About

Emma Conally-Barklem is a Bradford-born author, poet and yoga teacher based in North Yorkshire. In 2023, she was New Northern Poet for Ilkley Literature Festival. Her collection The Ridings was curated into an exhibition in her hometown, Bradford. Hymns from the Sisters was written after a residency at the Brontë Parsonage Museum.

Emma won the Black in White Poetry Prize 2024. Her first novel, Yoga Homicide was shortlisted for the 2024 Book Edit Writers’ Prize. Her first full collection, Emily Brontë’s Hawk will be published by The Black Cat Poetry Press in 2026. She is a core poet for the BBC’s Contains Strong Language Poetry Festival for Bradford 2025.

Skilfully crafted, poignant and memorable, this is an impressive debut which I am sure will be of great comfort and inspiration to anyone experiencing loss - Natalie Scott, review of The Ridings

Charlie Parker is a published poet, writer, and editorial assistant. In 2023 his debut poetry collection, which was nominated for two awards, was published by Written Off Publishing. He has published a short story and a creative non-fiction essay, and volunteers as a features writer for Exposed Magazine. He has a particular interest in UK social class, current affairs, English football, and politics.

Heartfelt, witty and subtly political anthems of everyday life - Lee Pollard, Sheffield Hallam University Department of Social Work and Social Care

Musical interludes from Les Gillon on guitar and Julia Farrants on cello.

Les Gillon is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who as well as being a longstanding member of the folk trio Ghost School, leads his own five piece acoustic band The Agents of Karma, of which Julia Farrants is a member.  Julia also plays in a wide range of contexts from classical orchestral to klezmer and gypsy jazz.