Isabelle Charlotte Kenyon's Blog, page 2
January 28, 2019
Writing Prompt: Be inspired by the changes around you
With submissions opening today for Planet in Peril, I would like to introduce second charity the anthology will fundraise for.The Climate Coalition, believe that together, we can secure a clean and sustainable future.Along with their sister organisations, Stop Climate Chaos Cymru and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, they are a group of over 130 organisations — including the National Trust, Women's Institute, Oxfam, and RSPB — reaching across the UK to show their love for all the things we want to protect from climate change, and to ask politicians to put aside their differences and commit to doing whatever is necessary to protect them. 
They say:"Climate change is already impacting on the things we love and cherish both here in our own backyards and around the world — whether it is the pitches where we play cricket and football, the puffins who make their home along our coastlines, the woodlands where we walk, or communities affected by extreme weather events in other countries. It can be seen in increased flooding and droughts, summer heatwaves, and more unpredictable weather. It is changing the seasons, upsetting crops and flowers, and disturbing the journeys of migrating birds."How can you write about climate change in a way which is personal to you and the way that you experience it? Why not look at the way your city or town or area has changed in the last decade?Be inspired bythis article about how artists can respond to Climate Change:''as the notion of a world beyond us has become difficult to sustain, so a need has grown for fresh vocabularies and narratives that might account for the kinds of relation and responsibility in which we find ourselves entangled. “Nature,” Raymond Williams famously wrote in Keywords (1976), “is perhaps the most complex word in the language.” Four decades on, there is no “perhaps” about it.''I'm really looking forward to reading what you come up with and seeing some for fantastic photography – remember that I am working with Brazilian Wildlife Photographer, Emily Gellard, whose work is a useful source of inspiration also.
They say:"Climate change is already impacting on the things we love and cherish both here in our own backyards and around the world — whether it is the pitches where we play cricket and football, the puffins who make their home along our coastlines, the woodlands where we walk, or communities affected by extreme weather events in other countries. It can be seen in increased flooding and droughts, summer heatwaves, and more unpredictable weather. It is changing the seasons, upsetting crops and flowers, and disturbing the journeys of migrating birds."How can you write about climate change in a way which is personal to you and the way that you experience it? Why not look at the way your city or town or area has changed in the last decade?Be inspired bythis article about how artists can respond to Climate Change:''as the notion of a world beyond us has become difficult to sustain, so a need has grown for fresh vocabularies and narratives that might account for the kinds of relation and responsibility in which we find ourselves entangled. “Nature,” Raymond Williams famously wrote in Keywords (1976), “is perhaps the most complex word in the language.” Four decades on, there is no “perhaps” about it.''I'm really looking forward to reading what you come up with and seeing some for fantastic photography – remember that I am working with Brazilian Wildlife Photographer, Emily Gellard, whose work is a useful source of inspiration also.
January 22, 2019
Author Interview: Denis Akinmolasire
I interview emerging writer, Denis Akinmolasire, published by AuthorHouse UK.Why do you write?I have written in the past but because of where my career and where my life took me I never had a chance to explore this avenue.An opportunity arose last year to publish my first book Love, War and Glory: Spoken Words for All Seasons which allowed me to explore my writing skills fully.
