Charlotte Wetton’s I Refuse to Turn into a Hatstand, published by Calder Valley Poetry in March, has been awarded the Michael Marks Pamphlet Prize for 2017 at a ceremony in The British Library. Charlotte had been one of five poets shortlisted from the original entry of more than 130.

Announcing the result, Chief Judge Ruth Padel said, “… we chose Charlotte Wetton’s I Refuse to Turn into a Hatstand, published by Calder Valley Poetry, a very small very new press which started business two years ago. We chose it for its assured craft, its emotional and imaginative conviction across a really wide range of forms and tones, and for its lovely language – fresh, direct, powerful and elegant, all at once. The poems are poised and brief but each feels like a small miracle. Indelible images of restraint, powerlessness and loss dominate, but it’s not all grim: Wetton writes with wit, too. She is particularly adept at observing the refrigerated stillness of office life, the draw of the exotic, and how, even in sex, genuine connection is fraught and far from guaranteed. ”

Charlotte (centre) flanked by her mother, Jeni, to her right, and Ruth Padel.

Charlotte Wetton’s  I Refuse to Turn into a Hatstand is one of five pamphlets shortlisted for the £5,000 first prize in the Michael Marks Awards. The winner will be announced at a dinner at the British Library on Tuesday 12th December.

Copies available from the ‘Bookshop’ page of this website.

For further details of the shortlist, follow this link – https://wordsworth.org.uk/poetry/poetrypamphlets.html

Poems by Gaia Holmes and Winston Plowes, to be launched at Brighouse Library, Halifax Rd, Brighouse, HD6 2AF, on Wednesday 22nd November at 7.30 pm. Readings by Gaia, Win and guest, Marion Oxley.

There will be wine.                                                                                                                                                    There will be nibbles.                                                                                                                                               There will be poetry.                                                                                                                                               There will be music from Jumble Hole Clough.                                                                                                     There will be joy.

‘As a metaphor for twenty-first century transience, these poems speak not only to each other but to us all.’         Julia Deakin

‘The deeply felt work leaves its impression in its strength of imagery.’     Michael Brown

Spotted at the new Halifax Library.

It’s tomorrow! Marsden Public Library at 7 pm, hosted by David Coldwell. Plus guest readers Stephanie Bowgett and Mark Hinchliffe, and an open mic. And if that’s not enough there are refreshments.

If you can’t make it, follow this link to buy a copy of Revealing the Odour of Earth – https://caldervalleypoetry.com/book-shop/

Peter Riley’s pamphlet Hushings was given a fine send-off last evening in the Media Store at the new Halifax library. A wonderful venue in a wonderful building. Peter read the poems, a sequel to his earlier publication Pennine Tales, and also read even more recent work on the theme of the upper Calder valley, which has become his adopted home. He also read a poem to commemorate the forthcoming centenary of the birth of WS Graham.

John Foggin, Michael Haslam, Carola Luther and Judith Willson were outstanding guest poets. They and the large audience contributed to a memorable evening.

For details of how to purchase Hushings, and of a special offer from Calder Valley Poetry, follow this link – https://caldervalleypoetry.com/book-shop/

Celebrate National Poetry Day at the new Halifax Library. Thursday, 7.30 pm. Launch of Peter Riley’s pamphlet, Hushings, in the media store. Wonderful facility. Wonderful poems. Wonderful guest readers – John Foggin, Michael Haslam, Carola Luther, Judith Willson. Refreshments. Free admission. Not to be missed.

Only seven days before the launch of Peter Riley’s pamphlet, Hushings, at the new Halifax Library, 7.30 pm, Thursday 28th September. Don’t forget admission is FREE and there are refreshments.

Peter has published 24 principal collections of poetry and about 20 pamphlets, as well as translations, artists’ books, essays and reviews. Ian Duhig says that these poems form ‘a sequence which is often very beautiful … the ordinary and common a source of the miraculous … shows all his strengths and an openness that will make it rewarding to everybody.’

Guest poets are Michael Haslam, Carola Luther, Steve Nash and Judith Willson.

Michael’s most recent publication, in February this year, is Scaplings, Star Jelly, and a Seeming Sense of Soul. Carola, a former Poet in Residence of the Wordsworth trust, brought out her second collection, Arguing with Malarchy (Carcanet) in 2011. Steve’s Calder Valley Codex (Caterpillar Poetry) came out in May, while Judith’s first full collection, Crossing the Mirror Line (Carcanet), will be published next month.

Follow this link to read Edmund Prestwich’s review of Pennine Tales in the current issue of ‘High Window’ – https://thehighwindowpress.com/category/reviews/
And don’t forget – Thursday 28th September, 7.30 pm, the new Halifax Library, Launch of Peter Riley’s Hushings, a further collection of Pennine tales.

LAUNCH of ‘HUSHINGS’ by PETER RILEY

Thursday 28^th September, 7.30 pm

at The New Halifax Library (next to the Piece Hall)

Guest readers Michael Haslam, Carola Luther, Steve Nash, Judith Willson.

‘Hushings’ is a second sequence of Pennine Tales by Hebden Bridge resident Peter Riley, again published by Calder Valley Poetry (www.caldervalleypoetry.com)

This event is kindly promoted by the Calderdale Library Service as part of the celebration of the opening of their new central library.

Admission FREE                   Refreshments