Delighted to be supporting Paul at the online launch of his latest collection 'it's all come down to this', on Monday 2 December. Alan Parry, from The Broken Spine Press will be hosting the evening. Tickets available now.
On Tuesday 19 November I'll be reading at Cheltenham Poetry Festival online fundraiser with a number of great poets. I'm really looking forward to the evening and supporting the festival.
For National Poetry Day this year I visited 90 children in Year 3 (3 groups of 30!) at Rhiwbeina Primary School. We had a wonderful time talking about being a poet and writing 'Long Thin poems' together, inspired by this prompt from Micheal Rosen. We talking about what makes something special, made 'word ponds', wrote long thin poems, edited them, and then performed some aloud. A fabulous morning.
On Tuesday 8 October I took part in the Friends of Rhiwbeina Library Author talk series at Hyb Rhiwbeina Hub. I read a few poems from my forthcoming hybrid art and poem micro pamphlet 'City Companions' from Hedgehog Press, and talked about the collaboration process with the artist Karen Pierce-Gonzalez. Also my Bridport Prize shortlist poem 'Dad was a typesetter', 'Arcade Hopping' which is on display in Cardiff City Centre, 'Weeping Willow' from a Dylan Thomas anthology, 'Day trip to the mountains' from the Cambrian Mountains Society poetry competition, among others.
We talked about the creative process, editing, being a literacy citizen, the place for poetry in the modern world, as well as how themes and preoccupations run as a thread through collections. I finished with the benefits of guest editing and reading my Best of the Net, and Pushcart Prize nominated poems from Black Bough Poetry.
There were some really interesting questions in the Q&A, which I am still pondering. It was a lovely evening, and a privilege to poetry, place and inheritance, and hopefully convert a few attendess to have another look at poetry.
I was asked to contribute a reading to Damien B Donnelly's fabulous 'Eat the Storms' podcast, for the last episode of Season 8, which was an interview with Black Bough's Matthew MC Smith. Ten poets previous published by Black Bough - either in the Deep Time Series, Christmas & winter, Freedom Rapture or other issues contributed a poem.
I read 'Precious' from Deep Time, which was Pushcart nominated. I most recently worked with Black Bough as their guest editor for the 'In flight' edition in Spring 2024. I was also a 'Silver branch' feature writer in 2022.
This episode, and all others available here: Eat the Storms. I recommend a listen!
On Saturday 2 March the inaugural Cambrian Mountains Society poetry competition prize giving took place at Pontrhydfendigaid. I read my poem 'Day trip to the mountains', which was highly commended.
Over the past couple of months I have been working on editing a competition anthology for the Society, which includes background to the prize, judges comments and of course the winning, highly commended and longlist poems. Cover illustration by the talented Lowri Bowden. The anthology is pocket size and available to purchase from cambrian-mountains.co.uk.
It was a lovely afternoon, and wonderful to hear poems in English and Welsh, and lively discussion about poetry in Wales.
A joyous evening last night at Clwb Y Bont in Pontypridd - a mixture of poetry and music, and a few local ciders - including an impromptu collaboration between Ben on guitar, and Pete on his harmonica.
Thanks to Sion Tomos Owen, Mike Jenkins, Pete Akinwunmi, Nick McGaughey, Mary Kaye, Ben Wildsmith & Rob Cullen who also performed, and Rob who hosted 'Voices on the Bridge'. I did a 15 minutes set including a couple of new poems about everyday objects, the poem 'Returning' which was illustrated for the 'Walking Home' anthology, and of course a couple of losing Dad poems.
Thanks to Susie for the photos.
Voices on the Bridge, run by Rob Cullen will be hosting a poetry night at Clwb y Bont in Pontypridd, on Thursday 20th July starting at 8pm.
I'll be reading alongside Mike Jenkins, Pete Akinwunmi, Sion Tomos Owen, Nick McGaughey, Mary Kaye, Leigh Manley, Ben Wildsmith & Rob Cullen.
Hope to see you there.
The super poet Karen Pierce Gonzalez from Folk Heart Press has invited me to be the featured poet a North Bay Poetics online session, talking about prose poetry, process, and I'll be reading a few poems too. There is an open mic section and two fellow Welsh poets will be joining, Lesley James @feetpetite, and Kath Hill. Really looking forward to it.
A new poetry night has started in Cardiff Bay 'Tiger Bay Poetry' at the Casablanca Cafe in Mount Stuart Square, hosted by Natasha Gauthier. The inaugural night featured Taz Rahman, Wendy Allen and Gareth Writer-Davies. It was a wonderful evening and I read a couple of poems at the open mic - including a mother / kraken reflection.
A great day in Swansea for Matthew M. C. Smith's, editor at Black Bough Poetry, book launch in the local tap room. 'The Keeper of Aeons' is published by The Broken Spine. Matt read and introduced his new collection, and the open mic included Lauren Thomas, Ivor Daniel, myself and Polly Oliver among others, as well as Matt Gilbert, whose latest collection 'Street Sailing' is published by Black Bough.
So much fun to meet online poetry friends 'in real life', and hear them read.
I read a couple of my poems from the Ty Newydd writing retreat a couple of months ago, themed around inheritance, and mermaids!
In a couple of weeks time, on Wednesday 14 June, starting at 7.30pm I will be headlining at the regular Murenger Poetry Night, in Newport. Hosted in a 19th Century pub, my 2x 20 minute sets will be followed by Open Mic sessions - sign ups available on the night. Its always a relaxed, friendly, poetry filled night. Thanks to Alan Roderick for the invite.