Which novelists and poets you admire?Roald Dahl was one of my favourites; Fantastic Mr Fox was one of my favourites. I enjoyed reading Shakespeare especially Merchant of Venice; he was able to tell a story using poetic expressions which I felt was probably a little ahead of his time.Describe the route to your first book being published.In Christmas 2017 I thought about the poems and material that I had written in the past.In January 2017 I did some research into what it would take to publish a book.That lead to me discovering my publisher.I thought to myself, you’re in a good position so let’s go for it and see what happens.Then six months later my book appears in Amazon.When you have the opportunity and motivation great things can happen.What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?To become a writer I think is actually quite simple; pick up your pen/computer and get writing.The medium you write in is a different matter; that will come over time depending on how far you want to take your writing.The advice I would give to people is don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t and can do. Trust your instinct and let your imagination fly. I believe writers are at their best when they let their ideas just flourish.Some of my readers might not know about Love, War and Glory.Can you tell us something about it?Love, War and Glory: Spoken Words for All Seasons is a poetry/spoken words book offering how to overcome the challenges we face in everyday life with respect to finding love, personal glory and the battles we face day to day.What inspires you to write?Current events and what I experienced in my life.I choose the themes of Love, War and Glory for my first book as I was very keen on creating a message and a reading experience that many people can relate to.I also interested in writing things about areas that no one has explored before.I wrote Love, War and Glory as I felt there wasn’t a book out there that covered all 3 themes in one book.What do you find is the most rewarding and the most challenging thing about writing?The creativity, freedom of expression and the ability to create a reading experience that other people can enjoy.One of the best compliments that I have received is when people have come up to me and said I can relate to what you’re saying.Lastly, where can we buy Love, War and Glory?AmazonAuthorHouseShantir Books on Brick Lane, LondonSwan Books in Upminister, Essex
Which novelists and poets you admire?Roald Dahl was one of my favourites; Fantastic Mr Fox was one of my favourites. I enjoyed reading Shakespeare especially Merchant of Venice; he was able to tell a story using poetic expressions which I felt was probably a little ahead of his time.Describe the route to your first book being published.In Christmas 2017 I thought about the poems and material that I had written in the past.In January 2017 I did some research into what it would take to publish a book.That lead to me discovering my publisher.I thought to myself, you’re in a good position so let’s go for it and see what happens.Then six months later my book appears in Amazon.When you have the opportunity and motivation great things can happen.What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?To become a writer I think is actually quite simple; pick up your pen/computer and get writing.The medium you write in is a different matter; that will come over time depending on how far you want to take your writing.The advice I would give to people is don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t and can do. Trust your instinct and let your imagination fly. I believe writers are at their best when they let their ideas just flourish.Some of my readers might not know about Love, War and Glory.Can you tell us something about it?Love, War and Glory: Spoken Words for All Seasons is a poetry/spoken words book offering how to overcome the challenges we face in everyday life with respect to finding love, personal glory and the battles we face day to day.What inspires you to write?Current events and what I experienced in my life.I choose the themes of Love, War and Glory for my first book as I was very keen on creating a message and a reading experience that many people can relate to.I also interested in writing things about areas that no one has explored before.I wrote Love, War and Glory as I felt there wasn’t a book out there that covered all 3 themes in one book.What do you find is the most rewarding and the most challenging thing about writing?The creativity, freedom of expression and the ability to create a reading experience that other people can enjoy.One of the best compliments that I have received is when people have come up to me and said I can relate to what you’re saying.Lastly, where can we buy Love, War and Glory?AmazonAuthorHouseShantir Books on Brick Lane, LondonSwan Books in Upminister, Essex
January 20, 2019
Writing Prompt: How can we write about our oceans?
With submissions opening for the Planet in Peril competition opening on January 28, I wanted to introduce one of the charities which the anthology will fundraise for. 
This blog post will look at the work of WWF, and two of their projects which I feel very strongly about. I will also look at some excellent poetry which explores these projects creatively and connects it to our everyday lives.As WWF says on their website, 'The trouble is we think we have time,' and the reality is that we have 12 years in order to slow climate change down.WWF have so many different projects it was difficult to me to decide which ones to tell you about! However, the ocean project for effective marine management is pivotal. 70% of planet Earth is covered by ocean but only a tiny fraction of that, around 4%, is designated as protected – if we want to save our wildlife and our coral reef it is evidently clear that WWF's work in conjunction with partners around the world, to properly manage our oceans is so important.How can we write about our oceans through poetry? Here are some great examples read by celebrities (but don't let that put you off…) from The Guardian.[image error]WWF is also focusing on how we can make of the sustainable. They say, 'Farming animals for meat and dairy require space and huge inputs of water and feed. Today, one of the biggest causes of forest loss is the expansion of agricultural land for animal feed production, such as soy.'How can we talk about food and sustainability in a way which isn't boring? Which is connected passionately to our beliefs (even if we are not all vegan)? Let's look at this poem by Joy Harjo, from the Poetry Foundation's website about survival.I will be posting more writing prompts and introducing my partners for the Planet in Peril project as the weeks go by!
