John Siddique

John Siddique
Born	July 1964 (age 60–61) UK
Education	Manchester University
Occupation(s)	Spiritual teacher, poet and author
Website	www.authenticliving.life

John Siddique (born July 1964) is a spiritual teacher, poet, and author.

Siddique has had nine books published and his teachings and writings have featured in Time Magazine , The Guardian , Granta , on CNN and the BBC. The Times of India called him "Rebellious by nature, pure at heart." The Spectator magazine described him as "A stellar British poet." New York Times correspondent Bina Shah says Siddique is "One of the best poets of our generation." Former Scottish Poet Laureate Jackie Kay speaks of Siddique's writing as being "A brilliant balancing act."

Siddique is the Honorary Fellow in Creative Writing at Leicester University. He is the former Laureate of the British city of Canterbury, and British Council Poet in Residence at California State University, Los Angeles. From 2013 to 2015 he was the Royal Literary Fund (RLF) Fellow at York St. John University ^[1] and is a founding editor for the RLF's WritersMosaic initiative. ^{[2] [3]} He is the Project Co-ordinator for the Royal Literary Fund and WritersMosaic in The North of England

Personal life

Siddique was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England. ^[4] 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. ^[5] He first began writing in 1991 after reading James Joyce's Ulysses and discovering the poetry of e.e. cummings, Walt Whitman, and D. H. Lawrence. ^[6] Siddique has stated in interviews that he regards his true countries of birth to be "literature and language". ^[7]

Published works

Non-Fiction

• Signposts of The Spiritual Journey (Watkins Publishing, 2021) ISBN   978-1786785176

Poetry

• So – Selected New Poems 2011–21 (Crocus, 2022) ISBN   978-0946745395
• Full Blood (Salt Publishing, 2011) ISBN   978-1844718245
• Recital – An Almanac (Salt, 2009) ISBN   978-1844715145
• Blackpool – A Poet’s View (Blackpool Council, 2009)
• Poems from a Northern Soul (Crocus, 2007) ISBN   978-0946745876
• Transparency (editor) (Crocus, 2006) ISBN   978-0946745722
• The Prize (Rialto, 2005) ISBN   978-0952744481
• The Devil's Lunchbox (Crocus, 1996) ISBN   978-0952898801

Short stories

• Four Fathers (co-author) (Route, 2007) ISBN   978-1901927276

For children

• Don’t Wear It On Your Head (Salt, 2010) ISBN   978-1844717637

Selected anthologies

• New Writing 15 (Granta)
• The Fire People (Payback/Canongate Books)
• The HarperCollins Book of English Poetry (HarperCollins)
• Masala (MacMillan)
• Out of Bounds (Bloodaxe Books)
• RED (Peepal Tree Press)
• Life Lines – Poets for Oxfam CD
• I Am The Seed That Grew The Tree (Nosy Crow/National Trust)
• Contraflow - Lines of Englishness (Renard Press)

Prizes, awards and honours

• Hawthornden Fellowship
• Royal Literary Fund Fellow – York St. John University, 2013–15
• Honorary Creative Writing Fellow at Leicester University
• Arts Council of England Writer's Awards, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011
• Shortlisted for CPLE Poetry Award, 2007
• Nomination for Best First Collection – Forward Prize, 2005
• Nomination for Best Poem – Forward Prize, 2004

Residencies

• Canterbury Poet Laureate 2016
• Royal Literary Fund Fellow – York St. John 2013/15 & 2014/15
• 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

References

1. "John Siddique". Royal Literary Fund | Fellows. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
2. "Writers Mosaic".
3. "Team members". Writers Mosaic. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
4. Chambers, Claire (18 May 2015). "Review: Wounded Verse". Critical Muslim. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
5. "Poetry International". Archived from the original on 27 July 2011.
6. "The Rialto".
7. "The London Magazine". Archived from the original on 9 February 2010.

External links

• Authentic Living Website
• Granta
• British Council Information Page
• Interview at The Argotist
• California State University Poet in Residence Page