Marilyn Longstaff has spent most of her adult life in the North East. She was born in Liverpool, the daughter of ‘southerners’, whose vocation meant a nomadic existence. She lives in Darlington and is a member of the writing, performing and publishing collective Vane Women (name taken from their base camp in Vane Terrace) – www.vanewomen.co.uk . Her work has appeared in a number of magazines, anthologies and on the web.

In 2003, she received a Northern Promise Award from New Writing North and in 2005 gained her MA in Creative Writing from the University of Newcastle.

For the past five years she has been part of a group of writers who have been writing in response to stem cell research and other bio technology. Some of this work can be found on the Stemistry website.

At present, her latest book, Raiment has been selected for New Writing North’s Read Regional campaign.

Publications

Puritan Games 2001   Vane Women Press

Sitting Among The Hoppers 2004     Arrowhead Press www.arrowheadpress.co.uk

Raiment 2010   Smokestack Books  www.smokestack-books.co.uk and www.inpress.co.uk

review for Raiment in Other Poetry

‘A poet with an immense talent to engage and amuse. Longstaff is also brave enough to turn a peeled eye to life’s disturbing realities.’      Peter Bennet