This blog post will look at the work of WWF, and two of their projects which I feel very strongly about. I will also look at some excellent poetry which explores these projects creatively and connects it to our everyday lives.As WWF says on their website, 'The trouble is we think we have time,' and the reality is that we have 12 years in order to slow climate change down.WWF have so many different projects it was difficult to me to decide which ones to tell you about! However, the ocean project for effective marine management is pivotal. 70% of planet Earth is covered by ocean but only a tiny fraction of that, around 4%, is designated as protected – if we want to save our wildlife and our coral reef it is evidently clear that WWF's work in conjunction with partners around the world, to properly manage our oceans is so important.How can we write about our oceans through poetry? Here are some great examples read by celebrities (but don't let that put you off…) from The Guardian.[image error]WWF is also focusing on how we can make of the sustainable. They say, 'Farming animals for meat and dairy require space and huge inputs of water and feed. Today, one of the biggest causes of forest loss is the expansion of agricultural land for animal feed production, such as soy.'How can we talk about food and sustainability in a way which isn't boring? Which is connected passionately to our beliefs (even if we are not all vegan)? Let's look at this poem by Joy Harjo, from the Poetry Foundation's website about survival.I will be posting more writing prompts and introducing my partners for the Planet in Peril project as the weeks go by!
January 11, 2019
Poets of the future: Colin Dardis
I am delighted to say that I will be publishing the innovative and creatively-crafted collection of Colin Dardis, an exciting and established poet who came to me with a collection, 'The Dogs of Humanity'. I was sold at the word 'dogs' but it turned out that the poetry itself was truly excellent, which was the cherry on top.Colin Dardis is a poet, editor, arts coordinator and creative writing tutor based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He was one of Eyewear Publishing's Best New British and Irish Poets 2016, and an ACES '15-16 recipient from Arts Council Northern Ireland. A new collection with Eyewear, the x of y, is out now.Colin also co-runs Poetry NI and is the online editor for Lagan Online. His work has been published widely throughout Ireland, the UK and USA.
Colin speaks about his collection...As suggested by the title, these poems are thematically linked by imagery, or direct allusion to, dogs and others animals. The first part, Dogs, uses canine imagery to explore themes of depression and weariness, how societal expectations can leave a person feeling (a runt, a mongrel, etc.). Issues of savagery and lack of humanity are also explored through this imagery. Elsewhere, animals are such as a motif to retreat into a pastoral idea, an escapism from mental health issues, finding an affinity with a nature that we must also sometimes contest.My aim, as with most of my writing, is to highlight what life is like leaving with a mental health issue, and to raise awareness and empathy with people who do so. At the same time, I am looking to share a lexicon of nature, both its light and dark side, so keenly developed by proponents such as Clare, Heaney and Hughes. Back in 2013, I did a themed reading of dog poems. I never intended to build up a body of work using dogs as the central image, but they appeared, ready to use; it seemed to make sense to present them together. Since then, the number of poems have slowly crept upwards, some fleetingly alluded to canines to evoke a certain sense, others wholly focused on them as a singular metaphor. The idea of a small collection, bringing together all these possible convolutions, intimations and representations, was one of those moments when years of disparate work, tapped at here and there, come together to suddenly form something cohesive.Read some of Colin's recent poetry here'The Dogs of Humanity' is expected to be released in August 2019.
