Jo Fisher

EVENT ALERT! 🚀
Verity Babbs: Book Launch & In Conversation
Friday 10 October, 6pm // FREE
Join art historian/comedian/presenter #VerityBabbs in conversation with 'a space' arts' Mia Delve, as they discuss Verity’s brand new book, The History of Art in One Sentence >>> bit.ly/VerityBabbs #Southampton

AUTUMN EXHIBITIONS LAUNCH PARTY 🎉
Friday 3 October, 6–8pm
Join us as we launch our new Autumn season exhibitions, including Outlandish with Aaron Williamson, and group show, With the certainty of tides, still I rise. Read more at jhg.art, and see you on Friday! 💥 #Art #Southampton #SouthamptonEvents

Just ONE WEEK until the Winchester Poetry Festival. so much going on. Book now! www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/what-s-on

What's on - Winchester Poetry Festival events in 2025 Details of our forthcoming events and collaborations. Winchester Poetry Festival runs 2-12th October

Hi poetry lovers – Winchester Poetry Festival is here!

We have online fringe events happening over the next few days, and a *full weekend* of poetic fun starting a week today, 10-12 October, in Winchester, UK (and live streamed).

Come and join us: www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/what-s-on

I do not Wish You Were Here If you were, I'd have no one to write to

"If we’re honest, isn’t it sometimes lovely to get away from each other?"

A poster for the Winchester Poetry Prize: Winchester Poetry Prize 2025 1st prize £1000 2nd prize £500 3rd prize £250 Kathryn Bevis Prize for top poem by poet from Hampshire 1 WEEK TO GO! Closes 31 July winchesterpoetryfestival.org/prize Judged by Fiona Benson

Poets! You have just one week left to enter this year’s Winchester Poetry Prize!

Pay-it-forward spaces for writers on low incomes are still available, too 🤍

Go on - give it a go! You never know.

A poster in lilac with the following copy: Winchester Poetry Prize 2025, Open now, closes 31 July. Winchesterpoetryfestival.org/prize. 1st prize: £1000, 2nd prize: £500, 3rd prize: £250; Kathryn Bevis Prize for top poem by poet from Hampshire. Judged by Fiona Benson.

Poets! Writers! Creative folk!

This year's Winchester Poetry Prize is now OPEN until Thursday 31 July.

Feat. the Kathryn Bevis Prize for the best poem by a Hampshire-based poet.

More info, rules and entry requirements can be found online 👇🏻

www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/wpp25

By day, I write long-form articles about geospatial data and black holes. By night, I write about cervical screenings, lasagne and TV quizzes.

I'm part of a fundraiser for @octoberbooks.bsky.social this coming Saturday.

Drop by between 14:30-17:00 for an afternoon of poetry and support Southampton's much-loved community-run indie bookshop.

Tickets = £5.

Hope to see you there. Let's keep our local bookstores afloat 📚🧡

fb.me/e/FGRx61W5K

Winchester Poetry Festival is seeking a Vice-Chair of Trustees Winchester Poetry Festival wishes to appoint a Vice-Chair to work with the current Chair and trustees to support excellent governance and delivery of WPF’s mission to share, celebrate and champion poetry.  This is a new voluntary role, and a great opportunity to join our small but committed team of trustees. This position would provide us with additional trustee capacity and leadership via support of the Chair. In addition, the new Vice-Chair would further enhance our range and diversity of skil

jo_fisher_
We're looking for a Vice-Chair of Trustees at Winchester Poetry Festival!

It's a wonderful way to contribute to the Hampshire literary community, and a great volunteering opportunity for poetry lovers. Support the arts!

www.winchesterpoetryfestival.org/post/winches...

Seeing the news about WHSmith has been the kick up the backside I needed to spend the voucher I’d been saving for the ‘right time’.

You know, just in case 👀

Two new books are winging their way to me 🙌🏻

My lit-loving heart is v happy; my ever-straining bookshelves of unread novels are not.

