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{{Short description|British fiction writer}}
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'''Livi Michael''', also known as Olivia Michael (15 March 1960, [[Manchester]]), is a British fiction writer who publishes children and adult novels.<ref name="encyclopedia"/>
'''Livi Michael''', also known as Olivia Michael (15 March 1960, [[Manchester]]), UK, is a British fiction writer who publishes children and adult novels.<ref name="encyclopedia"/>


== Career ==
== Career ==
Michael began writing poetry at the age of seven.<ref name="penguin">{{cite web|url=http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000046347,00.html |title=Livi Michael – Penguin Books Authors – Penguin Books |publisher=Penguin.co.uk |date=15 March 1960 |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> She attended [[Tameside College of Technology]];[[University of Leeds]] and completed B.A (English) with first-class-honors in 1989, and PhD in 1993.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} Her career as a novelist started with her first novel, ''[[Under a Thin Moon]]'' in 1992.<ref name="britishlit" >{{cite web|author=British Council |url=http://literature.britishcouncil.org/livi-michael |title=Livi Michael &#124; British Council Literature |publisher=Literature.britishcouncil.org |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> In addition to her writing, Michael also worked as a [[university lecturer]] teaching creative writing, and ran reading groups about women's fiction.<ref name="britishlit"/> She began writing novels for adults in 1992, before writing her first children's novel in 2002, called ''[[Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz]]''.<ref name="britishlit"/> While Michael was in the process of writing her first novel, she continued her education and completed her doctorate in 1993 at the [[University of Leeds]]<ref name="rags">{{cite web|url=http://www.bookrags.com/biography/livi-michael-dlb/ |title=Livi Michael Biography |publisher=BookRags.com |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> , where she earned a dissertation named "Towards a Theory of Working Class Writing: [[Lewis Grassic Gibbon]]'s A Scots Quair in the Context of Earlier Working Class Fiction". Livi Michael completed her second novel while teaching [[english literature]] and creative writing part-time until 1998, at [[Manchester Metropolitan University]], and proceeded to write her third novel as well.<ref name="rags"/> Her fourth novel was published in 2000.<ref name="rags"/> Michael continues teaching [[english literature]] and creative writing for the Department of [[Cultural Studies]] at [[Sheffield Hallam University]] and writing novels for children.<ref name="rags"/> In addition to teaching and writing, she also gives guest lectures, participates in writing workshops,<ref name="rags"/> and visit schools where she hosts reading groups and answers student's questions.<ref name="livimichael" >{{cite web|author=Livi michael |url=http://www.livimichael.com/author/index.htm |title=Livi Michael;Author |publisher=nickwood.net |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref>
Michael began writing poetry at the age of seven.<ref name="penguin">{{cite web|url=http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000046347,00.html |title=Livi Michael - Penguin Books Authors - Penguin Books |publisher=Penguin.co.uk |date=15 March 1960 |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> She attended [[Tameside College of Technology]]; [[University of Leeds]] and completed her B.A (English) with first-class honours in 1989. Her career as a novelist started with her first novel, ''[[Under a Thin Moon]]'' in 1992.<ref name="britishlit" >{{cite web|author=British Council |url=http://literature.britishcouncil.org/livi-michael |title=Livi Michael &#124; British Council Literature |publisher=Literature.britishcouncil.org |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> In addition to her writing, Michael also worked as a [[university lecturer]] teaching creative writing, and ran reading groups about women's fiction.<ref name="britishlit"/>
She began writing novels for adults in 1992, before writing her first children's novel in 2002, called ''[[Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz]]''.<ref name="britishlit"/> While she was in the process of writing her first novel, she continued her education and completed her doctorate in 1993 at the University of Leeds,<ref name="rags">{{cite book|url=http://www.bookrags.com/biography/livi-michael-dlb/ |title=Livi Michael Biography |publisher=BookRags.com |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> where she earned a dissertation named ''Towards a Theory of Working Class Writing: [[Lewis Grassic Gibbon]]'s A Scots Quair in the Context of Earlier Working Class Fiction''. Livi Michael completed her second novel while teaching [[English literature]] and creative writing part-time at [[Manchester Metropolitan University]] until 1998.<ref name="rags"/> She went on to teach English literature and creative writing for the Department of [[Cultural Studies]] at [[Sheffield Hallam University]] as well as writing novels for children, giving workshops and visiting schools.<ref name="livimichael" >{{cite web|author=Livi michael |url=http://www.livimichael.com/author/index.htm |title=Livi Michael;Author |publisher=nickwood.net |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref>