I was delighted to be invited by Taz Rahman to be interviewed for the 'Just Another Poet' video interview series, supported by The Books Council of Wales.
Link to my interview here, via youtube.
Taz is a generous and thoughtful interviewer - would highly recommend.
My poem ‘Returning’ will appear in Walk.Listen.Create’s poetry and prose anthology published in April, available here. The accompanying illustrations by Alban Low are so beautiful, I was quite emotional when I saw his interpretation of my poem (about my son) on the page – reverse ekphrastic!
I'm delighted to be reading at an online event hosted by the Museum of Walking, celebrating the publication, on Sunday 24th September. The Sound Walk Stories Sunday: 'Write About Walking' showcase will be hosted by poet and broadcaster, Jake Morris-Campbell.
More details on the events page, tickets available here.
Walk.Listen.Create has announced their 12 piece shortlist for their ‘Walking Home’ writing competition, which I’m very pleased my poem ‘Returning’ has made.
Shortlisted pieces will be showcased during Sound Walk September 2022, on 25th Sept. at a public online event in which the shortlisted authors and poets will be invited to read their work. The judges will be asked to choose their winner and runner up in both the poetry and prose categories, for which the winners will be invited to be a walk · listen · create on-line Poet- or Writer-in-residence for 2022/3.
All very exciting! My poem can be found here.
Delighted to be an online guest for THE festive poetry party this season, hosted by the unequalled Damien B Donnelly from the Eat the Storms podcast. I will be reading a couple of my poems. Tuesday December 14th, 7.30pm. Loads of other wonderful guests too! Free tickets here.
Nikki has revealed the cover of the MumWrite 2021 anthology – such a beauty! Delighted to have a collaborative poem with my lovely writing buddy Emma included, alongside another poem of mine. Thanks and congratulations to all. Looking forward to getting my hands on a copy, and the online launch 16th December, free tickets here.
went live with the exuberant Damien B Donnelly hosting on Saturday 10th July, featuring myself and a host of talented poets, available to listen to now, on just about every podcast platform! Direct link from eatthestorms.com
The wonderful Damien B. Donnelly has invited me onto his Eat The Storms Poetry Podcast (named after his poetry collection) to read a couple of my recent poems. The recording is complete and I’m just waiting to hear the broadcast date. Very excited!
The Poetry Podcast can be accessed through Spotify and most streaming platforms and via the twitter page. This is the 3rd season and all back episodes are available, they really are worth a listen, he has had some great guests and of course, you can hear his own poems too.
On Friday 11th December, Sarah Barr will be launching her new collection ‘January’ via zoom. Sarah will be reading alongside other Maytree Press poets including myself, for a festive night of celebration. I will be reading ‘A reflection on the dreaming collective’ from Maytree’s ‘Green Fields’ anthology. Details here.
The lovely Rhian Edwards (who has a new poetry collection ‘The Estate Agent’s Daughter’ out now from Seren Books) will be hosting a virtual version of the ‘Penned on the Bont’ poetry night, that she usually runs at Carnegnie House in Bridgend, on Friday 15th May 7.30pm on the Carnegnie House facebook page. I’m pleased to be reading a poem ‘Fisherfolk,’ alongside 6 other poetry folk. Link here: Penned on the Bont virtual poetry night
Wales Arts Review Digithon Festival was a 3 day digital arts festival in late March, to raise emergency funds for artists and freelancers who have had their income impacted by Covid-19. The festival included literature, cinema, dance, gigs and art all experienced from the comfort of home.
I was delighted to be asked by the lovely Mab Jones, to record my poem ‘Arcade Hopping’, that I submitted for the Poetry in the Arcades competition (winner yet to be announced), to be broadcast as part of the event. Poetry in the Arcades is a project to produce new poetry works that celebrate the city of Cardiff which are now being displayed publicly in Cardiff’s iconic Victorian arcades, including Castle Arcade, High Street Arcade, Duke Street Arcade, Royal Arcade, Morgan Arcade and Dominions Arcade.
Readers were a selection of Arcade Poets plus a few Poetry in the Arcades competition entrants. In order, they were: Emily Cotterill (funder of Poetry in the Arcades, honorary Arcade Poet!), Angela Graham (competition entrant), Thomas Tyrrell (competition entrant) , Marcelle Newbold (competition entrant), Mab Jones (Arcade Poet) who helped coordinate Poetry in the Arcades , Siân Melangell Dafydd (Arcade Poet), Sarah McCreadie (competition entrant).
The recording can be seen and listened to here:
Black Bough Poetry are hosting a ‘Deep Time Day’ on twitter, and across facebook and instagram, to celebrate the publication of their Deep Time poetry anthologies, volumes 1 and 2. All the poems, musical compositions and artwork, by Rebecca Wainwright, were inspired by Robert Macfarlanes’ ‘Underland: A Deep Time Journey’. Contributors will be sharing their readings, photographs and poems. Poems can also be heard on Soundcloud. Here’s mine, with Rebecca’s artwork:
I read at the Open Mic night, at the Little Man Coffee Shop in Cardiff. About 60 people attended the event with a jazz group and Clare Potter as guest poet. She was mesmerising with her mix of New Orleans jazz singing, Welsh accent and musical poetry. I read three poems, in the open mic section, from late 2018: The mantlepiece; Care instructions; An unremarkable wish. Clare was kind enough to say how much she enjoyed them.
As part of The Dipping Pool anthology launch, we have a reading event as part of the Made in Roath Arts Festival.
A fantastic turn out at Chapter meant the anthology launch was held in the Seligman Theatre. Claire Syder introduced the collection and each of the nine authors read to the audience. It was a lovely event, with a great turn out.
