Philomena Johnson

Philomena Johnson lives between the river and the sea in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand. She attended the Hagley Writers’ Institute in 2017, where her portfolio was short-listed for the Margaret Mahy Award. Philomena’s poetry has appeared in The Quick Brown Dog, The London Grip, takahē, Fuego, a fine line and in the anthologies broken lines / in charcoal and Voiceprints 4. She tutors at the School for Young Writers and is currently working on a verse novel for middle grade readers. In 2024 Philomena won The John O’Connor First Book Award for her manuscript not everything turns away. Judge Harry Ricketts described the collection as quick with observation and insight, […] poems which will make you pause and reflect as you read, and will continue to work on you long after you’ve closed the book. Philomena’s book will be published by Sudden Valley Press and launched on National Poetry Day 23rd August 2024.