Welcome to the home

of all things Penny Pepper

Penny Pepper is an award-winning author, poet & disabled activist. A genre-defying writer, her work focuses on identity, difference and what makes us human. She writes stories we haven’t heard, making others see life differently, with provocation, humour and wisdom. She is passionate that disabled women are heard.

Groundbreaking publications include her memoir, First in The World Somewhere (Unbound) and poetry collection, Come Home Alive (Burning Eye Books) and Desires Reborn. She currently writes a monthly column for independent newspaper Byline Times, has completed her first full-length novel, and writes commissions for publications and curated exhibitions, alongside her live spoken word performances.

Recent recognition includes Penny’s sombre and prize-winning video short, Letter to Paul, performed by Olivier award-winner Liz Carr and Penny was a finalist of the prestigious 2021 Hemingway Shorts (stories) competition, with her story published in the winning anthology.

She was also commissioned in March 2022 to write a set of poems for Representology - The Journal of Media and Diversity.

Growing up on rough ghettoed council estates in the countryside around the Chiltern Hills, Penny now lives happily in Hastings with her black cat, Pixie.

Books, Journalism, News & Events, Music, Photo Gallery and How To Contact and Work With Penny

 
 

Praise For Penny’s work

Penny Pepper has written a rebel yell of a memoir for every girl, boy, whatever who defied the labels others would put on them. First In The World Somewhere defies the narrow expectations placed on anyone deemed an outsider by gender, class or disability. It is a punk middle finger of defiance and a glorious read for anyone ever told to know their place.
— Danuta Kean, Guardian Books, Literary Journalist