S.B. Wright's Blog, page 4

A New Year, a new poetry podcast - a poem a week

It's January 1st.

I am drinking Oolong tea that's been steeped for 24 hours (Resolution: Drink tea when you make it).

I had planned as my first post in the 2018 Poet Bloggers Revival Tour , an examination of my Year of Poetry Programme, that led in large part to my debut collection, but a chance meeting with arts patrons have pushed that back.

Instead I offer you the first episode in a new poetry podcast - a poem a week.  This new podcast features what the label says - a poem a week, and springs from the minds of Liz and David Turner the team behind the long form interview series The Lunar Poetry Podcast.

Enjoy!




Oh and Happy New Year!


In Magpie Tales Australian poet SB Wright reveals a keen eye for capturing both people and places, his deft imagery transports the reader effortlessly from rural Australia and beyond. The pieces within explore a changing inner landscape too, where the contested terrain of small town identities and national issues are played out in clear, lyrical verse. Magpie Tales  is his first poetry collection.

Available in print: Amazon Aus, US / Book Depository / Booktopia / Bookworld / Barnes & Noble / Fishpond

Signed Copies: On request

2018 Poet Bloggers Revival Tour

In one of those rare instances when Twitter's Who to follow actually worked, I stumbled on poet Kelli Russell Agodon and then on to her and Donna Vorreyer's  attempt to rekindle the poetry blogging days of old, before the evil empire in the form of FaceBook swallowed all our attention.

I am staring down the barrel of a very full year, a new full time job where I simultaneously have to teach classes I heaven't taught in over a decade and revitalise a community library.

Not to mention the debut collection which I need to find time to launch/perform readings from.

My greatest fear is that just as My Poetry Career ™ is picking up I will be buried under work and fatigue (and to be fair... money).  So I have signed up to the revival tour to keep myself writing and thinking poetry.  I have committed to one post per week. 

There's 30 plus other folks doing it as well, published poets on multiple collections and those with just a firm interest in the art.  

Please check out the updated master list here



Obligatory Promo  In Magpie Tales Australian poet SB Wright reveals a keen eye for capturing both people and places, his deft imagery transports the reader effortlessly from rural Australia and beyond. The pieces within explore a changing inner landscape too, where the contested terrain of small town identities and national issues are played out in clear, lyrical verse.
Available in print: Amazon Aus, US / Book Depository / Booktopia / Bookworld / Barnes & Noble / Fishpond

Signed Copies: On request

Magpie Tales Recordings

As is to be expected with a debut collection most of my recent posts have been about Magpie Tales .  And here's one more.

Long time readers will have seen/heard some of the content in the proceeding post but I have added a couple of new recordings so that you can hear dulcet tones reading 6 poems from the collection.

I have often remarked that it's a poet's voice/reading that can tip me over my admittedly low threshold for buying poetry.  So here's me putting that idea into practice.





Would you like a signed copy?

I'm offering signed copies, you can check out the cost to you here.


Stockists

"If you can find an unsigned copy it's worth a fortune" - William Thacker, Notting Hill.

If you would prefer me not to vandalise your copy of  Magpie Tales, you can choose from a seller of your choice:

AU
BooktopiaBook DepositoryAngus and Robertson BookworldAmazon AustraliaFishpond
US
Amazon USBarnes and Noble
UK
Abe BooksBook Depository

Magpie Tales Signed Copies

Hi all.

A few people asked me for signed copies of my new collection.

If you would like a signed copy you can contact me via the form that's located in the hidden sidebar (look top left of the page for the 3 horizontal bars and click), or via Twitter (@seandblogonaut ) or Facebook if you are a friend.


So cost to you if you live in Australia / New Zealand is $17.50 AUD , and it will be posted in BX15 cardboard Postpak.  I will accept EFT transfers and PayPal (I'll send you an invoice).

If you live on mainland UK or USA it will cost $23.50 AUD and I can accept PayPal. Postage will be by the aforementioned BX15 cardboard Postpak.  Note : An alternative to this might be that you could order a copy from the Book Depository/ Barnes and Noble and I can create a book plate and send it to you via small letter post.

Thanks all for your interest and support.

Magpie Tales available for order

Just a short post to let you know that Magpie Tales is available in print form at some distributors.

Check my Poems page for a list of stockists in Aus, the US and the UK.  I can't guarantee you'll get it for Christmas (indeed I am not sure I'll get my author copies by then) but it's available to purchase as of today.

I will also be offering some signed author copies for sale at some point in the near future.

So feel free to Tweet me @seandblogonaut, or contact me through the contact form in the sidebar at left and we can discuss how I can get it to you.

I will be doing an official launch at sometime in the near future.

Writers SA

For my South Australian readers, you might be interested to know that our state writing organisation has re-badged itself as Writers SA and moved from Rundle Street to North Terrace Adelaide, occupying offices somewhere in the Institute Building.

I wasn't really a big fan of their former location (hard to get to from an out of town perspective) -nothing makes you baulk about going to an event or writing group in the city like having to drive two hours and then find expensive parking. 

I did visit the Institute Building twice last month for an art exhibition that my wife participated in and
despite it suffering the same issues that plague all old Adelaide buildings (inadequate air conditioning) it is a very grand venue with easy drop off access and some good parking down along the Torrens if you don't mind a short walk.

So if you have been a past member or are curious about getting your writing career started check them out. 

They open again on the 9th January so you can have a look around their website till then.

Sample poems from Magpie Tales

The release of the collection is imminent (largely in the hands of the large book companies and their processing schedules) so my publisher Close-Up Books has a sample page of poetry from the collection. 

You can check out a couple of poems here.

Free draft book on Poetry Technique by Tim Love

Time Love from the Litrefs blog has offered a pdf draft copy of his book about poetry technique.  It combines some of the work written on his blog and after perusing the first 10 or so pages I think its worth a look. 

Check out his post here.

Cover Reveal - Magpie Tales

It's been well over a month since I last blogged and school is about to wind up just in time for the release of my debut poetry collection.

Many thanks to Ashley & Brooke of Close-Up Books for offering me the opportunity to publish with them, to Alison of Sand Hills and Seascapes who provided the lino cut art work, print and background art, that Rebekah at VividCovers fashioned into this lovely piece to your left.

The collection contains some of my previously published work, from journals such as Verity La and Tincture, and new titles I have been working on over the past year.

The release date as you can expect will be impacted on by Christmas but we are hoping to have the work ready to ship before then - I will bombard you with links when it's ready.

You might also want to check out Mark William Jackson's debut collection, The Frequency of God,  as well, which will be launching at the same time from Close-UP Books.

I am still alive...just

Well, well.

I seem to have skipped blogging anything in October.  I did travel to Japan though and managed to contract a severe chest infection on returning to Australia. Not a great way to start Term 4.

To give you a quick update.  The manuscript has been turned in and I am awaiting the finalisation of the proof, and some cover art.

I did manage to buy some poetry while in Japan but my Japanese wasn't good enough to hunt down local poets.  Funnily enough most of the translations I saw I'd already purchased in Australia.

I thought I might write some poetry while there but it hasn't turned out that way.  Lots of experiences though, which I hope will filter through my poetry brain.

I was particularly affected by the trip to the Hiroshima Peace Park and the Museum, found myself getting angry at current world leaders(if that's the right term). 

I roomed in a traditional style Japanese Inn about 500m from the hypocentre of "Little Boy".  Utterly surreal when I think back on it.

Next post will probably bring more news on the book.

Until then... またね