My new poetry collection Grey Time had its real world launch on Thursday 10th July at Bar Marzanos in Norwich.It was a lovely event, with guest readings from Helen Rye, Stuart Charlesworth and Ramona Herdman. George Szirtes said some very lovely things about my writing that brought a tear to my eye, Natty Peterkin manned […]
This week saw the cover reveal for my forthcoming poetry collection Grey Time. This is my fourth collection, and like my other three will be published by Nine Arches Press. The official publication date is 3rd July 2025. The artwork was made by designer/musician Natty Peterkin The book is now available for pre-order over at […]
I was absolutely delighted to be commissioned by The National Centre for Writing to write a poem for National Living Wage week. Living Wage is a subject dear to my heart. I have worked many low paid jobs over the years and I know what a massive difference a living wage would make. You can […]
CAFE WRITERS POETRY COMPETITION 2024 IS NOW OPEN Closing Date 30th November 2024 (Midnight GMT) PRIZES 1st £1000 2nd £300 3rd £200 Five Commended Prizes of £50 Norfolk Prize £100 For the best poem from a permanent Norfolk resident not winning another prize. ENTRY FEE £5 per poem; or £13 for 3 poems & £4 […]
Sun Daddy believed that the world was small When the world knocked at his door Sun Daddy put his head under the pillow and shouted go away. Every few weeks the world knocked and Sun Daddy shouted, and so it went on for years. Sometimes when Sun Daddy was at work Moon Mother invited the […]
I set the ALICE-TRAP at the top of the stairs hoping to trip her up and wait behind the top banister: squeezed between the wooden rails and the paraffin heater – which is off of course – we only use it in winter. Alice is a long time coming so I count spiders and then […]
This is is an email course starting on Friday 5th July and running for four weeks. We will be looking at poems that are based around myths, fairytales and other pre-existing works (e.g. The Bible) and also how to create our own poems based on them or ones that seem mythogical. Each week there will […]
The small stuff – finding beauty and inspiration in the everyday. Saturday 13th April, 2024 10.30am -1pm Zoom This workshop will look at finding inspiration in the things around us – e.g. objects, the domestic, work, our neighbourhood, people around us etc. We will look at some poems and use a variety of techniques to […]
I was all arms and legs and panic and no one could stop my river bursting its banks. Things were getting smashed and I was powerless to stop it. No one had explained to me what to do when the big winds came, first the tiles lifted clean off the roof and dumped themselves at […]
I will be re-running my Poetry of Loss email course starting on 10th March 2023. This course will look at poetry about, and relating to, loss of all types – loss of home, partners, health, environment, belongings etc. And of course we will also look at death and bereavement, however there is always more than […]