Perhaps it is my southern hemisphere background, but I find it hard not to feel gloomy in the cold, dark, dreary months of northern winter.
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A Paean to Penteract Press
In early spring a book arrived that I had been eagerly anticipating. Atomic Masquerade by Clara Etherin did not disappoint. Witty, exuberant, layered and innovative, this visual poetry collection is full of delights, from brooding palimpsest portrayals of Dracula and Frankenstein to the vivid pair of asemic sonnets “Heaven & Hell” – written in collaboration with AI – with which the book concludes.
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Bounded by the urban conglomerations of Amsterdam, Leiden, Rotterdam and Utrecht, the Groene Hart (Green Heart) of the Netherlands is a flat, relatively sparsely populated landscape of fields, woods, canals, lakes and villages. Nature is managed here with care and skill: in spring and summer the verges are bright with wildflowers, and there’s an abundance of birdlife. It’s a beautiful area for walking and cycling, or for trying out some of the numerous water sports on offer.
Continue readingThe space within the nutshell
I was fortunate, when studying English Literature at A-Level, to have an inspirational teacher. Lynne Ruscoe was only a few years older than we were, full of energy and enthusiasm, with an engaging smile and a lively sense of humour. We read Chaucer and John Donne, John Keats and Gerald Manley Hopkins, Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy, and – of course – Shakespeare. Hamlet was one of our set texts and I vividly remember the emotional impact the play had on me, especially these lines from Hamlet’s ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy:
Continue readingLove for the art form: An Interview with Satya Bosman and Catherine Balaq of Black Cat Press
Based in southeast England, Black Cat Press was founded in 2022 by Satya Bosman. In the space of a little over two years, the press has established a reputation for publishing exquisitely produced collections by talented emerging writers, with an emphasis on nature and eco-poetry. I had the pleasure of speaking to Satya and her co-editor Catherine Balaq about the joys and challenges of independent poetry publishing, their own poetry, and forthcoming projects.
Continue readingOf Sky and Earth and Other Things
In our corner of southeast England, we were treated last week to a spectacular display of nacreous clouds. I had occasionally observed nacreous clouds during the years I lived in Aberdeen in Scotland, but this was the first time I’ve seen them so far south. Their iridescence provided a glow of joy in what has been a bleak time.
Continue reading“Twelve writers writing” – My Twelve Books of Christmas 2023
There is something delightfully wacky about the familiar Christmas carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. From its opening gift of a partridge in a pear tree to the concluding twelve drummers drumming, the lyrics have a pleasingly cumulative effect. It’s a fun counting song for children, but there’s also a great deal going on poetically – surprising images, interesting juxtapositions, alliteration, assonance, half-rhyme, structural repetitions, and clever metrical variations.
Continue readingStep into an adventure: An Interview with Katy Naylor of the Voidspace
Two years ago an exciting new online journal made its appearance on the literary scene. Uniquely, the voidspace focuses on interactive arts: the website itself is an invitation to dive in and explore through a series of alluring portals. I spoke to founding editor Katy Naylor about the voidspace, her sources of creative inspiration, her poetry, and her plans to set up a new press.
Continue readingVisual poetry with teeth: An Interview with James Knight of Steel Incisors
Described by Astra Papachristodoulou as “one of the most exciting voices in visual poetry today”, James Knight is an experimental poet, artist, performer and the founding editor of Steel Incisors Press. I’ve long been an admirer of his work, so was delighted when James agreed to an interview with me. We discussed contemporary visual poetry, the projects he’s currently working on, and what the future holds for Steel Incisors.
Continue readingAnything could happen – An Interview with Dan Power of Trickhouse Press
Last year I had the pleasure of writing a blurb for Machinations, the brilliant exploration of Alan Turing’s life and creativity by JP Seabright and Kinneson Lalor. The book is published by Trickhouse Press, an imprint I hadn’t come across until then. Founded in 2020 by Dan Power, Trickhouse Press has an exuberant energy and sense of adventure that is reflected in the variety of its catalogue. As part of my on-going series of editor interviews, I spoke to Dan about the press and his own poetry.
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