News

News

Welcome to my news page!
Updated details of reviews, commissions and awards are right here.
Forthcoming readings and events can be found on the 'Gig List' page – please click that tab for more info.

Debut novel 'The Palace of Curiosities' (HarperCollins 2013) is available in all formats (hardback, e-book, paperback & audio). The same goes for 'Vixen' (Borough Press, 2014) and ‘The Night Brother’ (Borough Press, 2014).
Support your local independent bookshop, if you are blessed enough to have one... or buy direct from bookshop.org or HarperCollins.

Latest poetry collection 'What Girls Do in the Dark' out now with Nine Arches press.

Also available - ‘As In Judy’ direct from Flapjack Press. And 'Everything Must Go' direct from the publisher, Holland Park Press.

Royal Society of Literature Fellowship   On 12th July 2023 I was made a Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature! It was something I never imagined in a hundred years. It's a tremendous honour, & a testament to the quality of my writing. To say I am thrilled is…
Delighted to get the opportunity to talk to Manchester Festival of Libraries about the importance of libraries in my life! https://youtu.be/18VPl5qXvkM And there are many more –Watch all the short films featuring four accomplished Manchester creative practitioners who have worked closely with libraries over the course of their careers. Hear…
‘Because goddess is never enough’ – revealing the new film poem, made in collaboration with filmmaker Jane Glennie. Absolutely thrilled to announce this new film poem – created over 2021 in collaboration with amazing filmaker Jane Glennie. Inspired by the life of dancer and choreographer Tilly Losch, the film explores…
Announcing the Novemeber 18th 2022 release of 'The Palace of Infinite Darkness' It's 40 years since The March Violets released our 1st 7" EP (seriously, FORTY).So it’s a great time to announce that this tasty 5 CD Box Set is now up for pre order from Jungle Records!The Palace of…
Residential Writing Week: Queer Poetry A wonderful experience – for the first time, I co-tutored a residential writing week for the prestigious Arvon Foundation! It was such a thrill to work alongside inspiring co-tutor Keith Jarrett and electrifying guest reader Jay Bernard.A very special week. I won’t forget it. Monday…
Thrilled and honoured to have my poem ‘Now that you are not-you’ featured in this groundbreaking new anthology! ‘Mary Jean Chan and Andrew McMillan's luminous anthology, 100 Queer Poems, is a celebration of thrilling contemporary voices and visionary poets of the past. Featuring Elizabeth Bishop, Langston Hughes, Ocean Vuong, Carol…
‘Why I Write Poetry’ I’m honoured – my essay ‘Don’t Fence Me In’ is included in this wonderful collection! (Nine Arches Press, ed Ian Humphreys) ‘What motivates poets in the 21st century? How do they find their voice? What themes and subject matters inspire them? How do they cope with…
The Poetry Society Best Books of the Year A wonderful way to end a difficult year – ‘What Girls Do in the Dark’ selected by Pippa Hennessy as a Poetry Society Best Book of the Year! https://poetrysociety.org.uk/poetry-news-best-books-of-the-year/“Finally, Rosie Garland’s What Girls Do in the Dark (Nine Arches) – Garland is…
Northern Soul’s Best Reads of 2021 Thank you Henry Normal for selecting What Girls Do in the Dark for Northern Soul’s Best Reads of 2021! Books: Northern Soul’s Best Reads of 2021Henry Normal, poet and writerWhat Girls do in the Dark (Nine Arches Press) by Rosie Garland is my favourite…
Thank you Vive le Rock magazine, for the great feature on The March Violets! https://vivelerock.net/product/vive-le-rock-84-motorhead-girlschool-preorder/
The March Violets at Record Store Day 2021 Well, look at what happened on Record Store Day UK on July 17th 2021!The March Violets ‘Big Soul Kiss’ - all the 1980s BBC Sessions in one place.And PURPLE vinyl too #RSD21 #rsddrops UPDATE – the entire pressing sold out in 24…
International Translation Day 2021 Honoured to have my poem ‘Something in the Water’ translated into Sorani in ‘My Body Is Not Yours’, an e-anthology of translated poetry launched by Manchester and Slemani Cities of Literature.It’s a real honour to be with so many inspiring writers linking Manchester & Slemani! “International…
Thrilled to announce that ‘What Girls Do in the Dark’, my poetry collection with Nine Arches Press, has been shortlisted for the Polari Prize 2021, the UK’s only literary award for LGBTQ+ literature. It’s a huge honour! The Polari Prize 2021 shortlist:• Dragman - Steven Appleby (Vintage)• The Air Year…
Thrilled to be nominated for The Polari Prize 2021, for 'What Girls Do in the Dark'. And such a stellar list, too! The Polari Prize 2021 LonglistsNow in its tenth year, the Polari Prize is the UK’s first and largest LGBTQ+ book award. Established to promote writing that explores the…