Colin speaks about his collection...As suggested by the title, these poems are thematically linked by imagery, or direct allusion to, dogs and others animals. The first part, Dogs, uses canine imagery to explore themes of depression and weariness, how societal expectations can leave a person feeling (a runt, a mongrel, etc.). Issues of savagery and lack of humanity are also explored through this imagery. Elsewhere, animals are such as a motif to retreat into a pastoral idea, an escapism from mental health issues, finding an affinity with a nature that we must also sometimes contest.My aim, as with most of my writing, is to highlight what life is like leaving with a mental health issue, and to raise awareness and empathy with people who do so. At the same time, I am looking to share a lexicon of nature, both its light and dark side, so keenly developed by proponents such as Clare, Heaney and Hughes. Back in 2013, I did a themed reading of dog poems. I never intended to build up a body of work using dogs as the central image, but they appeared, ready to use; it seemed to make sense to present them together. Since then, the number of poems have slowly crept upwards, some fleetingly alluded to canines to evoke a certain sense, others wholly focused on them as a singular metaphor. The idea of a small collection, bringing together all these possible convolutions, intimations and representations, was one of those moments when years of disparate work, tapped at here and there, come together to suddenly form something cohesive.Read some of Colin's recent poetry here'The Dogs of Humanity' is expected to be released in August 2019.
December 28, 2018
Poets of the future: Karl Tearney
I am excited to say that I will be publishing the poetry of Karl Tearney in July 2019, who previously worked as a British Army helicopter pilot and now uses poetry as a therapy, raising awareness of mental health in the Army.There has been a great deal of interest in Karl’s work thus far which includes a film made by David Gandy to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.He has also helped with a poetry session for students at RADA, been a panelist at the Hay literature festival, appeared on national and local television as well as radio. Then in November of this year his work was exhibited at the Art in the aftermath exhibition in Pall Mall.A few words from Karl:I am a latecomer to Poetry as I only found it after a breakdown at work. It was the summer of 2014 and suddenly as well as awkwardly I felt completely devoid of any emotions. I cried for days, weeks, months, and finally ended up as a resident of a Mental Health Hospital. That's when I began to write, initially as a journal but latterly as poems. I’ve since written a poem almost daily and it really helps me ground myself as well as communicate with the outside world.
What inspires Karl?I really cannot suggest that I have been inspired by a particular poet but I have always been fascinated by the great war poetry written during the first world way as well as Kipling’s poetry from the very early 20thcentury. I’ve not had any training or qualifications in English language or literature but my time in the Army has helped a great deal in establishing mechanisms for communication and in particular when writing.I guess I was inspired by my minds desire to try something new and to make use of my new found view of happenings around me. PTSD has its associated issues such as being hyper vigilant which can be a hindrance but when turned around it enables me to almost photograph mentally much more than before I fell ill. I now see and hear everything that goes on around me and tapping into that has enabled me to record events that prior to 2014 I would not have noticed. Writing each day is my therapy and I embrace it like an addiction. It fascinates me to know what topic my mind will obsess about each morning. I simply adore writing and it’s my PTSD blessing as I’m convinced I would never have found it otherwise.Who is Karl Tearney?Karl was born in Cornwall and had a troubled childhood, which meant moving from home to home as a teenager. He had dreamt of becoming a pilot from a very young age but sadly events beyond his control had affected his schooling. His second ambition had been to join the Armed Forces and at 16 years old he enlisted as a boy soldier. After a few years of studying whilst soldering Karl applied to become a British Army helicopter pilot, which he achieved in early 1993. His career continued happily until in 2014 the residue of over 30 years of military service overwhelmed him. He was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in early 2015 then discharged in January of 2016. Initially Karl sought out various types of therapy but each time they only caused a worsening of his condition. Amazingly Karl found his own therapy by accident when one day he’d decided to go for a walk and sat under a willow tree. The symbolism of that willow tree resonated with him and he sat and wrote his first ever poem aptly named “Willow Tree”That was two years ago and he has now amassed over 650 poems covering a broad range of subjects including mental health. He encourages other sufferers of the condition to look into Art and Creativity in order to encourage self-fulfillment. Follow himTwitter karltearneyFB Karl TearneyIG Karl TearneyWeb www.willowtreesociety.co.uk
