perspectives that defied convention. Unafraid to challenge political norms or literary expectations, they created work rooted in authenticity, urgency, and imagination. Hard-Pressed celebrates these writers, exploring how fringe networks sustained their creativity and how their words continue to echo across Manchester and beyond.
Trudy Blake
Maya Chowdhry
Pete Kalu
Shamshad Khan
Mohammed Khalil
Tang Lin
Fitz Lewis
Diké Omeje
Seni Seneviratne
John Siddique aka Jowonio
SuAndi
Merrie Williams
Dominic Berry, Cathy Crabb, Tony Curry, John Darwin, Dr Dermot Glennon, Ben Mellor, Sarah Miller, Dave Morgan, Henry Normal, Steve O’Connor, Anna Percy, Steph Pike, Chloe Poems, Hovis Presley, Melanie Rees, Thick Richard, Rod Tame, Dave Viney, Geneviève L. Walsh, Rosie Garland, A.K. McAllister, Gerry Potter, Gatehouse Books, Annie, Monica, Carol Millbanks
Maneer Afsar, Abdul K Choudhury, Rafeya Rahman, Abdul Aziz, Abdul Majid, Jonad Miah, Amina Bibi, Aminzaman (Farooq), Eshita Shama Azad, Khaleda Mohiuddin, Tabedar Rasul Bakul, Nazrul Islam Naz, Parvina Khatun, Bithi Ray, Manju Choudury, M A Mustak, Laila Choudhury, Rumi (Laila Choudhury), Rekha (Bashera Islam), Reshma Kabir, Husna (Jasmine Sikdar), M S Hoque.
Muli Amaye, Mian Mohammad Bakhsh, Trudy Blake, Mahogany L Browne, Debjani Chatterjee, Tara Chatterjee, Maya Chowdhry, Julian Daniel, Martin De Mello, Melanie Duncan, Jeanne Ellin, Rowena Fan, Jolivia Gaston, Ali Gadema, Tony Harrison, Zahid Hussain, Khadijah Ibrahim, Abi Idowu, Rashida Islam, G Ovie Jobome, Peter Kalu, Jackie Kay, Basir Sultan Kazmi, Nasir Kazmi, Usha Kishore, Chanje Kunda, Shamshad Khan, Sitara Khan, Chanje Kunda, Segun Lee-French, Anwen Lewis, Jade Lloyd, John Lyons, Sheree Mack, Anjum Malik, Cheryl Martin, Shirley May, Vijay Medtia, Yvonne McCalla, Kei Miller, Mir Taqi Mir, Momin Khan Momin, Carlene Montoute, Buzrak Mubrak, Dahu Mumagi, Simon Murray, Ghulam Hamdani Mushafi, Ahmed Mushtaq, Gift Nyoni, Zodwa Nyoni, Deyika Nzeribe, Elayne Ogbeta, Kauser Parveen, Khadija Rehman, Desiree Reynolds, Dike Omeje, Elaine Okoro, Pauline Omoboye, Nii Parkes, Kauser Parveen, Pev V'vshh, Eileen Pun, Clare Ramsaran, Alanna Rice, Tanya Chan Sam, Seni Seneviratne, Kadija Sesay, John Siddique, Lemn Sissay, Jackie Simpson, SuAndi, Nabila Suriya, Aissatou Sylla, Tina Tamsho-Thomas, Keisha Thompson, Asad-ullah Khan Ghalib, Rachel Van Den Bergen, Nyear Yaseen, Nadeem Zafar
Book 1 A Couple from Manchester
Elsie, Jack
Book 2 Something In Common
Frank and Dolly Koziol
Book 3 House of Plenty
Eric, Betty
Book 4 Once there was a way
John Best
Book 5 Near the Witching Hour
Sally and Sarse Gallagher
Book 6 Out of the Funnel
Mick, Val
Book 7 Half-way Home
Ron, Hazel
Citizen 32: War and Peace:
Harold Pinter, Aoife Mannix, Allen Cohen, Robert Sheppard, Jack Hirschman, Jo Mazelis, Adrian Mitchell, John G Hall, Mario Petrucci, Geraldine Green, Ann Keys, Kevin Higgins, Rip Bulkeley, Jem Rolls, Steve Tasane, Fred Johnston, Mary Jones, Annie McGann, Kate Noakes, Mark Cooper, Ella McCrystal, Larry Ebersole, Joanna M Weston, Jeanne McDonald, Seth Tosi McMillan, Frank Faust, Arlene Ang, Heather Young, Lori Romero, Dr Anthony Rowland, Kathy Kubik, Bunny Goodjohn, Will Daunt.
