CAROLA Luther is the new poet-in-residence at the Wordsworth Trust.

The Grasmere-based arts organisation has been providing residencies for poets since 1994, and like each of her predecessors, Carola will be living in a small cottage just around the corner from Dove Cottage, where William Wordsworth wrote his greatest poetry.

Carola came to the UK in 1981, and lives in West Yorkshire. She has published two collections of poems with Carcanet Press. The first, Walking the Animals, was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection in 2004. The follow up Arguing with Malarchy, was published earlier this year. Carola has also taught creative writing at a number of organisations, including Manchester Metropolitan University.

The South African born writer will have plenty of time to work on her own poetry in the landscape that so inspired Wordsworth. However, the residency is not just about finding space to write herself but also sharing her experiences with writers and literary audiences in Cumbria through readings and workshops, and by acting as a mentor to emerging poets.

Carola will take up her new position at the beginning of next month with her first public event on Tuesday, December 13 (11am), when she will read her work at Dove Cottage as part of the Wordsworth Trust’s Mornings in Dove Cottage events programme.

015394-35544.