Maria Ferguson (Abbott) 🐼

SIX MONTHS OF SWELL 🐧📚🎙😍 Since its release in January, Swell has been reviewed by national newspapers, literary journals and lifestyle magazines including the Guardian, The Poetry Review, Mslexia, Juno and The Morning Star. I've performed at Bradford Literature Fest, LYRA Festival, Barnsley Book Festival, Ledbury Poetry Festival, and with poetry giants Loud Poets, Verbose and Outspoken. I've read for mothers/parents and their children through M/Other's on the Mic and Leeds Storytelling Festival and have facilitated writing workshops on creativity in parenthood. I've been on tour with Harry Baker and in conversation with some sensational women including Hollie McNish, Helen Mort, Deanna Rodger and the BRILLIANT Anita Rani on Radio 4's Woman's Hour. Swell was #1 in Movers and Shakers and #2 in Poetry on Amazon on publication day. It was in the top ten of ALL BOOKS ordered through Hive and had to be reprinted within weeks of release. Sometimes, pedalling poetry feels like such a slog. It's hard to gauge whether a book is 'successful', as it doesn't have the same exposure/reach as fiction/non-fiction. This leads to a massive prize culture within poetry, and if your book doesn't make it on to a big prize list, it can feel like you've failed. But I can actually say my book has reached thousands of people and that is such an achievement! So thank you to everyone who's read the book, bought the book, left a nice review on Amazon/Goodreads, sent me a DM, tagged me in your stories and been nice at events. Honestly, it's these positive responses and engagements that make it all worth it. And thank you to @penguinukbooks for making it all possible. I will never get over that little logo next to my name. Matt bought me this bottle of champagne in November last year when my final files were sent to the printer. Maybe now, I'll actually drink it. CHEERS 🥂

✨️TOMORROW✨️ Swell is published by @penguinukbooks tomorrow and I've already had some lovely messages from people receiving their pre-orders. It feels so weird and wonderful that people are reading these poems that have lived in my head for so long, and I'm very grateful they have found their way into the world. I'm also very grateful to have some of my favourite writers say lovely things about the book, too. These are women I admire and respect and who have influenced and inspired me endlessly. To celebrate publication tomorrow, I will be on @bbcwomanshour in the morning and then performing at @outspokenldn @southbankcentre in the evening. It's really easy with stuff like this to think about the things you haven't achieved yet or compare yourself to other writers. I am determined over the next few days to take a step back and see this as a huge achievement and something I can be proud of. Thank you for the love and support so far. I really hope this book finds the people who need it 📚🐧❤️

WOMAN'S HOUR 👩💅💪🏻💕 What an honour, a privilege and a truly terrifying experience to visit Broadcasting House on publication day! I got to chat to the amazing @itsanitarani about Swell and read a couple of poems from the collection LIVE ON AIR. I was so unbelievably nervous but Anita is such a pro and really put me at ease 🩷 Some snippets here, and you can listen to the full programme on BBC Sounds (link in my bio). It was a great line-up of varied discussion from body-shaming in ballet (a subject close to my heart) to expeditions across Antarctica 🐻‍❄ Thank you @bbcradio4 @bbcwomanshour for having me on the programme and for all the love I've received following the interview. Swell managed to get to #2 in Poetry and #1 in Movers and Shakers on Amazon on publication day and I have no doubt that was down to this!

Had an amazing time performing and judging at the Exeter City Slam alongside @ceribakerwords and @katfrancoispoet 🎙✍️🏻🤓 Well done to all the slammers especially @thepoetnotthecat 🤩 Also got to see the @alanmeasles Aspects of Myself exhibition @rammuseum which I spent ages in. Just look at those tapestries 😍 And had a curry and a pint with my parents (not pictured) 🍻 Thanks for having me @spork_poetry ❤️

📣📣📣 *ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT* @mlferg will be performing at @lencemusic presents Blur the Lines at @cityvarieties on Friday May 22nd for @leedsjazzfest 2026 🏆 Doors open 7pm 🎉 Click the link in our bio for tickets and join us for a special night!🎟️ Maria Ferguson is a writer and performer. Her poetry has been widely anthologised and published in literary magazines such as Magma, The Rialto, The North and The Poetry Review. She was a finalist of the Montreal International Poetry Prize 2024 and her debut collection, Alright, Girl? (Burning Eye, 2020), was Highly Commended in the @forwardprizes On the stage, her one-woman show Fat Girls Don’t Dance (Oberon, 2017) won the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Show; Essex Girl (Oberon, 2019) was shortlisted for the Tony Craze Award and won Show of the Week at VAULT Festival. She has been commissioned by the Royal Academy of Arts, Stylist magazine, The Bronte Parsonage and BBC Radio. Her work has been featured in The Guardian and on Radio 4’s The Verband Woman’s Hour. She is the Associate Producer of LIVEwire Poetry and teaches creative writing in a variety of settings. Her second poetry collection, Swell was published in 2025 by Penguin Random House. Get ready for a fantastic debut! ✨ Expect an evening like no other as we celebrate grassroots creativity in Leeds featuring an exceptional selection of poets, rappers, singers and musicians! 🎸 Witness a live blurring of the lines between jazz, hip hop and spoken word! 🎷 Thanks to @drmctchrproductions for his work on the poster 🎨 Photo by @suzi_corker 📸 @aceagrams @prsfoundation 🙌 . . . . #rap #poetry #jazz #music #spokenword

