I’ve been spending my October in a truly delightful place – Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden, North Wales. ‘Gladstone’ as in William Ewart Gladstone, four times Prime Minister, resident of Hawarden and an avid gatherer of books. The library houses his own collection, plus many books collected in his particular areas of interest: theology, history and…

A month or so ago I was asked some questions by a creative writing student from the University of Bolton, Sophie Adams.  I’ve done some guest lecturing at Bolton over the last few years and so it’s really good to be able to help the students out. As it turns out, Sophie’s questions were hugely…

I’m really pleased to be sharing this poetry film of my poem ‘The Dark Museum’ from Near Future. The film was made by Helen from Elephant’s Footprint and the process of making it was really interesting too. When Helen initially told me that she wanted to use this poem, I was a bit worried because it’s actually…

Oh how I wish I could add a little rocket emoji to that heading. Last week saw the launch of Near Future at DINA Venue in Sheffield. It mostly felt like a party. I was lucky enough to have my lovely publisher Jane Commane from Nine Arches Press on hand to sell books, and Jane…

So something very exciting happened yesterday and I can now show you the cover for my forthcoming first collection, Near Future, which will be available from  Nine Arches Press in November 2018. Look:  I originally thought I’d like some futuristic architectural drawings in the style of Archigram but it was very hard to get permissions for…

I perhaps should have posted about this a little sooner, my apologies… BUT last week Nine Arches Press announced their 2018 publishing list and as you can perhaps see from the graphic above, I am included in that list. It is a delightful thing to be able to say that my debut poetry collection, Near Future,…

Read the call for submissions on the Emma Press website and SUBMIT YOUR POEMS! I’m really excited to be working with the amazing Emma Press, whose themed and illustrated anthologies are such things of beauty, as well as dry-witted fellow apocalyptician (that’s a mixture between apocalypse and magician and I’m not sure it works) Tom…

I’ve added two new May workshops to my Forthcoming Page today. I’m excited about these as they’re both something new – working amongst the trees with the Friends of Brincliffe Edge  Wood in the area of Sheffield where I live, and running my first workshop for the shiny new Treasures Gallery at Leeds University. Check them…

I will be reading with the other members of the 2015 Aldeburgh Eight at this event at the Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden, London on 27th February, starting at 7.30pm. Come and hear the eight poets chosen by The Poetry Trust for its week long residential seminar last November, part of the 2015 Aldeburgh Festival. Poet and seminar co-leader…