Join us on Tuesday for Habitation: poems on the theme of land/class/nature with Angelina D’Roza, Steve Ely, Pete Green, Rob Hindle, Chris Jones, Fay Musselwhite. Tue 21 April The Harlequin, 108 Nursery St, Sheffield, S3 8GG Free entry, all welcome. Book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/habitation...

My friend and neighbour Saul Leslie isn’t on social media. His debut novel is out soon, the launch is at @waterstoneslpl.bsky.social on 21 April. It’s called A Working Title I Want To Change. It’s brilliant. He’s in conversation with @davidhering.bsky.social www.waterstones.com/events/saul-...

Last week I was lucky a venue I wanted to visit was closed - I ended up here instead. Yes, it's a lovely view of Porth Neigwl, Hell's Mouth, North Wales, but watch as the cottage is revealed - you are seeing where poet @rsthomaspoet.bsky.social & his artist wife Elsi Eldridge lived in retirement.

Habitation: a collective reading on the theme of 'land, class, nature' with Angelina D’Roza, Steve Ely, Pete Green, Rob Hindle, Chris Jones, Fay Musselwhite. Tuesday 21 April The Harlequin, 108 Nursery St, Sheffield, S3 8GG Free entry, all welcome. Book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/habitation...

Rain clouds are forming over the Welsh hills but here on Crosby beach the sun has been shining, the sea silvered with light and up in the blue sky over the beach skylarks are singing. The first time I have heard them this year. #IronMenCrosby

Someone should read this into the congressional record.

After Storm Dave and a recent high tide, today the wet sands of Crosby beach were a mirror to the clouds racing across blue sky. The air filled with the roar of the white capped waves and the cry of gulls sweeping past. #IronMenCrosby

How lovely, and really quite astonishing. Book tourism in action. Recent visitors to my neighbour's BnB came to stay because they'd read Windswept! And others stopped her on the road to ask about it. Thank you to everyone who has bought, gifted, recommended & written about this wee book.

I love writing these letters to Kirsteen. Happy reading everyone 🤗

The last light before the clocks changed. A wintery feel as a cold wind drives foaming spray capped waves across Crosby beach. Rain laden clouds gather over the sea, just allowing the sun to set before blotting out the light with a grey curtain of rain. #IronMenCrosby

A reminder that postal charges are increasing from 7 April, which makes this a particularly good week to order books from us

A dramatic sunset, the last before the clocks go forward to summer time. But it was nothing like summer down at Crosby beach tonight as a strong NW wind chilled the air, whipped up the incoming tide and drove squalls of rain and hail across the scene. #IronMenCrosby

You can find the Longbarrow Press stall at the States of Independence one-day festival and book fair in Leicester on Saturday 28 March (alongside Five Leaves, Shearsman, intergraphia, and more). The Atrium, Hugh Aston Building, The Newarke, Leicester LE2 7BY. 10am-4pm, all welcome, admission free.

A lovely response to the Sacred Memory Bank exhibition here from Chris Shepherd, author of the wonderful 'Anfield Road', one of the best books going about Liverpool in my humble opinion. The exhibition closes tomorrow so get your skates on! anfieldroadstory.com/last-couple-...

This is a great read.

You can find Longbarrow Press at the following book fairs in the coming weeks: States of Independence, Leicester, Saturday 28 March Free Verse: Poetry Book Fair, London, Saturday 25 April Book Market, SIBFest, Sheffield, Sunday 26 April Free, all welcome. Further info: longbarrowpress.com/events/

That Spring feeling as warm sunlight filters through the branches. The woodland glows with a carpet of yellow daffodils and the light greens of new leaf buds appearing on the trees.

Yesterday, as evening fell on Crosby beach the last light of day coloured the clouds above the emptying sands with an impressionist brush of many colours. The streaked clouds glowed orange then deep pink and tones of crimson. A stunning end to a spring day. #IronMenCrosby

As a brilliant spring day drew to a close and the busy beach quietened, the sun lowered into clouds along the western horizon marking the eve of the eqilux. On Wednesday the hours of daylight and night will be equal ahead of the Spring Equinox. #IronMenCrosby

A beautiful spring like day here in Alexandra Park, Crosby. Blossom is bright against the blue sky, daffodils are swaying in the breeze, bright pale greens of new leaves are emerging on bushes and clumps of bright Scilla Luciliae, Lucile’s Glory of the Snow are bright blue patches across the lawns.

Almost cloudless skies and wet sands shimmering under the bright sunlight of this spring like day on Crosby beach, the wind from the south and warmer. Out at the water’s edge oystercatchers are calling, the air full of their plaintive piping. #IronMenCrosby

There’s only two weeks left to visit the Sacred Memory Bank at the wonderful Kirkby Gallery So if you’re thinking of going, get going! bsky.app/profile/wild...

Signs of spring. Catkins on the twisted willow and tiny pink crowns on the leaf buds.

