Ray French
BIOGRAPHY
Ray was born in Wales to Irish parents, studied at Lancaster University and now lives in Leeds. He teaches creative writing at Leeds University, the Arvon Foundation, and runs fiction and autobiography workshops in schools, libraries, bookshops and art galleries throughout the north. He also mentors writers for Yorkshire Arts Circus.
His first book was The Red Jag and other Stories. ’As the collection progresses, there rises from its blend of comedy and pathos a universalizing, almost mythic quality.’, The Times Literary Supplement.
His second was a novel, All This Is Mine, (Vintage 2004). It has been translated into Dutch and Italian and optioned as a film. Ray French has written a highly engaging and vivid debut novel, which perfectly captures the wild emotions of boyhood... ’It is a richly satisfying piece of storytelling.’, The Daily Telegraph.
His second novel for Random House, Going Under, will be published inJanuary 2007. His memoir of his father, On The Edge, is published by Route in the Four Fathers collection, Route, 2005 (download for free at www.route-online.com). ’Brilliantly written and incredibly moving’, The Western Mail.
WEBSITE
GENRE
Fiction And Autobiography
PUBLICATIONS | PERFORMANCE HISTORY
The Red Jag and other stories (Planet) 2000
All This Is Mine (Random House) 2003, Einaudi (Italy), Mouria (Holland) 2004
Going Under (Random House) January 2007
Several short stories have been broadcast on Radio 4
WORKSHOP | READINGS EXPERIENCE","REFERENCE/S
Ray has read from and discussed his work with readers groups across Lancashire, Cheshire and Yorkshire, from Liverpool, Manchester, Salford and Oldham to Leeds, Bradford and Sheffield, as well as touring with the Four Fathers. His article in the July 2004 edition of Newbooks.mag, ’Are You Receiving Me?’ discussed how authors can learn from readers groups. He has also appeared at numerous festivals, Readers Days, the Stockport Writers Day, and seminars on ’Making A Living As A Writer’. He runs workshops on fiction and writing autobiography in schools, libraries, bookshops and art galleries, as well as teaching creative writing at Leeds University. His event at the 2005 Knaresborough Festival ’I’m A Writer, Get Me Out Of Here!’ was described as ’the hidden gem of the festival’.
REFERENCE/S
Jane Rogers - janerogers@bt.com
Tom Palmer - tomplamer@tesco.net
GROUP SIZE PREFERENCE
Any -workshop 14 max
GROUP AGE PREFERENCE
English
WORKING LANGUAGE/S
English
AREA/S PREPARED TO TRAVEL
Unlimited
OTHER INFORMATION
Can be hired as Writer In Residence For A Day providing a range of activities and workshops based on writing and reading. Also available for residencies.
Librarians in the North West have pioneered partnership working to encourage new readers into libraries. Time To Read is a partnership of librarians engaged in reader development activity in public library authorities in the North West Region. All 23 public library authorities in the region currently support Time To Read.