== Writing influences ==
== Writing influences ==
One of the factors that influenced Michael's writing was her son's [[hamster]] named "Frank". She describes Frank as an "adventurous hamster, and something of an [[escapologist]]".<ref name="rags"/> Her writing influences also come from the fact that she was raised in a single-parent home by her mother;<ref name="rags" /> Michael herself was an unemployed single mother of two as well.<ref name="rags" /> She is aware of the effects of poverty on women as she is involved with women's organisations and community centres.<ref name="rags" /> These factors have led to her understanding of women and their lives on various levels.<ref name="rags" /> She highlights the world of poor and working class women through the characters in her novels.<ref name="rags" /> She emphasises on the voice of her characters by writing in a limited third person which allows the reader "to hear [the character's] usually silenced voices".<ref name="rags" />
One of her influences comes from the fact that she was raised in a single-parent home by her mother and was a single mother herself, which made her aware of the effects of poverty on women’s lives. She highlights the world of poor and working-class women through the characters in her novels.<ref name="rags" />

One of the factors that influenced her children's books was her son's [[hamster]] named "Frank". She describes Frank as an "adventurous hamster, and something of an [[escapologist]]".<ref name="rags"/>


== Notable works ==
== Notable works ==


=== ''Under a Thin Moon'' (1992) ===
=== ''Under a Thin Moon'' (1992) ===
Livi Michael's first novel, ''[[Under a Thin Moon]]'' (1992) is praised for its portrayal of the underprivileged and working class women.<ref name="rags"/> It depicts how the lives of four working class women are tied together because of their class and gender.<ref name="under" >{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/0749397225 |title=Customer Reviews: Under a Thin Moon |publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]] |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> The story is set up in Manchester council estate, during the period of British Conservative politician [[Margaret Thatcher]].<ref name="under"/> Political elements such as capitalism and [[patriarchy]] are prominent in the novel, and criticised for the impoverished state of these women.<ref name="under"/> Each of these women struggle with poverty and unemployment, which leads to the development of their similar identities despite their differing circumstances.<ref name="under"/>
Livi Michael's first novel, ''Under a Thin Moon'' (1992) depicts the lives of four working class women living on a Manchester council estate, during the period of British Conservative politician [[Margaret Thatcher]].<ref name="under" >{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/0749397225 |title=Customer Reviews: Under a Thin Moon |publisher=[[Amazon.co.uk]] |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> Political elements such as capitalism and [[patriarchy]] are prominent in the novel, and criticised for the impoverished state of the women as they struggle with poverty and unemployment.<ref name="under"/>


=== ''Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz'' (2002) ===
=== ''Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz'' (2002) ===
⚫
''Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz'' (2002) is a novel for younger children. It is a story of a brave hamster named Frank,<ref name="cool">{{cite web|url=http://www.cool-reads.co.uk/review.asp?ID=1682 |title=books for 10-15-year-old readers by 10-15-year-old reviewers |publisher=cool-reads.co.uk |date=22 September 2007 |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="hamster">{{cite book|last=Dowd |first=Siobhan |title=Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz: Amazon.co.uk: Livi Michael, Derek Brazell: Books |id={{ASIN|0141314281|country=uk}} }}</ref> who escapes from his cage and undertakes an adventurous journey to meet the mysterious black hamster of Narkiz.<ref name="cool"/> After the success of the first novel, Michael went on to write a series of novels on Frank's adventures.

⚫
''[[Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz]]'' (2002) is a novel for younger children. It is a story of a hamster named Frank, who is brave and courageous unlike the other hamsters who are gentle, timid and domesticated creatures.<ref name="cool">{{cite web|author=cool-reads, http://www.cool-reads.co.uk |url=http://www.cool-reads.co.uk/review.asp?ID=1682 |title=books for 10–15-year-old readers by 10–15-year-old reviewers |publisher=cool-reads.co.uk |date=22 September 2007 |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="hamster">{{cite book|last=Dowd |first=Siobhan |title=Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz: Amazon.co.uk: Livi Michael, Derek Brazell: Books |id={{ASIN|0141314281|country=uk}} }}</ref> Frank has a mission and a motto – 'Courage!'.<ref name="hamster"/> He escapes from his cage and undertakes an adventurous journey to meet the mystreious black hamster of Narkiz.<ref name="cool"/> After the success of the first novel, Michael went on to write a series of novels on Frank's adventures, and all the novels have been successful.


