John Siddique
BornJuly 1964 (age 59–60)
UK
EducationManchester University
Occupation(s)Spiritual teacher, poet and author
Websitewww.authenticliving.life

John Siddique (born July 1964) is a spiritual teacher, poet, and author.

Siddique has had eight books published and his teachings and writings have featured in Time Magazine, The Guardian, Granta, on CNN and the BBC. The Times of India called him "Rebellious by nature, pure at heart." The Spectator magazine described him as "A stellar British poet." New York Times correspondent Bina Shah says Siddique is "One of the best poets of our generation." Former Scottish Poet Laureate Jackie Kay speaks of Siddique's writing as being "A brilliant balancing act."

Siddique is the Honorary Fellow in Creative Writing at Leicester University. He is the former Laureate of the British city of Canterbury, and British Council Poet in Residence at California State University, Los Angeles. From 2013 to 2015 he was the Royal Literary Fund (RLF) Fellow at York St. John University[1] and is currently a commissioning editor for the RLF's WritersMosaic initiative.[2][3]

Personal life

Siddique was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England.[4] The young Siddique immersed himself in the world of books through his local library. Before becoming a writer, he drifted through various jobs such as being a roadie, a pipe-welder, and landscape gardener.[5] He first began writing in 1991 after reading James Joyce's Ulysses and discovering the poetry of e.e. cummings, Walt Whitman, and D. H. Lawrence.[6] Siddique has stated in interviews that he regards his true countries of birth to be "literature and language".[7]

Published works

Non-Fiction

  • Signposts of The Spiritual Journey (Watkins Publishing, 2021) ISBN 978-1786785176

Poetry

  • So – Selected New Poems 2011–21 (Crocus, 2022) ISBN 978-0946745395
  • Full Blood (Salt Publishing, 2011) ISBN 978-1844718245
  • Recital – An Almanac (Salt, 2009) ISBN 978-1844715145
  • Blackpool – A Poet’s View (Blackpool Council, 2009)
  • Poems from a Northern Soul (Crocus, 2007) ISBN 978-0946745876
  • Transparency (editor) (Crocus, 2006) ISBN 978-0946745722
  • The Prize (Rialto, 2005) ISBN 978-0952744481
  • The Devil's Lunchbox (Crocus, 1996) ISBN 978-0952898801

Short stories

  • Four Fathers (co-author) (Route, 2007) ISBN 978-1901927276

For children

  • Don’t Wear It On Your Head (Salt, 2010) ISBN 978-1844717637

Selected anthologies

Prizes, awards and honours

Residencies

  • Canterbury Poet Laureate 2016
  • Royal Literary Fund Fellow – York St. John 2013/15 & 2014/15
  • Manchester Literature Festival, 2010
  • Los Angeles for The British Council, 2009
  • Blackpool – Poet in Residence, 2008
  • Manchester Art Gallery, 2008
  • Fundacion Valparaiso, 2006
  • The Rainer Charity, Wigan, 2005
  • Commonword/BBC Manchester – Poet in Residence, 2005
  • Ilkley Literature Festival - Poet in Residence, 2004
  • HMYOI Wetherby – Writer in Residence, 2000–03
  • Ledbury Poetry Festival – Writer in Residence for Young People, 2000–03
  • The LOWRY – Poet in residence, 2000–01
  • Prestwich NHS Trust – Poet in Residence, 2000

References

  1. ↑ "John Siddique". Royal Literary Fund | Fellows. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  2. ↑ "Writers Mosaic".
  3. ↑ "Team members". Writers Mosaic. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  4. ↑ Chambers, Claire (18 May 2015). "Review: Wounded Verse". Critical Muslim. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "Poetry International". Archived from the original on 27 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "The Rialto".
  7. ↑ "The London Magazine". Archived from the original on 9 February 2010.
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