Update

 

The Publicity Machine with which I attempt to inform the world of my many works is, to say the least, a faulty jalopy.  It limps along on laptops but fails completely to be readable on a phone, as I don't have a clue how to make the necessary adaptations.  So there we are, all I really want to do is to write stories & poems, so it should come as no surprise that I haven't got around to creating a 2026 news page until nearly May.  And of course, with such long gaps, I find I've forgotten how to do even the things I've managed to teach myself as regards working in html &/or according to the strictures of Wix, my site provider.  All the frustrations that come with the forgetfulness tend to put me off, so the breaks between updates get longer, I forget even more & hey presto... a vicious cycle ensues.  Well, that's enough griping, let's see what's new....​

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Words Underground 

 

The Words Underground readings in the wonderful 'Nun's Passage' basement of Shaftesbury's King Alfred's Kitchen café have entered their second year.  With the invaluable help of Robin Walter & Catherine Simmonds, I organise and compere these events, each now with two guest poets doing 20 minute readings, five or six short open readings & occasional musical interludes.  This year's first was back in January, with two excellent poets from the Salisbury area, Matt Cutts and Grace Gauld.  The next is coming up shortly (8th May) as I write and will feature Linda Coggin (who impressed us with her open reading in January and whose poetry collection, 'Small Talk' I've been enjoying ever since) and Stephen Boyce.  Stephen has quite a track history, including 3 poetry collections amongst several published works.  So I'm looking forward to it - or, if you're reading this after May 8th, looking pleasurably back at it.  Here's the flyer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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And here's a shot of Grace reading, with some of the 30 or so audience in the foreground.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming Up

 

Here's a quick round-up of what I hope's to come in 2026.  First & foremost I believe I have a poetry collection, 'Beholders (Poems about People & their Works)' that is on its way to publication later in the year, courtesy of Tears in the Fence Publications.  I'll have plenty more to say about that, and I hope to be able to say it quite soon.  Watch this space.  It may well be out in time for the one session I've booked for the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival in July, and there will also be a launch event in the town.  I'm looking forward to getting all this organised and will update this update as soon as it is.  I'll be doing the book-stall at the TitF festival as usual in September, and will also be one of the guest readers there - so another chance to promote the book.  The final Words Underground readings session will take place in October.  And it looks like the animation for the 'Whale Poo Quadrille' video is nearing completion, which may prove a useful tool in the dissemination of aquatic ecology & will at least be a joy to see after 5 years of waiting! So plenty more to come, but that's quite enough html & Wix fixes for me for today, thank you.

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