As anyone who follows EIF will most likely be aware, it has been a busy year full of wonderful publications, to which I have dedicated a great deal of time, energy and enthusiasm. Anyone who has followed this blog for a long time, however, will know how much I enjoy writing poetry myself. Somehow, I... Continue Reading →
And this year’s Pushcart nominees are…
... Drumroll... Nick Reeves, for his poems “On Framwellgate Bridge In Late December;” “I Whispered;” and “Sonnet (Bus To Dungeon Ghyll),” from the collection Archery in the UK (EIF, February 2023) and Marlene Lee, for her short story "Virgie" from the collection Inner Passage (EIF, October 2023). Congratulations and best of luck to both nominees!... Continue Reading →
Inner Passage is published today!
Congratulations to author Marlene Lee on the publication of her short story collection, Inner Passage, today. You can get your copy on Amazon, at Barnesandnoble.com or Waterstones.com. If you are lucky enough to live close to Columbia, Missouri, Marlene will be launching the book in person at Skylark Books on 14 November. For those of... Continue Reading →
COP 28 (The Sultan’s Got His Hat On)
The Sultan's got his hat on,(Hip-hip-hip, hooray!)his presidential hat onat the conference today And we've all got the gas onthat's how it's going to stayit's freezing here, but have no fearthe heat is on its way... If all developed nationscan have their wicked waythey'll get the poorer nations hooked on oil and gas - hooray! There's... Continue Reading →
‘Watershed’ – reading from To Catch A Poem
Today's reading is a poem called 'Watershed.' I explain a bit about the poem's composition in the video below. I have received the proof of the poetry pamphlet now, and am very excited about the look and feel of the finished product! Watch this space for more readings and background in the run-up to launch... Continue Reading →
Marlene Lee celebrates the release of Inner Passage!
Author Marlene Lee has been out on the road promoting her short story collection, Inner Passage, which was published by EIF last month. First stop was the Boone County History and Culture Center, where she gave a reading to an appreciative audience and signed copies of her book. Then there was the book's in-person launch... Continue Reading →
‘Winter’s Margin:’ reading from To Catch a Poem
Today, I would like to present a short reading from my forthcoming pamphlet, To Catch a Poem. I wrote 'Winter's Margin' around this time last year, and, once again, it seems appropriate to the season. There are references to Wordsworth's 'Intimations of Immortality’ and Blake's 'Book of Thel’ woven into the poem. https://videopress.com/v/jEndZHml?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
Uncovering Roman Carlisle
Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to visit excavations of the Roman bath complex under Carlisle cricket ground, before they were covered over at the end of the dig. One of the archaeologists gave a fascinating tour of the site. Here is what I learned... About the bath complex The complex was discovered in... Continue Reading →
A poem I wish I could write
You are a poem I wish I could writeby the light of the moon, while you’re holding me tight;in the sweet hours of dawn, huddled close to your skinthis is how we begin, this is how we begin… You are the magic on Midwinter's eveand the prayer for redemption in which we believein the darkest... Continue Reading →
Like Fire
Like fireLike flame Like waterLike breathing Like faithLike hopeLikeSomething to believe in Like ashLike rubbleLikeRuins of a city Like slaughter Like laughterLikeDrowning, absolutely Cease fireCease firePleaseEvacuate civilians This ireLike fireHas alreadyMurdered millions