SALLY BROWN

Sally’s creative writing journey spans several decades with an emphasis on poetry, children’s books and, more recently, script writing. She is a member of Script Yorkshire and founder member of Holmfirth Writers’ Group (HWG), which has been running weekly for over 15 years, and its offshoot Holme Valley Poets. She often refers to members of HWG as her ‘desert island friends’ – the ones she would most like to be shipwrecked with – so long as they had endless supplies of pen and paper!

She lives in Holmfirth (better known as Last of the Summer Wine country) but grew up on the outskirts of Sheffield and has a strong affinity for the Peak District and the landscape of the northern Pennines, which inspires her writing. Walking her Staffordshire terrier, Paddy, and her elderly Jack Russell, Jemma, is a labour of love and they regularly go off ‘campervanning’ in the Dales together.

After graduating in English Literature at the University of Leeds Sally worked in arts PR/Marketing for over 40 years. Yes she’s getting on a bit! As a relief from writing press releases she focused her energies on poetry and has had poems published in several anthologies including The Cotton Grass Appreciation Society, a poetry anthology published by Maytree Press in 2019 (alongside Simon Armitage), and as part of a specially commissioned film about the Holme Valley for Holmfirth Arts Festival in 2019.

Over the years, as a working parent and primary carer for her mother, who had dementia for 15 years, and now for her husband, who has ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, she has had little time to devote to personal development.

Having her script recorded as part of the Dream Reality Radio project, run by Leeds Playhouse, was a dream come true for Sally and she went on to successfully apply for a ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ grant from Arts Council England. She is currently working with a mentor to develop her script writing skills for radio and theatre.
Over Our Shoulder:

Set in Leeds during the years when Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, was at large, Over Our Shoulder tells the story of Janie, a woman in her twenties, her partner Freddy and her friend who became one of Sutcliffe’s last surviving victims. Based on true stories, provided by women who lived in Leeds at the time, this is the tale of an ordinary woman who has to take risks every day of her life just to survive.