Dr Gemma June Howell was born in Caerphilly Miners Hospital into a politically active family from Rhymney housing estate, Graig-Y-Rhacca. She is a grass-roots activist, editor, writer, poet, and academic. 
Gemma is currently a Desk Editor at Honno Welsh Women's Press and as Associate Editor for Culture Matters, she edited Land of Change — a vibrant prose anthology which reflects the diversity of contemporary Wales. 
She began performing and publishing with the Red Poets over 20 years ago, with poetry appearing in Bloodaxe Books (2015) and The London Magazine (2020). She’s also published a volume of poetry, Rock Life (2015) and Inside the Treacle Well, a collection of short stories (Hafan Books: 2009).
Gemma has an BA in Political Communication, an MA in Creative & Media Writing and a PhD in Creative & Critical Writing from Swansea University. Underpinned with critical theory, her research focuses on the lived experiences of working-class women within the form of a künstlerroman novel. Her work mainly explores working-class identity in post-industrial Wales. 

She has also performed and spoken at conferences and events. Gemma has a PGCE and offers private tuition, mentoring and editing services. She has taught Creative Writing workshops at Swansea University, Access to Business at UWTSD and Marketing (CIM) at CAVC (University of South Wales). She also has an ILM L3 in Starting your Own Enterprise and an ILM L5 in Leadership & Management. 

Please contact Gemma to discuss projects or bookings.