tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-388862302024-02-07T03:13:22.548+00:00my delayed reactionsmy delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-59946324031742264192018-03-02T18:04:00.000+00:002018-09-03T19:10:52.579+01:00York Literature Festival HUB 2018 event, Tuesday, 20th March<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm looking forward to my first event for absolutely ages - at the York Literature Festival HUB. Many thanks to YLF and <a href="http://www.valleypressuk.com/author/66/joanna_ezekiel">Valley Press</a> for supporting the event, which will take place at the Theatre Royal. Free refreshments will be available at the event itself. </div>
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Of course I'm delighted that the popular <a href="https://en-gb.facebook.com/littleapplebookshop/">Little Apple Bookshop</a> in York will also be stocking 'Homecoming' at the theatre and in the shop.</div>
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Booking information is on the <a href="https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/event/homecoming.php#.WpmPdo_XJjo">York Theatre Royal website.</a><br />
All the festival events are <a href="http://www.yorkliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/">here</a> and are booking fast!<br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-6330632123349355402017-12-04T15:31:00.001+00:002017-12-04T15:35:30.607+00:00Helen Cadbury appreciation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I first moved to York I went to a few local poetry events and was always made to feel welcome by hosts and participants alike. Helen Cadbury in particular was very welcoming and we would sometimes meet for tea at the Theatre Royal in between her no doubt productive meetings with theatre and poetry folk. As the years went by we had less time to catch up but did attend each other's book launches and Helen was kind enough to write a review for the back of my novel. She achieved well deserved success with her series of contemporary crime novels set in York. <a href="http://www.allisonandbusby.com/series/sean-denton/">The Sean Denton Series</a><br />
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I was very sorry to hear of Helen's death earlier this year and she is a real loss to the cultural life of York. As Christmas approaches I am thinking of her family.<br />
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Valley Press is launching her poetry collection <a href="http://www.valleypressuk.com/author/76/helen_cadbury">Forever, Now</a> tomorrow night in York. Unfortunately the event is sold out but I will be thinking of Helen, her talent, and her warm welcome for everyone.<br />
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Helen was featured on this blog in 2011 with her poem <a href="http://mydelayedreactions.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/poetry-snapshots-helen-cadbury.html">From the Norse</a>.<br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-79235067481974111732017-09-21T15:39:00.002+01:002018-09-03T19:08:54.866+01:00Summer and autumn round-up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This should really be a spring round-up as well: I've been out of action for much of the year with an injury, and had to cancel guest reader slots at several events, which was a shame. A post about Helen Cadbury is coming soon.<br />
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I did manage to get to <a href="http://yorkspeakerscorner.webs.com/">The Speakers' Corner</a> to take up a guest reader slot that supported <a href="https://www.davidjcostellopoetry.com/">David Costello</a>. A very enjoyable night with great hosting by Andy Humphrey.<br />
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In October I will be guest reader at <a href="https://www.writeoutloud.net/public/eventview.php?eventID=12291&datetime=2017-10-09T00:00">More Poetry</a> in London. I haven't read in London for ages and am very much looking forward to this.<br />
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Ken Champion is one of the hosts of More Poetry. I've written a review on the back of his latest novel, <a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/ken-champion/thrust/paperback/product-23263447.html">Thrust</a>, which is very perceptive about the architectural changes taking place in London. The three main characters are well-drawn and Ken's observations of city life are authentic and original as usual.<br />
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I was delighted to see that <a href="http://www.valleypressuk.com/book/68/homecoming">Homecoming</a> was given a lovely review by Tanya Parker Nightingale in <a href="http://www.dreamcatchermagazine.co.uk/">Dream Catcher Magazine</a>. Many thanks. If you are one of my past or present creative writing students reading this post do check out Dream Catcher, which welcomes submissions of poetry and short stories, as well as artwork, interviews, and reviews.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inside-Out-House-Joanna-Ezekiel/dp/1909357561">The Inside-Out House</a> is still receiving good reviews, which is exciting. I am currently completing my new Young Adult novel, Project Miriam.<br />
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My books are available in a few public and university libraries around the world. I was especially pleased to see a <a href="http://bearcat.baylor.edu/record=b3312840~S10">summary</a> of my 2007 pamphlet 'Safe Passage' in a university library in Baylor, Texas. Always expect the unexpected!<br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-7978757098620358762017-02-15T10:53:00.001+00:002018-09-03T19:10:39.794+01:00Poem on the Algebra of Owls website<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm very pleased to say that one of my poems from 'Homecoming' is up on the excellent Yorkshire-based poetry e-zine <a href="https://algebraofowls.com/2017/02/15/even-though-you-are-where-you-love-by-joanna-ezekiel/">Algebra of Owls</a>. <br />
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Also, 'Homecoming' is available in the<a href="https://bookshop.theguardian.com/homecoming-398631.html"> Guardian Bookshop</a>. I have read more than a few of their recommended books over the years and I'm delighted to be in such good company.<br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-88851851767901802692016-11-21T18:10:00.001+00:002018-09-03T19:11:14.628+01:00Winter update 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been ages! I must say that although I will be keeping up this blog, I am finding Blogger increasingly user-unfriendly, so if you're on Facebook, I also have a regularly updated public <a href="https://www.facebook.com/insideouthouse">'The Inside-Out House' page</a>: I also post my writerly news on <a href="https://twitter.com/joannaezekiel">Twitter</a>.<br />
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Quite a few exciting things have happened in the last few months. Here's a seasonal round-up:<br />
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I'm very pleased to say that 'Homecoming' was reviewed in <a href="http://www.thejc.com/arts/books/159930/itinerary-identity-takes-york-and-pasadena">'The Jewish Chronicle'</a> in July, which featured a great review of my long poem for three voices, 'Bus Shelter':<br />
