(the launch of Straight Ahead at Nelson's Wine Bar, Hebden Bridge 2006)

"Probably the best, most electrifying new young reader on the circuit" - carol ann duffy 

"extraordinary,

like a leopard walked in, glowing

from the wet night on Back Commercial Street

to lay with me”

(from ‘About the arguments we had last year’ in ‘Straight Ahead', Bloodaxe 2006)                                                                                                                                      </span></p><p"Straight

Clare Shaw is a writer based in the North of England, with one poetry collection and several other publications under her belt. Her second collection will be published with Bloodaxe in 2012.

Clare is a popular performer of her own work; and has performed alongside poets including Carol Ann Duffy, Roy Fisher, Liz Lochead, Lemn Sissay, Brian Patten and Jackie Kay. Her work has been anthologised (Faber 2004, 2007, 2012); published in several national journals and newspapers including the Guardian and the Daily Mirror; and has attracted awards including a ‘Forward Prize Highly Commended (2006). Clare's prose is anthologised in the "Some Girls' Mothers" collection published by Route in 2008: you can see her performing her work on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLB1WdRM9p8

In "Straight Ahead" (Bloodaxe 2006) - Clare's first poetry collection - the poems "are by turn harsh and tender, humorous and bleak. Dynamic, dark, and exactingly detailed, they invite the reader – and listener - into a rich and complex world". You can read old, new, anthologised and unpublished examples of Clare's poetry on the poetry page.

Clare also has a passionate interest in mental health and is the co-director of harm-ed, the self-harm training partnership www.harm-ed.co.uk  

Clare is available for readings, workshops and other events ..... you can contact her direct for enquiries and bookings on shaw_clare@hotmail.com