Maryam Hessavi is a British Manchester-based poet and critic, whose poems and reviews appear in various publications. An alumna of the University of Manchester, she holds an MA in English Literature, with specialisms in Modernism, Creative Writing, and Linguistics.

Usma Malik is an academic specialising in narrative structures in contemporary writing. Born in Birmingham, she worked in education before moving to Manchester to study. She was awarded a Distinction in the Creative Writing MA at the University of Manchester and went on to study for a PhD in Creative Writing, which she was awarded in 2018.

Hosted by Professor John McAuliffe

Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester at the University of Manchester.