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<i>Ezekiel's attempt at empathy with a Muslim, as a Jew and a poet, demonstrates passion effectively deployed.</i><br />
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'Homecoming' had a lovely review from Jenny Sharman at new Northern arts site<a href="http://review.cuckoowriters.com/poetry-review-homecoming-by-joanna-ezekiel/"> 'Cuckoo Review'</a>. This was a humbling review, as my poem 'Mary has been invited along to make up the numbers' has reached a new audience: <br />
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<i>From my view, this poem conveys an alternative angle on the pressures and expectations of modern-day society upon young people – something which Ezekiel should be applauded for.</i><br />
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'Homecoming' also had a<a href="https://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=61296"> great review from Ken Champion at 'Write Out Loud'</a>. Ken's new novel 'Noir' is<a href="http://www.pennilesspress.co.uk/"> just out from Penniless Press.</a><br />
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<i>...in this collection she is nearly always “at home”. It is a book to be fond of. Read it. You will read it again.</i></div>
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I had a very enjoyable time reading from 'Homecoming' and 'Centuries of Skin' at York Explore, with a number of local poets, for National Poetry Day, and was delighted to be invited to read at 'Finding the Words' with excellent poets Patrick Lodge and Mary Ann Dearlove, also at York Explore.</div>
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The <i>'The Cross-Stitcher'</i> magazine also featured my poem 'Priceless' and a photo of the cover of 'Homecoming' in its July/August issue, along with a giveaway of a signed copy of 'Homecoming'. I have been cross-stitching for many years, and buy <i>'The Cross-Stitcher'</i> myself, so was very excited to be featured.<br />
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And what about 'The Inside-Out House?'<br />
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I was very lucky to be in my local park on the day that author and journalist, <a href="http://keironpim.co.uk/">Keiron Pim</a>, visited, and ended up in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/aug/13/out-to-grass-local-park-under-threat">his article on local parks</a>:<br />
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As 'The Inside-Out House' is partly set in a local park I am very lucky to have had the book mentioned in his article!<br />
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I'm currently finishing my second novel and am continuing to enjoy teaching creative writing.<br />
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See you all soon.<br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-23074980719175727992016-04-27T14:10:00.002+01:002018-09-03T19:11:37.261+01:00book launch of joanna ezekiel's homecoming<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Perhaps spring - whatever the weather - is the best time of year in which to publish a book. Both of my poetry collections came out in spring. My new poetry collection, <a href="http://www.valleypressuk.com/author/66/joanna_ezekiel">Homecoming</a>, was launched at the Oxfam Bookshop in Micklegate, York, last night. This morning, I saw a rare sight in the back yard - a bumblebee.<br />
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I'd like to thank everybody who attended on a cold night: fellow poets, poetry lovers, family, friends, neighbours (especially Pip).<br />
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Special thanks go to:<br />
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Jamie and Rosa from Valley Press, who are producing <a href="http://emmavalleypress.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/this-week-at-valley-press-coming-and.html">five books in five weeks!</a> I was so delighted with Rosa's introduction that I will be including it in my blog profile. The Valley Press book table was very seductive - with a lovely new Valley Press banner behind it -, and I now have books by Di Slaney, Patrick Lodge, Malene Engelund and Kelley Swain to add to my summer reading list.<br />
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Rosa from Valley Press</div>
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Hamish at the <a href="http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/local-shops/oxfam-bookshop-micklegate">Oxfam Bookshop</a>, who was enthusiastic about the launch from the start, and his wife Sheila, whose room setting advice was invaluable. The bookshop has, among other sections, a large range of poetry books, a children's section, and some great postcards and greetings cards. Also lots of 'Divine' chocolate that I can never resist.<br />
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Amina Alyal</div>
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Oz Hardwick</div>
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Guest readers <a href="http://www.stairwellbooks.co.uk/html/amina_alyal.html">Amina Alyal</a> and <a href="http://www.valleypressuk.com/author/38/oz__hardwick">Oz Hardwick</a>. Both Amina and Oz write poems that you can't sum up in terms of saying easily what they are 'about'. There are usually several surprising and creative connections involved. I am proud to have their endorsements on the back of my book, along with three other excellent poets: <a href="http://www.poetrypf.co.uk/davidcookebiog.shtml">David Cooke</a>, <a href="http://www.fionasinclairpoetry.com/">Fiona Sinclair</a>, and:<br />
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<a href="http://andyhumphrey1971.webs.com/">Andy Humphrey</a>, who also attended. Even though Andy is very busy he took the time to send out an extra email to remind people to attend.<br />
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Terry and Yafa, for the matzos, a kind thought.<br />
And extra special thanks to Chris, Mum and Jon for all their support.<br />
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Chris has taken some great photos, which I think show that the Oxfam Bookshop in Micklegate is a nicely-lit venue.<br />
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If you have a copy of 'Homecoming'... I hope you enjoy it.</div>
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-63153083918378834152016-03-14T14:44:00.002+00:002018-09-03T19:10:28.609+01:00'homecoming' new poetry collection by joanna ezekiel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>Homecoming</i> is available on the <a href="http://www.valleypressuk.com/book/68/homecoming">Valley Press website</a>, and from most online bookshops, including <a href="http://amzn.to/1Stv7vw">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1Nl9RXy">W. H. Smith,</a><br />
<a href="http://bit.ly/1VjtWG8">The Book Depository</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1TNaEav">Waterstones</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1SJWn9C">Blackwell's</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1VwryvY">Wordery</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/20Kxoc1">Foyles, </a>and <a href="http://amzn.to/20w4P2a">Amazon.com in the USA</a>.<br />
