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About me

Sophie Parkes is a writer of novels, short fiction, life writing and music journalism. A graduate of the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, she also holds a doctorate in creative writing and folklore from Sheffield Hallam University. You can read more about her research here.

Her historical novel, Out of Human Sight, was shortlisted for the NorthBound Book Award at the 2021 Northern Writers' Awards and was published by Northodox Press in 2023. 

 

In 2017, Sophie won the Arvon Award at the Northern Writers’ Awards for her collection of short stories influenced by English folk song. You can read some of her published short stories at the bottom of this page.

Sophie's interest in specialist music, particularly folk music, has seen her publish the official biography of one of her all-time musical heroes, Eliza Carthy. Wayward Daughter (Soundcheck Books) came out in 2012 and the title of the book was later used by Eliza to name both an album and her big band. Sophie continues to write about music and musicians for titles including Songlines and Rock'n'Reel.

 

In 2016, Sophie worked with endurance athlete, Blind Dave Heeley, to get his incredible story down onto paper. From Light to Dark is published by Pitch, with a portion of the story influencing short film, Seven Days, made by Pixel Revolution Films. It is also available as an audio book narrated by Adrian Chiles.

Sophie is an Associate Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University and Leeds Arts University, teaching on both BA and MA Creative Writing programmes. She is also a frequent facilitator of creative writing workshops in the community, leading workshops for The Portico Library, Saddleworth Literature Festival, The Tameside Health and Wellbeing College, and Tameside Libraries, amongst others.

 

She also founded and continues to run Mossley Writers and in 2021 won an Arts Council England grant for The Tameside WordShop, a year-long programme of creative writing workshops for Tameside writers. You can watch the film about the initiative here.

You can read (or watch!) some of Sophie's stories here:

The Book of Manchester: 'Shock City'

LOOM: 'Cornflowers'

Rituals & Declarations: 'Procession'

Dear Damsels: 'May Day'

M6 Theatre (performance): 'Bird Behaviour'

The Real Story (creative non-fiction): 'Hero'

Chethams Library collection: 'Mary Leech, née Blackwall, on returning to her parental home'

Chine Magazine: 'Milkers Day'

Streetcake (issue 52): 'Silence Surrounds Her'

The Pygmy Giant: 'The Unquiet Grave' 

William Faulkner's Typewriter: 'Tonight's the night that'll be the night'

