Leeds Writers and Poets Achievements

Group Achievements

The Leeds Writers and Poets Anthology was been shortlisted for the National Association of Writers' groups Anthology prize 2017.

We were also shortlisted in 2015, the only other time we have submitted. You can buy that anthology here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/leeds-writers-and-poets/leeds-letters-2015/paperback/product-22134805.html

Member Achievements

Mark James Barrett

Mark's novel Dreams of the Black Butterfly is now available for purchase on Amazon and boasts an average review score of 4.3 out of 5 stars. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dreams-Black-Butterfly-James-Barrett/dp/1785890549
Mark was shortlisted for the International Aeon Short Story Award, and placed in the top 6 shortlist of Albedo One with The Jenny Museum. Read it here: http://www.albedo1.com/albedo-2-0-fiction-showcase-8-summer-2014-the-jenny-museum-by-mark-j-barrett/

Adam Wolstenholme

Adam's novel: Talking Wounded is available via Dandylion Publishing: http://dandylionpublishing.co.uk/books/item/talking-wounded.html
His short stories have been published in the anthology Eating My Words and on the websites 1000 Words, Brilliant Flash Fiction and Flash Frontier.
You can keep up with him here: http://adamjwolstenholme.blogspot.co.uk/

Katja Kaine

Katja has been shortlisted for the HE Bates Short Story award and published in the Wyrd Stories Anthology and on the Ether Books App.

She has had work published on the following online and print publications:

http://www.dimeshowreview.com/my-first-queen-by-katja-kaine/ This story was also selected for the print anthology, which is available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1981594329/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1513487793&sr=8-4&keywords=dime+show+review
https://www.fabulaargentea.com/index.php/article/pray-on-the-weak-by-katja-l-kaine/
You can read her short stories, ramblings and rantings on her blog: https://katjalkaine.com/

Andrey Pissantchev

Published a short story in 'May You', the anthology for the 2018 Walter Swan Prize: http://www.valleypressuk.com/book/107/may_you__the_walter_swan_prize_anthology called She Went out for Milk One Morning and Only Came back the Previous Day
Toilet-based horror short story "The Unnatural Call" is published in Grotesque Magazine's latest issue: http://www.grotesque-magazine.com/grotesque-volume-2-issue-3/. If you feel like buying a copy, here's an affiliate link: https://payhip.com/b/Qq7N/af5ba4ba5c5fc77
You can read more of his work on his blog: https://write.as/andrey-p/

Kevin Phillips

Kevin is a prolific writer with a growing reputation across a range of avenues in Yorkshire and beyond. Achievements include:

Featured on Made in Leeds TV show The Lowdown. (A reading and interview)
Shortlisted to six out of over two hundred northern writers by New Writing North for BBC radio 3 show The Verb (Verb New Voices, 2017 – 2018)
Selected for the Playwright One course at West Yorkshire Playhouse, 2017
Hand-picked for FUSE (The year long mentoring program at West Yorkshire Playhouse, 2017 – 2018)
Acted on stage performing a short story as a monologue as part of Leeds Stories at West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Several small acting roles in independent and big budget movies such as "Suicide Kelly" and "Official Secrets" (The latter starring Keira Knightly)
Nightfall published in online magazine Fictive Dream.
Read on the Podcast "The Short Story Cast"
Published in the Anthology "Mad Like Me: Tormented tales from tormented minds"
He has also run a range of workshops at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds Libraries, Roundhay Primary School and more.

Newsfeed

Dan Collins: Hi group, I'm not on WhatsApp I'm afraid so don't have anybody's number. I can't make the party tonight as I'm not very well but I'm excited to have the competition results! If somebody can text or call 07963078660, I'll let you know. Thanks, Dan

Fri 7th Dec 2018 at 18:10
- Andrey Pissantchev: I'll let the others know. Sorry to hear you can't make it, Dan, hope you're well!
  
  Fri 7th Dec 2018 at 18:13
Ian Sietniekas: Is there anyone intending to turn up the the Christmas party (this Friday, my house, 1900) that isn't in the WhatsApp group?