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There's a lot of excitement at <b>mydelayedreactions</b> at the moment, as my second poetry collection, 'Homecoming', will be published next month by <a href="http://www.valleypressuk.com/">Valley Press</a>. It's dedicated to my Dad, who sadly died in 2013, and will contain poems written over a period of about ten years, including a Bridport Prize longlisted poem, and the title poem which was the Ryedale Poetry Competition winner in 2012.<br />
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I'll be launching 'Homecoming' at:<br />
<a href="http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/local-shops/oxfam-bookshop-micklegate">The Oxfam Bookshop, Micklegate, York</a>, on Tuesday, 26th April at 7pm. I'm delighted to have poetic support from <a href="http://ozhardwick.co.uk/">Oz Hardwick</a> and <a href="http://research.leedstrinity.ac.uk/en/persons/amina-alyal%28d5515a6e-af54-4f4e-88f6-12c190d4b4c9%29.html">Amina Alyal</a>. The event is free, no need to book, and there will be refreshments available. 'Homecoming' is priced at £7.99. <br />
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I cross-stitched this design of 'Polperro' by <a href="http://www.sybilladavisdesigns.co.uk/">Sybilla Davis Designs:</a> the team at Valley Press did the rest. I can't wait to see this cover on the book itself!</div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-84577744841865285542014-10-23T11:17:00.000+01:002018-09-03T19:11:52.173+01:00book launch of the inside-out house<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
'The Inside-Out House' book launch took place in the lovely café of Waterstones, York. Many thanks to <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/b-a-whitelaw/">Benjamin Whitelaw</a> and <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/97384708@N02/page1/">John Schofield</a> who took photos throughout the evening. Dave at Waterstones introduced the evening:<br />
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Here's me reading from, and talking about, <a href="http://www.indigodreamsbookshop.com/#/joanna-ezekiel/4586130566">'The Inside-Out House'</a> at the start of the event:<br />
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Six local writers supported the event by reading or performing their own fiction. I really enjoyed all of the readings, and so did the rest of the audience!<br />
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<a href="http://stevetoase.co.uk/">Steve Toase</a>...<br />
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<a href="http://yorkspeakerscorner.webs.com/aboutus.htm">Laura Munteanu...</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpyWxVxro54DeUMIl-nJvwtyocIOKEFQLS-0oEUfLuokUQGCeaW5pCweQoGiZH-yIJaIyO-D57LKD7aXKg7gNqs9jVWdV9-pGdj8LaR0RyXNZKI_Q5gHLLAfqiQXoUWZnthylZQ/s1600/laura+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpyWxVxro54DeUMIl-nJvwtyocIOKEFQLS-0oEUfLuokUQGCeaW5pCweQoGiZH-yIJaIyO-D57LKD7aXKg7gNqs9jVWdV9-pGdj8LaR0RyXNZKI_Q5gHLLAfqiQXoUWZnthylZQ/s1600/laura+reading.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://andyhumphrey1971.webs.com/">Andy Humphrey...</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HVA-0KRv0U">Dai Parsons...</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.stairwellbooks.co.uk/html/john_walford.html">John Walford...</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.yorkstoryteller.co.uk/">Helen Sant...</a> <br />
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Also present was <a href="http://helencadbury.com/">Helen Cadbury</a>, who wrote one of the back cover testimonials<br />
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'The Inside-Out House' was the top-selling novel at Waterstones that day, even outselling 'Gone Girl'! Thanks again to everyone who attended, read, bought copies, and made the evening one to remember. <br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-67490121321923542712014-09-22T10:33:00.000+01:002018-09-03T19:12:03.557+01:00official online launch of my novel 'the inside-out house'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today's the day!<br />
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We've got some champagne...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqOMIE3wQJaa30gEOq0Wx4lJYNQdTTC9NPefDeeXIw1IMkx-Onyf3D5zUJWdnSfhSGYLCXEcZihXsR9pUP5KAAkcMHO_D2sImGnBHIN1j3zhV9W8MFTGwPcjoTXb_bjVaJLuITQ/s1600/14970426-splashing-champagne-out-of-glass-isolated-on-white-background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqOMIE3wQJaa30gEOq0Wx4lJYNQdTTC9NPefDeeXIw1IMkx-Onyf3D5zUJWdnSfhSGYLCXEcZihXsR9pUP5KAAkcMHO_D2sImGnBHIN1j3zhV9W8MFTGwPcjoTXb_bjVaJLuITQ/s1600/14970426-splashing-champagne-out-of-glass-isolated-on-white-background.jpg" width="188" /></span></a></div>
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It's been lovely to see so many congratulatory comments on Facebook, and I have received more lovely comments on Twitter, by email and text, over the phone, and in person about my <a href="http://www.indigodreamsbookshop.com/#/joanna-ezekiel/4586130566">novel</a> coming out. There's already been a <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Inside-Out-House-Joanna-Ezekiel/9781909357563">review</a>; thank you, Nina!<br />
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Many thanks go to Ronnie and Dawn at <a href="http://www.indigodreams.co.uk/#/about-us/4536232462">Indigo Dreams</a>, who believed in my novel, to my mum (and dear dad), brothers Marc and Jon, and to Lea, to Joanna Pearl, who took time to read an early version, Pat Livingstone for being constantly encouraging, Liz Newman for her very insightful feedback, and special thanks go to Chris, who has been encouraging me to keep writing for very many years. <br />
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A thank you goes to Ian Hargreaves, who is a prize-winning photographer, for taking my author photo. More of Ian's work can be found <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dark_grey_skies/with/6791776108">here</a>. <br />
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Thanks also to Anne Krisman, <a href="http://helencadbury.com/">Helen Cadbury</a>, <a href="http://www.shantaeverington.co.uk/">Shanta Everington</a>, and <a href="http://stevetoase.co.uk/">Steve Toase</a> - all writers, reviewers, and educators - for their testimonials. Steve's testimonial is at the top of this webpage, and I'm delighted to post the whole of Anne's testimonial here:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 'A house like no other,
with a mystery to tell. A teenager searching for her identity and
looking for answers in her life. Both are drawn together in Joanna
Ezekiel’s engrossing story set in the 1990s and inspired by the
sculptor Rachel Whiteread’s intriguing concrete cast of a Victorian
house.
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The book explores many
difficult life issues with a deft touch; growing up, moving on,
teenage relationships, adults’ rules and racism. The key character
Sam is a feisty but sensitive teenage girl, with the guts to stand up
against bullies but unsure of her growing relationship with Jimi, who
shares her fascination with the House. There are some colourful yet
believable female characters, for example, Wendy the librarian, with
her violet Mini car with its ‘Prince and the Purple Revolution’
banner and the deeply political Aunty Roo.
