The Edge of the Woods

24/09/2024

I've been buying Candlestick Press pamphlets for years, as their collections offer something for every experience and emotion. Whether delighting in tea, gardening, travel and animals or delving into the murkier realms of revenge, rubbish, or soil, they've found poems you'll love to read and share.

Candlestick is thrilled to be celebrating its millionth pamphlet sale – a major milestone that will be marked with a number of celebrations, including Ten Poems of Light to be published in October 2024.

Every sale of the pamphlet will see a donation to Starlight Children’s Foundation – adding to the £320,000 Candlestick has donated so far to a whole range of charities.

Candlestick has been extending its reach into some far-flung corners of the world and now has stockists in Australia and New Zealand as well as in the US.

CANDLESTICK PUBLISHER DI SLANEY SAYS:

“It makes us very happy to know that our pamphlets are finding their way to so many new readers, some of whom may be enjoying poetry for the first time. Our themed selections are designed to as inclusive as possible by appealing to popular enthusiasms – everything from running to gardening and sheep to birds. We also aim to showcase the work of emerging poets who may not yet have published a collection.”

Next year will see a host of new titles on subjects ranging from vegetables to wellbeing.

Here at Candlestick we’re excited by the opportunities that lie ahead and can’t wait to bring our unique ‘instead of a card’ format to even more readers.

Read more here: https://www.candlestickpress.co.uk/a-mighty-million/

24/09/2024

It was great to speak with Dave Jemitus on Brooklands Radio on Sunday, click the link below to listen to our conversation. We discussed biodiversity and food security, the treadmill of food fads, and why our book 'Meet Us and Eat Us' had to include poetry, prose and photography. You can also hear the poem about almonds from the book, inspired by a historical food demonstration by The Copper Pot at the Loxwood Joust.

21/09/2024

I'm honoured to have a poem about trespassing for wild garlic in the Resistance themed issue 4 of Overtly Lit, available to download for free from their website https://overtlylit.com

19/09/2024

Get yourself to The Spice of Life to hear three excellent poets!

By popular request the Booming Lovelies -Heather Moulson Sharron Green Trisha Broomfield -are beyond excited to announce our first London show 🌟🌟🌟

For one afternoon only we will be performing at The Spice of Life - Soho🎤💕

Please save the date … Tuesday 5th November …from 2-3pm … doors open at 1pm… 🌹

Further details and ticket link to follow 🎉

Hope to see you there 🥰

17/09/2024

Next Thursday! Vilma will be sharing the story of her unique artworks and her inspiration for the book. Questions welcome!

Looking forward to hearing more about ‘Meet Us and Eat Us’ from our guests Vilma Bharatan and Liz Kendall at Fiery Bird Live Music Venue next Thursday 26th September 🍏🍐🍅🥬🥑

Hope to see you there! Sign up on the night for open mic spaces 🎤

Details 👇

https://www.facebook.com/share/nR7fi5qvYVuP4Z4u/?mibextid=9l3rBW

Phoenix Cultural Centre The Edge of the Woods

14/09/2024

‘Prayer to Anubis’ by Liz Kendall
The Edge of the Woods

Death bringer and tender guide
to the path beneath the mountains,
the shadow land,
through which we fear to walk alone,
angle thy sharp-pointed ears towards my words.

One by one we slip our collars and follow you.
No guide but your forward-pointing face and upright tail,
your paw prints in the sand below.
O glossy darkness.
O eternal hound.
Bay me and breathe me through the twilight
and deeper into shade.

12/09/2024

Thanks to Rhymes_n_Roses and Solar Sisters for a fantastic evening of Pizza & Poetry. The next is on Weds 16 October and new people are always welcome, whether you're reading your poems or coming along to listen.

10/09/2024

Yesterday brought various tech wobbles, but it also brought these beauties: Issue 103 of Mslexia and Poems for Gustav Klimt from Hedgehog Press. Remember: you can always rely on paper to save the day. I'm grateful for Linda France's generous and thoughtful reading of my poem 'Four Peaks, Adirondacks' in Mslexia, and for being included in the illustrated Klimt anthology.

