Bowled over to see The Irish Times today has a brilliant review of my new @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social collection of poems, Crowd Voltage! I love its focus on empathy and connection.⚡️🤠⚡️

💙🙏🙏🙏

and I actually meant @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social for truly there is a man who deserves the 'THE'! ❤️

..and very sincere apologies if I did miss anyone, and last but not least of course @paulwritespoems.bsky.social ❤️

...and... @eleanorholmes.bsky.social @ella-b-winters.bsky.social @carmellapoetry.bsky.social @gillbarr.bsky.social @helenlaycock.bsky.social @merrildsmith.bsky.social @suefinch.bsky.social @palimpsest22.bsky.social @sarahraybould.bsky.social @carolynthomas.bsky.social @coastalpoet.bsky.social

& I'm honoured to be in the mighty company of (draws breath!) @leiabutler.bsky.social @victoriaspires.bsky.social @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social @paulconnolly.bsky.social @lozzawriting.bsky.social @johnchmura.bsky.social @pdevonald.bsky.social @rotherwrites.bsky.social @richlyevocative.bsky.social and:

paulwritespoems.com/unwhispered-... This anthology is launched today, free download, fundraising for a great cause: Medecins Sans Frontieres. Compiled & edited with skill and care by the very wonderful @paulwritespoems.bsky.social. I have two poems in here, that first appeared via #PoemsAbout... ❤️

Red dead nettle flowering on the wall of St Mary’s Church in Ely. #WildflowerHour

Book Cover of the Day:

Hare, Edge Of The Silver Dawn, Catherine Hyde.

"Fans of poetry on womanhood will love this collection. This book is an excellent addition to anyone who likes contemporary writing and in my opinion is a masterclass on poetry about life." Absolutely blown away by this review of Circulaire by the wonderful @paulwritespoems.bsky.social 💛☕️

This week in The Book Bag, Circulaire by Bex Hainsworth published by Written Off Publishing. Take 5 and settle in. '... in my opinion is a masterclass on poetry about life' Plus news, opps, shoutouts and of course an eclectic playlist. #TheBookBag

Merry Christmas from the Maiden City!

Congratulations Gill!

Available from Foyle Books, Gateway, Little Acorn Books and Waterstones in Derry/Londonderry or order from Cinnamon Press, Waterstones or Amazon. A Wide River Divides Us is one of The Book Bag’s Top 10 Books of the Year.

A shot of coffee…

Gorgeous late November afternoon light

Tickets are now live 🫣

Chilly, sharp, bright day at West Bay.

Delighted that my poem Headspace inspired by Paul Klee has been selected for After… 2026. So many thanks to @markantonyowen.com

Such a wonderful open mic, Paul! Thank you for your warm and supportive hosting! 🌟 I'm so pleased to have been at the first Book Bag Open Mic!

At home on the Foyle…

Brilliant Book Bag open mic tonight, warmly hosted by @paulwritespoems.bsky.social. Please do another one in the new year, Paul! 😁

Thank you to all who made tonight’s first Book Bag Open Mic Session. Absolutely stellar poetry throughout with incredible support and encouragement 🙏. @gillbarr.bsky.social @alanparrywriter.co.uk @helenlaycock.bsky.social @jahshabby.bsky.social @markantonyowen.com @victoriaspires.bsky.social

November butterfly…

"a saint's eye unbuttons, / spilling bees" 👏🏼

Goodnight. 🖼️ Edna Eicke, New Yorker October 27, 1945.

I'm so thrilled to be nominated by The Chaos Section Poetry Project for my poem, "Emerging from the Penumbra." Thank you!

Holly with… apple

⚡️🥳⚡️🥳⚡️🥳⚡️ Overjoyed to see our beautiful Storms Issue V bursting into the world! It’s a real stunner and I’m so proud and grateful to have been a part of this wonderful adventure. Celebrations galore now! Thank you Damien, and all you super Stormers you are amazing! 🥳⚡️🤩 👏💖⚡️

The 5th Storm has landed, the printed journal of poetry, prose & visual art featuring 89 star Stormers & cover art by Brian Malachy Quinn is supported by @dublincityoflit.bsky.social @fingal.ie Now available to buy at our online shop eatthestorms.com/the-storm-sh...

Getting my head back into writing after the school holidays, so a quick first draft of a poem for this week's #PromptCombo #DreamLogic. Thanks @victoriaspires.bsky.social for hosting! #poem #poetry

I'm pleased that two of my poems will appear in North Coast Voices 2025: Poems of the Great Lakes, edited by Chuck Joy and M Scott Douglass for Main Street Rag Publishing. So many good poets between these covers. Advance sale discount price is only $10 at mainstreetragbookstore.com/product/nort...

Hi @victoriaspires.bsky.social and the #promptcombo team. Thank you for the prompt #DreamLogic. Here is my recollection of the febrile hours/days of malaria when I was 19. I was nursed back to health by the inimitable Sister Pat, a septuagenarian nun - and very dear friend. #poetry

Ginko to go…

Delighted to be reading at East Coker Poets this evening at 7.30 pm in the brilliant Village Café. Reading from A Wide River Divides Us #CinnamonPress @ArtsCouncilNI @PaulWritesPoems @blackbough #southwest #poetry @LitWorks

The @bridportprize.bsky.social 2025 results are officially out. Congrats to the winners & highly commended. Honoured to be shortlisted (top 3% of entrants from around the globe), & in great company too. My first time entering, so am very grateful 🙏 Full results: bridportprize.org.uk/results/2025

This is a lovely article, Gill. My heart broke at Palmer’s moon - lyrical and poignant.

It’s here. The Book Bag with @gillbarr.bsky.social collection A Wide River Divides Us published by Cinnamon Press Plus news & opps including; @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social @frazzledlit.bsky.social @eatthestorms.com

The Book Bag is here. This week we cross A Wide River Divides by Gill Barr, published by Cinnamon Press. One of the top ten books I've read this year. Read my thoughts here. Also news, opps and the regular playlist.

So delighted that A Wide River Divides Us will be featured on The Book Bag Sunday Oct 19th 8 a.m. Many thanks to @PaulWritesPoems.bsky.social @blackboughpoetry.bsky.social @rosiejackson.bsky.social @kimsquirrell.bsky.social @bethbpoet.bsky.social @matthewmcsmith.bsky.social

Today’s the day. Launching my debut poetry collection @sladersyard.bsky.social in West Bay Dorset. Couldn’t be more excited!

Archway Books setting up at Shute Lit Festival in Lyme Regis. The sun is out…

Look what landed here this morning, because, you know, I am always well ahead of the curve in my reading matter...🥰

Autumn pavement at Pall Mall Galleries