My short story 'The Office Block' was recently selected as one of thirteen stories for Parthian's new contemporary gothic anthology A Flock of Shadows. Last week, I read an extract at a special Halloween preview event for the anthology, held at Mozart's Bar in Swansea. The event featured readings from eight of the thirteen contributors to the anthology, seven of which are pictured above (along with Rebecca Parfitt, co-editor of the anthology). Don't ask me why I look so pissed off – I was really pleased to be there! Halloween is by far my favourite time of year (Christmas runs it close, but you can't beat a bit of pumpkin carving and a Vincent Price marathon). I've kept up the Halloween spirit this past week by regularly dipping into the anthology, and it's already been the cause of at least one restless night. A Flock of Shadows won't be available in bookshops until February next year, but it's available for pre-order directly from Parthian now: http://www.parthianbooks.com/content/flock-shadows
Photos taken by Paula R. C. Readman and Laura Piper
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My short story 'The Office Block' has been selected as one of thirteen stories for Parthian's new contemporary gothic anthology A Flock of Shadows. Returning home the next evening, Mr. Owen paused at his front gate. The office block, stained by rainwater, loomed through the mist. It interrogated him, posing questions without words. On his way to work that morning he had not been able to shake the image of it from his mind, its silent laughter echoing through his skull like footsteps on wrought iron. Something had to be done. Edited by Claire Houguez and Rebecca Parfitt, in partnership with The Ghastling magazine, A Flock of Shadows is a response to "the namby-pampy vampires and hipster witches [of] mainstream fiction." It includes new stories from Howard Ingham, Carly Holmes, Mark Blayney, Bethany W. Pope, Laura Wilkinson, Jo Mazelis, Morgan Downie, Shirley Golden, Amanda Mason and myself. "Between these pages, blurring the lines of good and evil, the monstrous reality and the monstrous imagine, are gothic stories for modern times. Here, buildings pursue their own malevolent intents; a grieving father and daughter receive an unexpected and grisly visitor; a man is unravelled by strange symbolism in a twilit park; and a botanist will stop at nothing to safeguard her borders." Though the anthology won't be available in bookshops until February next year, I will be reading alongside other contributors at a special Halloween preview event at Mozart's Bar, Swansea, on Thursday 30th October (7pm), where advance copies of the book will be available to buy. Hope to see you there! Blood and Thunder, Rough and Tumble
21/5/2012
My poem 'Vetch Field Elegy' has been included in a recently-published history of the Sandfields area of Swansea. Blood and Thunder, Rough and Tumble, published by the Sandfields Community Association, is the first ever attempt at getting the story of the Sandfields down in print. When recently interviewed by the South Wales Evening Post, the book's author Andrew Vollans said "there is evidence to suggest that the area we know as Sandfields has been populated for thousands of years...[and although] Sandfields, Swansea does not exist officially as a geographical area, nor does it have a specific postcode...it clearly exists in the minds of its inhabitants and in the hearts of those who hail from the area." My emotional connection with the Sandfields (and Swansea City Football Club) began as a 10 year old, when my stepfather took me down to the Vetch Field for a less-than-glamorous FAW Cup cup tie against Barry Town. The game finished 1-1, but I decided that the raw emotion displayed by an air-punching Tony Bird after he scored the equalising goal that night was reason enough for me to start calling myself a Swans fan. Square #10
23/5/2011
I have two prose poems ('We Weren't Interested in Girls' and 'Lunch at the Coffee Shop') included in what could possibly be the last ever issue of Square. Fom squaremag.net: "Featuring poetry from Nick Fisk, Shelagh Middlehurst, Nicholas Francis, Ceri Thomas, Matthew Duggan, Lance Nizami, Chris Jackson, Peter Finch, Flo Fflach, Phillip Burton, Ifor Thomas & Zoe Warren. Short stories from Mark Howard Jones & Dave Lewis. Microfiction from Rhys Owain Williams and Amy Mackleden. + Book reviews, Dave Duke reviews his own tour, Fisk reviews The Communist Manifesto (only 163 years late) + a Square Crossword! PLUS! As well as ALL THAT, this final issue comes with a fantastic audio CD of poetry!" The magazine is available now at a cost of only £5 (which includes postage and a back issue of your choice) from squaremag.net. Nigel Jenkins, co-editor of Another Country, speaks to BBC Radio Wales' Roy Noble about the haiku form and the country's first ever national anthology of haiku poetry.