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The novel moves towards
a powerful conclusion, in a finely written dramatic scene that
reflects the writer’s poetic ability to depict the layers behind
the event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a teenage novel
that is something different, beginning with two young people’s
shared fascination with an ‘inside-out house’ art work. This read
will appeal to deep-thinking teenagers who don’t want to be
stereotyped and put into boxes.'</span> (Anne Krisman)</div>
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Now to the Prize Draw entries! Many thanks to those of you who took time to share photos of your favourite buildings.</div>
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<strong>Anne</strong> visited the Treaty of Versailles on her honeymoon. I can't think of a more romantic place to be!</div>
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<strong><a href="http://www.poetrypf.co.uk/gilllearnerbiog.shtml">Gill Learner's</a></strong> favourite building is Notre Dame la Grande, Poitiers, which is a rarity, as it is painted and patterned inside just as it would have been originally.</div>
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Now to <strong>Kath McCarron Humphrey</strong>. While it was raining and gloomy over here, Kath was on holiday, and she sent me a photo of the Hallgrímskirkja in Iceland! Imagine it with the Northern Lights behind it.<br />
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I went all old-fashioned for the Prize Draw, and pulled names out of a hat. The winner is... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ6l7WiY83GGRhyphenhyphenwoAZB-KwjWz-j68CZ4bYxht0HPUt_qPh7RUPHw7qPEZY70C2NiRX7GVVPUtqz4dkP63Qy_PP48jUUnT9QBf1IdQ3zJwY2ArxcRg8CPYYmJn6hs6MTzP5Nkdg/s1600/thCAM47PBD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZ6l7WiY83GGRhyphenhyphenwoAZB-KwjWz-j68CZ4bYxht0HPUt_qPh7RUPHw7qPEZY70C2NiRX7GVVPUtqz4dkP63Qy_PP48jUUnT9QBf1IdQ3zJwY2ArxcRg8CPYYmJn6hs6MTzP5Nkdg/s1600/thCAM47PBD.jpg" /></a></div>
<strong>Raychel</strong>, with a photo of the Acropolis in Greece!<br />
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Congratulations, Raychel, I'll be sending 'The Inside-Out House' to you very soon!</div>
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-22495268923487159532014-09-16T19:00:00.000+01:002018-09-03T19:12:13.774+01:00anthology launch: how am i doing for time?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The monthly 'Poems, Prose, and Pints' event has been running in Harrogate for five years, which is no mean feat. I had a lovely evening as guest reader there a few years ago, and am now looking forward to reading their anthology, 'How am I doing for time?' <br />
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It is available from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-doing-time-years-Poems/dp/1500717207/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410890534&sr=8-1&keywords=how+am+i+doing+for+time">Amazon</a>, and the launch of the anthology is this Wednesday, September 17 at the Tap and Spile, Harrogate. It's also been publicised in the <a href="http://www.wetherbynews.co.uk/what-s-on/out-about/poetry-prose-pints-celebrates-fifth-birthday-1-6838520">local newspaper</a>:<br />
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I wish Tim Ellis, Nicola Everill (who wrote the foreword) Robbie Burns (the amazing cover artist)and all the contributors the very best with the anthology.<br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-29093639583349414442014-09-10T11:20:00.001+01:002018-09-03T19:13:56.694+01:00book promotion: ken champion's novella <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I <a href="http://mydelayedreactions.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/book-reviews-ken-champions-urban.html">reviewed Ken Champion's short story collection and selected poems</a> last month, and am pleased to announce that his new novella, 'The Dramaturgical Metaphor' is <a href="http://www.pennilesspress.co.uk/books/PPP.htm">published by The Penniless Press</a>, priced at 7.99. I'm looking forward to reading it! For more of Ken's work, have a look at his author <a href="http://kenchampion.wordpress.com/">site</a>. Penniless Press are good at choosing covers that suit their authors' themes and images, and this book is no exception.<br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-30876508566193725402014-08-29T14:36:00.000+01:002018-09-03T19:13:04.534+01:00book review: fiona sinclair's write me into bed with casanova craft<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iDnBvngwHlAGzUTGufW49TEgriv4C2Mtndh3214lOTV8L2CAy9XfHfV3zT_Fry8BgfLSlh69NE6QSfX04U2N2iaIvgePXNp9Gaa7SC3fDJc9ptZ7RVDODEoipIuhpHAnti8JgA/s1600/Fiona%20Sinclair%20front%20cover%20small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iDnBvngwHlAGzUTGufW49TEgriv4C2Mtndh3214lOTV8L2CAy9XfHfV3zT_Fry8BgfLSlh69NE6QSfX04U2N2iaIvgePXNp9Gaa7SC3fDJc9ptZ7RVDODEoipIuhpHAnti8JgA/s1600/Fiona%20Sinclair%20front%20cover%20small.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.fionasinclairpoetry.com/">Fiona Sinclair's</a> new pamphlet is published by<a href="http://thesamsmith.webs.com/originalpluschapbooks.htm#934472944"> 'Original Plus'</a> Publications, which I think is an apt description for the kind of writing that this publisher brings out, and Fiona's does not disappoint. As in her previous collection, <a href="http://www.indigodreamsbookshop.com/#/fiona-sinclair/4565843463">A Game of Hide and Seek</a> (Indigo Dreams, 2012), Fiona writes with fearsome honesty abut expectations and appearances. Here, she takes us on a journey through internet dating:<br />
<br />
'I search through <em>my matches</em> past Kray twin lookalikes,<br />
married men wearing tell-tale dark glasses...'<br />
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<em>(Internet dating)</em><br />
<br />
These wry snapshots are interspersed with poems that poignantly explore the poet's relationships with both her parents, particularly her mother. Other poems look, with the same imaginative precision, at pets, proms, and clocks. <br />
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I particularly liked the realisations that the memories that stay longer in our minds are not necessarily the ones we expect to remember:<br />
