Jackie Morrey-Grace

Writer of YA Fantasy Fiction, Trombonist, and Story-telling Performance Poet (retired from comps since 2021!)
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Manx Litfest Poetry Slam Champion 2021
Manx Litfest Poetry Slam Champion 2020
Manx Litfest Poetry Slam Champion 2017
Olive Lamming Short Story 1st Prize 2014
Olive Lamming Poetry Competition Runner-up 2019
Manx Litfest Short Story Slam Runner-up 2019
Manx Litfest Short Story Slam Runner-up 2018
Long-listed in the Ink Tears Flash Fiction Comp 2015
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Whooohoo! I won the slam for a 3rd time! 2021 :)​

'The gods are lost and faith is finished. Heaven and Earth hover on the brink of collapse. Only Aro can restore these broken worlds - he's always known he was chosen. The problem is, no one told him he was chosen to die.

Now Aro's in Death but something's wrong. He's still alive. There'll be no wings for him now. Worse than that, there's nothing more dangerous in Death, nothing more compelling, nor more cruel, than the presence of Life...
In December 2020 I was absolutely made up to win the Manx Litfest Poetry Slam for the second time. Bridge Carter has done an amazing job because it is SUCH a good, though ridiculously nail-biting event - I mean, if the contenders aren't formidable enough, the judging panel featured (my now fav) MHK, Daphne Caine, our Chief Minister!!! Howard Quayle, the Governor!!! Sir Richard Gozney, lovely Grainney Sheppard from the Arts Council, and the gobsmackingly awesome multi-multi and internationally award winning poet and photography film-maker, Janet Lees. They were all so sweet and kind and I am very grateful they appreciated my poem. It was a brilliant night.

Collaborations!

TURNING GLASS

My friend Jo Thorn and I made a band! Here's our first tune - The Wildness of Birds, by Turning Glass
(find more on Soundcloud!)
Just for kicks, here's a pic of us celebrating her birthday June, 2023 too. Can you guess where we are?
And... Secrets! Another collab! I love how Janet attributes this work of art to me because she's so kind, but seriously, she's just a total genius. We had the bestest laugh that evening at the training hossie (LOADS of creepy things!) and also recorded my peach poem with Glen Whorral. Oh! And while we're chatting about Janet! Underneath Secrets is my poem Mesmer - which I was inspired to write as a dedication to Janet's awesome Culture Vannin commissioned poetry film about The Manx Magi, Dr Alexander Cannon. ​
Guess the sin! #Seven Deadly Sins
Incredible!!!!
Chris Riddell - awesome children's author and illustrator/ children's laureate 2015-2017, draws to Paterpaens during Manx Litfest 2018 in front of a packed Noa Bakehouse :) a true honour - VERY happy!
Green Things.
Seasonally Starry.
Greed... From my 7 Deadly Sins Collection. Shortened (and slightly rough!) Version.
'Predator.'
Enjoy! Extended version coming soon!
The Paterpaens. Little whippersnapping blighters.
Wrath from my Seven Deadly Sins Collection.
'The Unbridled.'
First attempt at putting my poetry together with a loop pedal... A little unpolished and a lot creepy, but fun :)

As well as writing,
I am the founder and Chair (and happily general dogsbody) of

Without Wings, now, since 2025, the Manx Autoimmune Trust,
(Charity No. 1213.)

I am supported in this venture by my mum, Sue, and close friends, Suzanne and Laura.

Through our social media and fundraising efforts, our aim is to provide useful information and also raise awareness about the issues that affect people with complex autoimmune issues, such as ableism.


We provide funding too - for essential and compassionate services when local people living with these diagnoses are most 'Without Wings,' or their freedom. Especially counselling.

For information on how to donate or be more involved in our efforts, please visit our website, withoutwings.co.uk or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/withoutwingsiom/

The Boy Without Wings, and its sequel, ​The Call of the Birds, were written in their entirety during my first year of Psoriatic Arthritis, when I was severely incapacitated.
The Boy Without Wings is, ultimately, just a fast paced, fantastical adventure story filled with terrible deeds and thrilling cliff hangers. However, on reading back my first draft it became obvious to me that, inevitably I suppose, some of its major themes - the glorious hopes and devastating heartbreaks, plus a quest back to Life, reflected something of my own experience throughout this bleak time.
The charity's name was inspired by the book.