Citizen 32: Sexuality:
Rachel van den Bergen, Aoife Mannix, Steve Lyons, Andy Hinkinson, Bruce Jewett, Cathy Bolton, Christopher George, David Smylie, George Wallace, Grayham Smyth, Jim Bennett, Kiesa Kay, Matthew Bellwood, Paul Blackburn, Rebecca Latynseva, Robert Sheppa, Sara Wingate-Gray, Segun Lee French, Todd Swift, Rachel Jury, Chloe Poems, Jack Hirschmann, Mish Green, Suzy La Follette, Helene Thomas, A McLennan, Ben Willems, Cath Nichols, Charmaine Porter, Ciaran Parkes, Eleanor Rees, Gordon Zola, Jane Bailey, John Lindley, Liam Doherty, Micha Wilson, Penny Broadhurst, Ruth Snowden, Sarah Raw, Steve O’Connor, Eskimo Pope, Rosie Lugosi, Fiona Durance, Maureen Gallagher, Vik Bennett, Sara Gasson, John Challis, Gill Hands.
Citizen 32: Race:
Benjamin Zephaniah, Amiri Baraka, Lemn Sissay, Diane di Prima, Chanje Kunda, Jack Hirschman, Moe Seager, Aoife Mannix.
Citizen 32: Home
Roger McGough, Michael Grover, Simon Armitage, Tony Walsh, Jackie Hagan, Helen Clare, Emilie Connes, Jack Hirschman, Aoife Mannix, George Wallace, Lenore Weiss, lan Chapman, Keith Holyoak, Cath Nichols, Alice Toomer-McAlpine, Adrian Mitchell, Andy Craven-Griffiths Emerson Leese, Geraldine Green, Fiona Durance, Dave Morgan, Jonathan Bailie, Michael Internicola, Louisa Hooper, Richard Lung, Rip Bulkele Russell Jones, Jem Rolls, John Challis, Joanna M Weston, Fred Johnston, Heather Young, James Knight, Ben Fisher, David Smylie, Mark Cooper, Shirley Bailey.
Citizen 32: Censored
Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Aoife Mannix, Dave Lordan, Michael Grover, Alan Dent, Chanje Kunda, Linda Cleary, Mish Green, Billy Bragg, David Bateman, Heather Taylor, George Wallace, Keith Armstrong, Charmain Porter, Nuno Júdice, Paulo da Costa, A D Winans, Frank M Chipasula, Chloe Poems, Jack Hirschman, Gill O’Halloran, John Cooper Clarke, Luke Wright, John Landry, Andy Hinkinson, Gerard McKeown, Christopher Barnes, Joolz Denby, Steve Ely, Aleah Sato, Geraldine Green, John G Hall, Abby Oliveira, Pamela Brown, Jenni Doherty, Annie McGann, Brad Evans, Penny Broadhurst, Elvis McGonagall, Francesco Levato, Wanda Phipps
Nell Farrell, Suzanne Batty, Tess Lomas, Danny Wise, John Calvert, Bill Mitton, Ian Dogherty, Di Williams, Jan Whalen, Julie Campbell, Avril Hefferman, Duncan Loftus, Rachel Van Den Bergen, D Higgins, Beryl Lomas, Bernadette Knowles, Dominic Lavin, Louise Sandwith, Nigel Astell, Rev Porl, Bill Watson, John Burgess, Neil Campbell, Cath Nichols, Cathy Bolton.
Rain Dog Issue 1 Soup Dragon
River Wolton, Emma-Jane Arkady, Howard Wright, Jo Somerset, Rosie Lugosi, Jane Routh, Nell Farrell, Alison Chisholm, P P Hartnett, Cathy Bolton, Phillip Davenport, Clare Prendergast, Kerry Andrew, Marilyn Longstaff, Suzanne Batty, Carol Batton, Sarah Corkhill, Steven Taylor, Eleanor Livingstone, Jan Whalen
Rain Dog Issue 2
Features poems by Cathy Bolton, Phillip Burton, Kerry Andrew, Clare Shaw, David Hart, Jenny Howard, V Vaughan, Liz Kirby, Daniel Cassiel, Esmond Jones, Bob Slaymaker, Robin Sen, Sarah Corkhill, Steven Taylor, Jennifer Compton, Eleanor Livingstone, Joanna Ashwell, Sue Stern, Emma-Jane Arkady, Stuart Galligan, Steven Waling, Janet Fisher, Finella Davenport, Ann Egan, Sheila Hamilton, Garry Stork, Carter.