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'For years, dreams familiar as TV repeats, <br />
not of the boy, but the jilted A'levels.'<br />
<br />
<em>(Unfinished Business)</em><br />
<em></em><br />
These are insightful and compassionate poems.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Fiona Sinclair, <em>write me into bed with Casanova craft</em>, Original Plus, Cumbria, 2014<br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-83067244307398831392014-08-26T11:29:00.003+01:002018-09-03T19:13:21.552+01:00publication of the inside-out house<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">'With
'The Inside-Out House' Joanna has elegantly written a humane story
that fuses together poetry, family secrets, and magic in the urban
landscape.' </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Steve
Toase</i></span></span></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedgjeqPR6twiMo0K-0FUfdr3jUfvnJ2zufj1I8HJclko0K2Am80jaCOux6xNVBLuw7hGZ3Z_NqRv0r6AMvf8-ylW7n5WbSXvouPxS2N42mgTpY5TYQg3j_ReiQo5h8YISWmVPfg/s1600/Bv5TufcCYAAHgtC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedgjeqPR6twiMo0K-0FUfdr3jUfvnJ2zufj1I8HJclko0K2Am80jaCOux6xNVBLuw7hGZ3Z_NqRv0r6AMvf8-ylW7n5WbSXvouPxS2N42mgTpY5TYQg3j_ReiQo5h8YISWmVPfg/s1600/Bv5TufcCYAAHgtC.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
To celebrate my novel, 'The Inside-Out House', <a href="http://www.indigodreamsbookshop.com/#/joanna-ezekiel/4586130566">being published next month</a>, I'm offering one FREE copy in a prize draw. <br />
<br />
The 'House' of the title is pretty much a main 'character' in the novel, so if you'd like a chance to enter the prize draw, and are 12 years old or over, send me your photo, (or a photo of your drawing or painting) of your own favourite building. You will then be automatically entered into the prize draw. <br />
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All photos will appear on my blog as a 'blog post special' on the publication date of 22nd September, so you'll be published, too!<br />
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My email is <a href="mailto:delayed_reactions@yahoo.co.uk">delayed_reactions@yahoo.co.uk</a>, or if you are already my friend on Facebook, you can contact me there. As I get a lot of spam emails, please send your work in the body of the email itself, rather than in an attachment, if you can, between now and the 20th September. Good luck!<br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-18657554786719150362014-08-12T13:53:00.002+01:002018-09-03T19:13:33.127+01:00book reviews: ken champion's urban narratives and cameo metro<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've been a fan of <a href="http://kenchampion.wordpress.com/">Ken Champion's</a> work for quite a while now, and have enjoyed his collected stories and poems in these two publications. The titles and cover photos alone tell you quite a lot about his themes and images.<br />
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In<em> <a href="http://www.pennilesspress.co.uk/books/urban_narratives.htm">Urban Narratives</a></em>, the compelling descriptions of (mostly) urban landscapes - trains, cafes, parks, streets, graveyards, cinemas, plus kitchens and poetry readings - ground the restlessness and defiance of Ken's characters. This allows him to explore the themes of social mobility, death, relationships, and coping with the unexpected reactions of others: <br />
<br />
'she, in a department store, disappearing, and him, unguarded, panicking, intellectually knowing that it was the child in him being left by mummy - no emotions are new'<br />
<em>(Fracture)</em><br />
<br />
There are thirty stories in this collection. Around half of them feature the recurring character of James Kent, a psychoanalyst who questions his choice of profession: these are interspersed with stories told from other points of view. My personal favourites were 'The Beat Years' and 'Educating Rita', which could both have had escapist endings for Chris, the narrator, but consciously didn't, which made them all the more authentic.<br />
<br />
The beauty of a short story is that it doesn't have to tie up every loose end, and several of the stories contain coincidences that leave us wondering. They often contain hard truths:<br />
<br />
'the equation being that if he looked fit and tanned then he wouldn't age, ergo, wouldn't die. It was a subject he'd never studied: the psychology of death.'<br />
<em>(Lay Preacher)</em><br />
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<em><a href="http://www.pennilesspress.co.uk/books/cameo_metro.htm">Cameo Metro</a> </em>contains new poems, and poems from Ken's previous collections, African Time (Tall Lighthouse, 2002), Cameo Poly (Tall Lighthouse, 2004), and <a href="http://www.tall-lighthouse.co.uk/p_ken-champion.html">But Black and White is Better</a> (Tall Lighthouse, 2008). There are six sections, each on a different theme: <em>City</em>, <em>African</em>, <em>Retro</em>, <em>Americana</em>, <em>Theatre</em>, and <em>Rewind</em>. Ken is very good at writing about frustration and broken promises, often with dark humour, and this is a poet who understands the value of phrasing, especially how to use punctuation, line endings, and enjambment to increase tension.<br />
<br />
I'm already looking forward to Ken's new publication. <br />
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Ken Champion, Urban Narratives, The Penniless Press, Preston, 2013.<br />
Ken Champion, Cameo Metro, The Penniless Press, Preston, 2013.</div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-83625584968516121492014-08-08T15:30:00.000+01:002018-09-03T19:14:30.007+01:00book review: shanta everington's drowning in cherryade<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://bedouinbooks.com/cherryade" rel="attachment wp-att-2234" target="_blank"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-2234 alignleft" src="https://bedouinbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bb-apc12-cover-231x300.jpg" height="400" width="308"></a></div>
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This is an A6 size,
fifteen page pamphlet, just right for slipping into a pocket or a
handbag. The lively cover is pink and bubbly, contrasting with the
mention of drowning. Many of the ten poems in this collection have been
previously placed in competitions or published in respectable
magazines.
