Leona Medlin

I like this poem of memory and emotion by Philip Callow from his 1984 Rivelin Grapheme collection New York Insomnia. I do think his poems and novels should be better known.

The world of books is still the world.

What books can we get you today? - Michael

Thrilled to share the stunning cover for FOLKISH by @kymdeyn.bsky.social and make it available to pre-order now.
Artwork by Letty Wilson.

'Bold, inventive, sardonic. Ripe with scavenger gods, local saints and legends.'

Playful, spirited and absolutely furious.
ninearchespress.com/publications...

On the Ghosts Haunting Your Writing Space Even if you don't know they're there

I especially like how useful the ghost of Angela Carter can be.
open.substack.com/pub/awriters...

Telenovela by Gonzalo C. Garcia - anti fascist, pro human literature

Our new newsletter is newsy: www.galleybeggar.co.uk/campaigns/vi...

Features glad tidings about this beauty:

The emotionally precarious life of a poet… @writersandartists.bsky.social have released an excerpt from my essay in their 2026 edition: ‘Perseverance in Getting Poetry Published’ www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/perse...

😲 George Saunders is releasing "Vigil" on 1/27/26

Like "Lincoln in the Bardo", it will be set in a liminal zone between life and death.
It follows the deathbed journey & moral accounting of an oil company CEO.

Are you adding this one to your TBR? 📚

#books #booksky #litfic #booklover #tbr

Yup

remembering this nice old lady on the subway once who leaned over my shoulder to read whatever book of poems I had, and when I "caught" her I held the book between us, I let her tell me when to turn the page, and at her stop she thanked me for letting her be a "thief of my reading"

Citizen Scientists Are Accelerating Ecology Research, Study Suggests

I’m familiar with community science or “citizen science” projects in astronomy, but didn’t realize the extent to which iNaturalist users were generating useful data. More than 5,000 peer-reviewed papers since its inception, & citations increasing quickly. 🧪

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/s...

Rain! Such a blessing for gardeners, if not for holidaymakers. But dry in Gloucestershire today, I think. I wish you appropriate weather!

Delightful!

Penzance Literar Festival brochure showing info on a workshop by Katrina Naomi

I'll be running a workshop for those new to poetry at Penzance Lit Fest on 2 July

#poetry
#literaryfestivals

I think folk musicians are very kind to poetry. I recommend @genevievetudor.bsky.social 'Genevieve Plays Folk' podcast on Mixcloud. On 20.4.25, 1hr 35 min in, Dowally played a most moving version of W.H.Auden's 'Night Mail', with 'longing' for mail.'For who can bear to feel themselves forgotten?'

YouTube video by Carrie Etter Matthew Leigh's intro for Grief's Alphabet

Best introduction for Grief's Alphabet I'll ever have: youtu.be/z8B4NSG9YO8

Lovely to see them!

“Hatagaya Lore,” by Bryan Washington The bar was mostly empty, but Aaliyah was playing, so I passed the bartender some yen, and after he mixed my drink he lingered in front of me.

“Nothing is anything forever, Juro said. Not even nature.” New fiction by Bryan Washington.

A wood anemone opens its milky star to the sun. Ah, we know how it feels.

Your Light Till Doomsday: The Legacy and Influence of Richard Thompson Rosali, Mary Timony, Chris Forsyth, Cian Nugent, The Tubs, and more share their love for the British music legend.

Rosali, Mary Timony, Chris Forsyth, Cian Nugent, The Tubs, and more share their love for British music legend Richard Thompson.

Please join us at Castlefield Gallery on Thursday 3rd April for PN Review's Spring Readings 2025, featuring recent contributors to the magazine: Stav Poleg, Ophira Gottlieb, Philip Terry and Alex Wong!

Please reserve a free ticket as spaces are limited: www.tickettailor.com/events/carcanetpress...

The best plan is to read it again now. Then you'll perhaps be ready to look for another great read. Sometimes a reread is the best next read. I find that especially with poetry collections.

"When I was seven years old, my parents noticed I had perfect pitch and could play almost anything by ear, so they started me on piano lessons."

Read Allan Miller's piece, "Sharps & Flats," in the Winter 2024-25 issue of Ploughshares. https://pshr.us/winter24

Nice! Must get a copy from one of the independent bookshops around here...

Opinion | They Invented a New Language for War (Gift Article) The words of war and the war of words.

They are Ukrainian poets, they are in Odessa. This about them and about their work, their situation and about Odessa and its history. While there is sadness, this is very life-affirming writing. 'They Invented a New Language for War' www.nytimes.com/2025/02/22/o...

Maybe 'But Not Too Bold'? Is this your to be read pile?

The other fucking reason I don't trust "AI" for anything

I need to get this for an upcoming reading group meeting, so very timely.

Seriously, creative folks: Don't be afraid to let people know your stuff is out there for them, or worry that "now is not the time for that." People are stressed and freaked out and looking for the things that will give them a moment of rest and joy. It is EXACTLY the time for what we do. Tell them.

Folks: I am NOT affiliated with the group that is using my name to support an economic boycott. Please spread this post, if you would.

The Dublin Review number ninety-seven | WINTER 2024-25 features work by Brian Davey, Karen O’Reilly, Eimear Ryan, Susannah Dickey, Aisling Flynn, Juliana Adelman, and Arnold Thomas Fanning. To buy or subscribe visit thedublinreview.com/product/subscription/