Thrilled to be your guide for online, Behind the scenes video tours of Manchester's 5 Heritage Libraries! For the Festival of Libraries - 9-13 June 2021 - but available anytime, ONLINE - click the link below.All ages welcome, Free "Join Manchester writer Rosie Garland as she guides you through the…
Wigleaf top 50 longlist 2021 A lovely surprise – my story ‘Waiting for time to catch up’ is on the Wigleaf Top 50 longlist!Thank you New Flash Fiction Review for publishing it, and big thanks to Shome Dasgupta, Molly Gaudrey & all the amazing readers at Wigleaf for their love…
I can safely say I never expected to share an anthology with Sappho & Oscar Wilde!So I’m thrilled my story ‘You’ll Do’ is featured in ‘Queer: LGBTQ Writing from Ancient Times to Yesterday’ edited by Frank Wynne.https://headofzeus.com/books/9781789542332 Queer is an unabashed and unapologetic anthology, drawing together writing from Catullus to…
Thrilled that 'Now that you are not-you' is Guardian Poem of the Week! "A very modern, secular kind of elegy reflects on death with a surprising lightness" - Carol Rumens "This week’s poem is from What Girls Do in the Dark, the latest collection by the multi-talented Rosie Garland. It…
7.30pm GMT Join us to celebrate the launch of What Girls Do in the Dark by Rosie Garland, with guests Tania Hershman & Ian HumphreysAbout this EventJoin Rosie Garland, plus guest writers Tania Hershman & Ian Humphreys to celebrate the publication of Rosie's new poetry collection What Girls Do in…
I thought it wasn't possible to feel any more thrilled about joining Nine Arches Press- then I see the stunning cover of my new poetry collection, 'What Girls Do In The Dark'.Out October 2020https://www.ninearchespress.com/publications/poetry-collections/what-girls-do-in-the-dark.html
Manchester Confidential chooses The Night Brother as a must-read Manchester novel! Dystopian classics to modern crime - Nine must-read Manchester novels “Fantasy, romance, sci-fi, comedy…we’ve got a genre for everyoneThere’s a very good reason Manchester is a UNESCO City of Literature, as we highlighted before its bid to join the…
An unexpected & encouraging piece of news!Northern Soul has selected 'The Night Brother' as a Best Northern Read Desmond Bullen, Northern Soul writer“In days that can seem desolate and uncertain, there’s a lot to be said for windows into a better world and, ultimately, joyfully, that is exactly the view…
New collection forthcoming in October 2020 from Nine Arches Press I’m thrilled to be on the 2020 list of Nine Arches Press!I’m in the company of a fantastic group of poets. I couldn’t be happier. https://www.ninearchespress.com/about-us/news.html “Midlands-based independent poetry publisher Nine Arches Press, which achieved Arts Council England National Portfolio…
I’m deeply honoured!The British Council has invited me to read, perform, and present workshops in India…I’ve been invited to TWO exciting literary events: Bhubaneswar Literary Meet (11th January 2020) AND Mumbai Spoken Fest by Kommune (12th January 2020). I can’t wait – not only for the opportunity to share my…
I’m thrilled to announce that Val McDermid has selected me as one of the 10 most compelling LGBTQI+ writers working in the UK today! Val said: “These writers are writing for everyone. These are not words for a niche readership. These are not writings for a ghetto. These are the…
Peterloo – massacre or riot? On June 20th 2019, The John Rylands Library staged a live performance event to mark the bicentenary of the Peterloo Massacre. It was a first for the library and I was excited to take the part of Jemima Bamford – one of the thousands of…
Guest vox with The Bellwether Syndicate at Wave-Gotik Treffen The high point of WGT 2019 was being invited to be guest vocalist with The Bellwether Syndicate from Chicago! Rocking out to a special rendition of The March Violets track ‘Snake Dance’…The gig on Saturday 8th June 2019 at Taubchenthal, Leipzig…
How to ask for a residency Since I wrote about the Power of Asking, I’ve been heartened by how many writers have told me they’re going to ask for Writers’ Residencies too. There are plenty of questions: What do you say? What do you ask for? This blog offers a…
As part of my Writer’s Residency at The John Rylands Library, I’m writing a series of blogs… here’s the first – The Power of Asking. “I’ve just been appointed the first writer-in-residence at The John Rylands Library. How did I manage this wonderful achievement? I asked. Sounds easy. It wasn’t.…
Great to start the new year with a slew of short fiction highlights! My story ‘Burning Girl’ is in the ‘Disturbing the Beast’ anthology from Boudicca Press, out February 2019. My flash fic, ‘Your sons & your daughters are beyond’ is being published in Longleaf Review on Feb 10th 2019…
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