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<a href="http://www.shantaeverington.co.uk/poems.php">Shanta</a> is also a novelist for young adults, and as well as poems about family, relationships, and
motherhood, she explores teenage friendships and crushes to show how
private moments often take place in public:</div>
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'...I cut the others
off</div>
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and wait till they walk
out laughing, to take you to the counter.'</div>
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<i>(Shrine to Justin)</i></div>
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Some of the titles,
'Old Dear', 'Girl's World,' also present us with everyday images that
are subverted imaginatively in the poems:
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'I make toffee apples
of her cheeks,
</div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
her eyes a crinkly
purple like fading bruises'</div>
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<i>(Girl's World)</i></div>
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<a href="http://bedouinbooks.com/cherryade/">Bedouin Books</a> is an
American publisher, and from this British reviewer's perspective,
there is a new vein of fresh poetic voices in the States at the
moment, such as Alison Stine, Jordan Davis, and Edward Nudelman. Like
these poets, Shanta takes situations that appear ordinary to the
casual observer, and floods them with intensity and intimacy, often
using longer lines and enjambment to keep us in the moment. </div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The poem
'Aquatic Alice', in fact, could be a fitting description of how
Shanta's imagery look closely at the reality of a situation:
</div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
'... Be still. She</div>
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has something to say.'</div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>(Aquatic Alice)</i></div>
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<br />
Shanta's poetry
chapbook is this year's well-deserved winner of the Bedouin Books annual
chapbook competition.</div>
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<br />
Shanta Everington, Drowning in Cherryade, Bedouin Books, Winconsin, 2014.<br />
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-64716125878869727012014-07-19T14:17:00.001+01:002018-09-03T19:14:51.262+01:00recommended poetry collections<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've enjoyed reading these poetry collections recently:<br />
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Angela France, <em>Hide</em>, Nine Arches Press, 2013.<br />
Oz Hardwick, <em>An Escatological Bestiary</em>, Dog Horn Publishing, 2013.<br />
Sarah James, <em>Be(yond)</em>, Knives Forks and Spoons Press<em>,</em> 2013.<br />
Steve Nash, <em>Taking the Long Way Home</em>, Stairwell Books, 2013.<br />
Christopher Nosnibor, <em>From Destinations Set</em>, Clinicality Press, 2011.<br />
Ian Parks, <em>The Exile's House</em>, Waterloo Press, 2012.<br />
Miles Salter, <em>Animals</em>, Valley Press, 2012.<br />
Angela Topping, <em>Paper Patterns</em>, Lapwing, 2012.<br />
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<br />
Thank you to all these poets who have worked so hard to give so much of themselves to their readers. Just to say also that I can't accept any books for review from now on, as I've fallen behind with the ones that I already have (these will appear in August). And if I've got hold of your book over the last few months I'll mention it in a new post later on this year. </div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-13140698933295030972014-06-27T11:58:00.000+01:002018-09-03T19:15:08.710+01:00book launch: don walls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you're in York on Tuesday, July 8th, come along to the launch of the new book by York's Poet Laureate, <a href="http://donwalls.weebly.com/">Don Walls</a>, published by the tireless <a href="http://www.stairwellbooks.co.uk/">Stairwell Books</a>... I would book early, as Don is a very popular poet! I'm delighted to be among the cast of supporting writers and musicians.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rgdiV8mY8UwssfnaBYcn-29abyu6sQREyhVE1ERvIzAfWRgUY0XVJ5zEPL1kSPX1T9JNkcy0hTNzaovvw-Vxk0NfLpW8t0BAQbtTglKIST25q1c3ggvS-nHjucuxMoYtkFRazA/s1600/don+walls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rgdiV8mY8UwssfnaBYcn-29abyu6sQREyhVE1ERvIzAfWRgUY0XVJ5zEPL1kSPX1T9JNkcy0hTNzaovvw-Vxk0NfLpW8t0BAQbtTglKIST25q1c3ggvS-nHjucuxMoYtkFRazA/s1600/don+walls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Stairwell </b></span></span><span style="font-family: "papyrus" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Books</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "papyrus" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">present</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>: </b></span></span> </div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>A BOOK LAUNCH</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tuesday 8 July 2014</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "cooper black" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Don Walls </b></span></span></span> </div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Somewhere Else</b></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Basement</span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">City Screen, York </span></span> </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>7.30 for 8 pm</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">£3 entry, book available at discount</span></span></div>
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<br />
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Supported
by Oz Hardwick, John Gilham, Philippa Blakey, </b></span></span>
</div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dave
Gough, Helen Sant and Joanna Ezekiel </b></span></span>
</div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Musical
guests Toni Bunnell and Sarah Dean</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>
</b></i></span></span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Don
Walls is York’s Poet Laureate. Please celebrate his latest
collection. </span>
</div>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Come
early to grab a signed copy!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><a href="http://www.stairwellbooks.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">www.stairwellbooks.co.uk</span></span></a></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus" , cursive;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span></span>
</div>
</div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-1206676475422431112014-06-19T11:38:00.001+01:002018-09-03T19:15:19.819+01:00book launch: andrew brown's skydive: leaping from the ledge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="fsl">I always enjoy hearing Andrew Brown's stories, and as he is also from Essex, some of the locations he uses are familiar to me. I'm delighted to be supporting him at his York book launch next week: he has already had successful launches and readings in Harrogate. Here are more details: </span></div>
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<span class="fsl"><a href="http://www.stairwellbooks.co.uk/html/andrew_brown.html">Stairwell Books</a> present: </span><br />
<span class="fsl">A BOOK LAUNCH</span><br />
<span class="fsl">Wednesday 25 June 2014</span><br />
<span class="fsl"><br /></span>
<span class="fsl">Skydive: Leaping from the Ledge<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> by Andrew Brown<br /><br /> The Black Swan (home of the York Folk Festival)<br /> Peasholme Green<br /> York<br /> YO1 7PR<br /><br /> 7.30ish for 8 pm<br /><br />£5 for book, music, readings<br /><br /> Supported by <br /><br /> Bob Horton and Katy Marshall (they're on......FIRE)<br /> Mark Connors<br /> Tim Ellis<br /><br /> and others, dependent on bribes. No, kidding. <br /><br /> Andrew Brown is well known for his stories: poignant, hilarious, spooky, edgy, always observant. Here, a range of tales, some new, some familiar, with a dash of poetry too.</span></span></div>
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my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-11279772874094137052014-06-15T12:03:00.003+01:002018-09-03T19:15:32.574+01:00father's day 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My beloved father died nearly a year ago. Here is a link to my poem 'Dad is building' published in 'Iota' in 2004:<br />
<a href="http://poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=14202">http://poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=14202</a></div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-51839332918914802292014-04-29T15:54:00.001+01:002018-09-03T19:15:54.337+01:00book review: andy humphrey's a long way to fall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://andyhumphrey1971.webs.com/">Andy Humphrey's</a> first collection, 'A Long Way To Fall' was published by <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/lapwingpoetry/">Lapwing Press</a>, in 2012. Andy runs the monthly poetry event 'Speaker's Corner' in York, and he understands the value of an arresting start to a poem:<br />
