
- 2023 takahe Poetry Competition – shortlisted
- 2022 New Zealand Book Awards – long-listed
- 2021 Janet Frame Literary Trust Award for Poetry – recipient
- 2020 NZSA Peter & Dianne Beatson Fellowship – recipient
- 2019 UNESCO City of Literature Robert Burn Poetry Prize – winner
- 2019 Kathleen Grattan Award for a Sequence of Poems – winner
- 2019 Australian Book Review Peter Porter Poetry Prize – long-listed
- 2016 Write Well Award (Fiction: US) – recipient
- 2015 New Zealand Poetry Society International Poetry Competition – runner-up
- 2014 New Zealand Poetry Society International Poetry Competition – runner-up
- 2013 Landfall Kathleen Grattan Award – winner
- 2012 Dorothy Porter Poetry Prize (Aus) – runner-up
- 2012 Kevin Ireland Poetry Competition – runner-up
Festival and performances:
- Guest – 2021 Auckland Writers and Readers Festival
- Guest – 2019 Going West Literary Weekend
- Guest – 2019 Phantom Billstickers Poetry Week in Rotorua
- Guest – 2019 Auckland Writers and Readers Festival
- Guest – 2018 National Writers Forum
- Guest – 2018 Going West Literary Festival
- Guest – 2016 National Writers Forum
- Guest – 2016 Going West Literary Festival
- Guest – 2016 Kapititi Poetry Readings
- Guest – 2016 Ruapehu Writers Festival
- Guest – 2014 WORD Christchurch Writers Festival
- Guest – 2014 Auckland Writers and Readers Festival
- Guest – 2013 New Zealand Poetry Conference
- Guest – 2013 Going West Literary Festival
- Guest – 2013 Queensland Poetry Festival, Australia
- Guest – 2012 Christchurch Literary Festival
- Guest -r 2012 Auckland Readers and Writers Festival
- Guest – 2011 Ubud Writers Festival, Indonesia
- Guest – 2010 Womens Liter-a-tea Writers Festival
- Guest – 2008 Winter Readings, Christchurch
- Guest – 2006 Winter Writers Readings, Wellington
- Guest – 2000 Manchester Literary Festival
Literary Roles
- President, New Zealand Society of Authors, 2017-2019
- Convener and Assessment Panelist for NZSA award, fellowship, mentoring and assessment scheme – 2009 – present day
- Advisory Panel, Creative NZ Literary Focus Group, 5 Year Strategic Plan, 2014
- Convenor of New Voices Emerging Poets Competition (2011 – to present day)
- Convenor of Divine Muses Poetry Reading (National Poetry Day, 2004 – onwards)
- National Poetry Day Coordinator, 2008 – 2013
- Poetry Editor, TAKAHE literary magazine, 2007 – May 2014
- Co-organiser of Emerging Poets Competition, 2011 – present day
- Editor for The Poetry Archive UK, 2011-12