Writer & poet
Lerah Mae Barcenilla grew up in Cuartero, Capiz in the Philippines full of magic, superstition and tradition before moving to the UK. Her work explores Filipino history, mythologies and folklore, the unreliability of memory and the violence and delight in transformation.
Her poetry can be found in Harana Poetry, with Verve Poetry Press and won the Creative Future Writers Award–Platinum Poetry (2022), while her fantasy novel was Highly Commended in The Literary Consultancy’s PEN Factor Award–Novel (2021) and placed Second Place for Text in the FAB Prize (2023). She has a short story forthcoming in Fly On The Wall Press’ ‘Modern Gothic’ anthology (2024).
She is currently working on her debut poetry pamphlet and fantasy novels inspired by Western Visayan mythology and folklore.
When she is not writing, she works as a marketing officer for the charity responsible for two of Birmingham’s iconic concert halls or collecting and researching resources on the cultures, customs and beliefs of pre-colonial Philippines.
She is represented by Lucy Irvine at Peters Fraser + Dunlop.
Articles & Interviews
The Bookseller: Bediako and Du win £1.5k FAB Prize for text and illustration
“Writer and poet Lerah Mae Barcenilla was the runner-up in [the text] category with her "finely crafted" submission The Babaylan Sisterhood.”
Book Brunch: Fly on the Wall to publish gothic anthology
The Bookseller: Barcenilla and McLeod triumph in Creative Future Writers’ Awards
“Lerah Mae Barcenilla won the platinum award for poetry for “To Love and Be Loved as a Language Primer”. She said growing up “in a small province full of magic, tradition and superstition,” inspires her experimental work which “lyrically captures childhood memories of a colourful, sun-drenched homeland, the warmth of extended family and leaving on a bus filled with suitcases for another life in another country”.”
Creative Future Writers Award Showcase, London Literary Festival (2022)
Photo credit Jess Hand
Hippodrome Young Poets Showcase (Hit The Ode, 2019)