Mollie BAXTER

Email: mollie@molliebaxter.com
URL: www.molliebaxter.com

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

Writer, musician, tutor and performer, working creatively across age groups, experience levels and social circumstances, dedicated to exploring creative possibilities between forms.

HIGHER EDUCATION:

1996-1997      University of St. Andrews

1st year credits 120/120

1997-1999       University of Lancaster

BA Honours Independent Studies 2:1
(Specialising in Creative Writing)

2002-2003      University of Lancaster

MA Creative Writing

EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING CREATIVE WRITING MA:

2004-7           University of Lancaster

Tutor in UG Creative Writing.
Tutor in Independent Studies

2004- 2010  University of Cumbria (formerly St Martins College)
Tutor across all years

(UG, Masters, PhD supervision)

Course Leader 2007-8

2003-7          Department of Continuing Education (DCE)

Lancaster University
Tutor in Creative Writing:

- Distance Learning (Postal and Internet)
- Stimulate Your Writing Levels 1 +2
- Creative Writing Levels 1+2
- Gothic Writing Levels 1 + 2
- Widening Participation Work with schools:

NAGTY, Passport and Aim Higher

SELECTION OF RECENT, RELEVANT WORK PROJECTS

2010 - pres

Editorial reader  for Cornerstones Literary Consultancy.

2009

Libraries Inside Out:  They Eat Culture project as part of the October Learning Revolution Festival. I worked with ‘hard-to-reach’  under 25s, collecting oral ‘testimonies’ that were projected onto the exterior walls of local libraries.

2008-9.

‘Words on the Waves’ Radio Show on Diversity FM, (Community radio station for Lancaster and Morecambe) showcases spoken word performance. Seeks to support new and established authors together. Features a variety of forms and diverse styles. Aim = to be actively inclusive. Features so far include working with pupils at St Helen’s Primary School; Spotlight Club, Six Poets, Sedbergh Fringe Festival; words and music collaborations i.e. a range of forms and experience seeking a representative cross-section of local work. (see website)

2008 ‘Whispers in the Well, Part 1’ EP.

1st in a series of 4, part 2 released autumn 2009. Parts 3 and 4 currently being recorded.

2008-pres

The ‘Moll Baxter Band’ performs in Lancaster and beyond, dates running into the summer. Recent gigs include supporting ‘I Am Kloot,’ for Totally Wired. (May 09) Jan-July 09: 14 performances (Music/Words)

2008 ‘Be There in a Jiffy,’ participant.

Project run by Apples and Snakes, culminating in a group performance. (‘Things from Ba’ song evolved from poem of same name by Emma McGordon.)

2007 ABOLISHED!

Lancaster Litfest commission to run a series of children’s creative writing workshops celebrating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade, culminating in a radio programme broadcast on Diversity FM.

2005-6 Collaborations Workshop

Commissioned by Spotlight Club to hold a 2-day event combining Creative Writing and music, performing and recording work. This was repeated in 2006.

2004-pres Member of Monkeyrack Writers

Group performs/publishes regularly, both individually and as a group.

PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS

2010 Voted ‘Best Live Act’ by The Lunecy Review.

2010 ‘Five Rooms’ published in Wordsoup 1 Anthology.

2008 ‘Before the Rain’ short story anthology. Flax Litfest.

2007 ‘Scene and Summary,’ NAWE Journal, Issue 40.

2007 ‘The Role of Virtual Learning Environments,’

NAWE article, Issue 41.

2006 ‘Thinking in Slices,’ in ‘Square Cuts,’ Flax, Litfest.

2006 Collection of pieces in ‘Monkeyrack’ anthology.

2005 ‘My First Lover and I Were Like Wood,’

in ‘The Quiet Feather.’

2003 ‘Chu,’ in Pitch magazine

2003 3 stories published in thephonebook.com,

(Charity Shops,’ in ‘The Best Of… Top 50 stories.’

2005 Second in Doris Gooderson Short Story Competition.

2004 First in ‘Word Market’ Short Story Competition.

2004 ‘Highly Commended,’ Project as part of ‘The Big Draw,’

Children’s workshop.

2003 Highly Commended in the Lichfield and District

Short Story competition

2003 Winner of Poetry Slam, Lancaster Spotlight Club.

2003 Winner of Open Mike, Lancaster Spotlight Club.

REVIEWS:

‘… An abiding characteristic of Mollie Baxter’s writing, that raises her tales into the level of real greatness, is her ability to pull off the unexpected. Rather than the road less travelled, it’s a road cleaved through the thicket. Every literary cliché, every predictable turn of phrase and plot transition is avoided and subverted. Her take on mental illness through the theme of colour (’Colour Fractions’) is one from an utterly new angle, as poignant and sympathetic, as it is inspired. What you think you see coming is not what arrives.’ Dogmatika Review March 2008

‘Baxter writes with a beautifully light touch,’ – Nicholas Royle, ‘Timeout’ April 24th 2008

‘What is so interesting about Mollie Baxter’s writing is her diversity. She has a wonderful knack for creating other times and places, odd otherworldly realities as well as historical milieus, but is just as much at home writing about modern people living mundane here and now lives. A natural writer with an instinctive facility with words, she is blessed with a sharp ear for dialogue and an impressive descriptive talent.’ – Carol Birch.

REFEREE CONTACT DETAILS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.