John Siddique
John Siddique (born 25 July 25 1964) is a British poet, essayist and author.
Personal life
Siddique was born to an Indian Muslim father and an Irish Catholic mother,[1] He has said in interviews that he regards his true countries of birth to be "literature and language".[2] The young Siddique immersed himself in the world of books through his local library. Before becoming a writer he drifted through various jobs such as being a roadie, a pipe-welder, and landscape gardener.[3] He first began writing in 1991 after reading James Joyce's Ulysses and discovering the poetry of e.e. cummings via the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters.[4]
Published works
Poetry
Full Blood (Salt, 2011)
Recital – An Almanac (Salt, 2009)
Blackpool - A Poet’s View (Blackpool Council, 2009)
Poems from a Northern Soul (Crocus, 2007)
Transparency (editor) (Crocus, 2006)
The Prize (Rialto, 2005)
Short Stories
Four Fathers (co-author) (Route, 2007)
For Children
Don’t Wear It On Your Head (Salt, 2010)
Selected Anthologies
New Writing 15 (Granta)
The Fire People (Payback/Canongate)
Velocity (Apples & Snakes/Black Spring)
Masala (MacMillan)
Anthology of British South Asian Poetry (Redbeck)
RED (Peepal Tree)
Life Lines – Poets for Oxfam CD
Residencies
Manchester Literature Festival 2010
Los Angeles for The British Council 2009
Blackpool - Poet in Residence 2008
Manchester Art Gallery 2008
Fundacion Valparaiso 2006
The Rainer Charity, Wigan 2005
Commonword/BBC Manchester - Poet in Residence 2005
Ilkley Literature Festival - Poet in Residence 2004
HMYOI Wetherby - Writer in Residence 2000 – 03
Ledbury Poetry Festival - Writer in Residence for Young People 2000 – 03
The LOWRY - Poet in residence 2000 – 01
Prestwich NHS Trust - Poet in Residence 2000