(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 two poetry collections 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, George Szirtes, Daljit Nagra, Claire Pollard, 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". "Head On" (Bloodaxe 2012) "turns an unflinching gaze into startlingly new territories .... this is a book which speaks in equal measures, in precise and uncompromsing language, about love and tenderness; violence and brutality".   

You can read old, new, anthologised and unpublished examples of Clare's poetry on the poetry page.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