Angela Clare

Angela Clare is a writer, actor and historian based in West Yorkshire.

Writing as Clara Barley, her debut novel The Moss House, based on the story of Anne Lister (1791-1840) of Shibden Hall in Halifax, was published by Bluemoose Books in July 2019. It was selected by New Writing North for their Read Regional libraries campaign in 2020-21. She has also written short stories, scripts, poetry and non-fiction.

"The Moss House is a wonderful book. Clara Barley transports the reader historically whilst entertaining them emotionally. I felt a profound sadness when I finished reading The Moss House and I'll be thinking about it for a very long time. It's a wonderful read" - Linda's Book Bag.

With over twenty years' experience working in the heritage sector, Angela's work has primarily been to research, write and share stories through exhibitions, events, talks, publications and online. She has also organised and presented several conferences and events and delivered numerous exhibitions for museums, winning the Royal Historical Society's prize for public history in 2015 for her exhibition commemorating the First World War.

Decoding Anne Lister, 2023

'Anne Lister's Home', chapter in anthology by Cambridge University Press about Anne Lister.

Somewhere Magazine, 2021 & 2022

'Dressing Gentleman Jack', two features commissioned for Somewhere: For Us magazine, published in October 2021 and February 2022.

Only Water Between, 2020

Published by Royal Armouries Publications November 2020, based on a First World War archive.

Anne Lister of Shibden Hall, 2018 & 2019

An introduction to Anne Lister (1791-1840) of Shibden Hall, first published in 2018.

For King and Country, 2015

Accompanying guide to the award-winning exhibition in Calderdale commemorating the First World War, published 2015.

The Home Front in Britain, 2014

Book chapter 'One Family's Story of the Great War'. Published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2014.

Death by Zoom

A short story selected for the 5th Crossing the Tees anthology in 2022.

Scared for Life

A piece written for the 'Horrifying Tales' anthology published by Greenteeth Press in 2020.

Theatre of War

A poem selected for the 'Tears O'er a tin Box', InkyLab's remembrance anthology in 2020.

The Fancy

A play first performed at Square Chapel Theatre in Halifax in 2018.

Le Bebe

A short film written and produced.

Love Is...

A short film written and produced.

TV- Susan Calman's Grand Day Out

Interviewed by Susan Calman on her trip to Shibden Hall in Yorkshire in 2022.

TV- Antiques Roadshow

Featured with Fiona Bruce for BBC Antiques Roadshow in Halifax 2019 about the town's history.

TV- The One Show

Interviewed by Kate Adie about women in the British Military, the subject of mny masters research.

TV- Antiques Roadtrip

Interviewed by David Harper about Anne Lister of Shibden Hall, 2019.

RADIO

Interviewed on BBC Radio Leeds, York, and Manchester, and regular guest on BBC Radio Leeds.

PODCASTS

Interviews with 'Bonnets at Dawn' and 'Very Gay, Very Ladylike' podcasts in 2019, and for the 'Anne Lister Birthday Weekend' live 2020.

Plas Newydd, Llangollen, October 2023

A talk sharing research into Anne Lister's visit to the Ladies of Llangollen given at their home.

Author talk with Lucy Adlington, July 2023

Interview and discussion with author and historian Lucy Adlington about her work and our collaboration for her exhibition, 'Opening the Wardrobe' in 2023.

Stockton Libraries Author Talk, April 2023

Live event at Norton Library discussing my novel and work sharing the story of Anne Lister of Shibden Hall.

Interview with Helena Whitbread, April 2023

Interview with Helena Whitbread about her life and work sharing Anne Lister's story and release of the film we made together 'The Helena Whitbread Story'.

Deepings Literary Festival, April 2022

A real-world interview by book blogger Linda Hill at Deepings Library about The Moss House.

Ilkley Literature Festival, October 2021

Invited to give the annual Walter Swan Memorial Lecture for the Ilkley Festival online.

East Riding Festival of Words, September 2021

Interviewed by author Louise Beech at Bridlington Library as part of the festival.

Read Regional 2020-21

Delivery of fourteeen author talks online and in person at libraries throughout the North of England as part of New Writing North's Read Regional campaign.

Todmorden Literature Festival, November 2019

Chaired once again by Yvette Huddleston, I appeared on a panel about northern stories with other local writers A. A. Dhand and Stephen May.

York St. John University, guest speaker, October 2019

Invited to talk to students on the creative writing courses at the University on historical fiction writing.

Holdsworth House: Clara Barley and Helena Whitbread, October 2019

After a successful dinner event in August, I was invited back to Holdsworth House to do a two-hander with Anne Lister biographer Helena Whitbread over afternoon tea.

Leeds Libraries, August 2019

Asked to be part of a panel on womens' voices for an event at Chapel Allerton Library, appearing with fellow authors Clare Fisher and Ali Harper, and the sold out event was chaired by Rachel Connor.

Holdsworth House in Halifax, August 2019

An evening event with dinner at local Holdsworth House with themed food and a presentation which sold out within days.

Halifax Bookcorner: Book signing, August 2019

Great supporters of The Moss House and local indie publisher Bluemoose Books, I called in to The Book Corner Halifax to sign copies.

Waterstones York: 'Meet Clara Barley', August 2019

An evening author talk at Waterstones in York to a keen audience and a book reviewer from Yorkshire Living Magazine too.

Brighton Pride, Jubilee Library, July 2019

Invited to speak at the library as one of the supporting events for Brighton Pride. The event quickly sold out!

Waterstones Harrogate: Book Signing, July 2019

First book signing and an excuse to visit Harrogate and Betty's for breakfast and cake.

Bronte Parsonage: Interpreting Anne Lister, June 2019

Invited to speak about Anne Lister as part of the Parsonage's 2019 events.

National Trust's Women & Power Conference, March 2019

Oxford University's National Trust 'Women and Power' conference, speaking about Anne Lister of Shibden Hall and her important legacy.

OUTing the Past Conference, February 2019

Speaker at the 'OUTing the Past' festival hosted at Leeds Museum about Anne Lister and how her story has been interpreted.

The Moss House book launch, 2019

A sold out book launch was held in July 2019 at Square Chapel Theatre in Halifax. Yvette Huddleston from the Yorkshire Post kindly offered to host the event and photos were taken by Jim Varney. The Book Corner Halifax were on hand to sell copies and the first photo shows Angela with Yvette, the Bluemoose Books team and editor Annie Warren.