I don't particularly want post my address up, so will put it in the Dropbox if required, although i had issues with it being accessible last time I tried that trick

Mon 3rd Dec 2018 at 21:42
- Ian Sietniekas: I'll be sure to check back here before Friday, so don't worry about me missing your request for an address.
  
  Also, if you have any requests for food and booze beyond Kat's 'wotsits and baked Camembert,' let me know, otherwise it'll be a menagerie of whatever i happen to grab after work.
  
  Plus wotsits and baked Camembert
  
  Mon 3rd Dec 2018 at 21:44
- Dan Collins: Hi Ian, really sorry but I'm a bit crook at the moment so won't be able to make your shindig - hope you have a great time and hopefully see you soon. I've emailed the competition results to Katja but in case she doesn't see the email, my mobile is 07963978660 so somebody can call me if you need the results. Cheers, Dan
  
  Fri 7th Dec 2018 at 16:35
Dan Collins: A big thank you to everybody who submitted an entry for the LWP 2018 Competition. There are four entries in the folder. Sorry for the tight deadline, but please could you read the 4 entries and send me your votes for 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th place by the end of Thursday 6th? The winner(s) will be announced on Friday at the party. Thank you in advance for your time and votes. Best, Dan email: yelsk67@gmail.com

Sun 2nd Dec 2018 at 16:18
- Dan Collins: https://www.dropbox.com/home/Leeds%20Writers%20and%20Poets
  
  Sun 2nd Dec 2018 at 16:19
- Dan Collins: https://www.dropbox.com/home/Leeds%20Writers%20and%20Poets/Competitions
  
  Sun 2nd Dec 2018 at 16:20
- Richard: Thanks Dan. Sorry I didn't write anything but I'll let you know my votes.
  
  Sun 2nd Dec 2018 at 19:13
- Kat: I can actually see six entries in there - although two of them are by the same person, and as you may have guessed, not anonymous... Any guidance for how to proceed, Dan?
  
  Thu 6th Dec 2018 at 14:31
- Kat: Ignore me, I've just actually looked at all the entries properly and those two are not actually comp entries...
  
  Thu 6th Dec 2018 at 14:34
Andrey Pissantchev: Speaking of writing retreats, here's a much lazier version of that organized by Big Bookend: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/urbiwrite-the-urban-writing-retreat-for-you-tickets-53143856706

Basically turn up to a place in town and write kind of thing.

Thu 29th Nov 2018 at 21:34
Andrey Pissantchev: Here's a silly idea that has been floating in my head for a bit. Do you guys want to do a writer's retreat at some point?

Basically, go off to a B&B or similar somewhere in the hills, write a bit, brood around the windswept moors, write some more, pint or two in the evening. Do this over a long weekend, and hope we don't end up in a Lord of the Flies-style standoff by the end of it.

Thu 22th Nov 2018 at 11:13
- Kat: I love the idea!
  
  Fri 23th Nov 2018 at 08:17
- Andrey Pissantchev: A few others yesterday (Adam W and Ian) sounded like they were up for it. I'm tentatively gonna call it 4th-6th May, Early bank holiday weekend, and plan and pester people about it as it gets closer.
  
  Fri 23th Nov 2018 at 11:14
- Mark James Barrett: I'm a big fan of brooding so this might work for me. I also like windswept moors for the most part, although have never combined the two. I like a pint, and the descent into barbarism has its own merits, so it's a tentative yes for now.
  
  Fri 23th Nov 2018 at 13:21
- Adam Burton: I’d be up for this
  
  Sat 24th Nov 2018 at 12:05
- Richard: I like this idea, though not the windswept part. Maybe we could find a nice French chateau....
  
  Wed 28th Nov 2018 at 19:10
Adam Wolstenholme: Hello guys. I don't see a folder for tomorrow in Dropbox. Can anyone help?

Wed 21th Nov 2018 at 21:35
- Adam Wolstenholme: Found them! It was showing up as 2 November for some reason.
  
