Mslexia interviews journalist and novelist Aminatta Forna. The winners of the magazine's 5th Annual Poetry Competition, Colette Bryce talks about making a poem, plus freedom writers and Victorian secrets.

In this issue:

Victorian Secrets - Aura Fish reveals the research behind her Elizabeth Barrett Browning-inspired novel Strange Music.

Freedom Writers - Sophie King talks about her writer-in-residence job for the Writers in Prison Network.

Fay Weldon's bottom drawer.

Carol Ann Duffy - the judge for Mslexia's 5th Annual Poetry Competition introduces the winner and runners-up.

Guidelines - The lowdown on writing greeting cards and the joy of...motoring journalism.