Elizabeth Train-Brown (she/they) is a twice-shortlisted Poet of the Year and fantasy novelist. Their work has been published over 50 times worldwide and their debut poetry collection, salmacis: becoming not quite a woman (Renard Press, 2022), is a Carol Ann Duffy meets Natalie Haynes triumph, hailed 'vital for society today' by Jennifer Hill of the Ulverscroft Foundation.

Twice-shortlisted Poet of the Year, Perito Prize and Pushcart Prize shortlistee, and winner of the Best Creative Writing Portfolio Prize from Lancaster University, Elizabeth (she/they) is a chronic reader and writer of the Weird. Her debut poetry collection, salmacis: becoming not quite a woman (Renard Press, 2022), was hailed as “vital for society today” (Jennifer Hill, Ulverscroft Publishers).

A couple of weeks ago, one of our editors Trina sat down (via Zoom) with Beth Train-Brown to talk about their recently published poetry collection Salmacis. Exploring the story of Salmacis and the concept of demi-gender, Beth manages to tackle a great number of themes in a gritty and intriguing way. This is definitely one to add to the bookshelf!

Elizabeth Train-Brown, 21, published her book "Salmacis: becoming not quite a woman", a tale about gender, love, and identity told through the popular tales of Greek mythological history. It draws on the rich history associated with the story of Salmacis and Hermaphroditus, and re-examines the tale through metaphors and poetry.

Welton can’t boast too many poets, so it was good to talk recently to Beth Train-Brown, whose collection of poems, salmacis: becoming not quite a woman, is about to be published.

21-year-old Elizabeth Train-Brown is going into her fourth year studying English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Lancaster. Salmacis: becoming not quite a woman is Elizabeth’s take on gender, love and identity through the popular tales of Greek mythological history.

A Lancaster University student’s powerful debut poetry collection, described as ‘essential reading for anyone grappling with the concept of gender’, will be published later this month and launched at Waterstones in September.

"Salmacis is a brilliantly evocative and thought-provoking collection exploring gender that forces you to think outside of the binary."

This week I'm with new, exciting, up-and-coming poet Beth Train-Brown talking about the key aspects and themes of her work, from LGBT+ activism to sea goddesses.

Oliver Crisp interviews journalist and poet, Beth Train-Brown, about her ground-breaking work: The Student's Guide to Quitting Smoking.

Spending her life with the circus, Elizabeth has performed as the fire-breathing Phoenix on stage since she was sixteen, writing poetry and fiction behind the scenes.