PBS Choice – hurray!

I’m so pleased that The Kids is the Poetry Book Society Choice for Autumn 2021, and in great company with titles from Jack Underwood, Raymond Antrobus, Togara Muzanenhamo, Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, Kate Simpson, Jacek Gutorow, Threa Almontaser. The book will be out 16th September

Borderliner

“Borderliner” – my guest editorial for Writers Mosaic is just published – writers respond to the term in multiple ways. Many thanks to all those who contributed: Johnny Pitts, Arji Manuelpillai, Will Harris, Nina Mingya Powles, Pema Monaghan, Jay G Ying and Andy Martinez

Borderliner

Happy to read two poems from The Kids for this new BBC Radio 4 series ‘On Form’…the first episode is on the Sonnet.

Birkbeck Arts Week – conversation with Julia Bell

Birkbeck Arts Week

I had a lovely conversation with Julia Bell from Birkbeck about life writing, truth and the new collection. You can tune in tomorrow 11th May at 6pm

Anti Nazi League Carnival 1994

Happy to share the cover of The Kids, due in September with Bloodaxe. The front over was taken at the ANL Anti Nazi League Carnival in 1994 – my 17 year old self somewhere at the back. Would love to hear from anyone else who was there…

Writers Mosaic – launch event April 28th 2021

Writer’s Mosaic is a very exciting new venture, supported by the Royal Literary Fund to showcase a ‘mosaic of literary voices and cultures across the UK’. Some amazing writers have been involved in this over the last year and a half. Happy to be part of the launch event on Wednesday 28th April. Event details here

A Girl Like You

In solidarity with women everywhere, I’m sharing a poem I wrote a while back, thinking about male violence against women, and how it can happen anywhere

Race, Britain and Diaspora – new interview in Jamaican Observer

I’m delighted to be featured in the Jamaican Observer ‘Bookeneds’ writer interview series, and thanks to Jaqueline Bishop for asking such stimulating questions.

Arji’s Pickle Jar…

.…is a new poetry podcast with a drum n bass soundtrack – featuring Arji Manuelpillai interviewing poets about poems they love. I chose Marie Howe’s ‘What The Living Do’ for this episode, and enjoyed talking about the spiritual and secular, both in life and poetry!