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Born in Audenshaw, Manchester, Neil Campbell worked in a variety of jobs (warehouseman, forklift truck driver, van driver, bacon factory operative, double glazing salesman) and had poems and short stories published in the small press, before doing a creative writing MA in 2003. Since then he has had a book of short stories, Broken Doll, published by Salt, and two chapbook of poems, Birds, and Bugsworth Diary, published by Knives Forks and Spoons. He has also had spells of teaching at Manchester Metropolitan University and Salford University and edited a literary magazine, Lamport Court, for five years. In 2010 he began a PHD on the short story at Northumbria University, immersing himself in the work of his American short story writing heroes, people like Raymond Carver, John Cheever, Richard Ford, Andre Dubus, Jayne Anne Phillips, Flannery O’Connor, Stuart Dybek, Sam Shepard et al Campbell lived the first twenty three years of his life in Manchester, spending most of that time playing football and cricket, before his first move to the North East in 1996, to do an English degree at Teesside University. He then returned to Manchester where he lived in a council flat near the city centre for ten years, writing sporadically and drinking. During that time he completed an MA in English Literature at Manchester University and a PGCE at Bolton University. In 2005 he completed an MA in creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. After a brief spell in the Manchester suburbs, where he mainly frequented cheese hamlets and second hand book shops, and worked as both an ‘A’ level examiner and note taker for the disabled, Campbell taught for a semester at Salford University. Moved to the Peak District in late 2009, where he worked on a collection of poems, Bugsworth Diary. Towards the end of 2010 Campbell returned to the North East to begin his PhD at Northumbria University. He currently lives in an isolated cottage in Northumberland, within sight of Hadrian’s Wall, perfect for his twin loves of writing and walking. After the completion of two unsatisfactory novels he currently eschews novel writing in favour of short fiction and poetry. Continues to read novels, most particularly the work of Cormac McCarthy. Listens to the music of JJ Cale. Long time supporter of Manchester City and Lancashire Cricket Club.
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