The Polar Tombola in Bristol

 

Catch the Polar Tombola on the final date of its UK tour! This spring the Tombola will be at Bristol Artists' Book Event, a highlight of the bibliophile's calendar. The exciting - free! - event on 1-2 April will see book artists from Europe and beyond gather to exhibit, perform and sell their work in Bristol's majestic Arnolfini. 

Join us to play The Polar Tombola and celebrate the launch of a new book The Polar Tombola: A Book of Banished Words, published by Bird Editions with contributions from artists and writers including Sarah Bodman, Vahni Capildeo, Will Eaves, Pippa Hennessy, Nasim Marie Jafry, Lisa Matthews, Phil Owen and Richard Price. 

Read a short interview with me about The Polar Tombola and  A Book of Banished Words on the Arnolfini blog. 

Words for Winter: forthcoming events

Wood engraving by Thomas Bewick

Words for Winter

Welcome to the Albion Beatnik, for a hearty evening of cold poems from Theophilus Kwek, Michael Loveday, Lucy Newlyn, Lavinia Singer, Andrew Smardon and Kate Venables. I'll also be reading from - and launching - my poetry collection Disko Bay (available from Enitharmon Press).

The Albion Beatnik, 34 Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6AA
28 January 2016
7pm for 7.30pm start
Entry £2 on the door; refreshments available.

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Eco-Poetry Evening

Readings by Nancy Campbell, Isabel Galleymore, Sophie Herxheimer and Nathan Thompson.

Academy of Music and Theatre Arts, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9LX
27 January 2016
6pm
Free, book tickets here.

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Poles Apart

I'm excited to be reading with poet and novelist Will Eaves at the legendary London bookshop.

Gay's the Word, 66 Marchmont Street, London, WC1N 1AB
3 March 2016
7pm
Entry £3 on the door, complimentary refreshments provided.

Book launch

Bristol Artists Book Event 2015

I'll be showing my books at BABE on 11 and 12 April. Not so much a book fair as a big book party, previous events have seen a dress made of lettuce, a team of cake-laden 'trolley dollies' and even a rogue trader.

Check the Arnolfini website for a full listing of the many exciting things on show during the weekend, which includes the chance to see work by Mike Nicholson and Mette-Sophie D. Ambeck, Old Bear Press and seekers of lice, together with many other artists and publishers, as well as the exhibition Book Acts by AM Bruno... and if you can't decide where to start, you can join one of the free tours.

As in previous years, free surgeries will be held in the Reading Room. Bring your book arts conundrums - don't be shy, nothing is too delicate - for a 20-minute discussion on Saturday (with me) and Sunday (with Simon Goode, founder of LCBA). Pre-booking essential.

And don't miss the performances in the Reading Room! These will run all day on both days. If you come along on Sunday at 3.30pm, you'll find me presenting a new work with the BSL poet Donna Williams. (With thanks to the Arts Council for funding this commission.)

Read an interview with Tom Sowden and Sarah Bodman about the book fair here.