Di Slaney

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...

Thank you so much! 😊

Poetry book cover for Di Slaney ‘January conversations with dogs’ . Drawn and watercolour image of 2 women talking in a bright landscape with 2 dogs

Di Slaney, 'January conversations with dogs', from Valley Press Di Slaney’s ‘January conversations with dogs’ from Valley Press is a beautifully illustrated, by Jane Burn, sequence poem recording twenty-one conversations while walking her dog Taffy. Diary entry format, these tiny snapshot poems witnessing the landscape and meetings with strangers and locals, recording with precise observation and tonal weather, what connects us. The form of one, unpunctuated, stanza per day reinforces the theme, with notes on the dogs’ responses endearing. Each day an overlap of many conversations.

It’s reviews week on #toptweettuesday over on X hosted by @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social.
I had the pleasure of reading at @dislaney.bsky.social book launch for ‘January conversations with dogs’ from Valley Press, it’s a joyous collection. More here: www.marcellenewbold.co.uk/poetry-book-....

Grateful for recent mentions of my pamphlet January conversations, with dogs out in the world, and pleased that people can see Jane Burn’s magnificent artwork for the first time.

It’s in in the Valley Press online bookshop, and you get a bonus Taffy bookmark www.valleypressuk.com/shop/p/janua...

Two days to go till this lovely online event with Explore York Libraries and Archives! I’m going to read some brand new poems and it’s free, so please come along if you can: www.tickettailor.com/events/explo...?

They were delighted! Xx

January conversations, with dogs. First walk up to the top field since my Achilles injury last September- yay!!

Really looking forward to reading with Alex Corrin-Tachibana and SL Holm this Thursday evening at Finding the Words for Explore York Libraries and Archives. It’s online on Zoom and it’s free, booking link below to get the Zoom details.

www.tickettailor.com/events/explo...

#FindingTheWords

Thank you so much! What lovely feedback 😘🐾

I attended the online launch for this last night. Lovely work from @dislaney.bsky.social and @janeburn.bsky.social . Ideal gift for any dog-lover and obtained via the Valley Press website. #poetry #dogs #poetrycommunity

Thank you 😘🐾