CV

Andy N

(real name - Andrew Nicholson)

Location: Manchester

Mobile: 0794 795 9908

E- mail: aen1mpo@yahoo.co.uk
Writing Blog: http://onewriterandhispc.blogspot.co.uk/
Work Blog: http://www.writeoutloud.net/profiles/andyn

Summary Statement

Experienced writer, editor and poet within the Manchester area of England and have been performing / published on a regular basis since 2006. Particularly interested in new opportunities for writing and general creative projects.

Key Skills / Experiences

·                  Helped co-run performance group and writing discussion group Haulgh Writers (Later 24 Hour Arty People) from 2005 to 2008 during which period I helped co-run writing fortnightly workshops and helped run two performances at Bolton Library in 2006, one performance in 2007 at Words Festival in Leigh and two performances at the first Turton Towers festival in 2007.

·                   From 2007 until closure in 2012, I helped compare and organize ‘Lit Media Reviews’ which besides reading out work by new and existing writers, also interviewed writing guests on recent publications etc.

·                  From 2007  until closure in 2013 , I was a regular member of Poetica, a poetry discussion group that met regularly in Manchester Central Library, chairing the group and offering help / assistance with the construction of new and existing pieces.

·                  From 2008 to 2010, I co-ran Trio Writers, a writing performance and discussion group in Bolton with the emphasis on Poetry, Prose and Performance.

·                  From 2008 to 2010, I co-ran ‘Poets and..’, a bi-monthly open mike night at Bolton Rugby Club in Bolton – helping to organize, run and publicize the night encouraging members of the community to share their work in a public setting.

·                  From 2010 to 2013 , I co-ran and organized ‘Jamming with Jeffarama’ and later on ‘Guitar and Verse’ a monthly night firstly in Bolton and later Salford and lastly centre of Manchester with additional dates in Birmingham,  , Hepden Bridge and Leeds to name but a few - mcing the night, arranging the running order, booking the acts which include a mixture of poets, comics and musicians and helping generate publicity for the night.

·      From 2011 to 2015, I ran ‘Writers of the third kind’ (First with Manda Lee then solo from August 2012 onwards) a new creative writing / discussion group in Bolton with an emphasis on trying to help new and existing writers try out different kinds of writing, splitting each session in half, for the first part encouraging people to read any new or existing material that they wish to read and advise with suggestions and feedback for improvement if required, and for the remainder a series of short writing exercises all designed to encourage to get the writers there to trust their creative flow. 

Publishing History

 ·                  Have been published in a variety of online and paper journals such as Other Voices Poetry, Kritya, Thanalonline, Taj Mahal Review, Remark, Unquietdesperation, Spleen, Undone, The Lake, the Junkyard Procession, Ariadne's thread, Fractal Literary, Brine Books, Beyond Imagination, Ghost House Review, Agave Magazine, Untitled with Passengers, Best of Manchester Poets Best of Manchester Poets Volume 1 and 3, Page and Spine, The Lake, Long Coast Review, ‘Emergency Verse’ and 'Robin Hood', (Both published by therecusant) and ‘Spleen’ to name but a few since 2006.

·                  I brought out my first book ‘Return to Kemptown’ through N Press in 2010. Since then, I have also brought out split books in 2011 ‘A Means with an End’ with Bolton Punk Poet,  Jeff Dawson (aka Jeffarama!), and a book about how war affects the ordinary man called Europa with Nick Armbrister called Europa in 2013.

Origami Press has also bought out a short chapbook of my poetry 'Mystery Story' in 2014.

I brought out my second full length book 'The End of Summer in the Summer of 2015

and a play co wrote with a variety of other writers called Last Chance Saloon which is now in the production stage and will be performed hopefully November or December 2015.

In 2014 and 2015, as part of Napwrimo I produced two internet blogs on poetry telling a story called Ghost Story and Ghost Story II. Ghost Story III will follow in April 2016. 

 In Spring 2016, my second split book with Nick Ambrister (Working title - Europa II) should be available and somepoint in 2017 (hopefully) my third full length book 'From the Diabetic Ward' should be available as well as another chapbook 'Mystery Stories' (hopefully through Origami Press again).

Selected Career Highlights:

2006

Co-wrote and performed at two plays with 24 Hour Arty People at Bolton Library 'Toni' and 'Winter Wit'. '

2007

Performed at the first Turton Towers festival near Blackburn in

2007.

Performed at Words Festival nr Wigan.

Became a regular on the poetry Internet radio station ‘Lit Media Reviews’  (until closure).

