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(photo by David Sobik)
Bluewren Cantos is Mark Tredinnick’s new collection of poetry just published. I only came across Mark’s work for the first time when he won the Cardiff International Poetry Prize in 2012, and then had the honour of meeting him at the launch of Australian Love Poems 2013 last September, which he edited. Mark’s poetry is the best kind – it draws you in, absorbs you and then leaves you with a little piece to keep. Having just ordered my copy, I can’t wait to dive in.
And what of me…?
Well, one of my poems – Admission – has just been published in the recently released Poems 2013: Volume 2 of the Australian Poetry Ltd Member’s Anthology. A wonderful start to 2014 – hope it’s a sign of things to come.
The other day I was asked what single piece of advice I would give to poets just starting out. And it is, unsurprisingly, that age-old answer – read, and read widely.
Not just your genre or style, go further. Explore prose, narrative, fantasy, thrillers, whatever takes your fancy. You’ll be surprised by what can inspire and breathe life into a piece that has been “work in progress” for months, years even.
So if you’re still looking for some stocking fillers for any fellow writers, these are just a few that are well worth a read:
- Jo Cannon – Insignificant Gestures
- Helen Ivory – Waiting for Bluebeard
- Clare Jay – Breathing in Colour
- Deborah Levy – Black Vodka
- Catherine Smith – The Biting Point
Happy reading (and writing!) over the festive period 🙂
Check out the latest edition of Sotto Magazine from Australian Poetry, edited by Donna Ward.
Australian Poetry is the leading body for poetry in the nation and Sotto is one of its regular publications. I am thrilled to have some of my work in there for the first time since arriving in South Australia.
J V Birch 