Biography

Rosemary Dun had a promising career as a health policy researcher (working with health authorities, the voluntary sector, and the World Health Organisation – see links), when she returned to her true love – writing. "When I was at school," she says, "writing was just something I was good at, not something I was expected to do! Then, following a family tragedy, I don't think it's too strong to say that my writing 'found me'." Now, Rosemary is a successful freelance writer, poet, performer, and tutor. She regularly hosts 2 poetry & music nights in Bristol, U.K.: Big Mouth Cabaret and Folk House Open Mike Night.

Outside Bowery Poetry Club, NYC

She has won poetry slams, performed with Stroud Football Poets, and in her own right. She has a collection of poetry Born Lippy and has been widely published in magazines and anthologies including Short Fuse: The global anthology of New Fusion Poetry.

Rosemary has strutted her performance poetry stuff at venues in and around Bristol, Bath, Stroud, London, Brighton, Cheltenham, Glastonbury, Ledbury, Tiverton, Manchester, New York and others; as well as performing her poetry on BBC radio and iTV television. She has supported leading poets such as John Hegley and Attila The Stockbroker. In August 2003 she was commissioned to write a poem for ITV1 programme "The Trouble With Love". One of her football poems is on the school curriculum in Finland! Rosemary also writes stories, novels and plays. She has twice been short-listed for the Ian St. James Short Stories Award. Recently she performed her own short stories with the group Words Allowed and is featured on their CD Words Allowed Live! She has also performed standup comedy and is a regular MC in Bristol. Rosemary has an MA in Creative Writing - and City Guilds 7407 in Teaching Continuing Education, and teaches highly popular short courses and workshops in the writing of fiction, novels, poetry and performance. She has run workshops in creative writing and/or performance at The Annual Writers Conference, Cheltenham Literature Festival, Stroud Fringe Festival, at the Women's Institute, and in schools. This year, together with another football poet, she jointly ran several schools workshops held at Chelsea Football Club. She has judged writing competitions for The Evening Post and W.I She has been a guest editor for the internationally acclaimed arts fusion e-mag Fusebox.

Rosemary hosts and facilitates a series of master classes for up and coming performance poets – Big Mouth Poetry Master Classes – whose leaders include Chloe Poems, Rosie Lugosi, Philip Gross, Peter Finch, Attila The Stockbroker, Todd Swift, Phil Norton, Paul Stones, Francesca Beard, Diké Omeje. She runs the poetry tent at Euope's biggest (almost) free festival – Ashton Court Festival – where she launched a poetry installation: The Poetry Jukebox.

Rosemary Dun also organises a writers café in Bristol and is in the process of getting together an anthology of poetry and short stories from her creative writing students - past and present.

She lives in Bristol with her 2 teenage girls. Two of her novels - 'Long Shadows' and 'The Trouble With Love' - are with her London literary agent.

Available for bookings and/or contact on rosemary.dun@virgin.net

What they say:

"Rosemary Dun brings something sorely missing in literature for the last few years: A sense of fun." MC Bruce, Poet and Host of Poet's Night, California, USA.

"... one of my very favourite UK spoken word poets ... she is a key player in the ever-improving performance poetry scene emerging in the UK in the 21^st century." Todd Swift, editor of Short Fuse and online magazine nthposition.

"Confident wry verse on being stalked by footballer David Beckham, and the romantic drawbacks of poets." Bristol Evening Post

"her deceptively disarming tone hides a satirical wit that's sharper than a pair of stilettos (and we're not talking shoes)." Tom Phillips, poet and editor of Venue Magazine.

"...I fell in love with her vivaciousness and wanton poeticity. She is a delightful host, and really pulls together the poetry community by aesthetic will power and personal strength ..." Larry Jaffe (poet Los Angeles, U.S.A.)

"Rosemary Dun is the personification of John Lennon reincarnated as a Punk Rock Guinea Pig looking for love in the small ads and the petrol pumps of life. ... get down to 'Big Mouth' ..." Helen Thomas, poet.

"Rosemary Dun is a significant figure for poetry development ... A skilled and talented poet ...an experienced and entertaining performer able to lead an audience a merry dance down garden paths, through garden gates and into spoken word delight ... she runs a really good workshop too!" Colin Brown, Director, Poetry Can Development Agency.