Wildlife

It's been a busy month, with lots to celebrate including both of our birthdays, our housewarming, trips to the circus / lighthouse / beach / scavenging / cycling and Jaws Day. Here's some of the things that have happened: On display at Wild-Schacht Gallery this month...  John Abell: My social media statuses of note: Somebody make us a badge saying 'We survived IKEA.' Applause. Applause. Bows. Wore a new dress that I bought and a new haircut, Torben wore a new shirt that I bought... went to Chapter to eat nice food and drink pints because Why Not? There was a pop-up love party happening, with food, the world is full of copycats... now home to dance with fizz. Is not going to pursue a new career in furniture moving. Somehow, mainly down to T, the sofa bed from Gumtree address round the corner is now moved by hand and in the 'library' / 'spare room' and Torben has a pint of home brew. There are few people, 1, that I trust to stand beneath a...

June kicked off well with Desire Line , the new novel by Gee Williams, listed as Book of the Month for The Welsh Books Council, Waterstones (Wales) and WH Smith (Wales). Here it is on display in Cardiff Waterstones.  If you missed the Desire Line book signing in Lingham's Bookshop to mark the start of Independent Booksellers Week on Sat 21st June don't fret, we've lots of lovely events booked in with Gee this autumn including appearances in Rhyl, Blackwood and Cardiff and at Gladstone's Library. We've also been gaining some lovely reviews: Bethany Pope on Carly Holmes' debut novel The Scrapbook , now out in paperback:  The Price of Magic ' As for the writing; it is superb. There are scenes that are reminiscent of the high gothic house-based psychology found in Jane Eyre, others (like the wonderful scene where the feverish, adolescent Fern spits out what she believes to be the swallowed soul of her grandmother; a black phlegm-...

Oooooh I have a poem about love and the eclipse up on the fab new Black Sheep Journal today accompanied by one of  Torben Schacht 's photos. The sun has just decided to come out and I'm taking him out for Sunday lunch. All very pleasant. Here's the link to Black Sheep Journal where you can read it if you like. I'm in good company so flick back and read some more poems while you are there, you won't be disappointed.

http://madeinroath.com I'll be one of the eight poets reading / performing as part of this year's summer Octopoet event in Roath. Thanks to Mark Blayney for asking me. here are the details you need... A summer Octopoet for the Solstice festival! Come and see the best poets around, for free. A mix of entertaining, thought-provoking, funny and surreal verse with a downtown New York vibe. Fully licensed bar! Friday, June 19   at 7:30pm The Coffi House, 3 Wellfield Road, Roath, Cardiff CF24 3NZ Interested. Here is the link to the Facebook events page. Click click... UPDATE: HERE'S A SNAP FROM THE NIGHT...

The Welsh Short Story Network anthology Secondary Character  published by Opening Chapter launches in July 2015. It contains my story 'Pocillovy' from my debut collection The Art of Contraception (Parthian, 2010). Also in the collection: Jo Mazelis, Carly Holmes, Nigel Jarrett, Bethany Pope, John Lavin, Carole Burns Kate North & many more.