  Wed 21th Nov 2018 at 21:44
Kat: Hi all, I'm going to this and it would be cool if some of you wanted to come too:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/killer-leeds-book-launch-party-tickets-52525928466
It's at a really cool 'secret' library in the centre of town, it's free and there's likely to be free wine, so not sure there's any reason not to go... However, if you need more reasons: it'll be a good place to meet other local writers and people in the industry and mingle with people who are actually published in the hope that some of the stardust might rub off... I've met Ali Harper and she's really awesome and supportive of other local writers :) Her agent, who is also very cool and approachable is also likely to be there, I assume.

Wed 21th Nov 2018 at 11:02
- Andrey Pissantchev: This looks good, I might join. The book launch for that anthology I went to was also in the Leeds Library - it's a cool place.
  
  Wed 21th Nov 2018 at 11:09
- Mark James Barrett: Just signed up for it :)
  
  Wed 21th Nov 2018 at 11:23
- Michelle Koleszko: I've just signed up too
  
  Wed 21th Nov 2018 at 20:31
- Andrey Pissantchev: Likewise. LWAP takeover!
  
  Thu 22th Nov 2018 at 11:05
- Adam Burton: Also signed up, any excuse to be in the library
  
  Sat 24th Nov 2018 at 12:04
Adam Burton: Hello everyone, Katja and I are organising the anthology for this year (hopefully with more luck than last time with Katja at the helm...).

It was decided at the AGM that we’d stick with last year’s unfulfilled theme of ‘Miscommunication’.

Piece limits for submission are as follows:

One piece of prose up to 5000 words,
OR
Two pieces of poetry with a line limit of ‘within reason’,
OR
One piece of prose up to 2500 words AND one piece of poetry with a line limit of ‘within reason’.

Please ensure any submissions are sent to me by February 28th at the latest.

To pique some interest there was discussion at the last meet about making one of the January sessions an ‘Anthology Workshop’ to stoke some inspiration.

Sun 11th Nov 2018 at 14:38
- Kat:
  
  Wed 21th Nov 2018 at 10:58
Dan Collins: Hey gang
it's competition time!!! If you copy and paste the link below into your search bar, it should take you to the competition page. The deadline for submissions is Sunday 25 November and we'll announce the winner at the LWP Christmas party on Friday 7 December.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bfxdh5rf26r0kut/Competition2018.docx?dl=0
Many thanks and best wishes
Dan
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bfxdh5rf26r0kut/Competition2018.docx?dl=0

Thu 8th Nov 2018 at 12:54
- Dan Collins: Oh, you can just click directly on the link! Shows what a technotard I am!
  
  Thu 8th Nov 2018 at 12:55
- Dan Collins: This year's topic might not be the most cheerful one - I thought about whether to use it for a long time or whether to choose a less challenging image - but then I then I went with my gut instinct and used it anyway. I think it's good for writers to be pushed out of their comfort zones, and sometimes in life, uncomfortable topics just won't go away. If anybody wants any more background on the photo, email me yelsk67@gmail.com
  Feel free to ignore the photo and just use the word prompt as inspiration if you prefer.
  All the best and I look forward to reading your work. Dan x
  
  Sun 11th Nov 2018 at 07:36
- Andrey Pissantchev: You're asking me to write politically aware horror, Dan.
  
  I'll give it a shot.
  
  Sun 11th Nov 2018 at 09:00
- Dan Collins: Being human is a political act ;-)
  
  Mon 12th Nov 2018 at 08:21
- Dan Collins: Good point though, Andre - it really doesn't have to be a politically aware piece - it can be an emotional reaction, it can be a character's reaction to the picture, the picture might only play a background part - it's up to you, they're only prompts, not compulsory elements :)
  
  Mon 12th Nov 2018 at 18:06
Kat: New members - please can you RSVP on the schedule if you are coming to the session? It's our fault for not explaining what you need to do, but it helps us make sure there are enough people coming. See the navigation bar above, then click:
Meetings >> Schedule >> View details >> Yes I can make it

Tue 6th Nov 2018 at 20:37