Gabrielle Barnby, author and creative practitioner, Orkney.
Gabrielle Barnby is an author and creative practitioner based in Orkney.
She writes novels, short stories, reviews and poetry, and also encourages creativity in others through community events and workshops.
Every day we talk, describe, ponder, gossip and imagine life outside our own experience. My passion is to creatively transform these glimpses and wonderings into poetry that moves the soul and narratives that stir the imagination. I write in a range of forms and styles and I’m sure there is something you’re going to enjoy.
The Oystercatcher Girl, is set in the wild and beautiful landscape of the remote Orkney Islands, mystery, danger and romance spill from the pages. My collection of short stories, The House with the Lilac Shutters and other stories, is set in the warm foothills of the Pyrenees and explores the secrets and passions of interconnected lives. Peace-Land commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first world war and follows the internment and scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet in Scapa Flow, Orkney. Death in April Creek is a page turning thriller set in New Zealand written under my pen name Helena Cooke.
A Way Out, And A Way In is my first poetry collection. My aim was to create a collection that was personal and accessible, something that I would find pleasurable to put together and share.
‘There are always imperfections, they are my troublesome companions on the road to insight.
I couldn’t go anywhere without them.’
When not writing I host a variety of workshops. Currently, I tutor ‘Discovering Your Creativity’ with Orkney Creative Hub at No25. These on-line sessions discover and rediscover creative awareness through tasks and reflections. I’m also involved in community arts events in Orkney through Stromness Writing Group and am programme leader for Wirdsmit, Orkney’s writing group for children and young people.
If you have read my work please leave a review somewhere, they are essential encouragement and they make a huge difference to small publishers.
If you have a response to something I have written please send your comments or find me on twitter.
Gabrielle
Next course begins: Summer 2021
News
Very happy to have a poem in the snazzy new look issue of The New Shetlander
Delighted to read two poems from A Way Out, And a Way In at Stanza Poetry Festival Open Mic.
Football and poetry – passionate bedfellows. Thrilled to have The Green Deck included in #primopoetica as part of The Hampden Collection
Pleased to see my piece on protecting creativity featuring in the very first issue of the UHI LitSoc New Beginnings magazine.
New release from Stromness Writing Group, ‘again to get up’ lockdown haiku.
The Oystercatcher Girl, excerpt in The Scotsman newspaper.
New Writing
Red – inspired by audio recording from Orkney Archive
The Tern – Inspired by the birds around the Peedie Sea.
A Countrywoman’s Diary written for The Heart and Soul of Orkney autumn Foy.
Stromness Per Mare street name acrostic
Poems written to celebrate Magnus 900.
