GIG ALERT: Company of Words, Cardiff

Company of Words is teaming up with Sherman 5 for this in person literary Open Mic featuring guest poets Susie Wild and Ben Wildsmith, hosted by artist Alix Edwards. Suitable for over 15s.

Share your poems, monologues, short scripts and prose in a warm, welcoming environment in the fabulous setting of the Sherman foyer, catch up with friends over a beer or coffee and get creative inspiration from our guest poets. All welcome! whether you are an experienced performer, new to creative writing or just want to listen!

Susie Wild is author of the poetry collections Windfalls and Better Houses, the short story collection The Art of Contraception listed for the Edge Hill Prize, and the novella Arrivals. She has placed in competitions including the Welshpool Poetry Festival Competition, the Prole Laureate Prize and the Mslexia Women’s Poetry Competition and performed at festivals including The Laugharne Weekend, Green Man and Glastonbury.

'Wild comes across as the poetic equivalent of Jean Rhys: wry, arch, a little world-weary but, unlike Rhys, with a sparkling glint of humour... A very affecting collection of poems indeed.' – Buzz Magazine

'This latest collection by Susie Wild is substantial, touching, entertaining and very fresh; [...] love and life fall and decay but also one finds strange, unexpected gifts.' – Gwales

Susie on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Soozerama

Ben Wildsmith is a singer/songwriter of 30 years standing who has worked alongside Eric Bibb, The Strawbs, Lindisfarne and Slade in a career that has seen him perform to audiences through Europe and the USA. Blending American and British folk styles with thoughtful, acerbic lyrics he delivers a show full of pathos, humour and wry storytelling. He is a Sunday columnist for Nation Cymru.

Ben's YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3TGulnb

Comments

BOOK REVIEW: 'one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Welsh writing in English'

There is a wonderful extended review essay 'Ecological Literacy' by Steven Lovatt in the latest issue of New Welsh Review exploring recent books that seek to restore natural and cultural ecologies and recognise how the cultural nature of our landscapes is preserved in language. It offers an in-depth look at This Common Uncommon by Rae Howells, and here are three of our favourite snippets: "Rae Howells’ new poetry collection, This Common Uncommon , is a fierce and loving affirmation of the local, exemplifying the sort of care-full attention to the interdependence of people, other animals and plants that will be required if anything worthwhile is to be saved from the present ruin." "Howells confirms the evidence of her first collection, The Language of Bees, that she is a highly adept poet, possessing one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Welsh writing in English." "If West Cross Common is developed for housing, nobody can now claim ignoran...

POETRY COMPETITION: The Borzello Trust Poetry Prize

Just a reminder that the Borzello Trust Prize for Poetry is open for entries until 31 January 2025. Niall and I look forward to reading your words... This year we are thrilled to open a second category of the New Welsh Writing Awards with many thanks to the generous support from The Borzello Trust. Supporting in the development of yet unpublished poets living, working or from Wales, the winner of The Borzello Trust Prize for Poetry will receive a £500 development publishing contract with Parthian Books/The Borzello Trust. Including mentorship from Susie Wild to develop a poetry collection that (following publication) will be distributed via The Borzello Trust to over 250 Welsh libraries and schools. There will be a £150 cash prize to the five highly commended entries and publication in a special anthology collection published by Parthian Books. Winner: £500 as an advance on a book development contract with Parthian Books, for publication on their poetry list, plus mentorship/developm...

Raconteur Photo Snapping

Some shots from The Raconteur shoot with Tom Beardshaw

Wildlife

Search This Blog