Despite feeling quite positive about what I’m writing at the moment, I’ve started the year with rejections from two magazines. As usual, when I checked what it was I sent out, I thought well OK I guess it wasn’t my best work. But that can’t be right, because I remember being happy with it beforeRead more ⟶
Category: Readings
To London, for poetry &
I seem to be up in London a fair bit this month. Last week was my first trip to the Troubadour in a while, and despite late trains meaning I arrived late, and then having to leave soon after ten or risk not getting home, I was very glad I went. It was the regularRead 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 ⟶
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 ⟶
‘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 ⟶
At Buzzwords this weekend
If you’re within the Cheltenham catchment area I hope you’ll come to Buzzwords this Sunday evening (10th Feb) where I’ll be the guest reader, and also leading a Q&A/discussion about getting published in poetry magazines. I’ll even have the last few copies of the guide with me to sell – funny that! I’ll be reading fromRead more ⟶
City walk, a workshop, Van Halen & Jo Bell’s ‘Kith’
This is the first year in a while that I haven’t been driving up to the Southbank for the T S Eliot Prize readings this evening. I’ll look forward to reading all about it on various blogs. I’m having a catchup day between jaunts. Last week was the first session in Katy Evans-Bush‘s fortnightly small-groupRead more ⟶
Kay Syrad, Josephine Corcoran – short reviews
A couple of brief reviews of collections I’ve been reading: Inland – Kay Syrad (Cinnamon, 2018) (£8.99) There’s nothing predictable or familiar in this collection. Just when you feel you’re getting your feet under the table suddenly the table is gone, and the ground beneath, and your feet too. Just two poems in we encounterRead more ⟶
The new ‘How to’ guide is finally done…
Things have been a bit quiet on this blog for the last month, mainly because I’ve been full-on with the new booklet which arrived from the printers today – hurrah! More about that below… a quick zip through other news: Workshops, readings etc Last month I went up to London for a Coffee-House Poetry workshopRead more ⟶