What inspires Karl?I really cannot suggest that I have been inspired by a particular poet but I have always been fascinated by the great war poetry written during the first world way as well as Kipling’s poetry from the very early 20thcentury. I’ve not had any training or qualifications in English language or literature but my time in the Army has helped a great deal in establishing mechanisms for communication and in particular when writing.I guess I was inspired by my minds desire to try something new and to make use of my new found view of happenings around me. PTSD has its associated issues such as being hyper vigilant which can be a hindrance but when turned around it enables me to almost photograph mentally much more than before I fell ill. I now see and hear everything that goes on around me and tapping into that has enabled me to record events that prior to 2014 I would not have noticed. Writing each day is my therapy and I embrace it like an addiction. It fascinates me to know what topic my mind will obsess about each morning. I simply adore writing and it’s my PTSD blessing as I’m convinced I would never have found it otherwise.Who is Karl Tearney?Karl was born in Cornwall and had a troubled childhood, which meant moving from home to home as a teenager. He had dreamt of becoming a pilot from a very young age but sadly events beyond his control had affected his schooling. His second ambition had been to join the Armed Forces and at 16 years old he enlisted as a boy soldier. After a few years of studying whilst soldering Karl applied to become a British Army helicopter pilot, which he achieved in early 1993. His career continued happily until in 2014 the residue of over 30 years of military service overwhelmed him. He was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in early 2015 then discharged in January of 2016. Initially Karl sought out various types of therapy but each time they only caused a worsening of his condition. Amazingly Karl found his own therapy by accident when one day he’d decided to go for a walk and sat under a willow tree. The symbolism of that willow tree resonated with him and he sat and wrote his first ever poem aptly named “Willow Tree”That was two years ago and he has now amassed over 650 poems covering a broad range of subjects including mental health. He encourages other sufferers of the condition to look into Art and Creativity in order to encourage self-fulfillment. Follow himTwitter karltearneyFB Karl TearneyIG Karl TearneyWeb www.willowtreesociety.co.uk
December 22, 2018
Announcing ‘Planet in Peril’!
“Planet in Peril”: an anthology for our time.There has never been a more critical moment in this planet’s history. Ecosystems and species stand upon the precipice of extinction and await human action. Spurred by the urgency of the situation, Fly on the Wall Press has teamed up with WWF, The Climate Coalition, Dr Michelle Cain (Oxford University), former Derbyshire Poet Laureate, Helen Mort, and wildlife photographer, Emily Gellard, to create an anthology for our future. 
Credit: Emily Gellard Photography“Planet in Peril” will combine beautiful photography of endangered species and delicate ecosystems, with poetry designed to increase public awareness of the complex issues surrounding climate change. Submissions will open for poets on January 28th 2019. Photography and poetry alike will reflect the damage already done to our planet and the urgency of the call to action, while the stark realities will be factually laid out with the support of Dr Cain. Fly on the Wall Press will welcome poetry submissions which explore personal connections to the planet and reflections on the damage inflicted on it by humanity. This project will extend beyond print media, however. Our children and our children’s children will have to live with the potentially irreversible effects of climate change. Consequently, Fly on the Wall Press proposes a number of initiatives intended to involve and educate children of all ages in this project. First, the anthology will preserve a section for twenty poems submitted by writers under the age of 18. Submissions in this category will be invited through communication with schools across Greater Manchester and Derbyshire initially. In addition, a poetry workshop for young writers, aged 15-18, (“Raise Your Voice”) will take place in Manchester’s Northern Quarter on Saturday 9th March 2019. Following the anthology’s launch in Autumn 2019, Fly on the Wall Press will reach out to primary age children through workshops designed to engage them in poetry writing and art inspired by the book and its themes. 