<br />
'They snatched me out of swirling sea'<br />
<br />
(The Mariner's Return)<br />
<br />
'It's the sugar I can't stand'<br />
<br />
(Sugar)<br />
<br />
This 60-page collection is a good example of the importance of editing, redrafting, and not rushing into publication. Every poem has earned its place, and it feels like a collection that draws together different themes. Many poems are narrative poems, written in the first person, and a strong mythical thread, that encompasses past and present, runs throughout the collection:<br />
<br />
'He didn't get as far as Valinor.<br />
Instead, he put ashore at Birkenhead,<br />
and discovered rock and roll.'<br />
<br />
(I Know Where Gandalf Lives Now)<br />
<br />
There are also poems that describe, with great imaginative precision, personal experiences involving love, travel, and loss:<br />
<br />
'I tell you about the tea shop<br />
with the higgledy-piggledy floor<br />
where the waitress mixed up the Lapsang Souchong <br />
and I sketched the flowery lady in the hat.'<br />
<br />
(Bringing Back Poems)<br />
<br />
I hope we won't have to wait for too long for Andy's second collection.<br />
<br />
</div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-34028898690101701762014-04-23T17:04:00.000+01:002018-09-03T19:16:14.010+01:00poetry snapshots: claudia jessop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjes0R-XZu2jxDOHzmcA5KkwCSup9hJWIwgz4SP68ESrwEgE28Iu18pk4QINifVXe5hUs-i_0W55YJ_gUpS9HNJdNV9ngucsbs98CmeJatibIisWHHc79cWYKKlHfluJoRnWqX_5Q/s1600/Brittany+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjes0R-XZu2jxDOHzmcA5KkwCSup9hJWIwgz4SP68ESrwEgE28Iu18pk4QINifVXe5hUs-i_0W55YJ_gUpS9HNJdNV9ngucsbs98CmeJatibIisWHHc79cWYKKlHfluJoRnWqX_5Q/s1600/Brittany+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Love
Poem, with Obsolete Technology </span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">1</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rotary,
manual,</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">the
round drag of days,
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">the
sliding feed of paper</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">round
the cylinder, under the bar,
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">the
bar like a horizon,</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">the
paper like the sea.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
rubber stamp’s stamp,
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">the
wrapping in brown paper
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">of
precious weight</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">secured
with string,
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">with
thumb-pulled knots.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
circle of the postmark,
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">of
the watchface,
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">of
the dial.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
watermark’s grave echo.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This
photograph in a frame, on a desk</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">will
stabilise, set free.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">You
stand
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">against
a backdrop of the sea.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But
once I have written you down,
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">you
will pose, eyes heavenward,
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">like
a matinee idol,</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">publishing
your smiles.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">My
poem of you
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">will
create artificial conditions</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">as
if for a fish to live
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">outside
water, stretching breath</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">in
raw air.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
small machines of words</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">will
cut your perfect shape: you will look up,</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">right
at me</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">not
like one long gone, not like one</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">failing
to be delivered,</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">leaving
no mark.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Claudia Jessop lives in Hackney with her husband, son and daughter. She works in a library, runs poetry and reading groups for children, and conducts research into local history. Some of her articles have been published on the Hackney Society's </span><a href="http://hackneysociety.org/health"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">website</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This year Cinnamon Press published her second collection, </span><a href="http://www.cinnamonpress.com/product-item/looking-for/"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Looking For</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">. Her first collection, also from Cinnamon, was </span><a href="http://www.cinnamonpress.com/this-is-the-woman-who/"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is the Woman Who </span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(2009). She has published poetry in several magazines and has had poems and short stories placed in several competitions. You can hear her reading one of her poems at the Poetry Magazines </span><a href="http://www.poetrymagazines.org.uk/magazine/record.asp?id=25642#"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">website</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm very much looking forward to reading Claudia's new poetry collection, and couldn't resist posting a photo of the beautiful cover, which, I think, works very well with Claudia's beautiful poetry:</span> </div>
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</div>
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</div>
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3784" style="font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3784" style="font-size: 10pt;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3783" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span>
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<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3784" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3783" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><img src="https://www.cinnamonpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Looking-For-web.jpg" height="734" width="474"></span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3784" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3783" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3781"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3869" style="font-size: 10pt;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3868" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3867" style="font-size: 20pt;"><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3866"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="yiv1129309909MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1398268236055_3877">
<br /></div>
</div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-51404931244033202972014-04-23T15:56:00.000+01:002018-09-03T19:16:37.914+01:00poetry snapshots: david cooke<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I always enjoy reading new poems by David Cooke, and hope to see more from him in the future. We're very lucky to see one of his new poems, <em>Pilgrims</em>, here. Thanks, David! He has recently had poems published in <em>The Cortland Review</em> and <em>London Grip Poetry Review</em>, and on websites The Screech Owl and The Dock, with a forthcoming poem in the <em>Irish Literary Review. </em>David's excellent latest poetry collection, Work Horses, is available from <a href="http://www.wardwoodpublishing.co.uk/titles-poetry-david-cooke-work-horses.htm">Ward Wood Publishing</a>, and he also has a page on the <a href="http://www.poetrypf.co.uk/davidcookepage.shtml">poetry pf site.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>PILGRIMS</b></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>for
Ziyad, Tamim & Rafiq</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When the day has come,
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
you will make a journey
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
to the city of Mecca.
