Shondra Bowie Riley

Poet. Writer. Fierce Stroke Survivor.

photo by Hadley Norris

“Soulful, evocative poetry and essays with a brilliantly playful, honest and questioning edge” - Nelly Bryce

About me

Hi, I'm Shondra. I'm a Black American Writer, Poet, Creative Practitioner, and Facilitator based in Scotland. Originally from Tongva Land (a.k.a. Los Angeles), I grew up in South L.A. in the 1980s. My poetry, essays and short stories reflect my intersectional experiences as a black woman living with disability, and reflections on my personal history and my affinity with nature.

My writing has been described as accessible, deeply connecting, and "stories that will help so many." I believe that storytelling, in all its art forms, is what keeps us connected, especially when we feel the most disconnected.

Now I live just outside of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, focused on writing, community building and anti-racism in creative spaces. I am currently writing a book about a 12-year-old girl in 1984 South L.A. who shifts from the safety of an all-black Christian school to the outside world, facing abuse, abandonment, exploitation and deep loss.

Published Writing

photo by Hadley Norris

As former Co-Editor and Writer for the blog and digital magazine True & Woke (now ZYA), I have published articles on climate change, gender-based violence, and personal essays on living with a disability. I have been published on Heroica.co and the University of Lincoln’s virtual exhibition ‘Rooms of Our Own: The Lockdown House’.

Shondra's Substack Relevant Sense presents her intersectional perspective in poetry and personal essays on themes of home, loss, and reclaiming.

Her short story, ‘Unmarked,’ is being published by Open Book as part of their May 2026 programme.

Shondra is a member of the Scottish BPOC Writers Network.

Poetry Performance and Hosting

Shondra at Load Poets Open Mic - Photo by Gilad Zinman

Shondra has led a series of BPOC poetry workshops and co-led an interactive poetry installation, collaborating with One Dalkieth, The Men's Shed, Garvald, and other local community groups for the 2025 Vogrie Pogrie Festival, where she was asked to host an Open Mic in the Poet-Tree Tent.

In 2024, Shondra was selected to perform a piece at Push the Boat Out’s showcase in Edinburgh’s International Book Festival. She was also featured with fellow poets James Stedman and Natalie Elizabeth at Rock the Boat, Push the Boat Out’s Open Mic, as part of their 2024 International Poetry Festival

Community Work

Strategic Consultant, Livity Youth Edinburgh, 2025-present
Trustee, One Dalkeith Development Trust, 2021- 2022
Nominated for Midlothian Volunteer Awards “Manager of the Year” - March 2021
Director for Made in Midlothian C.I.C. - 2019-2022 - Received a commendation from the Scottish Parliament for dedication to supporting the local community during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020
Nominated for the Women’s Business Conference “Giving Back Award” - Nov 2020.

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