Di Slaney

Very happy to have made this Australian longlist with three witchy poems - congratulations to Sue Burge also! Fingers crossed for the shortlist now. www.writingtheheroine.com/longlist

Looking forward to this live reading at Waterstones Market Harborough on Thursday with Jonathan Taylor, Tim Relf and Maria Taylor – come join us if you can! I’ll be reading some playful poems for #nationalpoetryday

Starts 6.30pm - details here: www.waterstones.com/events/poetr...

Updated readers list! Now over 40 poets reading their poems of place in this unique showcase event - don’t forget to book your free ticket:

www.tickettailor.com/events/candl...

Yummy!

@oenonethomas.bsky.social @abrackenbury.bsky.social

Thank you, Alison! ❤️

One piece of chocolate was absent-mindedly consumed before I even took the picture... But these delectable poems will not disappear! Thank you, @dislaney.bsky.social & @candlestickpress.bsky.social Candlestick Press, for including mine in the assorted 'Ten Poems about Chocolate'!

@timrelf.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social

Poetry Evening at Waterstones Market Harborough | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Poetry Evening at Waterstones Market Harborough today.

On National Poetry Day 2nd October, I’ll be at Waterstones Market Harborough for a reading alongside Tim Relf, Maria Taylor and Andrew Taylor with poems of place, of animals and of play - come along!

#nationalpoetryday

It starts at 6.30pm - details here: www.waterstones.com/events/poetr...

@marymulholland.bsky.social

Today's recommendation comes from @dislaney.bsky.social, the representative of the North Nottinghamshire Stanza. To find out more about our Stanza groups, visit the link in our bio.

Di's pick is Mary Mulholland's 'the elimination game' (Broken Sleep Books). Thank you, Di!

Thank you so much, dear Elly! 😘

Edited by Paul with translations by Siena Crossley, The Power of Place: Poetry of the Côte d’Azur can be bought on Amazon or from Paul directly: strategol@orange.fr

The inspiration for my own poem came from an altogether different place, although Paul was kind enough to keep it in the anthology, perhaps as a point of contrast. In warm, bright and opulent places there are often small, scared patches of darkness that should be brought to the light.

Inspired by making his home in Cannes and “walking in the sandy footsteps of many great writers who found inspiration in the topography, climate and culture of this marvellous land”, Paul has assembled a small collection of beautiful poems which perfectly demonstrate the inspiration of place.

There are many tales to be told from that short, intense time living at sea with complete strangers, but I’d never considered it material for poetry until lovely Paul Christopher Walton asked if I had anything to contribute to his forthcoming anthology Côte d’Azur.

Living on the boat in dry dock while we made it seaworthy meant walking 500m to find toilets and showers in the marina. No running water. No home comforts. No comfort at all, in fact.

Recruited for my language skills and not my ability to cook, clean, do laundry and anti-foul the underneath of a boat in dry dock, these were all things I had to learn very quickly to do. Character-building, I think it’s called! It was hotter than I’d ever known.

Almost 41 years ago this weekend, I had a big adventure. Pre-university me spent the summer of 1984 working as single crew on board a small yacht on the Côte d’Azur, helping the owner of a kit car company promote his latest vehicle.

It was time for me to grow up.

We're pleased to announce two new Stanza groups: one in North Nottinghamshire, and one in Newcastle. Stanza groups are groups run voluntarily by Poetry Society members, and take a variety of forms, including workshops and reading groups. Take a look! poetrysociety.org.uk/membership/p...

The conversations with dogs is the sequel 😉🐾

Thanks so much 😘

Thank you so much, dear Elly 😘

January conversations with dogs – poetry by Di Slaney, illustrations by Jane Burn Here’s a poetry book I recommend – January conversations with dogs available from Valley Press  UK’s Di Slaney and Jane Burn have collaborated to produce a special pamphlet. It&#8…

January conversations with dogs - poetry by @dislaney.bsky.social , illustrations by @janeburn.bsky.social ellyfromearth.wordpress.com/2025/06/22/j...

Thank you so much! Looking forward to reading your poem 😊

Di Slaney wins Write Out Loud’s ‘Echoes’ competition with ‘Dolly Parton’s wig’ - in memory of a ‘dear friend and inspiration’ | Write Out Loud Di Slaney wins Write Out Loud’s ‘Echoes’ competition with ‘Dolly Parton’s wig’ - in memory of a ‘dear friend and inspiration’

Congrats Di 💜💙❤️ ! @dislaney.bsky.social "Di Slaney wins Write Out Loud’s ‘Echoes’ competition with ‘Dolly Parton’s wig’ - in memory of a ‘dear friend and inspiration’" www.writeoutloud.net/public/bloge...

Thank you so much, Elly! 😘

Delighted to have my mushrooms in @dislaney.bsky.social 's new poetry gem from @candlestickpress.bsky.social ! I have brooded on 'veg' as I finished my prose book, 'Village'. It has 2 chapters set in the echoing Victorian farmhouse to which my father brought his find. Do you have local mushrooms?

Do you ever wish someone would make an anthology about a certain subject? @dislaney.bsky.social @candlestickpress.bsky.social has done 'Veg' as I disrespectfully call them. Fantastic choices including Jen Hadfield , @mimdarling.bsky.social & Ted Kooser's stunning potato poem.One for every palate!

Thank you again, Jo - so touched by this lovely review 😘

📖 Book Review ~ January Conversations, with dogs by Di Slaney Valley Press January 2025 Illustrations by Jane Burn My thanks to the author for my copy of this book In this tender, observational journey ...

Today on #Jaffareadstoo I am delighted to share my #BookReview of January Conversations, with dogs by @dislaney.bsky.social
Illustrated by @janeburn.bsky.social
Published by Valley Press, it’s available now.
#Poetry

jaffareadstoo.blogspot.com/2025/01/book...