Mid-June Writers’ Retreat

A small number of places remain on Writers' Retreat UK's June retreat in Lincolnshire. Having been on a number of retreats now, I know just how stimulating and rewarding - and productive! - such retreats can be. You can find details of the retreat here.

Trying to build something…

I have been wondering how I would answer if someone asked me what I was up to - in a literary sense, of course! In the broadest sense I think I am trying to build something, firstly in relation to my own writing, and secondly with Coverstory books. In many respects the second is easier … Continue reading Trying to build something… →

“Walking Thru’ Fire” Podcast update

I have now published six episodes to my Walking Thru' Fire podcast. Four of these comprise selected readings from some of my poetry collections: Walking Thru Fire (podcast introduction)Collected Poems, 1979-2016Human ArchaeologyPunctuations from History There are also two extracts from my non-fiction work Shrapnel from a Writing Life. I plan to add a new episode … Continue reading “Walking Thru’ Fire” Podcast update →

“The Kids”

Well, I couldn't not read it... After all, a poetry book winning the Costa Book of the Year..! When did a poet last win?! (ans. '99 & '96 Seamus Heaney, '98 & '97 Ted Hughes) I needed to know what all the fuss was about. Well, there are some great poems in Hannah Lowe's "The … Continue reading “The Kids” →

About open mics…

I have decided I need to reconsider my relationship to the 'Open Mic' i.e. to adjust not only my expectations of what I should expect to get from such events, but what I should contribute too. I might as well say it straight out: Open Mics have nothing to do with good writing. Don't get … Continue reading About open mics… →

A walk around my writing space…

I thought I'd take you on a brief tour of my writing space: https://videopress.com/v/Qpde066u?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true And in case you wondered where all the novels are - or some of them anyway...

The perils of sitting down

I have hurt my back. Yesterday, while stretching before going for a run, I managed to tweak it a little - and today I'm in agony. Ever since I damaged it a few years ago, my back has always been my weak spot. I suspect we all have them, somewhere that fails first and fastest … Continue reading The perils of sitting down →

New Podcast!

I have just started a brand new Podcast in which I will pull together readings from my various collections of poetry, some short stories, and potentially the serialisation of some of my longer fiction. The Podcast is called 'Walking Thru Fire' and can be found by following the link.

After-words – a reading

https://videopress.com/v/QV0wDQGC?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true You can find all my readings on my YouTube channel This will be my last reading for a while. You've suffered enough!! I'm toying with the idea of a podcast; that way I can offer longer pieces in format what is more appropriate for such endeavours. I might even think about serialising a much … Continue reading After-words – a reading →