Sunday 26 April 2015

A great day in Cheltenham yesterday, when I read with the superb poet, Martyn Crucefix, a truly generous and lovely guy,

Lovely to see good friends and catch up with some colleagues and family, too. I actually sold 7 books which is quite a feat these days and ordered Martyn's highly respected translation of Rilke's sonnets.

Later, we attended a further reading where the Festival anthology of poems on climate change, Dear World was launched. My contribution to this fascinating looking collection of poems by readers at this year's Festival, is my new title poem, 'The Wilding Eye'.

The festival goes on another 10 days --highly recommended --especially  Michael McKimm reading with Sean O'Brien next w/e. Michael, also a geologist, is a fabulous new young poet on the block, deeply concerned about the planet (he makes rocks actually weep!), and always worth listening to. Fossil Sunshine is his new pamphlet from Worple.

Saturday 18 April 2015

16th April, Somerset House, London.

Wonderful launch for The Wilding Eye. A great time was had by all, especially the book!! Thanks to my great publishers, Peter and Amanda Carpenter.

A selection of Pics will go up soon.

First review is in --a great on-line review from John Field's Poor Rude Lines.
It will go up on a new review page very soon.

Happy and nicely tired.

Sunday 12 April 2015

12 April, 2015

Two new poems published in Australia in Quadrant's April issue. Thank you again, Les.

Monday 6 April 2015

Saturday 4 April, 2015

Another Guardian Letter :: on the leader's debate UK elections, text beneath:

Quite simply the three women knocked the socks off the men. Strong, detailed, clear, principled. We need a coalition of them all, if possible, with Miliband, because the big party is necessary, but to keep him in check and to propel him along, whenever needed. That would give us all the best chance of a future from this coming election. The other men are pretty grim. Farage exposed himself horribly with the nasty HIV comment. Nick Clegg tried to play his old balancing act – but he’s tired; finished. Cameron has become jaded, with no new ideas for the future.
Olivia Byard
Witney, Oxfordshire

Thursday 2 April 2015

2 April.

My new book, The Wilding Eye, New and Selected Poems, is officially published today, by The Worple Press.

Now that it is finally out, thanks to everyone who helped with what seemed a huge task, and  especially to my wonderful publisher, editor, and now friend, Peter Carpenter, and his equally efficient, kind, and supportive co-publisher and wife, Amanda.  xx

Good luck, little book. 8--) xx