=== ''The Whispering Road'' (2005) ===
=== ''The Whispering Road'' (2005) ===
Michael has also wrote books for the young adults; ''[[The Whispering Road]]'' (2005) is one of her popular works in this genre. The novel represents the real but dark issues such as death, disease and abandonment through the lives of siblings Joe and Anne.<ref name="road">{{cite web|url=http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/0399243577.asp |title=THE WHISPERING ROAD by Livi Michael |publisher=Kidsreads.com |date=14 April 2009 |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref> It begins with their escape from slavery of a cruel farmer, in the hope of finding their lost mother.<ref name="road"/> However, Joe's immature behaviour results in their separation along the journey. His guilt and deep love for his sister compels him to find her again which generates readers interest and sympathy towards his character.<ref name="road"/> Michael sustains a spirit of kindness and hope throughout to balance out the dark and disturbing elements of the novel.<ref name="road"/> The amalgamation of accurate historical facts and the elements of fantasy is interesting and appeals to the young readers.<ref name="road"/>
This young adult novel mixed history and fantasy to look at issues such as death, disease and abandonment through the lives of siblings Joe and Anne.<ref name="road">{{cite web|url=http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/0399243577.asp |title=The Whispering Road by Livi Michael |publisher=Kidsreads.com |date=14 April 2009 |access-date=11 November 2011}}</ref>


==Awards and honors==
==Awards and honors==
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! Books !! Awards
! Books !! Awards
|-
|-
| Under a Thin Moon (1992) || [[Arthur Welton]] Award (1992),<ref name="britishlit"/> [[Society of Authors]] award (1992).<ref name="encyclopedia">http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2687900055.html</ref>
| Under a Thin Moon (1992) || [[Arthur Welton]] Award (1992),<ref name="britishlit"/> [[Society of Authors]] award (1992).<ref name="encyclopedia">{{cite web| url = http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2687900055.html| title = Michael, Livi 1960- {{!}} Encyclopedia.com}} </ref>
|-
|-
| Their Angel Reach (1994) ||[[John Steinbeck]] Award shortlist (1994), and [[John Llewellyn Rhys]] Award shortlist (1994),<ref name="encyclopedia"/> and [[Geoffrey Faber]] Memorial Prize (1995),<ref name="britishlit"/> [[Society of Authors]] award.
| Their Angel Reach (1994) ||[[John Steinbeck]] Award shortlist (1994), and [[John Llewellyn Rhys]] Award shortlist (1994),<ref name="encyclopedia"/> and [[Geoffrey Faber]] Memorial Prize (1995),<ref name="britishlit"/> [[Society of Authors]] award.
Line 79: Line 82:


=== Books for adults ===
=== Books for adults ===

⚫
* 2015 Succession, St. Martin's Press
* 2023 Reservoir, Salt
⚫
* 2000 Inheritance, Penguin
* 2016 Ascension (Part 3), Penguin
⚫
* 2015 Succession (Part 2), St. Martin's Press
* 2015 Rebellion (Part 1), Penguin
⚫
* 2000 Inheritance, Penguin
* 1997 All the Dark Air, Secker & Warburg
* 1997 All the Dark Air, Secker & Warburg
* 1994 Their Angel Reach, Secker & Warburg
* 1994 Their Angel Reach, Secker & Warburg
Line 93: Line 100:


=== Books for younger children ===
=== Books for younger children ===
* 2023 Goose Girl
* 2009 43 Bin Street
* 2009 43 Bin Street
* 2007 City of Dogs, Putnam
* 2007 City of Dogs, Putnam
Line 100: Line 108:
* 2003 Frank and the Chamber of Fear, Puffin
* 2003 Frank and the Chamber of Fear, Puffin
* 2002 Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz, Puffin
* 2002 Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz, Puffin

==Personal life==
Michael has two sons and lives in Oldham, Lancashire.<ref>[https://www.literature.britishcouncil.org/writer/livi-michael British Council website]</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 126: Line 137:
[[Category:21st-century English women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century English women writers]]
[[Category:English women novelists]]
[[Category:English women novelists]]
[[Category:Women science fiction and fantasy writers]]
[[Category:British women science fiction and fantasy writers]]
[[Category:20th-century British short story writers]]
[[Category:20th-century British short story writers]]
[[Category:21st-century British short story writers]]
[[Category:21st-century British short story writers]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds]]

Latest revision as of 05:22, 7 April 2024

Livi Michael
BornOlivia Wood
(1960-03-15) 15 March 1960 (age 64)
Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, UK
OccupationNovelist
NationalityBritish
CitizenshipBritish
EducationB.A (English), PhD
GenreFiction
Notable worksThe Whispering Road (2005)
ChildrenPaul and Ben
Website
www.livimichael.com

Livi Michael, also known as Olivia Michael (15 March 1960, Manchester), UK, is a British fiction writer who publishes children and adult novels.[1]

Career[edit]

Michael began writing poetry at the age of seven.[2] She attended Tameside College of Technology; University of Leeds and completed her B.A (English) with first-class honours in 1989. Her career as a novelist started with her first novel, Under a Thin Moon in 1992.[3] In addition to her writing, Michael also worked as a university lecturer teaching creative writing, and ran reading groups about women's fiction.[3]