2008

Performed at the first Not part of Festival at the Manchester Dancehouse Festival.

Performed at How many Poets does it take to put a light bulb fund raiser (Manchester).

Performed at the first ongoing ‘The Cabaret formerly known as Bucket’ night @ The Green Room.

Performed at Chorlton Arts Festival.

Co-ran and organised the ‘Poets and…’ nights @ Bolton Rugby Club from 2008 to 2010.

2009

Performed at Chorlton Arts Festival.

·Did my first tour in Ireland (Bantry, Cork and 2 other dates).

Helped run and performed at Amnesty international UK fundraiser at the Chapel in Fallowfield.

·         Headline slot at Do it for the Love show 6 and made three appearances at Unsung Magazine launches as special guest.

·Performed at the first Temporary Arts Association Festival (T.A.A.) in Manchester.

2010

Co-ran and performed at ‘Desperately seeking Alex’, a charity fund raiser for the missing poet, Alex Humphrey in 2010.

Launched my first book ‘Return to Kemptown’ at Write Out Loud, 
Sale @ Waterside Centre.

Performed at Chorlton Arts Festival.

Did my second tour in Ireland (Cork and Bantry and outskirts).

Helped arrange and organize ‘Jamming with Jeffarama’ tour at Leeds, Salford and Bolton dates.

Began to help co-organise and perform at ‘Guitars and Verse’, a monthly night @ Butterflies Bar, Bolton (later Salford and Manchester) from 2010 onwards with Jeffarama (aka Jeff Dawson).

2011

Co-ran and performed ‘Unique, Driven, Determined’ a charity night for local charities (Mind, The Villa and Tameside Blind Association) in Audenshaw (2011).

Performed at Chorlton Arts Festival.

Performed and co-run a show at Tyldesley Arts Festival (Cadence).

Performed and co-run a show at Didsbury Arts Festival.

Launched second book ‘A Means to an End’ at Chorlton Book Festival with Jeff Dawson and a short tour afterwards, which took in dates at Middleton, Bolton and Centre of Manchester.

Poem 'Percy was featured in Poppy Drift (Remberence Exhibition in Hull, November 2011).

Headline shows at Paradox, Light in the Dark.. and Open Mind.

2012

Poem ‘From a midnight train’ (Bolton) was featured in Best of Bolton @ Octagon Theatre on 11^th Feb 2012.

Headline shows at Light in the Dark, Laugh Out Loud, Write Out Loud – Middleton, 
Guitar and Verse, Led Poets, Beatification, Acoustic Wednesdays to name but a few.

Performed and co-ran two shows at Tyldesley Arts Festival (Cadence).

 Co-ran a book launch for the poetry collection ‘Robin Hood’ in Manchester.

Performed at Salford Music Festival with my spoken word band ‘A Means to an End’.

2013

Headline slot at Guitar and Verse (Manchester), Performance (Wigan) and Words V Music (Manchester).

 Featured Poet at Best of Bolton 2013

Featured Poet in Best of Manchester Poets Volume 3 book (Puppywolf)

Commissioned Poem featured in exhibition of Jaime McIntyre

Involved in work with Didsbury Arts Festival over their poetry programme and the Cadence Festival (Wigan)

Performed at Inspire Festival (Glossop).

First tour spoken word tour of Wales (Cardiff, Newport, Bangor and 3 other dates)

2014

Performance at Psoriasis Short Out where commissioned to write 2 poems. 

Publication of 'Mystery Story' viva Origami Press and Europa (with Nick Armbrister) viva N Press.

Performance at Darwin Live, Cadence Festival, Inspire festival, Bolton Food and Drink Festival, Wigan Diggers Festival and Ramsbottom Festival as part of a Means to an End.

Commissioned to write 15 short poems for the Heaton Trail as part of the Heaton Mersey Arts Festival.

Did a preview showing of my co wrote upcoming poetic play 'Last Chance Saloon' at Manchester Poetry Festival.

Published in three collections of poetry by Brine Press.

2015

Publication of Second solo book ‘The End of Summer’.

Collaboration with Stockport Art Gallery over their Enchantment Exhibition.

Headline Poetry slots at Bolton Diggers Festival, Manchester Against Racism, Mic Bytes, 52 reading (Chorlton), Write Out Loud Jazz Festival. 

A Means to an End headline slots at Mic Bytes and Tyldsley Music Festival
(Debut album for A Means to an End brought out in December 2015)

Psoriasis Short Out recording of Poems for documentary on said topic. 

Collaboration with Northern Scapes Art Gallery.