The book’s launch will include an exhibition of its photography and poems to be held in Manchester, giving the wider public the opportunity to engage with the project’s themes and to document their responses to it. Submissions will open here in January.Enquiries should be addressed to isabellekenyon@hotmail.co.uk
Credit: Emily Gellard Photography“Planet in Peril” will combine beautiful photography of endangered species and delicate ecosystems, with poetry designed to increase public awareness of the complex issues surrounding climate change. Submissions will open for poets on January 28th 2019. Photography and poetry alike will reflect the damage already done to our planet and the urgency of the call to action, while the stark realities will be factually laid out with the support of Dr Cain. Fly on the Wall Press will welcome poetry submissions which explore personal connections to the planet and reflections on the damage inflicted on it by humanity. This project will extend beyond print media, however. Our children and our children’s children will have to live with the potentially irreversible effects of climate change. Consequently, Fly on the Wall Press proposes a number of initiatives intended to involve and educate children of all ages in this project. First, the anthology will preserve a section for twenty poems submitted by writers under the age of 18. Submissions in this category will be invited through communication with schools across Greater Manchester and Derbyshire initially. In addition, a poetry workshop for young writers, aged 15-18, (“Raise Your Voice”) will take place in Manchester’s Northern Quarter on Saturday 9th March 2019. Following the anthology’s launch in Autumn 2019, Fly on the Wall Press will reach out to primary age children through workshops designed to engage them in poetry writing and art inspired by the book and its themes. The book’s launch will include an exhibition of its photography and poems to be held in Manchester, giving the wider public the opportunity to engage with the project’s themes and to document their responses to it. Submissions will open here in January.Enquiries should be addressed to isabellekenyon@hotmail.co.uk
December 21, 2018
Poets of the future: Bethany Rivers
I am delighted to announce that Fly on the Wall will be publishing the sensitive and heart-warming collection, 'the sea refuses no river'by Bethany Rivers. Bethany has that ability as a writer, to be both specific, individual and yet universal, so that the images she paints are for her readers to share. The collection will be published in June 2019.
Bethany Rivers sheds some light on her collection...Grief is a secret journey that flows through your life like an invisible stream. Nobody sees it. Though occasionally, someone close to you may hear it. As William Stafford says, there is a thread you always follow, but what that thread is for you can mean diffferent things at different times. Perhaps it's hope, perhaps it's love, perhaps it's poetry. This collection pulls together various threads of a daughter's journey, after her father has died. It is at once personal and universal. How childhood grief for my dad has followed me, transmuted, become part of my life-song. As Rumi (13th century Sufi poet) invites the reader to do, we need to learn to embrace all the parts of ourselves, to be whole. Some days that's easier than others. Some days it feels impossible. But as Cavafy rightly points out, it's the journey, not the destination that's the thing. Hard as that may be, we keep trying to follow the thread. This collection explores that thread, that life-song, how, no matter what happens along the journey, the world keeps on turning. Bethany Rivers joins Elisabeth Horan and Anne Walsh Donnelly in the 2019 chapbook line up for Fly on the Wall. I have a feeling it will be a very special year!
Bethany Rivers sheds some light on her collection...Grief is a secret journey that flows through your life like an invisible stream. Nobody sees it. Though occasionally, someone close to you may hear it. As William Stafford says, there is a thread you always follow, but what that thread is for you can mean diffferent things at different times. Perhaps it's hope, perhaps it's love, perhaps it's poetry. This collection pulls together various threads of a daughter's journey, after her father has died. It is at once personal and universal. How childhood grief for my dad has followed me, transmuted, become part of my life-song. As Rumi (13th century Sufi poet) invites the reader to do, we need to learn to embrace all the parts of ourselves, to be whole. Some days that's easier than others. Some days it feels impossible. But as Cavafy rightly points out, it's the journey, not the destination that's the thing. Hard as that may be, we keep trying to follow the thread. This collection explores that thread, that life-song, how, no matter what happens along the journey, the world keeps on turning. Bethany Rivers joins Elisabeth Horan and Anne Walsh Donnelly in the 2019 chapbook line up for Fly on the Wall. I have a feeling it will be a very special year!
December 20, 2018
'Wild about London' by Will Hatchett and Tim Sanders.
Lewis Carroll meets Ted Hughes, with a dash of Spike Milligan. Wild about London is a new book of illustrated poems about some of the animals that inhabit our capital city. Here, you will learn about the (too) friendly pigeon, a famous squirrel thief, a magpie who joined the police, bats who objected to being on reality TV and a tragic blackbird whose beautiful singing voice led to success on a TV talent show.
