"Powerful writing of a high order": A new review of Imagined Sons in Stride

Here is the first paragraph, by poet and critic Steve Spence: "Carrie Etter's Imagined Sons may well turn out to be my poetry book of 2014. It comprises a series of scenarios where a mother who has given up her son when she was seventeen, imagined possible meetings at a later stage, envisaging alternative futures where their paths briefly cross again and recognition occurs or doesn't. This is powerful writing of a higher order and the fact that Etter often utilises the dream-like processes of surrealism allied to the quality of classical myth, in a very modern setting, enhances the intensity of the work and packs a powerful punch into the bargain." The full review appears here.

Local News (Plymouth)

There's a lovely article in the Plymouth Herald about my forthcoming reading there this Saturday. The organizers Norman Jope and Steve Spence have been so considerate and conscientious that I'm looking forward to the evening all the more.

Steve Spence's A Curious Shipwreck, first selection

I've just started reading Steve Spence's first collection, A Curious Shipwreck, and am really enjoying its great momentum, humour, and intelligence. Here's a first selection.

Something to declare

This film has everything, a beautiful

actress, a tragic shipwreck & a

lost fortune, yet some fear that

its failure will bring the financial

system to its knees. As I ambled

out of the door, cruelly cool & whistling,

she started to cry. It’s a little

masterpiece of elegance &

economy, irony & dirty-mindedness.

“Some of these worms are

extremely successful”, said Dr.

Livesy. After a tiring day among

the wildlife you need a base to

return to for some pampering.

As for Captain Teach, he had

long signalled his intention to

stand down in the hope of

keeping his enemies at bay.

It’s rare to meet a genius at any

point in one’s life yet whenever

he came into the room you could

immediately feel the temperature

rise. When a mood of excitement

surrounds a market, all sensible

people circle the wagons. This is

the kind of rank hypocrisy which

gives pirates & piracy a bad name.

Steve Spence

A Curious Shipwreck

Shearsman, 2010

The Aldeburgh Prize shortlist's "lack of experimentation"

In this review essay in today's Guardian on the shortlisted books for the Aldeburgh first collection prize, John O'Donoghue notes "the lack of experimentation" and warmly mentions, from the Forward first collection prize shortlist, Steve Spence's A Curious Shipwreck. There's already a flurry of responses on the webpage, but the discussion quickly, predictably became unwieldy. Your thoughts would be most welcome here.

Poetry Picnic at the Porlock Arts Festival, Saturday 11 September 2010

I can't attend, but dearly wish I could! Poets due to read include Tim Allen, Lyndon Davies, Giles Goodland, Alasdair Paterson, Frances Presley, Gavin Selerie, Sam Smith, Steve Spence, and many others. The organiser is Tilla Brading.

POETRY PICNIC PROGRAMME

Saturday, September 11^th 2010

at the PORLOCK ARTS FESTIVAL

in Jubilee Garden or (if wet) Small Hall

Entrance at gate £3.50 Poetry book stall

TIME	EVENT
11.00 – 11.15	Music: Eileen Ann Moore & Jim Parham - Folk Songs & Guitar
11.15 – 11.40	FIRE RIVER POETS
11.40 – 12.05	INDIVIDUALS Jo/Chris/John/Rosemary/Jillian
12.05 – 12.15	Music: Eileen Ann Moore & Jim Parham - Folk Songs & Guitar
12.15 – 12.40	UNCUT POETS
12.40 - 1.05	POETS FROM LONDON ETC..
1.05 – 2.00	Lunch, Music (1.30-40) followed by Open Mic (1.40-2.00-sign up!)
2.00 – 2.25	POETS FROM WALES
2.25 – 2.50	PLYMOUTH LANGUAGE CLUB
2.50 – 3.00	Music: Eileen Ann Moore & Jim Parham - Folk Songs & Guitar
3.00 – 4.00	GUEST POET: Harriet Tarlo

http://www.porlockfestival.org/

Shadowtrain 34 is out...

...with contributions by Claire Crowther, Rupert Loydell, Steve Spence, and yours truly, with three prose poems. Take a look.

Infinite Difference appreciatively reviewed

Steve Spence's appreciative review of Infinite Difference: Other Poetries by UK Women Poets appears in Stride Magazine. NB Helen Macdonald was repeatedly solicited for work for the anthology, but never sent any.