I'm beyond delighted that my short story, The Red Suitcase, is included in Best British Short Stories 2021 edited by Nicholas Royle and published by Salt Publishing. The Red Suitcase was originally published as a limited edition short-story chapbook by Nightjar Press in October 2020, but is now sold out. Over the last few weeks I've been …
Category: reading
June Review
June was a busy and rewarding month for me. The Wandsworth Heritage Festival, postponed from last year, kicked off at the end of May, and on the third of June Joolz Sparkes and I gave an online reading from our co-authored poetry collection London Undercurrents. We'd chosen poems that related in one way or another …
a run of knock-backs & keeping going
Despite the pandemic, last year was a pretty good year for me in terms of publication acceptances and other creative projects. This year, so far, has felt like a drought. I've submitted to quite a few magazines and not had a single acceptance. I've applied for numerous paid opportunities and, bar two or three, not …
I wanted to be Nancy
On World Book Day, I'm remembering one of my most mortifying school experiences. It was my first year in secondary school, Melbourne, the winter term, 1975. There was a day excursion, though to where I can't now remember, and we didn't have to wear school uniform. For some reason I decided I was going to …
afternoon dip
Not the swimming kind of dip unfortunately. I quite often feel low, veering towards anxious, after lunch. Even after a good morning at my desk. So I am trying to develop the habit of sitting quietly on the bed after lunch, and reading for half an hour or so. I'm not a napper - if …
starting the day with a poem
For some time now, Nick and I have taken it in turns to read a poem aloud before we get up. I'm not quite sure when this habit started, and we don't stick to it every day, but more often than not now we start the day with a poem. Sometimes I've read from The …
End of November round-up
Wowee. I've been busy. I sat down yesterday morning and began a list of things I've been up to since I last blogged: Words for the Wild - I've had two poems published on this beautiful site, as part of their autumn 'Fruit' themed issue. I love the mix of poetry and fiction, and the …
National Poetry Day Vibes
I woke up yesterday morning thinking about National Poetry Day, which is next Thursday 3rd October. I'm going to a reading the night before, but had nothing planned for the day itself, and wasn't aware of anything happening locally. And then I thought why don't I do something myself? Something that wouldn't take too much …
Three readings, a workshop, a virus and a Fun Day
That was my May, and I'm still recovering. I eased into the month with a double reading at Loose Muse on 8th May. In the first half, Joolz Sparkes and I read from our joint collection London Undercurrents, recently published by Holland Park Press. Over the five or so years that we've been working on …
Continue reading Three readings, a workshop, a virus and a Fun Day
crazy May
My month ahead, I mean, not the Prime Minister. No, no, no. May is looking a bit crazy for me, but I'll get through it. Scratch that. I'll ENJOY it! (Thanks, Joolz, for the 'be more dog' tip!) First up, on Wednesday 8th May, Joolz Sparkes and I are featured readers at Loose Muse, London’s …
Hilaire 