Last Bad Betty Live before our summer break and it’s an absolutely ridiculous line up! We are back at New Arts Exchange and join us for a masterclass award winning author @nick.makoha from 2-4pm. Friday 15th May, 6:30pm @new_art_exchange BSL by @sign4usteph £6-£14 (link in bio) ✨ Nick Makoha @nick.makoha ✨ Maria Ferguson @mlferg ✨ Keith Jarrett @keithjlondon ✨ Hannah Silva @hannah_silvauk ✨ Tyrone Lewis @tyronelewis22 ✨ Daudi Matsiko @daudi ✨ Bridie Squires @brizzaling @gobscollective @jakewildhall

PLYMOUTH 🥰🌊🐠 Had a wonderful few days as poet in residence @plympoetryfest 📖✍️🏻🎤 I performed as part of @wordofplymouthpoetry , ran creative workshops for families in community centres across the north of the city including @thebeaconplymouth and delivered a workshop for adults at the wonderful @theppluk 😍 I also visited the Beryl Cook exhibition at @theboxplymouth , found wonderful artworks across the city and of course popped over to Smeaton's Tower in the pouring rain ☔️ AND I got to visit my parents who live in the SW plus enjoy a packet of mini eggs in a hotel bed. Special shout out to @jonahcorrenmusic and @literature_works for looking after me. What a fantastic festival in a cracking city! More to come 👀✍️🏻

So honoured and excited to announce that our headliner is none other than Maria Ferguson! Maria Ferguson is a writer and performer. Her poetry has been widely anthologised and published in literary magazines such as Magma, The Rialto, The North and The Poetry Review. She was a finalist of the Montreal International Poetry Prize 2024 and her debut collection, Alright, Girl? (Burning Eye, 2020), was Highly Commended in the Forward Prizes. On the stage, her one-woman show Fat Girls Don’t Dance (Oberon, 2017) won the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Show; Essex Girl (Oberon, 2019) was shortlisted for the Tony Craze Award and won Show of the Week at VAULT Festival. She has been commissioned by the Royal Academy of Arts, Stylist magazine, The Bronte Parsonage and BBC Radio. Her work has been featured in The Guardian and on Radio 4’s The Verb and Woman’s Hour. She is the Associate Producer of LIVEwire Poetry and teaches creative writing in a variety of settings. Her second poetry collection, Swell was published in 2025 by Penguin Random House. She will be rounding off the night with her beautiful words, and performing exclusively at Word of Plymouth as part of @plympoetryfest so be sure to get this one down on your calendars. I cannot wait to welcome her to the stage and she cannot wait to meet all of you ❤️

A busy, beautiful start to the year ✨️📚✍️🏻🦖 Gorgeous week at @arvon__ working on something scary and new plus loads of teaching, gigging and baking, an excellent pint of Guinness 0, STP in bed (yes), anniversary trip away, life sized dinosaurs, walks on the moors and lots and LOTS of rain (and rainbows) 🌈❤️ Feeling tired and grateful moving into spring 😴 🌱

Happy belated Mother’s Day! (Poetry Christmas fell on the same day this year so we’re a day late 👀) 💐 @mlferg performing ‘You are My Sunshine’ at UniSlam 2025 💙 🎥: @tyronelewiscreative @processproductions #poetry #mothersday #spokenword

To let my mum know I'd gone into labour I sent her a quote from The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe 😂 It was a big part of my childhood and something she read to us and that we watched together as a family (that 90s BBC version was elite 💁🏻‍♀️) When it came to writing about my son's birth in Swell, I wasn't sure how to approach it or how much of that experience I wanted to give away, but I started with that text and the poem followed ❤️ So here it is. It's about telling my mum I'm about to become a mum and the incredible lineage of women we all have come before us. It's called ASLAN IS ON THE MOVE 🦁🧙‍♀️🚪 This can be a complicated and difficult but also special and important day. Sending love to everyone celebrating or remembering their mum and to all the mums doing their best 🌸 📽@i4visuals

Tickets for UniSlam 2026 Grand Finals are live! 3 weeks until the UK’s most exciting emerging poets go head to head, follow link in bio to be there! @mlferg performing as one of our headliners at the @applesandsnakes Takeover at UniSlam 2025 🎥: @tyronelewis22 @processproductions #unislam #poetry #poetryslam