I am one of forty poets to be included in the anthology, published by Gomer. You can buy the book here: http://www.gomer.co.uk/index.php/another-country-haiku-poetry-from-wales.html I am one of forty poets to be featured in Wales' first ever national anthology of haiku poetry. Another Country, published by Gomer, will be launched at the Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea on Friday 18th March, with free wine and readings from contributors. The event starts at 7pm. "Join us at the Dylan Thomas Centre for the launch of Another Country, the first ever Welsh national anthology of haiku poetry. Published by Gomer Press and edited by Nigel Jenkins, Ken Jones and Lynne Rees, it features haiku, tanka, haibun and somonka – in both English and Welsh – by forty poets, from Wales' haiku pioneers such as Chris Torrance, Tony Conran, Peter Finch, Caroline Gourlay, Arwyn Evans, Matt Morden and John Rowlands, to an exciting younger generation, among them Sarah Coles, Alan Kellermann, Eloise Williams, Rhys Owain Williams and Stephen White. There will be readings from the book and music, before and after, from the pianist and haiku poet Marion Carlisle." Entry is free but if you would like to attend then you need to RSVP by Wednesday 16th March at the latest. To book your place email Lowri Walters at Gomer: lowriwalters@gomer.co.uk And if you can't attend the Swansea launch, they will be doing it all again at Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Friday 25th March. For more information, go to the Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=109806819100269 Buy the book here: http://www.gomer.co.uk/index.php/another-country-haiku-poetry-from-wales.html PiNBACK #5
1/10/2010
I have a prose poem featured in issue 5 of PiNBACK magazine. "PiNBACK is a new literature, art and graphic design magazine based in Dublin, Ireland and Cardiff, UK by Damien O Reilly. The idea is to create a platform of expression both literary and visually for anybody willing to get their voice out there." The magazine is available from:
I picked my copy up from the Milkwood Gallery in Cardiff, which is well worth a visit if you ever find yourself in Roath (although I would recommend you use some sort of GPS to find it if you aren't familiar with the area). Visit the gallery's website here: milkwoodgallery.com For more information about PiNBACK and Damien O Reilly go here or here. Graffiti #6
1/10/2010
I have a haibun ('The Pint that Follows') and two haiku published in the latest issue of Graffiti. Based in Cirencester, the magazine is a relatively new publication from the Catchword Writer's Group, edited by well-respected haibunist Rona Laycock. Published quarterly at a price of only £2 per issue, Graffiti is a mix of poetry, fiction and features, often based around a theme (the theme for issue 6 is 'Travel' – with some great writing on offer). For more info, including how to submit or subscribe, email graffiti.magazine@yahoo.co.uk or visit their Facebook fan page here. The Antagonist #5
23/5/2010
My short story 'Block' is featured in this month's issue of The Antagonist. This is the third time I have seen my work appear in the Cardiff-based magazine, and I sincerely hope it will not be the last (in fact, I'm just about to prepare another poetry submission to send to their editor Jess, so here's hoping I'll be telling you about a fourth appearance soon). Go to antagonistinternational.com to get your free PDF copy of the May 2010 issue, or order a paper copy for just £4.00 (inc. postage). This issue's 'Sightings' section features photographs from The Antagonist's slot at the 24 Hour Poetry Marathon (held in Swansea's relocated Elysium Gallery at the end of last month). A big thank you to Jess for asking me to read at the event, and also an apology for letting the side down by forgetting to wear my limited edition Antagonist 'Squidman' t-shirt (get yours from the site now, before they sell out). In order to make up for this, I will have to take a picture of me wearing it in front of some famous landmark for the Facebook group photo album. This, along with reminding my bardic housemate to submit some poems to the magazine, will be my Antagonist-related mission Square #7
18/3/2010
Three of my poems ('Bookshop Evacuation at the Edinburgh Festival', 'Let's Talk About the Weather' and 'A Toast to Hospitality') are featured in this month's new issue of Square. Square editor Nick Fisk: "I actually commissioned the cover for this issue, to tie in with Sue Hamblen's excellent poem about the subject that was on everyone's lips recently – the woman banned from Tesco for shopping in her pyjamas. Apparently, it is blanket policy now across all Tesco stores that the wearing of pyjamas is prohibited, in spite of the fact that Martin Clunes once appeared in a Tesco ad wearing his. Anyway, I think you'll agree that Jackie Jones has done a great job with the cover illustration. |
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