Claire Lacey
Claire Lacey is an multidisciplinary writer, performer, educator and critic. Their first book of poetry, Twin Tongues was published in 2013 by Invisible Publishing and won the Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry. Selkie, a graphic novel collaboration with Sachie Ogawa, was published in 2019 after a successful crowdfunding campaign. Claire publishes both creative and scholarly work related to their experience with brain injury. They had an essay included in the anthology Impact: Women Writing After Concussion published by the University of Alberta Press. Claire has recently graduated with a PhD from the University of Otago, where they held the UNESCO City of Literature scholarship. Claire also hosts the podcast Reading Kiwi: An Outsider's Guide to AoNZ Literature.
Genre:
- Academic
- Comic / Graphic Novels
- Fiction
- Freelance Writer
- Health
- Non-Fiction
- Poetry
- Review Writing
- Web Writing
Skills:
- Academic Writing
- Editing
- Freelance Writing
- Long-Term Placement (schools, universities)
- Poetry Readings
- Public Speaking
- Research
- Reviews
- Tutoring
- Workshops (adults)
- Workshops (children/schools)
Branch:
Otago/Southland
Location:
Dunedin
Publications:
Twin Tongues
Mining bilong dispela stori: Exploring the power imbalance between English and Tok Pisin, Twin Tongues transforms the English Language into a character who encounters her own foreignness in Papua New Guinea. This text struggles with the ethics of appropriation, language use and second language teaching, questioning the subjective position of the author, the teacher, the speaker of English. The poetry scrapes away the veneer of objectivity assumed by historical descriptions of Tok Pisin. Twin Tongues tests the flexibility of language, and asks, “What does language sound like to unfamiliar ears? And what is English anyway?”
Selkie
Selkie is a graphic novel that explores the Celtic myth of a seal who turns into a woman. When Selkie gives up her power for love, troubled waters quickly become stormy seas. This romantic tragedy is beautifully illustrated by artist Sachie Ogawa, and includes the orgininal short story written by Claire Lacey. Selkie is suitable for teen and adult readers.