A UNIVERSITY academic has seen her name alongside some of today’s most prominent literary figures after winning a prize for her debut collection of poetry.

Jenna Clake, a lecturer in creative writing in Teesside University’s School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, was among the winners of the respected Society of Authors 2018 Authors’ Awards.

The awards are run for authors, by authors, and annually recognise the best and most promising voices of the year.

In previous years the awards have recognised the early works of some of today’s most recognised writers such as Zadie Smith, Seamus Heaney, Helen Dunmore, Hari Kunzru, Carol Ann Duffy and Mark Haddon.

Jenna was presented with the Eric Gregory Award for Fortune Cookie, her debut collection of poetry that deals with the ordinary: domesticity, gender roles and the bizarreness of everyday life.

She said: “It was an honour to win the award. I was very surprised – it was the first year I applied, so I certainly didn’t expect to win. It is a great accolade to be listed alongside so many accomplished authors, and for my book to get that kind of attention is fantastic.”