Tim is an illustrator and cartoonist, Will is a journalist and author, They are both from the west Midlands. They are approximately the same age – whisper it, the age of free bus travel! They first met on Facebook. Will thought, ‘this chap’s paintings are not merely illustrations. They are full of life. They don’t merely depict a thing; they contain the essence of the thing. I like that.’ Tim thought, ‘poetry, oh God.’They met physically in July 2018 on the day that England played Colombia in the World Cup. England won the game 4-3 on penalties and a creative collaboration was born. Their mission, in Wild about London, is to fuse words that startle with pictures that zing and to show that poetry is not boring.Designed by Jez Tucker, the book’s first edition was successfully funded through the Kickstarter website.Tim says: ‘The thing about this project was its spontaneity. Will sent a poem and I usually painted the creature that day, or pulled it from my portfolio. I have always loved painting animals, whether it’s someone’s precious pet, a thuggish looking starling or the blur of a kingfisher moving so fast that you can barely see it.’Will says: ‘These creatures live in our peripheral vision, linking us to stories, mythologies and places. They are great subjects. The idea is of the book is for each poem to be different, whether it’s a story, a scenario or simply a description, but within a complementary whole, so it’s a bit like a music album.’More information or press copiesContact Will for a copy: w.hatchett@virgin.netAbout the creatorsWill Hatchett has written for The Guardian, the Observer magazine, New Statesman and many more publications. Author of several novels, including The Fourth Way, New Pulp press, two non-fiction books and a play. Plays guitar and ukelele. See www.willhatchettonline.co.ukTim Sanders provided daily cartoons for The Independent. He has illustrated two books, Snr Soul (a history of jazz and blues) and 1917: Russia’s red year. Has two daughters. Spends as much time in possible in Barcelona. Plays the saxophone. See www.timonline.info
Tim is an illustrator and cartoonist, Will is a journalist and author, They are both from the west Midlands. They are approximately the same age – whisper it, the age of free bus travel! They first met on Facebook. Will thought, ‘this chap’s paintings are not merely illustrations. They are full of life. They don’t merely depict a thing; they contain the essence of the thing. I like that.’ Tim thought, ‘poetry, oh God.’They met physically in July 2018 on the day that England played Colombia in the World Cup. England won the game 4-3 on penalties and a creative collaboration was born. Their mission, in Wild about London, is to fuse words that startle with pictures that zing and to show that poetry is not boring.Designed by Jez Tucker, the book’s first edition was successfully funded through the Kickstarter website.Tim says: ‘The thing about this project was its spontaneity. Will sent a poem and I usually painted the creature that day, or pulled it from my portfolio. I have always loved painting animals, whether it’s someone’s precious pet, a thuggish looking starling or the blur of a kingfisher moving so fast that you can barely see it.’Will says: ‘These creatures live in our peripheral vision, linking us to stories, mythologies and places. They are great subjects. The idea is of the book is for each poem to be different, whether it’s a story, a scenario or simply a description, but within a complementary whole, so it’s a bit like a music album.’More information or press copiesContact Will for a copy: w.hatchett@virgin.netAbout the creatorsWill Hatchett has written for The Guardian, the Observer magazine, New Statesman and many more publications. Author of several novels, including The Fourth Way, New Pulp press, two non-fiction books and a play. Plays guitar and ukelele. See www.willhatchettonline.co.ukTim Sanders provided daily cartoons for The Independent. He has illustrated two books, Snr Soul (a history of jazz and blues) and 1917: Russia’s red year. Has two daughters. Spends as much time in possible in Barcelona. Plays the saxophone. See www.timonline.info
December 15, 2018
Is poetry a selfish act?