A Reminder from Smaller Beings The bird building her home on your windowsill has had every nest destroyed before. The spider that is delicately weaving a silken masterpiece has had every single thread broken before. And despite it all, they try again.

Revolutions are built on hope as much as they are built on righteous anger.

First garden dabble of 2025 today. Pulled up some weeds and dead plants, pruned a rose, spent a while admiring the bulbs coming through. Also bought a few seeds online, ready for sowing. I've missed spending time in our very own outside; roll on spring.

Today I have written about:

- supermassive black holes
- giant, ancient galaxies
- bringing animals back from extinction

#CopywritingLife

We’ve been having some decorating done, and today the red paint - which we chose 9 months ago and haven’t looked at since - is going on the walls. Hopefully we still like it. Wish us luck! 👀

Where to eat in Lisbon Believe it or not, there's more to the city than pastéis de nata.

Food is a big deal for me when I travel, and last year’s trip to Lisbon was no exception.

From those famous pastries to fancy Fado nights, here are some of our favourites.

(Eve if you’re not planning to visit, I hope you enjoy reading about what we ate!)

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Tired I am so tired of waiting, Aren't you, For the world to become good And beautiful and kind? Let us take a knife And cut the world in two-And see what worms are eating At the rind. - Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes knew what’s up.

A blue bowl on a grey placemat, with a knife and fork either side. Inside is porridge with mushrooms stirred through, a fried egg on top and a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

I tried savoury porridge for the first time this morning, with tahini + Parmesan mushrooms, fresh parsley, veggie stock and a fried egg.

I know this won’t be for everyone - especially if you’re funny about textures. But…this was so, SO good. I can’t wait to make it again.

10 of my favourite books from 2024 One third of my year's reading list, picked just for you

I read 30 books in 2024, and today I'm sharing my favourite ones with you!

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Very nearly uttered the phrase ‘I’m an Editor, it’s my job to be picky’ today. I think I might have to put that in my email signature.

TICKETS ON SALE!
In Conversation with #DavidHarewood
Tuesday 28 January, 7pm
MAST Mayflower Studios, #Southampton
Exploring the impact of being Black in Britain, this discussion will examine what it means to struggle, suffer, survive, and succeed. Book your free tickets here: bit.ly/InConversati...

I think today is the first day I’ve ever looked forward to a Rail Replacement service 👀 #TraitorsUK

My Ins and Outs for 2025 Stretchy waistbands, savoury breakfasts and shopping small

Happy New Year, folks! In the spirit of ‘just hitting publish’…here’s my first Substack post of 2025. Some things I want more and less of over the coming year.

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Shop small gift guide A few of my favourite small businesses to buy from this Christmas

I’ve shared a ✨New Post✨ - and it’s my small business gift guide! Featuring many of my favourite small, indie and local businesses to buy from this Christmas.

(And another quick doodle from me!)

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Wonderful poem, Susmita! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻✨

Today! Come along, friends and local folk👇🏻✨🎤❤️

A poster advertising ‘Stop/Watch’ on December 1st at 6pm - an event with a mix of poets, theatre and musicians.

I’m performing at Clockwork Bar in Shirley, Southampton on Sunday alongside a top troupe of artists 🧡

Stop by for a chilled night of music and spoken word (and come along earlier to see The Guillotine Union Boys!) #Southampton

Buildings and trees on Highfield Campus lit up in red and blue Christmas lights.

Trees on Highfield Campus lit up in red and green Christmas lights.

It’s looking festive on @unisouthampton.bsky.social’s Highfield Campus 🎄✨

And you! 👋🏻

Monday night is quiz night Are we ready to embrace our middle-aged weekly ritual?

I went and illustrated my latest Substack post myself! ✍🏻

This one’s all about watching quiz shows on TV every Monday. I'm talking Only Connect + University Challenge. Cosy stuff.

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