Day Four of No-booze-vember and I’m thinking of making an advent calendar to count down the days to when I’m allowed a glass of wine. Last year it all made sense – nothing much happening in November, Christmas to look forward to…I certainly wouldn’t want to do this in January, the most dreary of monthsRead more ⟶
Category: Events
Competition season! Be afraid. Plus the odd launch
Those Darn Comps Love ’em or loath ’em, but some of us just can’t stop ourselves entering. “Is there a competition season?” someone once asked me and I feel as if there is, and it’s now – not sure why except that the National always closes on October 31st, this year a particularly loaded date,Read more ⟶
Back to school, current reading & looking forward
Back. After twelve days or so away I’m feeling positively autumnal and a bit ‘back to school’ (garden looking blousy, woollies coming out the wardrobe, wondering when Masterchef starts, etc). I haven’t got back into any new writing but that will come. Sometimes I get the feeling I’m waiting – for inspiration maybe – forRead more ⟶
London Undercurrents at Clapham Bookshop
Joolz Sparkes and Hilaire have been collaborating on London Undercurrents for a number of years and I was delighted when it was published by Holland Park Press earlier this year. I wasn’t able to make the launch dates and have keeping an eye on when they would be reading again. I’ve heard both Joolz andRead more ⟶
Poems, schmoems. Couple acceptances, a bit of rejection but hey.
Well hello! I am feeling epic. Not because I’ve suddenly won some dough or got a call from Faber. No! Health update (feel free to skip!) You may recall my moaning on about my bad back or whatever. It seems to be something else entirely that’s been sapping me of energy and slowly seizing upRead more ⟶
New poetry magazine: Finished Creatures
I first met Jan Heritage at the house of the late and much missed Jo Grigg. Jo was the coordinator of the Brighton Stanza and to be invited to her writing ‘salons’ was a real privilege. That must have been getting on for ten years ago. For a quite a while the idea of startingRead more ⟶
Back from Ireland
The rest of my week at the Cork Poetry Festival was brilliant – I want to say that right away as a few people were worried about me after my last blog post – thank you so much for the messages of support/understanding! I think it took me a day or two to tune intoRead more ⟶
Day 3 in Cork – turning a corner
It’s day 3 and I’m settling into my Cork Poetry Festival experience. Yesterday and today I’ve spent the morning writing and reading. Afternoons I go to hear readings at the library, evenings are in the fine Cork Arts Theatre – a lovely intimate size perfect for poetry. Highlights for me so far: Launch event forRead more ⟶
Pre-Cork checklist
Although I’m going to miss my writer’s group this week it’s for a good reason, as I’ll be in Ireland for the Cork International Poetry Festival, which sounds rather grand, but so far my impression is that it’s going to be a chilled affair, perhaps not as intimate as Swindon but not as scary asRead more ⟶
‘Work’ poems, getting readings (or not), Spring is coming HURRAY
Last weekend I was reading at Buzzwords Cheltenham, which happens to take place not five minutes from my brother & sister-in-law’s home, so I stayed with them and they seemed very happy to come to the reading. (My long-suffering family!) What a warm and responsive audience there was, and an impressive open mic. My goodness,Read more ⟶