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New Year’s Day couldn’t have begun better for me. I went on a lovely, long moorland walk with my husband in drizzle and fog (yes, I love this sort of weather!). While we were out I discovered to my delight that two of my poems had been published in  the January issue of Snakeskin – thank you George Simmers!

Also on January 1st, I was excited to receive a message from poet John McCullough (@JohnMcCullough) who contacted me about my poetry, and tweeted my poem ‘January’ with some very nice comments. Thank you John! Congratulations to you for your collection, ‘Reckless Paper Birds’, on the Costa shortlist.

What a heart-warming start to 2020!

It’s the end of the year and in just a few hours the start of a *new* decade. It’s tempting simply to look forward but I’m thinking it’s also good to look back at the past year and be thankful for the positive things (whilst not ignoring the stresses and disappointments of 2019!).

My poetry has appeared in many places this year and these include some new for me: in ezine ‘Ink, Sweat and Tears‘ (thanks to Helen Ivory); in ‘Pondweed’ published by Greenteeth Press; in ‘The Mechanics’ Institute Review 16: the Climate issue‘, and in  the Live Canon 2019 Anthology.

Looking ahead, I am delighted to be included in the forthcoming ‘The Best New British and Irish Poets 2019’ published by Eyewear.

New, talented writers have joined Wimborne Writing Group which is flourishing and I am so looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2020 – for more fabulous creative writing!

Happy New Year to all!

What a lovely long sunny summer it’s been! I spent some time in Northern Spain which was great. I chose to travel by sea rather than air and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Now autumn is definitely in the atmosphere and I’m returning to my blog, writing classes and other related writing activities feeling refreshed. I’ve continued writing poetry over the summer but have taken some breaks from my computer.

I had a great time at the Mechanics’ institute Review 16 party in London a few days ago. I’m thrilled to have my poem ‘Swans on the Vltava River’ in this climate issue. There are some wonderful stories and poems in the review and I feel in good company. I met fiction writer Elizabeth Baines at the launch party – her story, ‘Dreaming Possibility’, with a visionary protagonist – is a must-read.  The cover of the book and the artwork inside brilliantly complement all the writing. It is a thought-provoking and inspiring collection and, of course, completely topical with its focus on weather, climate and the future. I have another climate/weather poem to be published shortly in the Live Canon anthology – more news about that later.

Hasta luego!

As part of Wimborne Literary Festival, I’m delighted to be offering a writing workshop on prose poetry and flash fiction. So whether you are a fiction writer or poet, or both, there’s something for you! We will be looking at connections between these two forms, studying some examples, and doing our own writing. This workshop is suitable for established writers and also beginners. I hope it will be an enjoyable and inspiring afternoon. Tuesday 14th May 2-4pm at Allendale House, Hanham Road, Wimborne. Tickets on sale at Gullivers Bookshop.

I’m thrilled that my poem, Fog, has been placed 1st in the National Memory Day Poetry Competition. You can read about the competition, see photos, and hear the winning poems on the website as the winners were announced earlier today. National Memory Day is a charity I wholeheartedly support. I’ve seen at first-hand the pleasure and comfort that poetry can bring for people unfortunately experiencing various aspects of memory loss.

I’m delighted to have joined the Poetry pf community  It’s a great website with a listing of 300 poets, information about events and competitions, and many fab poems. I can  thoroughly recommend it.

Victoria, owner of the antiquarian bookshop Black Pug Books, has taken me on as writer in residence over the autumn and winter months! I will be at the bookshop on Fridays  once a fortnight 10am-1pm, starting with this Friday, 21st September. The idea is that I will do some writing inspired by the atmospheric house, the wonderful books and the people who visit. I will also be available to talk to visitors about  their own writing. This could be a great way to revive your writing skills and find inspiration!  If you would like me to read and comment on a short piece you’ve written, prose or poetry, please bring it to the bookshop on Friday (if possible, bring 2 copies) and I will do my best to read it and give you my thoughts. Or you may need to talk about your creative writing in a more general way and, if there’s time, I will be happy to do that. If more than one person turns up I may ask you to  return at an agreed time during the morning. While you wait, you will be able to browse the fabulous collection of books at Black Pug Books, 24 West Borough, Wimborne.

CINNAMON SHORT STORY WRITERS reading from The Cinnamon Review of Short Fiction 

In the company of 8 other writers, I will be reading from The Cinnamon Review of Short Fiction in London on 13th September. Please join us for the evening!

Thursday, 13 September, 2018 @ The Music Room, 49 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3HZ. 7 p.m. The readers for the evening will be: Tamsin Hopkins, Jane McLaughlin, Omar Sabbagh, Jez Noond, Kate Mitchell, Isabelle Illasera, Sarah Barr, Diana Powell, and Mark Williams.