Peter J Donnelly

I was born in Middlesbrough and grew up in North Yorkshire.  I was educated in York before taking a degree in English Literature at the University of Wales Lampeter, followed by a MA in Creative Writing.  

My poetry has appeared in various magazines and anthologies including The Starbeck Orion, The Broken Spine, Dreich, High Wolds Poetry Festival, Obsessed with Pipework, Ripon Poetry Festival,  Lothlorien, York Literary Review,  Dust, Black Nore Review,  High Window,  Hornblower Press, Tap into Poetry and The Fig Tree.

I was a joint runner up in the Buzzwords open poetry competition in 2020 and won second prize in the Ripon Poetry Festival competition in 2021. 

I am the author of three books, The Second of August, Solving the Puzzle and Bloom and Grow, all published by Alien Buddha Press. 

I have lived in York for ten years.  My favourite authors are Victorian novelists such as the Bronte sisters, as well as more contemporary writers including Margaret Drabble and Alan Bennett, as well as poets such as Gillian Clarke whom he met whilst at university.  I also quite often read plays and go to see them when they are performed.  Besides reading novels, plays and poetry, and writing the last, I enjoy baking cakes, biscuits and puddings, walking in the countryside, visiting stately homes and gardens, gardening and taking care of houseplants.  I like doing jigsaw puzzles and take an interest in butterflies, moths and orchids.  

Instagram:  @donnelly1947