Tanya Abbott
Tanya is a freelance writer who loves to travel. Her goal is to write a short story about every country she has visited. When she is not travelling she spends her time sitting in her garden in Sussex sipping varieties of herbal tea and reading non fiction. Tanya participated in the Invisible London (2019) phase.
Jordan Aramitz
Jordan Aramitz is an author and poet studying at the University of East Anglia. Her work explores the themes of unorthodox relationships, mental health, and magical realism through the lens of the British-Asian identity. Jordan participated in the COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phase.
Christina Barrett-Jones
Christina is always seeking new ways to make interesting things happen within her writing. Since completing the first year of the MA writing programme, she has written a number of short plays which have been performed in London, and is now working on a full length play. Christina participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Jo Berouche
Jo is a gloomy millennial, attempting to reclaim others and herself from the blurring in-betweens of past, present and future. She is pretentious, scarcely finds the time to write, struggles to love herself and is deathly afraid of the future, despite harbouring a fascination with it. Jo participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Daniela Bragato
Daniela is a writer, a mindfulness teacher, hypnotherapist in training and the founder of Women MAKE Stories, a purpose-led business that offers one-to-one wellbeing coaching sessions and mindfulness and writing workshops to women. Daniela loves pizza, all things matcha, the sea and her kitten Coconut. Her biggest dream is to publish the novel she’s writing. Daniela participated in the Invisible London (2019) phase.
Craig Britton
Craig’s interest in writing is to indulge in something he does not know. To be immersed in a culture he have never seen, or one that is in front of us every day, but that we never truly acknowledge. The aim of his writing is not so much to entertain, but to open debate. Craig participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Sophie Brown
Sophie Brown is a second-year English Literature with Creative Writing student at the University of East Anglia, with an interest in screenwriting. She was drawn to the CityLife project because of her love for people and their stories, which are key in her work. When she isn’t writing, you will find her either chatting away with anyone and everyone or watching the latest tv dramas. She hopes to continue her studies in screenwriting after graduating. Sophie participated in the COVID: Lockdown Stories phase.
Suzie Champion
Suzie is an Independent Psychotherapist with a passion for writing. But passion doesn’t equal talent. So, she decided to check onto a creative writing course to test herself, and having just graduated from a three year BA Honours Degree course at UEL with a First, she thinks she might well be onto something. Suzie participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Martin Clarke
Born in Norwich and having left school at seventeen, he worked full time in Asda while studying with the OU. Martin hangs on the precipice of complete idleness and literary brilliance. Any other time is spent sleeping or sitting in bed watching Mariah Carey videos on YouTube. Martin participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Sam Dodd
Sam likes to listen to people’s tales, and believes the whole world turns on stories. She also likes growing veg, talking to animals, fostering elderly cats, and anything green. Sam has participated in all four phases of CityLife as a writer, and is also the Project Manager. Find out more here.
Claire Dougher
Originally hailing from New York, Claire studied at UEL. Though not a seasoned writer, she decided to put herself out there in hopes to improve her craft. Having graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s in History, she plans to get a Master’s back in the States in documentary making. She loves historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery novels. Claire participated in the Invisible London (2019) phase.
Naomi Duffree
Naomi graduated from UEL in 2013. Her writing experience includes as a freelancer and Editor of Frivolity for kettlemag.co.uk, her blog about Watford FC home games under the name ‘Harryat Hornet’ , and Golden Pages, their unofficial fanzine. Lives in Kent. Misses London, especially the underground and buses. Naomi participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Zach Ekpe
Zach Ekpe is a London-born, pizza-loving journalist with a strong passion for people, their stories and their experiences. He has recently graduated from the University of East London with a degree in journalism and aspires to one day have his own prime time show dedicated to giving a voice to the voiceless! His guilty pleasures include binge watching-reality TV and being overly opinionated on Twitter, often times, in that sequence. Zach participated in the Invisible London (2019) phase.
Sam Green
Sam is a London born-and-bred writer. She participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Marta Guerreiro
Marta is a Portuguese writer who decided to transfer her passion into the English language. Her mantra is to live with all the freedom needed to take all the possible experiences from the world. Passionate about Human Rights and in a serious relationship with travelling, she believes that the written word can change an entire society. She also strongly believes that pineapple goes on pizza. Marta participated in the Invisible London (2019) and COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phases.
Samuel Hardy
Samuel had two dreams growing up in his small Cheshire town: telling stories and not living in his small town. Now a graduate of UEL, he’s proud to say he briefly lived both those dreams. He has a passion for horror, history, fantasy and contemporary, with LGBT+ and sensitive issues; his belief is that humanity makes the best monster but also the best hero; and his greatest achievements will be scaring the crap out of you or making you cry (or both). Samuel participated in the CityLife: Stories Against Loneliness (2017) phase.
Imogen Ince
Imogen Ince is a writer and student at the University of East Anglia. Currently specialising in scriptwriting, she enjoys reflecting the experiences of those around her within her stories. In her spare time, she contemplates ‘investing’ in a theremin and bothering the neighbourhood cats. Imogen participated in the COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phase.
Nacima Khan
Having studied creative writing, Nacima discovered an interest in the connection between writing and history and is currently looking into oral history in different cultures. She loves the power which creative writing can have on an audience, and in particular would like to bring back the love of writing and expression, particularly in the younger generation, through community projects. She is currently working on a historical fiction novel which is based in the 1971 war of Bangladesh. Nacima participated in the EastLife (2015), Invisible London (2019), and COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phases.
