{{Short description|English writer and singer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}'''Joe Stretch''' (born 7 January 1982) is an English writer and singer.
His first novel, ''Friction'', was published by Vintage Books at Random House in 2008. His second novel, ''Wildlife'', was published in 2009. His visceral, savage writing style has led to comparisons with French novelist Michel Houellebecq.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/talent-issue--the-novelist-joe-stretch-766036.html|title=Talent issue - the novelist: Joe Stretch|work=The Independent|date=29 December 2007 |accessdate=20 July 2015}}</ref> His third book, ''The Adult'', was released in August 2012. It won the Somerset Maugham Award and was shortlisted for the Portico Prize.
In his review of ''Wildlife'' in ''The Independent'', Lee Rourke describes the book as "a serious meditation on technology and individualism."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/wildlife-by-joe-stretch-1675069.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220609/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/wildlife-by-joe-stretch-1675069.html |archive-date=9 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Wildlife, By Joe Stretch|work=The Independent|date=27 April 2009 |accessdate=20 July 2015}}</ref>
In 2010 Stretch wrote the first ever interactive audio novel to appear on Spotify.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spotify.com/uk/blog/archives/2010/08/30/hurt/#comments|title=Interactive audio novel from Hurts|work=Spotify Blog|accessdate=20 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310071447/https://www.spotify.com/uk/blog/archives/2010/08/30/hurt/#comments|archive-date=10 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was read by the actress Anna Friel and marked the release of the debut album by the band Hurts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.culturedeluxe.com/music/musicnews/joe-stretch-hurts-bring-the-rolling-dice-novel-to-spotify/ |title=Joe Stretch & Hurts bring the rolling dice novel to Spotify | Culturedeluxe |access-date=2010-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905200110/http://www.culturedeluxe.com/music/musicnews/joe-stretch-hurts-bring-the-rolling-dice-novel-to-spotify/ |archive-date=2010-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Stretch grew up in Burton-in-Kendal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/Culture/Architecture/Joe-Stretch--Manchesters-next-major-novelist_3898.asp|title=Manchester Confidential your guide to city life, eating out, night life, food and drink, bars, and more|work=Manchester Confidential|accessdate=20 July 2015}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He studied politics at Manchester University and sings in the band (we are) Performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/catalog/author.htm?authorID=56832|title=Joe Stretch|work=randomhouse.co.uk|accessdate=20 July 2015}}</ref> The other members of the band are Laura Marsden on guitar, Joe Cross on drums. Hilary Marsden (Laura's sister) was also a member of the band prior to the release of their self-titled debut album in 2007. The group met whilst they were at university in Manchester.
He has lectured in Creative Writing at Keele University,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/en/pgrad/mawriting/staff/joestretch.html|title=English|work=keele.ac.uk|accessdate=20 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022164959/http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/en/pgrad/mawriting/staff/joestretch.html|archive-date=22 October 2010|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and Manchester Metropolitan University.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchesterwritingschool.co.uk/writers/joe-stretch|title=Our Writers|work=mmu.ac.uk|accessdate=5 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.keele.ac.uk/english/people/joestretch/ |title=Joe Stretch - Keele University |access-date=2014-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723103107/http://keele.ac.uk/english/people/joestretch/ |archive-date=2014-07-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/215777/ joe-stretch] * [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/friction-by-joe-stretch-801555.html friction-by-joe-stretch]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stretch, Joe}} Category:1982 births Category:21st-century English novelists Category:Living people Category:People from Carnforth Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester Category:English male novelists Category:21st-century English male writers Category:21st-century English singers Category:21st-century English male singers Category:Writers from Lancashire Category:People from Burton-in-Kendal