York Literature Festival HUB 2018 event, Tuesday, 20th March

I'm looking forward to my first event for absolutely ages - at the York Literature Festival HUB. Many thanks to YLF and Valley Press for supporting the event, which will take place at the Theatre Royal. Free refreshments will be available at the event itself.

Of course I'm delighted that the popular Little Apple Bookshop in York will also be stocking 'Homecoming' at the theatre and in the shop.

Booking information is on the York Theatre Royal website.
All the festival events are here and are booking fast!

Poem on the Algebra of Owls website

I'm very pleased to say that one of my poems from 'Homecoming' is up on the excellent Yorkshire-based poetry e-zine Algebra of Owls.

Also, 'Homecoming' is available in the Guardian Bookshop. I have read more than a few of their recommended books over the years and I'm delighted to be in such good company.

Winter update 2016

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 'The Inside-Out House' page: I also post my writerly news on Twitter.

Quite a few exciting things have happened in the last few months. Here's a seasonal round-up:

I'm very pleased to say that 'Homecoming' was reviewed in 'The Jewish Chronicle' in July, which featured a great review of my long poem for three voices, 'Bus Shelter':

Ezekiel's attempt at empathy with a Muslim, as a Jew and a poet, demonstrates passion effectively deployed.

'Homecoming' had a lovely review from Jenny Sharman at new Northern arts site 'Cuckoo Review'. This was a humbling review, as my poem 'Mary has been invited along to make up the numbers' has  reached a new audience:

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.

'Homecoming' also had a great review from Ken Champion at 'Write Out Loud'. Ken's new novel 'Noir' is just out from Penniless Press.

...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 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.

The 'The Cross-Stitcher' 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 'The Cross-Stitcher' myself, so was very excited to be featured.

And what about 'The Inside-Out House?'

I was very lucky to be in my local park on the day that author and journalist, Keiron Pim, visited, and ended up in his article on local parks:

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!

I'm currently finishing my second novel and am continuing to enjoy teaching creative writing.

See you all soon.

book launch of joanna ezekiel's homecoming

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, Homecoming, was launched at the Oxfam Bookshop in Micklegate, York, last night. This morning, I saw a rare sight in the back yard - a bumblebee.

I'd like to thank everybody who attended on a cold night: fellow poets, poetry lovers, family, friends, neighbours (especially Pip).

Special thanks go to:

Jamie and Rosa from Valley Press, who are producing five books in five weeks! 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.

Rosa from Valley Press

Hamish at the Oxfam Bookshop, 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.

Amina Alyal

Oz Hardwick

Guest readers Amina Alyal and Oz Hardwick. 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: David Cooke, Fiona Sinclair, and:

Andy Humphrey, who also attended. Even though Andy is very busy he took the time to send out an extra email to remind people to attend.

Terry and Yafa, for the matzos, a kind thought.
And extra special thanks to Chris, Mum and Jon for all their support.

Chris has taken some great photos, which I think show that the Oxfam Bookshop in Micklegate is a nicely-lit venue.

If you have a copy of 'Homecoming'... I hope you enjoy it.

'homecoming' new poetry collection by joanna ezekiel

Homecoming is available on the Valley Press website, and from most online bookshops, including Amazon, W. H. Smith,
The Book Depository, Waterstones, Blackwell's, Wordery, Foyles, and Amazon.com in the USA.

There's a lot of excitement at mydelayedreactions at the moment, as my second poetry collection, 'Homecoming', will be published next month by Valley Press. 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.

I'll be launching 'Homecoming' at:
The Oxfam Bookshop, Micklegate, York, on Tuesday, 26th April at 7pm. I'm delighted to have poetic support from Oz Hardwick and Amina Alyal. The event is free, no need to book, and there will be refreshments available. 'Homecoming' is priced at £7.99.

I cross-stitched this design of 'Polperro' by Sybilla Davis Designs: the team at Valley Press did the rest. I can't wait to see this cover on the book itself!

book launch of the inside-out house

'The Inside-Out House' book launch took place in the lovely café of Waterstones, York. Many thanks to Benjamin Whitelaw and John Schofield who took photos throughout the evening. Dave at Waterstones introduced the evening:

Here's me reading from, and talking about, 'The Inside-Out House' at the start of the event:

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!

Steve Toase...

Laura Munteanu...

Andy Humphrey...

Dai Parsons...

John Walford...

Helen Sant...

Also present was Helen Cadbury, who wrote one of the back cover testimonials

'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.

official online launch of my novel 'the inside-out house'

Today's the day!

We've got some champagne...

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 novel coming out. There's already been a review; thank you, Nina!

Many thanks go to Ronnie and Dawn at Indigo Dreams, 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.

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 here.

