
JOHN SIDDIQUE
‘Rebellious by nature, pure at heart'
The Times of India
‘One of the best poets of our generation’
New York Times Correspondent Bina Shah
About John Siddique
John Siddique is the author of nine books, including Signposts of The Spiritual Journey, a book on accessing greater meaning in our lives, So (Collected New Poems 2011-21), and the widely loved children’s poetry collection Don’t Wear It on Your Head. His work has been featured in Time, The Tablet, Granta, The Guardian, Poetry Review, The Rialto, and on BBC Radio 3 and 4.
Beyond his books and writing life, John is a hugely popular meditation teacher. He is the creator of two online courses, Self-Acceptance Through Authenticity and Magical Moments, which have over 35,000 students, and his online meditations have been downloaded over three and a half million times. The Spectator describes Siddique as ‘A stellar British poet’, The Times of India calls him ‘Rebellious by nature, pure at heart’, and novelist/New York Times Correspondent Bina Shah says he is ‘One of the best poets of our generation’.
John holds an MA in Literature and Creative Writing from Manchester Victoria University and is an Honorary Fellow of Leicester University. He is the former Canterbury Poet Laureate and was Poet in Residence at California State University, LA, for The British Council.
John is the newly appointed Project Coordinator for The Royal Literary Fund and WritersMosaic in The North of England, where he leads literary events, commissions, and initiatives that redefine the mainstream in British literature. He is also dedicated to strengthening the network of RLF Fellows in the region, creating new opportunities and support systems for some of the UK’s most exceptional writers.
If you are interested in the sacred aspect of John’s work go here.
JOHN SIDDIQUE BOOKS
Non Fiction & AUTO FICTION
poetry
THE LATEST
A New Role In UK Literature
John has been appointed Project Coordinator for The Royal Literary Fund and WritersMosaic in The North of England, where he leads literary events, commissions, and initiatives that redefine the mainstream in British literature. He is also dedicated to strengthening the network of RLF Fellows in the region, creating new opportunities and support systems for some of the UK’s most exceptional writers.
John in The Bookseller
Exploring working with The Royal Literary Fund and WritersMosaic across the north of the UK to create better infrastructure and opportunity of authors and readers. Please note The Bookseller is paywalled, but you are allowed one free article a month to view.
John in THE AUTHOR
Exploring the unique world and difficulties of the author’s life which often can stray into isolation, loneliness, poverty, and mental health difficulties. I was invited to write a piece for The Society of Authors magazine offering a meditation and some reflection on looking after oneself as an author and creating a better environment for yourself.
The Prize at 20 Live
29th June - Bradford Literature Festival
Often accused of thinking too much, feeling too deeply, and saying the wrong thing at exactly the right time, John Siddique’s quiet arrival with his Forward Prize-nominated collection, The Prize,marked a bold ‘hell yes’ to it all.
It also signalled the beginning of a literary journey rooted in humanity, truth, and a relentless curiosity about the unseen and unheard.
In this wide-ranging and intimate conversation, Siddique sits down with poet Jo Bell to explore the lasting resonance of The Prize and the personal and cultural ripples that continue to radiate from this brave, perception-shifting collection of poems.
Global CRime Queens
6th July - Bradford Literature Festival
Join WritersMosaic and The Royal Literary Fund’s John Siddique for a gripping exploration into the dark hearts of storytelling with three of today’s leading voices in global crime fiction.
Sunday Times bestseller, Saima Mir, City University’s Crime Writing Award winner, Nadine Matheson, and critically acclaimed author, Kia Abdullah – whose work has been hailed as ‘thriller of the year’ by The Guardian and The Telegraph – come together to discuss the creative drive, personal journeys, and cultural forces that shape their narratives.
From vengeance to justice, and trauma to empowerment, this conversation reveals what lies beneath the surface of every killer story.
My WRITING LIFE
John answers questions on reflects on aspects of his writing life over on the Royal Literary Fund’s Substack.
BBC Presents - Contains Strong Language
19-21 Sept - Bradford City of Culture
Details Soon
Malcolm x - a deeper purpose
11th Oct - Birmingham Literature Festival
Join WritersMosaic and The Royal Literary Fund’s John Siddique for a gripping exploration into the dark hearts of storytelling with three of today’s leading voices in global crime fiction.
Sunday Times bestseller, Saima Mir, City University’s Crime Writing Award winner, Nadine Matheson, and critically acclaimed author, Kia Abdullah – whose work has been hailed as ‘thriller of the year’ by The Guardian and The Telegraph – come together to discuss the creative drive, personal journeys, and cultural forces that shape their narratives.
From vengeance to justice, and trauma to empowerment, this conversation reveals what lies beneath the surface of every killer story.
breaking ground
25th Oct - Off the Shelf Festival, Sheffield
Details Soon