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Each of you a pilgrim</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
dressed in white,
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
you will cast the
stones
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
that set you free</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
from Shaitán, the evil
one.</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Circling the Ka’aba</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
you will feel around
you</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
the crowd surging</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
like a river in spate;</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
and though it’s a
distance</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I cannot travel,</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
the scallop shells</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
on my school badge</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
made me a pilgrim too</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
like those who had
tramped</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
to the far-flung shrine
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
of Santiago
</div>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
de Compostela</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-106324593446950132014-03-31T08:56:00.000+01:002018-09-03T19:16:57.836+01:00poetry snapshots: shanta everington<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10854"><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10853" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14pt;">Debut poetry chapbook from Shanta Everington</span></b><br />
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10856" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 24pt;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10855" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">Shanta Everington’s debut poetry chapbook, <em><span style="font-family: "arial";">Drowning in Cherryade, </span></em>is published this month by US-based independent publisher, bedouin books, after winning their annual poetry chapbook competition.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBsEvTzuFka8sGi0p2KZ3rcKleVqgbZgnaMblLbjblQOqKJ_XX-xVPN88wTLsHX4DXe8-4yywz9W49oYlrVM_zxIgfmq-_DEDzQncM6I_a66cAlbCB7d7YOmXr2m_Fvy8lJNw9g/s1600/bb-apc12-cover-231x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBsEvTzuFka8sGi0p2KZ3rcKleVqgbZgnaMblLbjblQOqKJ_XX-xVPN88wTLsHX4DXe8-4yywz9W49oYlrVM_zxIgfmq-_DEDzQncM6I_a66cAlbCB7d7YOmXr2m_Fvy8lJNw9g/s1600/bb-apc12-cover-231x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">Editor Michael D'Alessandro says<i>, ‘Drowning in Cherryade</i> conjures candy-colored scenes of youth mirrored in an examination of memories. Overwhelmed by first experiences, the poems are at once told with a resignedness to their outcomes, while maintaining a perspective of awkward fumbling for an anchor. This parallax affect helps complete the pictures presented here with a quick wit, a rooted voice and a few playful surprises.’</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">Excerpt:</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">To Die For</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">Half a packet of raindrops and</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">as much ice cold water as</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">you can drink for your body</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">to warm up and burn. He</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">pinches half a millimetre </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">of flesh on my ribs and says,</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">You need to take better care</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">of yourself, my dear. I peer</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">through the veil of my fringe and </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10832" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10831" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">nod my head three millimetres, </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">picturing my picture in the papers.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">I can be ready in a week. I peek</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">at the tick next to my name.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10834" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10833" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">Next. My smiling eyes roll</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">down over the twigs of my toes</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">and all the way to the park where</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">I will perform a hundred star jumps </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">and remember how your skin</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10846" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10845" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">used to shine when you laughed.</span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10844" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10843" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">For you understood it was important.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">***</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv8971378197MsoNormal" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10835" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10840" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">Shanta has an MA in Creative Writing with Distinction from MMU and teaches Creative Writing with The Open University in London. In addition to <i id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10839">Drowning in Cherryade</i>, she has published three novels and two non-fiction books. Visit <a href="http://www.shantaeverington.co.uk/" id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10848" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span id="yui_3_13_0_1_1396251851795_10847" style="color: #0066cc;">http://www.shantaeverington.co.uk</span></a></span></div>
</div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-14280369037048727402013-12-20T17:17:00.001+00:002015-08-31T11:36:24.387+01:00special feature: steve toase<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm looking forward to co-hosting Speaker's Corner at the Golden Ball in York on Tuesday, 8th January, where Steve Toase will be the guest reader. Here are a few highlights from Steve's busy year:<br />
<br />
Steve was commissioned to write fiction as part of 'Runs on the Board', a celebration of over-fifties cricket in Yorkshire: his fiction appears on the <a href="http://www.runsontheboard.co.uk/commissions/fiction-by-steve-toase/">website</a>, in collaboration with Lucy Carolan's <a href="http://www.runsontheboard.co.uk/commissions/photography-by-lucy-carolan/">photography</a>: their work now appears in a beautiful hardback <a href="http://www.runsontheboard.co.uk/the-book/">book</a>, and is being exhibited at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Leeds.<br />
<br />
This December, I've enjoyed reading a daily piece of flash fiction by Steve on his<a href="https://www.facebook.com/stevetoase1"> Facebook writer's page.</a><br />
<br />
Read more of Steve's work on his very nicely presented <a href="http://www.stevetoase.co.uk/">website</a>, where you'll also find news of his growing number of writing successes.<br />
<br />
</div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38886230.post-16999090273444711612013-11-08T09:22:00.003+00:002018-09-03T19:17:27.791+01:00book review: in the moors by nina milton<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Even though I have a tendency to skip to the end of crime novels to find out 'whodunnit' (or, in this case, whether two of the characters get together) I resisted this impulse when I began reading 'In the Moors', and subsequently could not put this book down.<br />
<br />
Sabbie is an engaging character with an unusual profession: she is a shaman who is drawn into a police case involving one of her own clients. Her concern for her client, and her determination to keep hold of her intuition, even at the expense of her own safety, was completely absorbing.<br />
<br />
'Perhaps because I was thinking of rabbit holes and strange, reversible worlds ... I started at the end,' Sabbie says. Nina Milton has also given her readers the challenge of making associations between beginnings and endings, present and past, children and adults, memories and facts, speech and silences.<br />
<br />
At one point, a wise character says, 'Everything connects'. Small everyday details are hugely significant here: bicycle wheels, eggs, nicknames. I found the characters - animal, spirit, human - convincing, and the various settings either warm and lively, or haunting. <br />
<br />
In the end, Sabbie's search for understanding reminds us how our childhood experiences influence how we live as adults and how we make sense of the world.<br />
<br />
Find out more about Nina on her <a href="http://kitchentablewriters.blogspot.co.uk/">highly popular blog</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/In-Moors-Shaman-Mystery-Mysteries/dp/0738738360">'In the Moors' is published by Ink Press.</a></div>
my delayed reactionshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045178160456552900noreply@blogger.com1