news blog

On Wednesday 9 September I travelled to Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea to talk to Swansea and District Writers' Circle about poetry, my process, themes I explore in my work, editing, and that the Universe has a praise kink! 

It was a lovely evening, with a warm audience and some very interesting questions.  Shout out to @scarlettigerpress, @poetrywales, @blackboughpoetry, @walklistencreate, @aurora_metro, @endof_theworldpublishing and @the_weesparrow_poetrypress - who have published the work I read and talked about on feminism, inheritance, the sacred everyday, hopepunk, and of course Jane Austen at a raucous party.

I’m looking forward to judging their writing competition on the topic I set of ‘hope punk’. 

I’ll be reading on 25 July at 8pm, in Porthcawl, at the last Sustainable Wales/Cymru Gynaliadwy Green Room of summer alongside Merryn Hutchings, and new music from Richard Thomas and Peter Morgan. Open Mic slots available, come along! 

Many thanks to Robert Minhinnick and Sustainable Wales for the invitation.

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A great evening was had at the online launch of The Scottish Centre for Geopoetics latest journal issue 'Stravaig 16'.  It was a joy to host the event with poets, essay writers and artists sharing their work and process, as well as hearing from the journal editors and Norrie Bissell, the Centre's Director.

I also had a poem included in the issue. Stravaig 16 is available free, online here.

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Ticket are now live for Cheltenham Poetry Festival in person events 7-17 May 2025.  I'll be reading at an online event, date coming soon.  Many thanks to Anna Saunders and team for the slot. 

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Fancy a re-introduction to poetry? I've been asked to host a session on Monday 27 Jan, 2pm, at Lisvane Library, Cardiff. Come along and be reacquainted! More details below. Register at the library or via their Facebook page. Donations to the library welcome. I'm really looking forward to the afternoon.

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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.

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On Tuesday 8 October, 7.30pm I will be talking poetry, place and publishing as part of Rhiwbeina Hyb's Author Series. Tickets are available here on or the night. 

Fabulous poetry weekend in Wales. 

Lake swimming and writing near Builth Wells, and the epic Black Bough Poetry Party in Neath.

I've started a new notebook, for a new project, centered around my practice as an architect, which is VERY EXCITING as well.

Its been a very busy month attending works shops and book launches for talented friends!  

Taz Rahman and Zoe Brigley from Seren held a joint night at Tiger Bay Poetry in Cardiff Bay, reading from their most recent collections and holding an interview section which I always enjoy.

Jonathan Edwards was feature poet at the 100th Murenger poetry night in Newport, hosted by the unmatchable Alan Roderick.

As part of #These3Streams Festival the lovely Mab Jones held her 'bog witch' book launch, which is a prose collection about wetlands, witchcraft and memoir, which was fantastic. Followed by a very calming writing workshop by the wonderful Clare Potter at a nearby church. 

And Jen Feroze launch of 'Tiny Bright Thorns' from Nine Pens with Mary Ford Neal guest reading,

Wonderful evening at the online launch of Black Bough's 'In flight' edition, which I guest edited.  It was lovely to host over 30 poets who read their poems from the anthology and the open as mic as well.  I shared the selection process, talked emerging themes, companion artwork, flight, and poetry in the time of global conflict.  

Thanks to Matthew MC Smith for arranging and intro-ing. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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On Tuesday 31 January I've been invited to give a poetry workshop to each of the three Year 4 classes. They have already been learning about acrostic poetry, rhyme, personification and alliteration, this year and last - so I will need to be on the ball!  

I will be introducing and exploring the haibun form with them - an interesting joining of prose and structured poetry.

Their topic this term is 'My Rhiwbeina' - so we will be writing about a favourite place, using all the senses. 

Saturday 22th October 2022

As part of Cardiff Writers Circle 75th celebrations, I ran a 'Getting into Print' in person workshop at Cardiff Central Library, supported by Literature Wales. It was a successful afternoon, with productive discussions around 'literary citizenship', editing and publishing. 

Geopoetics Wales - Geopoetic Adventures - Snowdonia – open access. 

On Saturday 10th September 2022, 11.00 - 16.00 The Scottish Centre for Geopoetics will host a day out: Geopoetics Wales - Geopoetic Adventures, exploring the local Snowdonian lead mines, with an expert guide, starting from Betws-Y-Coed.

Marika Gates is a geologist working for the Coal Authority, she will be with us throughout the day, Marika is a project manager on the Welsh Metal Mines Programme. She has a degree in geology, a Masters in Environmental Geology and 16 years of environmental consultancy experience; the majority in contaminated land assessment. 

We are delighted to be hosting the first event in Wales, more information is available, and a free place can be reserved, via Eventbrite, or by emailing marcellenewbold@gmail.com.

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 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

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.