Author. Poet. Novelist. Librettist. Sporadic puppeteer. Work featured in The Washington Post, The Guardian, New Scientist, and BBC radio. Shortlisted for a Golden Tentacle Award (The Kitschies).

Caroline Hardaker lives in the north east of England and writes quite a lot of things, mainly dark and brooding tales exploring everything speculative, from folklore to future worlds.

Caroline’s debut poetry collection, Bone Ovation, was published by Valley Press in 2017, and her first full length collection, Little Quakes Every Day, was published by Valley Press in November 2020.

Caroline’s debut novel, Composite Creatures, was published by Angry Robot in April 2021.

Her second novel – Mothtown – was published by Angry Robot in November 2023.

Caroline’s poetry has been published worldwide, most recently in A Midnight Treasury of Macabre and Weird Poems (Rizzoli Publishing), and Macmillan anthologies Gods and Monsters and We Will Soar. She is also published regularly in journals and magazines, including; Magma, The Interpreter’s House, The Emma Press, Neon Magazine, Shoreline of Infinity, Eyewear Publishing’s Best New British and Irish Poets, and Contemporary British Poetry from Platypus Press.

Caroline speaks regularly on panels exploring cross-genre writing, literary theory, fantasy, horror, the uncanny, science fiction, philosophy, and more.

Basically, she’ll talk about pretty much anything.

Caroline’s non-fiction work has been published widely in print and online, mostly exploring a philosophical issue or two. She still dips into a spot of freelance journalism when an issue tickles her. Caroline’s also worked with various organisations and community groups to advocate the holistic benefits of writing and making. She currently manages the writing of content for Newcastle University’s research, discoveries, and inventions.

In 2019, Caroline was the Writer in Residence for ‘Moving Parts’ Newcastle Puppetry Festival, a Theatre Reviewer for NARC Magazine, and an occasional Guest Editor for Three Drops From a Cauldron. Since 2019, she has collaborated with the Royal Northern College of Music to produce a cycle of operatic art songs to be performed at festivals across the UK. In September 2020, Folk Tales premiered at the Tête à Tête Festival in London.

Want to get in touch?

Contact her Literary Agent (Ed Wilson at Johnson & Alcock) or reach Caroline directly via the form below.