Rain Dog Issue 3
Features poems by Andrew Detheridge, Emma-Jane Arkday, Sheila Hamilton, Glenda Rodgers, Philip Burton, David Roberts, Quibilah Montsho, David Aldred, Sarah Corkhill, Nell Farrell, Helena Buckingham, Victoria Bennett, Kate Noakes, Rob Mclennan, Joanna M Weston, Daniel Cassiel, Anna Woodfod, Hayley Walton, Sean Burn, Mike Hoy, Mariana Jenkyns, Ken Pobo, Lukas Becker, Howard Wright, Elaine Charwat, River Wolton, Charles Johnson, Clare Shaw, Marilyn Longstaff, Simon De Courcey.
Rain Dog Issue 4
Features poems by Frances Nagle, Penelope Talbert, Sue Vickerman, Pamela Coren, Sean Burn, Avril Heffernan, Harriet Torr, Emma McKee, Ronnie Goodyer, Lucy Maddux, Howard Wright, Maria Theresa, Moreman Ib, Lynda Brooks, Steven Taylor, Virgil Suárez, Janis Freegard, Pat Brown, John Duffy, Natasha Carthew, Mandy Sutter, Hannah Godfrey, John Siddique, John West, Jolivia Gaston, Andrew Detheridge, Elaine Charwat, Sue Stern and Robert Berry.
Rain Dog Issue 5
Features poems by John Calvert, Jan Whalen, Rose Cook, Joan Johnston, Pat Boran, Vivien Steels, Sheila Hamilton, Katrina Harris, Rose Flint, Nicola Daly, Helena Burke, Nell Farrell, Emma-Jane Arkday, Rob Mclennan, Gerry Stewart, Pat Winslow, Billy Marshall Stoneking, Davide Trame, Darren Taffinder, Rachel Chambers, Caitlin Clarricoates, Philip Burton, Suzanne Batty, John Ash, Cathy Bolton, Eleanor Livingstone, Clarie Marshall, and Matthew Stewart.
Rain Dog Issue 6
Features poems by Penny Hope, Julia Darling, Marilyn Longstaff, Susannah Marshall, Maureen Almond, Peter Knaggs, Claire Crowther, Diana Newson, Bruce McRae, Zoe Brigley, Bill Mitton, Adrian Johnson, Chloe Balcomb, Steven Taylor, Rosie Garland, Thomas McColl, Lorraine Fothergill, Rodney Wood, Howard Wright, Pamela Coren, Joel Lane, Anne Ryland, Amy McCauley, Aoife Mannix, Marie-Louise Hogan, Ashley Chantler, Christopher Barnes, Geraldine Green, and Almira Holmes.
Rain Dog Issue 7
Features poems by Jen Hadfield, Adrian Johnson, Joel Lane, Rebecca O’ Connor, Rachel Kerr, Simon De Courcey, Christopher Barnes, Judith Taylor, Almira Holmes, Melanie Penycate, Ian Mullins, Sheila Hamilton, Julia Bird, John Younger, Christine Brandel, Noel Connely, Juliet Wilson, Nell Farrell, Ruth E Walker, Liz Atkin, Pam Thompson, Patrick Widdess, R L Cook, Patricia Zontelli, Jan Hargreaves, Chelle Mikko, Lee Stannard, Kelli Russell Agodon, and Pat Wilson
Rain Dog Issue 8
Features poems by Dennis Leckey, Suchitra Govindarjan, Ian Dogherty, Alex Stolis, Marilyn Longstaff, Ronda Broatch, Neil Campbell, Geoff Stevens, Carolyn Oulton, Gary Allen, Mike Hoy, Sheila Hamilton, Linda Strang, Vahni Capildeo, Pamela Coren, Sarah Hymas, Charles Benett, Lucy Maddux, Ron Tomkins, Joseph Allen, Natasha Carthew, John Halladay, John Ash, Pam Thompson, Fay Hart, Nichola Daly, Ann Batchelor Hursey, Julie Campbell, and Emma Lee
Rain Dog Issue 9
Features poems by Ann Batchelor Hursey, J Oyster, Fiona Ritchie Walker, Emma-Jane Arkady, Malcolm Curie, Christopher Barnes, Bruce McRae, Elizabeth M Rimmer, Julie Campbell, R H G Turner, Anne Ryland, John G. Hall, Lesley Quayle, Mark Cobley, Rick Taylor, Judith Taylor, Helen Buckingham, Rebecca Knott-Shaw, Kate Noakes, Matt Nunn, Richard Stewart, Rihannon Hooson, Robin Lindsay Wilson, Avril Hefferman.
