News
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How I Use Memory to Craft Authentic Story: Insights into the writing of Peeling Apples
At the core of Peeling Apples lie truths—personal memories—which form the essential foundation of character relationships and growth. Martyn’s interactions with Mrs. Joyce, initially influenced by her stern demeanor and the carefully nurtured ‘cacti in old teacups’, exemplify how initial memories shape perceptions and interactions. Similarly, his bond with Nana Mavis emerges through detailed recollections:…
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Peeling Apples: The Story That Had to Be Told
I never set out to write Peeling Apples. It started in a classroom, under the same constraints my students face in their GCSE English exams—650 words, first person, present tense, written in under an hour. I teach in Bootle, one of the most socially and economically deprived areas in the UK. My students have barriers…
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Alan Parry Speaks to… Paul Short
Paul Short is a poet from Newcastle upon Tyne, currently working on his first pamphlet. His main influences are the heritage of the North East and his working-class background. Paul’s poetry has been published by Black Bough Poetry, The Broken Spine, Dark Poets Club, Flight of The Dragonfly, and several other journals. AP: What are…
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Alan Parry Speaks to… jude marr
Jude Marr (he, they) is a Pushcart-nominated trans poet, editor and teacher. His poetry has appeared in many journals and anthologies, most recently Ghost City, Cutleaf, and Masculinity: An Anthology of Modern Voices. Jude’s first collection, We Know Each Other By Our Wounds, came out in 2020 and his latest manuscript, Silence Will Not Save…
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Alan Parry Speaks to… Özge Lena
Özge Lena is an Istanbul-based poet. Her poems have appeared in the UK, USA, Canada, Iceland, Serbia, France, and beyond She was nominated twice and shortlisted four times by international poetry prizes. AP: What are you working on currently? OL: Thank you for inviting me to your series, Alan. Currently, I’m working on an ecopoetry…