Thanks also to Anne Krisman, Helen Cadbury, Shanta Everington, and Steve Toase - 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:

       '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.

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.

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.

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.' (Anne Krisman)

Now to the Prize Draw entries! Many thanks to those of you who took time to share photos of your favourite buildings.

Anne visited the Treaty of Versailles on her honeymoon. I can't think of a more romantic place to be!

Gill Learner's 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.

Now to Kath McCarron Humphrey. 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.

I went all old-fashioned for the Prize Draw, and pulled names out of a hat. The winner is...

Raychel, with a photo of the Acropolis in Greece!

Congratulations, Raychel, I'll be sending 'The Inside-Out House' to you very soon!

anthology launch: how am i doing for time?

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?'

It is available from Amazon, and the launch of the anthology is this Wednesday, September 17 at the Tap and Spile, Harrogate. It's also been publicised in the local newspaper:

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.

book promotion: ken champion's novella

I reviewed Ken Champion's short story collection and selected poems last month, and am pleased to announce that his new novella, 'The Dramaturgical Metaphor' is published by The Penniless Press, priced at 7.99. I'm looking forward to reading it! For more of Ken's work, have a look at his author site. Penniless Press are good at choosing covers that suit their authors' themes and images, and this book is no exception.

book review: fiona sinclair's write me into bed with casanova craft

Fiona Sinclair's new pamphlet is published by 'Original Plus' 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 Game of Hide and Seek (Indigo Dreams, 2012), Fiona writes with fearsome honesty abut expectations and appearances. Here, she takes us on a journey through internet dating:

'I search through my matches past Kray twin lookalikes,
married men wearing tell-tale dark glasses...'

(Internet dating)

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.

I particularly liked the realisations that the memories that stay longer in our minds are not necessarily the ones we expect to remember:


'For years, dreams familiar as TV repeats,
not of the boy, but the jilted A'levels.'

(Unfinished Business)

These are insightful and compassionate poems.



Fiona Sinclair, write me into bed with Casanova craft, Original Plus, Cumbria, 2014

publication of the inside-out house

'With 'The Inside-Out House' Joanna has elegantly written a humane story that fuses together poetry, family secrets, and magic in the urban landscape.' Steve Toase

To celebrate my novel, 'The Inside-Out House', being published next month, I'm offering one FREE copy in a prize draw.

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.

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!

My email is delayed_reactions@yahoo.co.uk, 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!

book reviews: ken champion's urban narratives and cameo metro



I've been a fan of Ken Champion's 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.

In Urban Narratives, 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:

'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'
(Fracture)

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.

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:

'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.'
(Lay Preacher)

Cameo Metro contains new poems, and poems from Ken's previous collections, African Time (Tall Lighthouse, 2002), Cameo Poly (Tall Lighthouse, 2004), and But Black and White is Better (Tall Lighthouse, 2008). There are six sections, each on a different theme: City, African, Retro, Americana, Theatre, and Rewind. 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.

I'm already looking forward to Ken's new publication.

Ken Champion, Urban Narratives, The Penniless Press, Preston, 2013.
Ken Champion, Cameo Metro, The Penniless Press, Preston, 2013.

book review: shanta everington's drowning in cherryade

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.

Shanta 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:

'...I cut the others off

and wait till they walk out laughing, to take you to the counter.'

(Shrine to Justin)

Some of the titles, 'Old Dear', 'Girl's World,' also present us with everyday images that are subverted imaginatively in the poems:

'I make toffee apples of her cheeks,

her eyes a crinkly purple like fading bruises'

(Girl's World)

Bedouin Books 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.

The poem 'Aquatic Alice', in fact, could be a fitting description of how Shanta's imagery look closely at the reality of a situation:

'... Be still. She

has something to say.'

(Aquatic Alice)

Shanta's poetry chapbook is this year's well-deserved winner of the Bedouin Books annual chapbook competition.

Shanta Everington, Drowning in Cherryade, Bedouin Books, Winconsin, 2014.

recommended poetry collections

I've enjoyed reading these poetry collections recently:

Angela France, Hide, Nine Arches Press, 2013.
Oz Hardwick, An Escatological Bestiary, Dog Horn Publishing, 2013.
Sarah James, Be(yond), Knives Forks and Spoons Press, 2013.
Steve Nash, Taking the Long Way Home, Stairwell Books, 2013.
Christopher Nosnibor, From Destinations Set, Clinicality Press, 2011.
Ian Parks, The Exile's House, Waterloo Press, 2012.
Miles Salter, Animals, Valley Press, 2012.
Angela Topping, Paper Patterns, Lapwing, 2012.


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.

book launch: don walls

If you're in York on Tuesday, July 8th, come along to the launch of the new book by York's Poet Laureate, Don Walls, published by the tireless Stairwell Books... I would book early, as Don is a very popular poet! I'm delighted to be among the cast of supporting writers and musicians.

