Last updated November 2020
Writing is my passion. My proudest achievement to date is obtaining a distinction for a Masters in Creative Writing degree at the University of Leicester in 2018.
I used to be a teacher in the days when I was called Ros Kloos (and the school kids called me Inspector Kloos-eau). I miss those kids with their quick wit and passion for life and I still occasionally visit schools to give talks about Richard III (and try to sell copies of The Children's Book of Richard III while I'm at it).
These days I spend much of my time writing poetry. My writing is fuelled by my love of history - my first degree was in history. There are endless fascinating events from the past tucked away inside dusty books waiting for someone to breath new life into them.
I have co-ordinated a number of Heritage Funded projects recording and writing about the lives of older people in the community and researching past lives from the local Jewish cemetery.
Website:
PUBLICATIONS
Books:
- Children's Book of Richard III, The Reading Shop Oadby, July 2014, ISBN 978-0-99293-020-2
- Children’s History of Leicester, Hometown World Publishers, May 2011, ISBN 978-1849931496
- Bathtime Rap, Picture book, Franklin Watts, 2008, ISBN 970-0-7496-7951-4
- Jewish Voices, A collection of reminiscences and history of a community affected by World War II, Heritage Lottery Funded, 2009
- Market Day 1963, The Welcome to Leicester Anthology 2016
- Onion, The University of Leicester MA Collection 2017
- Top Class, winner of Artbeat Poetry Competition 2017
- Klezmer Dancers and Klezmer Men, The Jewish Literary Journal 2018
- Youth, The Ekphrasis Review 2018
- Fresh Canvas, winner of the G.S. Fraser award 2018
- End of the Day, The Ekphrasis Review 2019
- Tempus Fugit, The Ekphrasis Review
- From Far Away, The Copperfield Review 2020 (Awaiting publication)
- Unprecedented,100 Words of Solitude 2020
- Living Statue, 81 Words 2020
- The Circus Barker, awaiting publication in The Pomegranate London in Spring 2021
- Lives Behind the Stones, a Heritage Lottery Funded research project creating a website with information about Leicester's Jewish cemetery, researched stories of lives 'behind the stones' and a database providing full genealogical search facilities. 2015
- The 1950s Menu, Yours Yearbook 2010
- Bathtime Rap poster and musical rap feature, the Scholastic Nursery Education PLUS Magazine, October 2009
- The work behind the project: Jewish Voices, NAWE Quart. No. 48 Summer 2009
- With Two Hats On: therapeutic writing workshops, Lapidus Quart. Autumn 2007
- Birds' Eye View; taking part in the bird count, The Lady August/September 1999
- 12 short stories published in Yours, Woman's Weekly, Bella, Best, Take a Break, Chat and My Weekly from 1998 to 2002.
TEACHING/TUTORING WORK
- Creative writing tutor
- Writing workshop leader
- Primary and secondary school teacher
QUALIFICATIONS
- Masters in Creative Writing with distinction at University of Leicester 2017 to 2018
- History degree BA (Hons) 2:2 at University of Leicester 1979 to 1981
- Post-graduate certificate in education at University of Leicester School of Education 1982
- Adult tutor certificate
- Certificate in Counselling skills