Kathryn Simmonds was born in Hertfordshire in 1972, she has an MA in writing from the University of East Anglia. She currently lives in London. Kathryn received an Eric Gregory Award in 2002 and her pamphlet Snug, was published in 2004. Her poems have appeared widely in magazines and she was winner of the 2006 Poetry London Competition and the 2007 Wigtown Poetry Competition.More recently, Katherine's first poetry collection Sunday at the Skin Laundrette, has been shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection and longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award 2008.