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About me

Events

  • Folklore short story course - with Comma Press
    Folklore short story course - with Comma Press
    Multiple Dates
    Mon, 02 Dec
    02 Dec 2024, 18:30 – 20:30
    Online via Zoom
    Folklore can show us exactly what it means to be human, laying bare what we believe, and what we value. In fiction, folklore can provide both intrigue and clarity. Join this short story course to learn how we can write fiction with folklore.
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  • The art of writing women’s history in fiction
    The art of writing women’s history in fiction
    Wed, 23 Oct
    23 Oct 2024, 18:30 – 20:00
    Sheffield City Centre, Old Head Post Office, Fitzalan Sq, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2AY, UK
    Women in history were often sidelined, forgotten, hidden. So how do we tell their stories with accuracy, bringing them to life in an engaging way for readers today?
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  • The Book of Manchester at Manchester Literature Festival
    The Book of Manchester at Manchester Literature Festival
    Sat, 12 Oct
    12 Oct 2024, 19:00 – 21:00
    Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6JA, UK
    Join MLF and Comma Press for a special event to launch The Book of Manchester. Edited by poet Lemn Sissay and Comma Press editor David Sue, the collection explores the transformation of the city from post-war, post-industrial decline to the aspirational ‘Manctopia’.
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  • Folklore and historical fiction at Ashton Library
    Folklore and historical fiction at Ashton Library
    Sat, 01 Jun
    01 Jun 2024, 10:30 – 14:30
    Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6BH, UK
    Workshop, readings and Q&A with Sophie Parkes, Kenzie Millar and Sue Barker
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  • The SHU Masterclass with Karen Powell
    The SHU Masterclass with Karen Powell
    Wed, 31 Jan
    31 Jan 2024, 18:30 – 19:45
    Sheffield City Centre, Howard St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK
    Karen Powell will be in conversation with Sophie Parkes at Sheffield Hallam University's Masterclass programme
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  • Writing the Brontës - Karen Powell and Bella Ellis in conversation with Sophie Parkes
    Writing the Brontës - Karen Powell and Bella Ellis in conversation with Sophie Parkes
    Wed, 22 Nov
    22 Nov 2023, 18:30 – 20:30
    Manchester, University Green, 146 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9GP, UK
    Sophie has the pleasure of hosting a bookish evening with the Brontës
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  • National Creative Writing Industry Day
    National Creative Writing Industry Day
    Sat, 04 Nov
    04 Nov 2023, 09:00 – 17:15
    Manchester, All Saints Building, All Saints, Manchester M15 6BH, UK
    Sophie will be running a place writing-themed workshop as part of this full day of panels and advice from Comma Press and Manchester Metropolitan University.
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  • Authordox Book Fair
    Authordox Book Fair
    Sat, 21 Oct
    21 Oct 2023, 14:00 – 22 Oct 2023, 18:00
    Manchester, 3 Cambridge St, Manchester M1 5BY, UK
    Bringing Out of Human Sight to the Northodox Book Fair in Manchester
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  • Writing historical fiction at Oldham Histories Festival
    Writing historical fiction at Oldham Histories Festival
    Sat, 23 Sept
    23 Sept 2023, 11:00 – 13:00
    Oldham, Greaves St, Oldham OL1 1AL, UK
    A writing workshop to get your historical fiction underway
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  • Mossley Writers: Retreat Day
    Mossley Writers: Retreat Day
    Sun, 13 Aug
    13 Aug 2023, 10:00 – 16:00
    Mossley, 2, Vale Mil, Micklehurst Rd, Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne OL5 9JL, UK
    Spend the day writing with other likeminded writers
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  • Out of Human Sight at Leeds Book Social
    Out of Human Sight at Leeds Book Social
    Sat, 17 Jun
    17 Jun 2023, 14:00 – 17:00
    Hyde Park Book Club, 27-29 Headingley Ln., Headingley, Leeds LS6 1BL, UK
    Sophie will be appearing at the Leeds Book Social to read from Out of Human Sight.
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  • Writing a novel from the folklore of murder at the Centre for Folklore, Myth and Magic
    Writing a novel from the folklore of murder at the Centre for Folklore, Myth and Magic
    Sat, 22 Apr
    22 Apr 2023, 16:00 – 17:00
    Centre for Folklore, Myth and Magic, 65 Halifax Rd, Todmorden OL14 5BB, UK
    In this talk, writer, Sophie Parkes, presents how she came to learn about the Bills o'Jack's legend upon moving to Saddleworth, and how she worked with the folklore of this crime to develop her novel, Out of Human Sight.
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  • Out of Human Sight at Uppermill Library
    Out of Human Sight at Uppermill Library
    Wed, 05 Apr
    05 Apr 2023, 18:45 – 06 Apr 2023, 20:00
    Uppermill, St. Chad’s House, Uppermill, Oldham OL3 6AZ, UK
    To celebrate the publication of Out of Human Sight, writer Sophie Parkes will be joined by musicians Laura Smyth and Ted Kemp. With readings, music and refreshments, learn more about the historical case and how Sophie worked with the folklore of the crime to develop her novel.
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  • Out of Human Sight at Mossley Book Club
    Out of Human Sight at Mossley Book Club
    Sun, 12 Mar
    12 Mar 2023, 19:00
    Location is TBD
    Meeting the folks at Mossley Book Club to discuss Out of Human Sight
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  • Keep Writing
    Keep Writing
    Wed, 08 Mar
    08 Mar 2023, 17:00 – 09 Mar 2023, 19:30
    Sheffield City Centre, Arundel Gate, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2LQ, UK
    How to thrive after you graduate
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  • Out of Human Sight at the Audenshaw and Droylsden Book Group
    Out of Human Sight at the Audenshaw and Droylsden Book Group
    Wed, 22 Feb
    22 Feb 2023, 19:00 – 23 Feb 2023, 21:00
    Audenshaw, 92 Manchester Rd, Greater, Audenshaw, Manchester M34 5GB, UK
    Out of Human Sight comes to the Audenshaw and Droylsden Book Group, with reading and discussion.
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  • Out of Human Sight with Sophie Parkes and Northodox Press
    Out of Human Sight with Sophie Parkes and Northodox Press
    Wed, 15 Feb
    15 Feb 2023, 18:00
    Sheffield Hallam University, Howard St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK
    Join us for the Sheffield launch of Out of Human Sight, the debut novel from SHU PhD student, Sophie Parkes-Nield, and her publishers, Northodox Press.
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  • Out of Human Sight at Dukinfield Library Club
    Out of Human Sight at Dukinfield Library Club
    Wed, 08 Feb
    08 Feb 2023, 10:30 – 09 Feb 2023, 11:30
    Dukinfield Library, Concord Way, Dukinfield SK16 4DB, UK
    A talk for Dukinfield Library Club about the legend behind Out of Human Sight
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Events
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Mossley Writers

Sophie founded and continues to lead Mossley Writers, a community writing group in the
small town where she lives. If you live locally and would like more information about joining the group, feel free to get in touch to join the mailing list.

This friendly, inclusive group meets on the third Tuesday of the month, at The Vale, Mossley's beautiful arts space, 7.30-9.30pm. We welcome all kinds of writers, at all stages of their career. A typical Mossley Writers get-together includes critiquing members’ work, writing together using fun and thought-provoking writing exercises, and – of course – tea and biscuits. There is a small monthly fee to cover the hire of the space at The Vale.

In 2019, Mossley Writers completed our first group project: A Worthy Mossley Man, an anthology and exhibition of our writing about John Knight, Mossley resident and prominent figure in the 1819 peaceful demonstration that became known as the Peterloo Massacre. You can read some of our work on this dedicated website.

In 2021, Sophie won an Arts Council England grant to run The Tameside WordShop, a year-long programme of free writing workshops for Tameside writers. Take a look at the website to find out how to book your place.

Mossley Writers on Facebook

Mossley Writers
Contact
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Contact

Thanks for getting in touch!

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