Janette Ayachi

Janette Ayachi is based in Edinburgh, born in London, with Scottish & Algerian heritage. She has a Combined BA Honours in English Literature & Film Media from Stirling University & an MSc in Creative Writing from Edinburgh University. She’s a regular on BBC Scotland Arts Programmes & has published work in a broad range of anthologies including from presses such as Seren, Jessica Kingsley, Canongate & Polygon. She is the author of the poetry pamphlets Pauses At Zebra Crossings & A Choir of Ghosts & her hardback children's book The Mermaid, The Girl and The Gondola was illustrated by Fabio Perla.

Her debut poetry book Hand Over Mouth Music (Pavilion, Liverpool University Press) won the Saltire Poetry Book of the Year Literary Award 2019. She collaborates with artists & performs her poetry at festivals & events including for The National Trust of Scotland & at Scotland House in London this year. Currently, she is judging prizes, mentoring students & working on writing her second poetry collection QuickFire, Slow Burning (Pavilion) due out at the start of 2024 & publishing her travel memoir Lonerlust which chronicles her journeys adventuring alone searching landscapes, culture, desire & human connection.