Stairwell Books present:

A BOOK LAUNCH

Tuesday 8 July 2014

Don Walls

Somewhere Else

The Basement

City Screen, York

7.30 for 8 pm

£3 entry, book available at discount

Supported by Oz Hardwick, John Gilham, Philippa Blakey,

Dave Gough, Helen Sant and Joanna Ezekiel

Musical guests Toni Bunnell and Sarah Dean

Don Walls is York’s Poet Laureate. Please celebrate his latest collection.

Come early to grab a signed copy!

www.stairwellbooks.co.uk

 

book launch: andrew brown's skydive: leaping from the ledge

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:

Stairwell Books present:
A BOOK LAUNCH
Wednesday 25 June 2014

Skydive: Leaping from the Ledge...
by Andrew Brown

The Black Swan (home of the York Folk Festival)
Peasholme Green
York
YO1 7PR

7.30ish for 8 pm

£5 for book, music, readings

Supported by

Bob Horton and Katy Marshall (they're on......FIRE)
Mark Connors
Tim Ellis

and others, dependent on bribes. No, kidding.

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.

book review: andy humphrey's a long way to fall

Andy Humphrey's first collection, 'A Long Way To Fall' was published by Lapwing Press,  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:

'They snatched me out of swirling sea'

(The Mariner's Return)

'It's the sugar I can't stand'

(Sugar)

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:

'He didn't get as far as Valinor.
Instead, he put ashore at Birkenhead,
and discovered rock and roll.'

(I Know Where Gandalf Lives Now)

There are also poems that describe, with great imaginative precision, personal experiences involving love, travel, and loss:

'I tell you about the tea shop
with the higgledy-piggledy floor
where the waitress mixed up the Lapsang Souchong
and I sketched the flowery lady in the hat.'

(Bringing Back Poems)

I hope we won't have to wait for too long for Andy's second collection.

summer/autumn round-up 2011

A round-up of what I've been up to in the writing world recently.

July: Guest reader at a lovely event at the Oxfam Bookshop
Guest reader at the popular and very busy Speaker's Corner
Article published in Jewish Renaissance about visiting India

August: Guest blogger on Andrew Oldham's website
Poem 'A week in the life' published on ink-sweat-and-tears

September: Hm, September was quiet

October: Enjoyed being guest reader and workshop leader at Buzzwords, Cheltenham
Poem 'Alibaug' in Jewish Renaissance
Review of Bobby Parker's 'Digging for Toys' appeared in Reach with a review of Deborah Harvey's 'Communion' due to appear in the November issue, and a 'Jobspot' feature for NAWE due in their next magazine

I also had two poems 'Sari and Chapattis' and 'Dawn Poems' commended in the Leaf Books Poetry Competition
My OU and OCA tutoring is happily continuing.

It's good to make occasional lists like this to remind yourself that lots of interesting things are in fact happening, because you sometimes feel you're shouting into the wind. And there are worse things than shouting into the wind.

the launch of 'Centuries of Skin'

There were about 50 of us in total. Friends, family, friends of family, fellow poets, partners, older children, local writers and one of my lovely students all came along to the Valentines Mansion on Sunday to help me celebrate the launch of 'Centuries of Skin' as part of the Redbridge Book and Media Festival 2010.

I was very lucky to have my launch in the Drawing Room of the 17th century Valentines Mansion in Gantshill. It was a beautiful venue, with its trailing vine wallpaper, Juliet balcony, and Queen Anne perspex chairs.

I wore my tried and tested grey dress, and read from 'Centuries of Skin' for twenty minutes. Then I enjoyed all the poems from the special guest readers.

It didn't rain, the cava and apple juice flowed, and although the event itself finished at 6.45, many of us stayed on till 8.

Thank you to everyone who came along, and special thanks to Chris, to Pat Livingstone who provided the wonderful music inspired by the island of Iona, to photographer Jen who is now going through dozens of photos, to Bob Mee from Ragged Raven Press for his introduction, poem and book table, to my special guest readers Christopher James, Shanta Everington, Adrian Green, Tim Cunningham, Ken Champion, Juli Jeana, and Anne Welsh, and to Shermain at Redbridge Council who worked so hard and was a great host.

My cousin Anne called it 'glorious'. Yes, I think it was.

bobby parker's 'pictures of screaming people'

I was lucky enough to get to write a blurb for Bobby Parker's pamphlet collection, published by Erbacce Press, 'Pictures of Screaming People'.

'These poems are heartbreakingly honest moments of loss and survival, full of fine rhythms, surprising humour, and ambitious imagery. A powerful new voice.'

It won't disappoint.