Writing...

Sophie began writing creatively at a young age. She had a childhood friend who was three years older than herself and the two of them wrote together, detailing the imaginary lives of all the horses at the riding stables they used to attend. Although they were imaginative tales, there was always a generic 'evil' character - the spoiled young girl who had her own pony. Often she came to the stables to steal Sophie's favourite horse, which was sometimes Bobbin, sometimes Starlight or sometimes Chalky. Who says horses have foolish names?

Horses continued to be the focus of Sophie's early writing - so much so that her year four teacher, Mr. Goringe, confessed to Sophie's mum that he used to set short story writing themes which were impossible to squeeze a horse into, such as haunted houses. But poor Mr. Goringe despaired when he realised Sophie had resurrected a horse in an animal graveyard.

Sophie doesn't really remember writing again until GCSE when this became very enjoyable coursework to Sophie. She then began to take writing more seriously and also started composing poems, initially inspired by a namesake, Sophie Large, who tragically died in a car crash at a young age. Sophie Large grew up very near Sophie Parkes and her posthumous collection of poetry and short stories, 'Sophie's Log', was very influential.

Sophie began to interview musicians and review albums and singles during her time at sixth form. She felt that most folk music journalism was written by and for the older generations. Considering much of the exciting folk music - the material that was making headway in the mainstream music press - was being made by young people, Sophie felt it was time it was written by young people, too.

It was at the University of Manchester, studying English Language and Literature, Sophie really began to write furiously. She, with the help of some coursemates, founded the university's creative writing society which sought to provide a platform for amateur writing and social group for likeminded people. She co-edited a society publication entitled 'Tiny Minds' which went on sale across the city of Manchester. The group also welcomed established authors in for question and answer sessions.

Sophie also won a place on the fiercely over-subscribed creative writing module on her course, where her stories were torn to pieces by her classmates and literary heavyweights, Geoff Ryman, Martyn Bedford and John McAuliffe.

Read some examples of Sophie's work online:

Eliza Carthy interview http://www.rootsworld.com/interview/carthy.shtml

Mary Hampton review for City Life http://www.citylife.co.uk/music/reviews/16584_mary_hampton_captivates_deaf_institute

Fairport Convention live album review for Spiral Earth http://spiralearth.co.uk/NEWS/Review-story.asp?nid=2906

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