She began writing novels for adults in 1992, before writing her first children's novel in 2002, called Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz.[3] While she was in the process of writing her first novel, she continued her education and completed her doctorate in 1993 at the University of Leeds,[4] where she earned a dissertation named Towards a Theory of Working Class Writing: Lewis Grassic Gibbon's A Scots Quair in the Context of Earlier Working Class Fiction. Livi Michael completed her second novel while teaching English literature and creative writing part-time at Manchester Metropolitan University until 1998.[4] She went on to teach English literature and creative writing for the Department of Cultural Studies at Sheffield Hallam University as well as writing novels for children, giving workshops and visiting schools.[5]

Writing influences[edit]

One of her influences comes from the fact that she was raised in a single-parent home by her mother and was a single mother herself, which made her aware of the effects of poverty on women’s lives. She highlights the world of poor and working-class women through the characters in her novels.[4]

One of the factors that influenced her children's books was her son's hamster named "Frank". She describes Frank as an "adventurous hamster, and something of an escapologist".[4]

Notable works[edit]

Under a Thin Moon (1992)[edit]

Livi Michael's first novel, Under a Thin Moon (1992) depicts the lives of four working class women living on a Manchester council estate, during the period of British Conservative politician Margaret Thatcher.[6] Political elements such as capitalism and patriarchy are prominent in the novel, and criticised for the impoverished state of the women as they struggle with poverty and unemployment.[6]

Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz (2002)[edit]

Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz (2002) is a novel for younger children. It is a story of a brave hamster named Frank,[7][8] who escapes from his cage and undertakes an adventurous journey to meet the mysterious black hamster of Narkiz.[7] After the success of the first novel, Michael went on to write a series of novels on Frank's adventures.

The Whispering Road (2005)[edit]

This young adult novel mixed history and fantasy to look at issues such as death, disease and abandonment through the lives of siblings Joe and Anne.[9]

Awards and honors[edit]

Books Awards
Under a Thin Moon (1992) Arthur Welton Award (1992),[3] Society of Authors award (1992).[1]
Their Angel Reach (1994) John Steinbeck Award shortlist (1994), and John Llewellyn Rhys Award shortlist (1994),[1] and Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize (1995),[3] Society of Authors award.
All the Dark Air (1997) The Mind (charity) Book of the Year Award/Allen Lane Award shortlist (1997),[3] Society of Authors Award.[1]
Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz (2002) Branford Boase Award shortlist (2002).[1]
The Whispering Road (2005) Bronze award, Nestlé Children's Book Prize (2005).[1]

Bibliography[edit]

Books for adults[edit]

  • 2023 Reservoir, Salt
  • 2016 Ascension (Part 3), Penguin
  • 2015 Succession (Part 2), St. Martin's Press
  • 2015 Rebellion (Part 1), Penguin
  • 2000 Inheritance, Penguin
  • 1997 All the Dark Air, Secker & Warburg
  • 1994 Their Angel Reach, Secker & Warburg
  • 1992 Under a Thin Moon, Secker & Warburg

Books for older children[edit]

  • 2012 Malkin Child, Foxtail
  • 2009 Faerie Heart, Puffin
  • 2005 The Whispering Road, Puffin
  • 2006 The Angel Stone, Puffin
  • 2008 Sky Wolves, Puffin

Books for younger children[edit]

  • 2023 Goose Girl
  • 2009 43 Bin Street
  • 2007 City of Dogs, Putnam
  • 2006 Seventeen Times as High as the Moon, Orchard
  • 2005 Frank and the New Narkiz, Puffin
  • 2004 Frank and the Flames of Truth, Puffin
  • 2003 Frank and the Chamber of Fear, Puffin
  • 2002 Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz, Puffin

Personal life[edit]

Michael has two sons and lives in Oldham, Lancashire.[10]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Michael, Livi 1960- | Encyclopedia.com".
  2. ^ "Livi Michael - Penguin Books Authors - Penguin Books". Penguin.co.uk. 15 March 1960. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f British Council. "Livi Michael | British Council Literature". Literature.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d Livi Michael Biography. BookRags.com. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  5. ^ Livi michael. "Livi Michael;Author". nickwood.net. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Customer Reviews: Under a Thin Moon". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  7. ^ a b "books for 10-15-year-old readers by 10-15-year-old reviewers". cool-reads.co.uk. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  8. ^ Dowd, Siobhan. Frank and the Black Hamster of Narkiz: Amazon.co.uk: Livi Michael, Derek Brazell: Books. ASIN 0141314281.
  9. ^ "The Whispering Road by Livi Michael". Kidsreads.com. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  10. ^ British Council website

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Livi_Michael&oldid=1217670338"