Biography 



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. 



Output 

2022: Book Review, Nation Cymru.

2022: Book Review, Nation Cymru.

2021: Interviewed, Award-winning BBC Radio 4: Tongue & Talk, The Dialect Poets.

2021: Editor & Events Manager: 3 launches - Land of Change at The Cultural Institute & Elysium.   

2020: Published, ‘Onward: An anthology of Radical Poetry from Contemporary Wales.’

2020: Performance, The Jaipur Literature Festival.

2020: Performances and published - 'Dear Christine' Elysium, Swansea & Art House, London curated by Fionn Wilson. 

2020-22: Video Editor, Producer and Director

2019: Published, The London Magazine [est. 1732].

2019: Performance, Urban Done Differently. 

2017: Event Organiser, Carnival of Resistance. International Women's Day.

2017: Event Organiser, 'Why I March,' Music & Poetry. 

2017: Protest Organiser, Sister March Cardiff.

2016: Interview by Tansy Hoskins. For Books Sake. 

2016: Featured Poet with Beatbox Hann, Juke Cardiff.

2016: Published and launched ‘Rock Life: 17 Poems from the Welsh Valleys.’

2016: Panel member of Radio Wales EU Referendum Debate.

2015: Published, ‘When the Young Dodo’s Meet the Young Dragon’s’ Anthology.

2015: Published, Bloodaxe Books, ‘Hallelujah for 50ft Women.’

2014: Guest Reader, Ty Newydd with Ros Barber. 

2014: Ambassador, Dylan Thomas Centenary at Boyle Arts Festival with Literature Wales. Led workshop and performance. 

2014: Published, Momaya Press Awards. 2013: Performance, Merthyr Rising Festival.  

2010: Project Leader 'Making Us Work' at Lampeter University.

2010: Host Oxslam! Cardiff v Swansea

2009: Finalist John Tripp Award.

2011: Performance Red Poets at The Imp.

2009: Featured Poet, Mozarts Swansea. 

2009: Interviewed, Joe Milford Poetry Show. 

2009: Editor Square Magazine Issue 6.

2009: Event Organiser 'Out of Line' series Book Launch, Hafan Books. 

2009: Published, Inside the Treacle Well, Hafan Books.

2009: Event Organiser, 'MYscellaneoUS a Night for the Unsung,' Gw di Hw, Cardiff. 

2004-5: President of Creative Writing Coalition and Editor of 'Think Allowed!'

1999: Second Place, Aber Valleys Arts Competition. 



Please contact Gemma for commissions or bookings.