On FRIDAY 20 SEPTEMBER, 2019 from 1 to 2.30pm, poets and friends of Dennis and Rene Greig will read at BELFAST’S LINEN HALL LIBRARY in a celebration of forty years of Lapwing Publications. The line-up includes Fred Johnston, Moyra Donaldson, Sam Burnside, Peter Pegnall and, I’m thrilled to say, me. This is an exceptionally special event for me, not least because of my huge debt to my publisher Dennis Greig and my deep admiration and fondness for him and Rene, but because my darling late father loved the Linen Hall and spent countless happy hours of his life there. Here I am up the Cave Hill in my dad’s rucksack a wee while ago.

On Sunday 20 October, I’m delighted to have been invited – as part of the CANTERBURY FESTIVAL – to read in the Pilgrims’ Hotel, 3pm, with Fiona Sinclair, Derek Sellen, Mary Anne Smith and Luigi Marchini. More details of SKETCHES OF KENT are here!

On Sunday 10 November, 6.30 – 8.30pm, I’m looking forward to being the guest writer at SAVEAS WRITERS in Canterbury at the Pilgrim’s Hotel. I will read from my latest Lapwing collection Six-Count Jive and new poems I’m gathering about the beautiful north Kent coast. This is a free event (donations welcome) and includes an open mic.

On Wednesday 13 November, 2019, 8 – 10pm, I’m honoured to be a featured writer at LONDON LOOSE MUSE ‘s Women Writers Night in the Sun Pub, on the corner of Drury Lane and Betterton Street, in Covent Garden, London WC2B 5RH, just 100 yards from the Poetry Café. This event includes Q & A and an open mic session in each half. Tickets are £6 (£5 concessions).

On Monday 13 January 2020, I am looking forward to returning to read at WINCHESTER LOOSE MUSE: 8pm. Details soon.

Words on Waves is with MUSIC on Thursday, 5 September 2019, at 6.45pm – POETRY, PROSE & VINYL – and features folk singer Helen North with some of her exquisite, original songs, prize-winning author and poet Maggie Harris, prize-winning poet Mary Anne Smith and Barry Fentiman Hall of Wordsmithery fame.

From September Words on Waves combines music with four booked writers each time (ten minutes each) and open mic sessions for up to ten readers (five minutes each). Fiction, poetry, drama, memoir, published or work in progress – it’s all welcome. We’ll dance, laugh and enjoy words and music together from 6.45pm to 9.30/10pm. Tickets are £5 including wine and soft drinks. See you there!