Writer • Poet • Tutor of Creative Writing
Pauline Plummer is a writer and tutor of creative writing whose work spans poetry, fiction, and collaborative art. She has led workshops and taught in a wide range of settings across the UK — including universities such as Northumbria University and The Open University, as well as schools, community venues, and literary festivals. Her international experience includes teaching at Fourah Bay University in Sierra Leone.
Originally from Liverpool, Pauline has lived in the North East of England since the 1980s
Publications
Poetry Collections
Romeo’s Café
(Paranoia Press – 1996)
Demon Straightening (2000 Iron Press)
Bint (2011 Red Squirrel Press)
Life Pours Ordinary Plenty (Red Squirrel 2024)
Verse Novella
‘From Here to Timbuktu’ Smokestack 2012 – this was a Read Regional choice.
This satirical novella uses the structure and poetic form of Canterbury Tales to describe the journey a motley crew of first worlders make on a secular pilgrimage to Timbuktu.
A collection of short stories – Dancing With a Stranger (Red Squirrel 2015)
‘A really talented short story writer. She writes sparely and economically but always with a sensitive, precise and resonant tone…. Her dialogue is spot on and her descriptive writing exact and vivid.’
John Murray, editor, novelist, author of ‘Jazz’
If you want to buy any of these books
e-mail paulinepoethughes@gmail.com
Recognition and Anthologies
Pauline’s poems and short stories have received awards and have appeared numerous anthologies by Bloodaxe, Iron Press, NewWriting North, Emma Press., including publications by Comma Press, The Journal, and UnCommonalities.
Editorial Work
She is also an editor with Mudfog Press, a community-based publishing collective in Teesside, dedicated to supporting and promoting local writing.
Collaborative Works
With painter A. Chevallier — Palaver (Scratch Press, 1998)
Bamako to Timbuktu (2003) — accompanied by an exhibition at the Biscuit Factory Gallery
|My new collection of short stories – Each Man is a Half Open Door- is launched on March 25 2026
Lit and Phil Library, 7pm Publisher Red Squirrel Press
The book will be available from the Red Squirrel Press
web site after the launch.