09/09/2024

I'm delighted to have a non-fiction piece in the forthcoming Issue 2 of Power Cut Literary Magazine. Focussing on twentieth century culture, this gorgeous print magazine is well worth your time. It's fascinating, full of different voices and a range of work including poetry, short stories, reviews, art, and autobiography.

Not long to go! Issue 2 of Power Cut lit mag features some incredible writers and artists, we have poetry, stories, art, tales from Madame Bruttipedi and, of course, a mouthwatering vintage recipe that you should try at home!

07/09/2024

Free entry to the Multicultural Book Fair on Saturday 14 September at Conway Hall, London. Over 50 publishers and authors - including Vilma and me with our book - it's going to be a great day out!

06/09/2024

Open until 27 September - a lovely theme to write about

Togetherness Poetry Challenge2024 A 32 Steps to Togetherness initiative, funded by The National Lottery What is the Poetry Challenge? Loneliness and divisive rhetoric are weighing in our lives as individuals and holding us back as a society. We need connection and community. Read our blog on why. F...

02/09/2024

Need a laugh? The new issue of Lighten Up Online is full of poems written to cheer you and help you see the funny side of life. I have a poem included, inspired by Loxwood Joust.

The quarterly light verse webzine

02/09/2024

The sky maybe a bit dull but the creative energy will still be sparkling at Pizza & Poetry at Solar Sisters on Wednesday 11th September 🌟

Please arrive from 6.30pm to secure the best seats and if you’d like to, sign up for a 5 minute open mic slot. We start at 7pm and finish at around 8.30pm. 🎤 🍕

See https://www.solarsisters.uk/event-details/pizza-poetry-september for further details and RSVP so that we have an idea of numbers. Solar Sisters Cafe is at 86 North St, Guildford GU1 4AU, UK 🎉

Thank-you to Anya Forster for designing this delicious new logo - it says it all ! 😋

Experience Guildford

30/08/2024

My for the The Sealey Challenge is fresh off the press - ‘Meet Us and Eat Us’ by Vilma Bharatan & Liz Kendall 🫑

This beautiful and stylish volume uses , and to introduce a selection of 90 - their history, geography, cultural and mythological roots as well as the science behind them and role in our diets 🧄

It is an amazing achievement and I’m thrilled to have heard talented poet Liz Kendall The Edge of the Woods recite some of the poems live at Solar Sisters cafe and at the Fiery Bird Live Music Venue- including this fab ode to tomatoes 🍅

Meet Us and Eat Us is available from 1 Sept https://meetusandeatus.co.uk and can be bought online at
https://yorkbookshop.com/coming-soon/489-meet-us-and-eat-us-food-plants-from-around-the-world.html 🍏

Thank-you for reading- please add any comments you may have below ✍️

Look out also for posts from Heather Moulson Miriam Otto and Author- Zowie Norris💐

In addition to the poems shared on I have three poetry pamphlets - (published by ), and all available from online bookstores or via 💕

30/08/2024

My favourite review of 'Meet Us and Eat Us' so far is from Jackie in London:
“It is rare to say that a book is totally original but it is genuinely true of ‘Meet us and Eat us’. It is a work of exceptional quality and learning, hugely informative about the families of plants we may (or may not) eat and their geographical and cultural histories. Plants are inextricably part of our lives, inside and outside, and the playful, beautiful animism of the pictures brings this alive. These images are accompanied by accessible, eloquent and, often, equally hilarious poems which share and illuminate this spirit. This is an enticing book for readers of all ages and it makes one hungry to cook and eat more.”

28/08/2024

Tiny Wren Lit Issue 7: memento mori is available to read online AND to download and print as beautiful illustrated zines. This is really something special and I'm delighted to have two poems included. Free zines! With pictures!

28/08/2024

Come and browse through the book! It really is gorgeous: 73 full page illustrations, anti-scuff cover, excellent paper quality, attractive fonts, and full of writing to bring the food plants of the world onto your plate. Rediscover the glories of our everyday staples and meet some plants you might not know yet.

28/08/2024

My poem is on Amethyst Review today! You can sign up on the site for a daily poem engaging with the Sacred. Some days we all need that reminder to slow down.

New Writing Engaging with the Sacred

25/08/2024

You're invited!