Jo Lazar
Jo was born and raised in Romania before adopting the United Kingdom as a home. Although a poet at heart, she has great love for all things prose. Her biggest wish is to write a book series so good that it scandalises the Church. Jo participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Erica Masserano
Erica does things with words. Lately, she has been doing a PhD, teaching creative writing to refugees, and learning just as much from them. After much faffing, she is trying to put down roots in East London and has acquired a cactus collection. You’ve got to start somewhere. If you want her to write, research, translate or edit for you, ask her. Erica participated in the EastLife (2015), Invisible London (2019) and COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phases as a writer, and is also an Editor and Researcher on the project. Find out more here.
Zoe Mitchell
Zoe is a creative writing student at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. She is a big fan of sunshine, beach days, Netflix and chocolate – and she tries to make time to work on her novel, too! Zoe participated in the COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phase.
Denise Monroe
Denise has lived in many countries and had many careers. It was while working as a complementary therapist specialising in palliative care that she became interested in the stories that people tell; how one defining moment in life can spin it in another direction. She is interested in identity, belonging and how we adapt to the people and places around us to make the best lives that we can. Denise is currently studying for a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing at UEA. She participated in the COVID: Lockdown Stories phase.
Lydia Morris
Growing up in Cheshire, Lydia comes from artistic roots. Taking her passion for writing to London to study, she specialised in creative non-fiction and life writing at UEL. Lydia co-founded a monthly spoken word night called ‘Mouths Wide Shut,’ and performs her own poetry as well. Lydia participated in the EastLife (2015) and COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phases.
Jack Pascoe
Jack is a multi-slam winning performance poet, creative non-fiction writer and haiku enthusiast. He participated in the CityLife: Stories Against Loneliness (2017) and COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phases.
Nic Peard
Nic Peard graduated from University of East London with a BA in Creative and Professional Writing in 2016. Based now in York after graduating from the University of York with an MA in Culture and Thought after 1945 in 2019, they now have creative and academic interests in adaption and the commercialisation of literature. Nic participated in the CityLife: Stories Against Loneliness (2017) and COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phases.
Rowena Price
Rowena Price grew up in hilly Stroud, Gloucestershire, and is currently an undergrad student of literature & creative writing at UEA, Norwich. She likes ABBA and folk tales and camping in Wales with her friends, and writes a bit of poetry in her spare time. Rowena participated in the COVID: Lockdown Stories phase.
Michael Pudney
Michael fell in love with writing at eight years old, when his unfinished and ultimately terrible first novel sparked the beginning of an exciting journey. Michael has since moved onwards with his writing, making it a rule to write across as many genres as possible, particularly honing in on horror, creative non-fiction and comedy. Although an Essexian at heart, he moved to London in 2009 to study at UEL. He lives in Stratford with his inspiring girlfriend, to whom The Perspectives of Angur is dedicated. Michael participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Naida Redgrave
Naida is a writer and PhD candidate at the University of East London. When life allows the space to write, she enjoys exploring themes like belonging, identity and happiness. She has two TV series’ in development and her children’s biography, ‘The Extraordinary Life of Mary Seacole’ was published by Puffin in September 2019. Naida participated in the EastLife (2015) and Invisible London (2019) phases.
Megan Slade
After graduating from UEL, Megan has worked at various jobs, from teaching children with autism to catering at funerals and selling luxury soap, all whilst trying to find time to write. She has thankfully now found her calling working in a little second hand bookshop in Chelsea, where she is constantly inspired and surrounded by mountains of books. She resides in Hackney. Megan participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Elif Soyler
Elif is a third-year English & Creative Writing student at UEA, soon to be trainee secondary school teacher. She loves writing poetry and creative nonfiction. She also likes painting along to Bob Ross tutorials, baking brownies and scrolling through cat memes until I have a headache. Elif participated in the COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phase.
Emerald Wild
Emerald suffered from a poetry affliction at a young age and has never really recovered. She moved around a lot as a child, so is under the false impression that she is good at mimicking accents. She doesn’t believe in God, but definitely believes that Father Christmas hates the patriarchy. Emerald participated in the EastLife (2015) phase.
Sandra Wilson
Sandra began to take her writing seriously in 2009 whilst at UEL. Since then she has been studying for her Masters in Imaginative Practice. She had her short play “Yellow Balloon” performed at Theatre Royal Stratford East, and collaborated again with them to take her full length play “In Da Mix” to final draft. She has had several articles published. Sandra participated in the EastLife (2015), Invisible London (2019), and COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phases.
Suzanne Wilson
Suzanne is a professional coffee drinker and historical fiction enthusiast. Aspiring novelist working the starving bohemian aesthetic. Suzanne participated in the CityLife: Stories Against Loneliness (2017) and COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phases.
Christopher Worrall
Christopher Worrall is a writer, gardener and occasional musician. He’s lived in Manchester, East London, the South Downs and the Lake District. He participated in the COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phase.
Ersi Zevgoli
Ersi is a Greek almost-physicist who, after nearly getting her degree and with five years of working under her belt, decided that a career change was needed. She is now a second-year Creative Writing student at the University of East Anglia and loving it. She can be found roaming around Norwich in headphones that are slightly too big for her, brandishing a cup of coffee. Ersi participated in the COVID: Lockdown Stories (2021) phase.
Anonymity Statement
Some of the contributors to the project – both writers and community members – chose to remain anonymous or adopt pseudonyms, in order to protect their identities or those of the people depicted within their stories.