Book Launch – The Magnetic Diaries – By Sarah James

I was delighted in February when Sarah James asked if I would read at the book launch of her 3rd collection, The Magnetic Diaries, published by KFS Knife Fork and Spoons Press.

I read alongside Maggie Doyle, Ruth Stacey, Jenny Hope, her daughter Lissy Hope and Fergus McGonigal (Worcester Poet Laureate), it was also a DAN (Arts Network) evening out. An enjoyable time was had by all at Park’s Café, Droitwich.

It was interesting to see how a collective of poets interpreted the theme ‘timely poetry’ too.

I arrived after being in the city with WWM writers group and it was a great day in my poetry skin. I met most of the local poets at a Book Launch for ‘Be[yond]’ in September 2013 and have not looked back since, this launch felt like a full circle of some kind.

It was good to hear Sarah talk about the background of the book and read selected poems from the collection. I loved the way she chose to do this. Quotations written on  paper were selected by the audience (like a raffle) and then found in the book and read. It was a creative way and brave way to perform.

Here are some photographs of the evening.

 Fergus McGonigal

 Maggie Doyle

 Jenny Hope

  Nina Lewis

and Sarah James

I realise this is not a very detailed review of the event, I have added related links – I urge you to check them out, local newspaper articles and Sarah’s own blog reveal more about the background of this new collection.

Buy your copy of The Magnetic Diaries here:

http://www.knivesforksandspoonspress.co.uk/magneticdiaries.html

Sarah James – The Poet

Sarah James is extremely busy at the moment, she has a collaborative collection published with Angela Topping, ‘Hearth’ Published by Mother’s Milk Books. You can catch them at the Cheltenham Festival this weekend or SpeakEasy next month, 12th May where they are headlining.

‘Next on my event list now is not The Magnetic Diaries but the launch of Hearth, a collaborative pamphlet with Angela Topping, at Cheltenham Poetry Festival later this month.’ © Sarah James 2015

Sunday, April 26 – Hearth, the collaborative pamphlet between Sarah James and Angela Topping, will be launched at Cheltenham Poetry Festival in a Mother’s Milk Books reading and panel Q and A on collaboration on Sunday, April 26, from 11am-12pm in the Playhouse Theatre Lounge.

Tickets are £6/4. Bookings through Cheltenham Town Hall in person, online at www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk or call 0844 576 2210 from mid-March.
Festival brochure (page 4) and Cheltenham Poetry Festival website.

RELATED LINKS;

http://www.sarah-james.co.uk/

Sarah’s review of the launch http://www.sarah-james.co.uk/?p=5972

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/regional/12899918.Droitwich_author_brings_modern_day_Madame_Bovary_to_life/

 http://www.sarah-james.co.uk/?p=5992

The Tiniest Display

After work today I went to check the library out where I have been asked to display my poetry. The Arts Network display a variety of local talent there throughout the year.

From emails I have received, I had expected a display board, perhaps an area of a couple of metres in length…. I walked past it twice before accosting a librarian!

It is smaller than my coffee table and has the added disadvantage of me needing to display poems so they can be read – maybe I should attach them to coffee table books – actually that is not such a bad idea!

I am currently researching ideas online – I am supposed to spend this hour working on submissions – 20minutes on Google is not helping. I have until Friday to get this exhibition created – I am looking forward to it, despite it landing in such a busy week!

Let me know if you have ideas how flat display (lying down on the table) can be made to look creative and wonderful…. for now I am going to run with the coffee table book idea I think!

Much Excitement! New Opportunities.

 This feels like the night before Christmas! (That would be Christmas Eve) – tomorrow is my first day as a writer in role, working at The Hive with Ian MacLeod as an Assistant Writer. I have just read the emails from the first session in January and now I am EVEN MORE excited!

How will I ever sleep?

In addition to this, as I was raking through emails I came across one from the Arts Network. I will be displaying my poetry in a local library in March, very exciting.

Many local libraries are hosting Poetry On Loan events this next week, I know several poets who are involved in these events, I dream of such an opportunity one day, but for now am happy to let my poems speak for themselves.

Book Launch Excitement

After Friday the 13th I deserve today! I didn’t get the job, but had some positive feedback from interview.

Today ALL that can be forgotten for the weekend, the work will come in the end. I have more agencies to do business with next week. And it DOES mean that I get to go to the Poetry Workshop in October, which I really think I am supposed to attend, even more so now the work fell through.  

My old home town have there annual festival this weekend and this evening there is a book launch. A local poet – I will cover it more tomorrow after the event. There are also readings from other poet’s including my friend Maggie Doyle, who was the poet laureate for the city last year. We met on the children’s book writing course this summer.

Since the event was first held in 2006 the event has grown bigger every year, becoming a major showcase for the town, its businesses and community. Favourite attractions, including the Roman re-enactors, canal boat trips, and street markets and stalls, will be returning at this year’s festival.

 The Arts Network is fully supporting the event and has organised a number of attractions. There is a book launch at the Parks Café from 7pm on the Saturday, which will feature guest poets.

Newsquest © 2013

Literary Evening

Relax with a glass of wine and listen to local poet Sarah James, who will be launching her new collection of poems ‘Be[yond]’. The evening will feature special guests.

Photographs used with kind permission from Paul at Parks café

Origins of the festival

Salt Day started in 2006 to celebrate the town’s unique salt heritage. Since then the event has grown considerably taking place across the whole town centre and attracting thousands of visitors. Whilst the salt heritage and Romans are still important aspects, the event has now become a showcase for the town, businesses and community. Many local groups take part running stalls and organising activities whilst the music showcase features young and up and coming local performers. In 2012 Salt Day became Salt Fest when, for the first time, the event took place over a whole weekend.