Clear skies and shimmering sands at Crosby beach this afternoon. Almost spring like apart from the chill wind taking the heat out of the sun. #IronMenCrosby

A cold evening, the light blue, a strong NW wind cutting across Crosby beach. Just a hint of warmth from the glow of the setting sun as it shines through a distant gap in the fast moving clouds. #IronMenCrosby

Early stroll. A cloud in the shape of Alaska. My shadow shadowstrolls with me. The word ‘toucan’ pops into my head and hangs around. Coffee spilt from a dropped paper cup in a bus shelter. A truck passes, carrying four wheelbarrows.

Early stroll. The stories that old wall could tell. The moon is gift-wrapped in cloud. A car races itself up the hill. Tree shadows: branch lines. Birdsong uncorked.

Dawn light on the River Suir. Cormorants dry their wings in the warmth of early sunlight high above the water. The dewed grass is silvered by the low light and glitters with sparkling rainbow hued jewels. Celandines unfold, stretching out their petals to catch the morning sun.

Early river stroll. The deep pink pre-dawn clouds have faded and now the dew laden grass is silver in the morning sunlight. The bird chorus is at full strength. Pied wagtails bob up and down the riverside path. A statuesque heron watches a cormorant diving for breakfast.

"You'll never see a dud from Longbarrow." - Charlie Connelly. Last day for our special offer: any 3 hardbacks for £32. Includes collections by Steve Ely, Angelina D'Roza, Peter Riley, Nancy Gaffield, Mark Goodwin, Matthew Clegg, Fay Musselwhite and more longbarrowpress.com/current-publ...

Early river stroll. Overcast at first, but the surface of the river comes alive as light breaks through the cloud layer. A song thrush is melodious against a background of goldcrest chatter. Violets and celandines brighten the river bank.

The sky to the east has taken on that dusky pink hue as evening falls and the earth rotates into its own shadow. To the west the sky is ablaze with colour as the sun sets at the end of a perfect blue sky day. This old oak tree in winter skeleton guise is a perfect foreground silhouette.

Early morning Spring sunlight and blue skies after a day of rain in South Tipperary. Slievenamon -mountain of the women, looking beautiful this morning with a dusting of snow covering the upper slopes high above the ice encrusted fields.

A medley of bird song is a soundtrack to beautiful frosty morning by the River Suir at Kilsheelan, South Tipperary. Rising mist captures the low sunlight, filling the shadows with a golden glow. A morning to lift the heart and enrich the mind.

Early river stroll. A writhing twisting, shape shifting mass of golden light hovers over the fast flowing water. Bird song fills the air. Song thrush and mistle thrush compete for the best note. Frost on the riverbank glitters in the morning light. A morning full of joy.

The end of a clear sunny early spring day. The glowing orb of the sun lowers through a band of haze towards the visible edge of the earth. It is now that the speed of the earth’s rotation becomes visible as our nearest star slips swiftly out of sight. #IronMenCrosby

The setting sun is a glowing ball of orange fire as the Belfast Ferry Stena Edda makes her way into the Mersey at the end of a lovely clear crisp evening. #IronMenCrosby

David Keenan’s new book ‘Boyhood’ is astonishingly good and I’m VERY excited to be in conversation with him on Monday 13 April at Liverpool Waterstones. Come! @reversediorama.bsky.social @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social @waterstoneslpl.bsky.social DETAILS: www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...

A pair of long tailed tits paid a visit to the garden on this first morning of meteorological spring.

Shades of winter blues, a clear sky overhead Crosby beach yesterday afternoon. A herald of brighter days for the this first day of meteorological Spring. #IronMenCrosby

This wren was a welcome visitor to the garden just now. A lovely sight through the conservatory window.

A halo of fluttering white petals of almond blossom surround the early morning sun rising over the olive groves of Andalucía.

Sunset through the clouds at 38000 feet. The lowering sun painted the clouds below with the colours of flames and glowing embers.

A lovely display from the snowdrops in Alexandra Park Crosby this morning as they glow in the bright sunshine.

Happy to launch this gorgeous book today. Grab a copy via the links in bio! @jmatkin.bsky.social @richardnskinner.bsky.social

A day that started with rain has finished with a touch of radiant light. Tidal pools reflect the glowing sky at the end of a cold winter’s day at Crosby beach. #IronMenCrosby

Rare blue skies and sunshine over Crosby beach this afternoon after days of grey cloud cover and rain bring a touch of hope for brighter days ahead. #IronMenCrosby

Clearing skies over Crosby beach this afternoon as the rain finally ceased. Ice crystals in the high cirrus clouds create a pale sun dog visible to the left of the picture. #IronMenCrosby

Hamamelis from the garden. A yellow flame brought in from the greyness of the day. “Bring in a twig, To break into bud And sweeten our room, To lighten the air With its frankincense, myrrh, flower of winter.” From Witch-Hazel by Gillian Clarke.

This morning's sunrise from the middle of a silhouette of mountains. By the spring equinox it will rise left of Baosbheinn (left on 📷). To me this view is a deep time clock, a natural calendar, marking the passage of seasons across a year, for years uncountable. You can read more in #Windswept