Photo: William Blakesley-Herbert
Tim Relf
Poet and novelist
Tim’s debut poetry collection, Not Even October, is about the easy-to-miss moments that shape lives. Moments that happen in places we’re all familiar with – such as petrol stations, cafes and vets. This book of tender, relatable poems finds unexpected magic in these unremarkable places, and has been praised by poetry lovers and general readers alike. It’s out with the literary publisher, Salt.Tim’s psychological suspense novel, What She Left, was published by Penguin under the pen name T.R. Richmond. Billed as a "21st-century epistolary novel", it was translated into more than 20 languages and turned into an audiobook starring Emilia Clarke and Charles Dance.He had two earlier novels published by a small, independent publisher, the first of which also made it onto the shelves in America, where The Washington Post described it as “riveting” and The LA Times praised its “multiplex-friendly plotting”.In both fiction and poetry, Tim enjoys exploring the pleasing and puzzling complexities of contemporary British life. He's drawn to moral ambiguities and the darkly comic. Identity, mental health and friendship dynamics are topics in which he’s particularly interested.
Photo: MaddMann Photography
About Tim's writing
Tim’s poetry has been published in most of the UK’s leading poetry magazines, including Poetry London, The Rialto, The Dark Horse, Stand and The London Magazine. He’s an alumnus of Writing East Midlands’ mentoring scheme and Faber’s Advanced Poetry Academy. He’s a former poet-in-residence at Leicester Botanic Garden.His fiction is often described as "upmarket suspense". It’s pacy, packs an emotional punch and the many moral dilemmas it presents mean it appeals to a book club audience. He’s drawn to voice-driven stories, with a strong sense of place.
Published in 2026 by Salt Publishing, Not Even October vaults from humour to heartache – then back again – as it navigates its way through small-town streets, country lanes, suburban gardens and city parks.Exploring how we make sense of memory, mortality, place and home, the poems are like overheard conversations in supermarkets or coffeehouses – spanning everything from the flickering absurdities of our distracted, digital age to the restorative joys of the natural world.This is a book that negotiates the border between head and the heart, lyric and plainspoken, formal and free verse. Whether we’re on a bus or a riverbank, in a bar or a bedsit, the poems invite readers into a shared space invite them to consider: How do we hold on to what matters – and let go of what doesn’t?“Incisive and moving” – Richard E. Grant“Relf has a real eye, and an original voice: frank, immediate, humorous. Most admirable of all, his poems find the surreal, the profound, in the fray of the everyday” – Rachel Long“A bold, fresh voice. These poems are full of wit, heart and hard-won wisdom. A terrific collection” – Luke Wright“Lovely, lively and utterly unique. It’s always a treat to read a Tim Relf poem” – Helen Mort“These poems invite us into a shared space and produce a sense of cultural intimacy – a feeling of: Yes, I have been here too and I felt like this” – Ian McMillan
Telling the story of the life – and death – of a 25-year-old, pieced together through the digital and paper trail she left, What She Left explores issues such as the nature of news and digital identities, as well as love, loss, revenge and redemption.Told from multiple perspectives with a non-linear time structure, the novel was described by The Daily Telegraph as “mesmerising” and chosen as a Daily Mail book club choice."Ingeniously original" - Sunday Express"The new Gone Girl" - Marie Claire“A whodunnit for the Twitter age... clever, imaginative and entertaining” - The Times
Photo: Toby Lea
Biog & Contact
The hours between 5am and 8am are Tim's favourite time to write and, as a believer in the adage of "little and often", he tries to do some every day. His favourite saying is: The harder you work, the luckier you get.Based in Leicestershire, he’s a regular speaker at festivals, in bookshops and in the media. Today and Saturday Review on R4 are among the radio shows he’s appeared on. He’s active in the writing community, giving guest lectures to students and running prison workshops. He has contributed on book-related topics to a range of local, regional and national publications. He’s even written a speech for King Charles!He likes coffee, box sets (current obsession: Das Boot) and spending time with family and friends. You might also find him gardening (chaotically), walking in the countryside (the patch between Corby and Market Harborough is his favourite), or wrangling a golden retriever (unsuccessfully).He enjoys being in touch with readers, reviewers and other authors, so please drop him a note if you’d like to start a conversation.