Manchester! End of All Things Podcast & Bad Language

I had a wonderful week last week, with 2 visits to Manchester - first to read at the amazing Poets and Players science-themed event, with Jemma Borg and David Morley! Video will be available soon.

After the event, Rob Cutforth whisked me and Jo Bell off to a cafe to interview us for his End of All Things podcast. This is the result (the interview begins about 8 minutes in) and involves much giggling, some talk of Ovid, and, perhaps, bits of usefulness about writing, I will leave that to you to judge!




Then, after a trip to London to talk to a very enthusiastic and delightful group of students and staff at South Bank University, back to Manchester to "headline" (what a nice word) at Bad Language, the live lit event I have been eyeing jealously on Twitter each month, wishing I was nearer.

What a fantastic event Fat Roland and Joe Daly create - do get yourself there! There's an open mic, a mix of poetry and short stories, and one headline act in the middle. I had a brilliant time, here's a picture courtesy of David Gaffney:

So, a very active week for me, from which I am now recovering, as we introverts need to. But so lovely that copies of my poetry chapbook are now out in the world, many ordered through my website and posted by me and others bought at the above events. I've had some wonderful responses already, each one unexpected, some by people I don't know and am probably not related to. Joyous, it is!

Nothing Here Is Wild, Everything Is Open

After the most wonderful launch on Friday Feb 12th at the Cork International Poetry Festival - together with Victor Tapner, whose chapbook won 1st prize in the Fool For Poetry competition in which I scooped 2nd prize - I'm delighted to announce that my debut poetry chapbook, Nothing Here Is Wild, Everything Is Open, is published!

Yup, seems I can't deny being a poet any longer, though to reassure all you fiction writers, my adoration for prose is undiminished - let's just say, the love affair with words continues. I really never thought things would take this turn, I feel very lucky and immensely grateful!

Here are a few pics from the launch

I had a great time, can you tell? :) (Thanks to Jill Abram for the photo.)

And here's the gorgeous cover, featuring artwork by Eileen White - a piece I bought from her last year and thought would be ideal for my poems, which are often in some way inspired by science (spot Sir Isaac Newton on there):

The book will shortly be available to buy from the publishers, The Munster Literature Centre's Southword Editions - but if you'd like a (signed) copy, wherever you are in the world, you can buy direct from me - all the information is here, including a sample poem!

Poem in the Irish Examiner!

I just discovered today that one of the poems from my chapbook, Nothing Here Is Wild, Everything Is Open - which is being launched next week at the Cork Poetry Festival! - was published in the Irish Examiner as their Tuesday poem! It's print-only, see below, hopefully it's readable! What a lovely surprise...