Helen Mort has published two poetry collections with Chatto & Windus, ‘Division Street’ (2013) and ‘No Map Could Show Them’ (2015).
She won the Fenton Aldeburgh Prize for best first collection. Her novel ‘Black Car Burning’ was published in 2019.
She teaches creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University and she is also the author of ‘Lake District Trail Running’ (Vertebrate).
Her new book is ‘Never Leave The Dog Behind’. Inspired by the story of Missy, a German Shepherd who was abandoned by two hikers in the Canadian Rockies, the book explores the relationship between people, dogs and the great outdoors, comprising interviews with dog owners and experiences with a variety of dogs as well as Helen's own observations as a runner and pet owner herself. This is a book for anyone who loves dogs or has ever been dogged by loneliness and found solace in animals and landscapes.
Helen in her own words:
“I’m a mum to a toddler, a step parent, a trail runner, climber and all round outdoor enthusiast. I love the Peak District and get out whenever I can. I grew up in Chesterfield. I love dogs, books, dancing and real ale.”
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Show notes
Getting into fell running as a teenager
Spending a lot of time in her own company
Not looking like a runner
Having a lot of stamina at a young age
Doing the beep test at school
Dealing with a foot injury and having a break from running
Exploring different types of running
Running for the experience of running
Getting into climbing in Derbyshire
What does adventure mean to Helen and how it’s changed over the years
Sharing adventure with someone else
Her dreams as a little girl
Always been a writer and getting interested in poetry
Connecting with other writers and poets
Being able to make a living as a writer
Becoming a poet in residence
Book - Waymaking - An anthology of women’s adventure writing, poetry and art.
Heather Dawe - Adventures in Mind
Telling stories from a female point of view
Book - Never Leave the Dog Behind
The personal narrative behind the book and being scared of dogs
Getting over her fear of dogs
How her relationship with the mountains changed after getting a dog
Exploring the relationship between people and dogs in the mountains in a non fiction book
What does it mean if you invite the black dog into your home
Having a reason to get out everyday
Dealing with challenging moments
Being present in the moment
What a perfect day in the mountains looks like
Getting back into the mountains with a toddler
Setting more manageable fitness challenges
Motherhood and mental health challenges
Getting back to fitness after having a baby
Knowing that running clubs are not the right choice for her
Running as and when
Managing during Covid
Book - Trail Running Guide
Final words of advice to spending more time outdoors
Social Media
Website - www.helenmort.com
Twitter @HelenMort
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