Diana Lois Hendry (born 2 October 1941 in Wirral)Profile
debretts.com; accessed 2 October 2015. is an English poet, children's author and short story writer. She won a

Whitbread Award The Costa Book Awards were a set of annual literary awards recognising English-language books by writers based in UK and Ireland. Originally named the Whitbread Book Awards from 1971 to 2005 after its first sponsor, the Whitbread company, then ...

(now the Costa Prize) in 1991 and was again shortlisted for the prize in 2012.

Background

Hendry was born in the Wirral, England, one of three children."Small Talk: Diana Hendry", 4 January 2013, ''Financial Times''
Walker Books profile
/ref> She worked for a time as a journalist in print and radio, including a post at ''The Western Mail'' in Cardiff (1960–65). She took a degree when she was 39 years old at the

University of Bristol , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

. She wrote "As luck would have it my professor’s wife was the author

Diana Wynne Jones Diana Wynne Jones (16 August 1934 – 26 March 2011) was a British novelist, poet, academic, literary critic, and short story writer. She principally wrote fantasy and speculative fiction novels for children and young adults. Although usually de ...

, who saw my writing and suggested a publisher." This began a successful writing career. She taught English at a boys' school and later creative writing at the University of Bristol (1995–97). Hendry has written over 40 books for children, including ''Harvey Angell'', which won a

in 1991. She won first prize in the 1996 Housman Society Competition for her poetry and was writer in residence at

Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary is the main hospital in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The hospital is managed by NHS Dumfries and Galloway. History The hospital has its origins in a small facility at Mill Hole in Burns Street in cen ...

(1997-1998). Her collections of poetry for adults include ''Making Blue'' (Peterloo, 1995), ''Borderers'' (Peterloo, 2001) and ''Twelve Lilts: Psalms & Responses'' (Mariscat Press, 2003) and ''Late Love: And Other Whodunnits'' (2008).Scottish Poetry Library profile
/ref> Her book ''The Seeing'', inspired by her childhood memories of the war, was shortlisted for the Scottish Children's Book Award (2013). She tutors at the

Arvon Foundation The Arvon Foundation is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom that promotes creative writing. Arvon is one of Arts Council England's National Portfolio Organisations. Andrew Kidd is the Chief Executive Officer, Patricia Cumper is Ch ...

and writes for the ''

Spectator ''Spectator'' or ''The Spectator'' may refer to: *Spectator sport, a sport that is characterized by the presence of spectators, or watchers, at its matches *Audience Publications Canada * ''The Hamilton Spectator'', a Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, ...

''. Hendry lives in Edinburgh with her partner Hamish Whyte of Mariscat Press. She has two children and three grandchildren. Her influences include novelist

Charles Langbridge Morgan Charles Langbridge Morgan (22 January 1894 – 6 February 1958) was a British playwright and novelist of English and Welsh parentage. The main themes of his work were, as he himself put it, "Art, Love, and Death", and the relation between t ...

Albert Camus Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...

Muriel Spark Dame Muriel Sarah Spark (née Camberg; 1 February 1918 – 13 April 2006). was a Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet and essayist. Life Muriel Camberg was born in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh, the daughter of Bernard Camberg, an ...

Elizabeth Bishop Elizabeth Bishop (February 8, 1911 – October 6, 1979) was an American people, American poet and short-story writer. She was Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 1949 to 1950, the Pulitzer Prize winner for Poetry in 1956, the N ...

and

Seamus Heaney Seamus Justin Heaney (; 13 April 1939 – 30 August 2013) was an Irish poet, playwright and translator. He received the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature.

. She enjoys yoga and playing the piano.

Awards and honours

*1976: First prize Stroud International Poetry Competition *1985: Short-listed for the Smartie Award *1993: Second prize Peterloo Poetry Competition 1993 *1991:

(for children's novel) 1991 *1996: First prize Housman Society Poetry Competition *2001: Scottish Arts Council Children's Book Award *2002: Scottish Arts Council Award *2007: Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship (with Hamish Whyte)Official website
Poetry *2008: Fellow at University of Edinburgh, Science and Engineeringroyal Literary Fund
profile *2009: Fellow at Office of Lifelong Learning, University of Edinburgh *2013: Shortlisted for the Costa Award *2013: Shortlisted for the Scottish Children's Book Award

Works

Poetry collections

*''Making Blue'', Peterloo Poets, 1995 *''Borderers'', Peterloo Poets, 2001 *''Twelve Lilts: Psalms & Responses'', Mariscat Press 2003 *''Sparks!'' (with Tom Pow), Mariscat Press 2005 *''Late Love and Other Whodunnits'', Peterloo/Mariscat Press, 2008 *''The Seed-Box Lantern: New & Selected Poems'' 2013

Children's fiction: selected

*''The Very Noisy Night'', illustrated by Jane Chapman. Little Tiger Press, 1998 *''The Very Busy Day'', illustrated by Jane Chapman Little Tiger Press, 2001 *''The Very Snowy Christmas'', illustrated by Jane Chapman. Little Tiger Press, 2005 *''Oodles of Noodles'', illustrated by Sarah Massini. Little Tiger Press, 2008 *''Harvey Angell'', Julia MacRae/Walker Books, 1991; Red Fox, 2003 and 2012 *''Harvey Angell and the Ghost Child'', MacRae/Red Fox 1997, 2003 and 2012 *''Harvey Angell Beats Time'', Red Fox, 2003 and 2012 *''You Can’t Kiss it Better'', Red Fox, 2003 *''The Seeing'', Bodley Head, 2012

References

External links

Hendry at the ''Spectator''

Interview with Hendry
ACHUKAbooks {{DEFAULTSORT:Hendry, Diana 1941 births Living people People from the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral Costa Book Award winners English short story writers English women poets