Since Fly on the Wall opened for chapbook submissions, I have been flooded with a wealth of talent and support for the press (so truly, thank you). However, from the poets submitting to submission call one, just 34% of poets had ever read a book published by Fly on the Wall. This is a trend across the indie publishing industry, from magazines to book publishers. How do these writers know that they wish to be published by a press which they have never observed the quality of, never read the style of and never supported?Poetry and publishing is a crowded market and so there is a lot of choice for writers wanting to submit their work for publication. This choice is a great thing but can sometimes encourage writers to spread their work too thinly, in the hope that the more publications they submit to, the more likely they are to be published. I would argue that this is often not the case.It is immediately clear to me when poets submit work without reading the mission statement of Fly on the Wall – to publish socially conscious work. It is immediately clear when poets have not read my anthologies because their work does not stand for any political statement or attempt to rectify the under presentation of marginalised voices – it is instead solipsistic. Of course, poets are not made of money. In fact, we rarely get paid a fair wage for our art. However, Fly on the Wall's ebooks are just £2.99. That’s less than a festive coffee from Starbucks. That’s also conserving your precious time – because your submission will be accurate to the style and voice of the press. It’s also money to charity and funding for that very same book you want published. (Fly on the Wall Press is a not for profit, which means any funds from book sales go back into publishing books.)The real problem facing the publishing industry, particularly poetry publishing, is that writers are not buying from the very same presses they want their royalties from. Please – if you are considering submitting to any independent press, buy a book first. It genuinely makes a world of difference to both parties! Fly on the Wall books are available via the shop, Amazon, Waterstones, Blackwellsand Foyles. 
December 12, 2018
‘Birnam Wood’ by José Manuel Cardona: A Review
‘Birnam Wood’ by Spanish poet José Manuel Cardona, and translated by his daughter, Hélène Cardona, is a collection of his absolute best work - it flows like a,‘Song that overflows like erosiveBlackberry juice’, and the poems are just as rich in imagery and meaning! The book spans the length of José’s career and travels and is sensitively translated by Hélène as a beautiful partnership.
The book begins with an extended ‘Poem to Circe’ which is almost a love letter or an attempt to document the way it stands, before it changes before his very eyes:‘the rubbleRemains on the shore like a nakedBody’.There is an interesting use of biblical language at the very end of the ‘Poem to Circe’ sequence:‘I’ve come to break crown and yoke. Rebel beggars and free slaves. I traded my peace for the knife.I’m here to abolish death.Those who believe in me will not die.’This seems to be a poem about José meeting his maker, or Circe swallowing him up, at the end of his days, like a familiar friend. Perhaps in this way, Circe is compared to a living paradise. My favourite moments were those of dark humour, which translated beautifully:‘The human species will die outwithout ever reachingthe age of reason, like those teethcalled wisdom, tardy,painful and useless’.This feels like a timeless statement on humanity, despite being written by a twentieth-century poet. José also uses classical mythology to express aspects of humanity:‘the godslove the mortals and we struggleto return to the Labyrinth.’ José seems to imply a spiritual force in the world, but not necessarily that this can be defined as the traditional image of a Christian God.Overall, this was very interesting read with a classical and timeless feel. As a Spanish language novice, it was interesting to compare José’s poems to Hélène’s translations - and to note how intricately she had followed the structure and language! The book can be found via www.salmonpoetry.com.
The book begins with an extended ‘Poem to Circe’ which is almost a love letter or an attempt to document the way it stands, before it changes before his very eyes:‘the rubbleRemains on the shore like a nakedBody’.There is an interesting use of biblical language at the very end of the ‘Poem to Circe’ sequence:‘I’ve come to break crown and yoke. Rebel beggars and free slaves. I traded my peace for the knife.I’m here to abolish death.Those who believe in me will not die.’This seems to be a poem about José meeting his maker, or Circe swallowing him up, at the end of his days, like a familiar friend. Perhaps in this way, Circe is compared to a living paradise. My favourite moments were those of dark humour, which translated beautifully:‘The human species will die outwithout ever reachingthe age of reason, like those teethcalled wisdom, tardy,painful and useless’.This feels like a timeless statement on humanity, despite being written by a twentieth-century poet. José also uses classical mythology to express aspects of humanity:‘the godslove the mortals and we struggleto return to the Labyrinth.’ José seems to imply a spiritual force in the world, but not necessarily that this can be defined as the traditional image of a Christian God.Overall, this was very interesting read with a classical and timeless feel. As a Spanish language novice, it was interesting to compare José’s poems to Hélène’s translations - and to note how intricately she had followed the structure and language! The book can be found via www.salmonpoetry.com.