Rain Dog Issue 10
Features poems by Pat Winslow, Bruce McCrae, Ronda Broatch, Christopher Barnes, Jessica McMichael, Pamela Coren, Gareth Twose, Neil Campbell, Cathy Bolton, Liz Atkin, John Towers, Stephen Murphy, Sean Burn, Pam Thompson, Ann Flynn, Phillip Burton, Jan Whalen, Juliet Wilson, Jennifer Copley, Stephen Owen, Dennis Leckey, AnnMarie Eldon, Daniel Melbye, Brenda Tai-Layton, Geoff Stevens, Geraldine Green, John Hall, Julia Brown, Steve Urwin, Merryn Wiliams, John Ash, George Wallace, Gill McEvoy, Suzanne Batty, Rose Cook.
Rain Dog Issue 11
Features poems by Pat Winslow, Christopher Barnes, David Greenslade, Helen Larham, John West, Josh Hanson, Jeannine Hall Gailey, Robin Lindsay Wilson, Chris Kinsey, Eleanor Livingstone, Stephen Owen, Jen Hadfield, Robert Etty, Susan Richardson, Vienna, Charles Bennett, Cath Nicholas, Copland Smith, Pamela Coren, John G Hall, Joanna H Weston, John Ash, Carole Bromley, Michael Cunnigham, Rachel Mann, Philip Burton, Jo Gray.
Rain Dog Issue 12
Features poems by Jude Brigley, Ronda Broatch, Geoff Stevens, Pat Brown, Paul Tanner, Anne Caldwell, Michael Brown, Olga Kenyon, Daniel Healy, Lucy Winrow, John G. Hall, Natasha Carthew, Steve Allen, Louisa Howerow, Rodney Wood, Alexandra Ellsmore, Joel Lane, Garry Stork, John Ash, Pat Winslow, Laura Chalar, Kate Noakes, Chris Kinsey, Carol Batton, Kathleen Kenny, Stephen Owen, Alan Spencer, Hannah Kate, David E. Howerton, Tamara Fulcher, Gill McEvoy, Katrina Naomi, Robert Etty.
Rain Dog Issue 13
Features poems by Stephen Middleton, Elen Phethean, Angela France, David Keyworth, Jill Cragg, Pat Buik, Robin Lindsay Wilson, Jonathan Kelley, Joanna Weston, Mandy Coe, Chris Kinsey, Wayne Auty, Michelle O’ Sullivan, Yanna Harris, Gordon Scapens, Kate Noakes, Chishimba Chisala, Harry Owen, Natasha Kochicheril Moni, Daniel Healy, Pat Winslow, Melissa Lee, Joel Lane, Eleanor Livingstone, Simon Perchik, Rachel Mann, Geoff Stevens, F. J. Williams, Pamela Coren, Philip Wilson, Eric Weiskott.
Rain Dog Issue 14
Features poems by Keiron Farrow, Mim Darlington, Ian Mullins, Merryn Williams, Robert Etty, Pamela Coren, Gill McEvoy, Abegail Morley, Paul May, Robin Lindsay Wilson, Kay Fletcher, Stephen Devereux, Tom Kelly, Neil Campbell, Joanna Weston, Rodney Wood, Sarah L. Dixon, Joan Johnston, Mark Leech, Kate Noakes, Geoff Stevens, Bobby Parker, Dunstan Carter, D J Andrew, Christopher Allen, Stephen Murphy.
Rain Dog Issue 15
Features poems by Chris Hardy, Sean Kinsella, Heath Thompson, Kathleen Kenny, Deborah Mason, Chris Barnes, Nichola Daly, Mark Leech, Daniel Healy, Isabella Strachan, Ivan Wallace, Sara Brown, Paul May, Marion Tracy, Robin Lindsay Wilson, Jethro Dykes, Joe Yule, Stephen C. Middleton, Caroline England, Steve Allen, Natasha Carthew, Joanna M. Weston, B J Walklate, A A Marcoff, Sarah Williams, John Terry, Charles Bennett, River Wolton.
Rain Dog Issue 16
Features poems by Ian C Smith, Eleanor Clare, Nicola Daly, Ginny Sullivan, Steve Allen, F J Williams, Joan Johnston, Annemarie Cooper, AKB, Diana McCormack, Eve Jackson, Pamela Coren, Joan Ash, Howard Wright, Laura Chalar, Chris Kinsey, Geoff Stevens, Patrick Green, Gerard Benson, Fiona Sinclair, Paul May, Sarah Bernsley, Rob Etty, W J Blair, B J Walklate