So delighted to record a podcast about Hatchery with Tara George @bedsidereading.bsky.social - thankyou for having me ! bedsidereading.buzzsprout.com/1880290/epis... @vpresslit.bsky.social #poetsonbluesky

“Such a dark, magnificent creation. I devoured the poems. Strident, compelling dispatches from the underworld, meticulously crafted. These poems will get under your skin, go straight for the heart.” Helen Mort on Some Dark God by Catherine Balaq vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/some-dark-...

Here’s me reading from Hatchery. I will be reading @waterstones.bsky.social in Bristol on 8th July- www.waterstones.com/events/a-poe... @vpresslit.bsky.social #poemsaloud

“Vicious as you are in your pyjamas, incontinent as the moon, you lie awake, stubbornly sleepish in your outer skin.[…]” From Some Dark God by Catherine Balaq vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/some-dark-...

V. v. excited to see Jenny Hope's V. Press collection, Wild Boar, SHORTLISTED in the INTERNATIONAL RUBERY BOOK AWARD 2026 (poetry & short fiction category)!!! Big congrats @jennyhope.bsky.social & all! Award: www.ruberybookaward.com/about-5 Wild Boar: vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/wild-boar....

“He knows the best worms, how to gut the wood for grubs. Webbed feet to hold a mate tightly. […]” From Some Dark God by Catherine Balaq vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/some-dark-...

Great to read the lovely review of Lauren Mason’s Rust Canyon in The Poetry Review! Rust Canyon: vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/rust-canyo... More on The Poetry Review from The Poetry Society @poetrysociety.org.uk here: poetrysociety.org.uk/publications...

“A black kimono – soul-thin drapes. See-through ache. […]” From Some Dark God by Catherine Balaq vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/some-dark-...

“[…] her quick imagination moves through bleak, unnerving territory with a lightness of touch, reshaping the world [...] This is sharply observed, stirring writing.” John McCullough on Some Dark God by Catherine Balaq vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/some-dark-...

“search for and enter her name black and still in a white space. the ith of it. the eerie ili lifts us. […]" From Some Dark God by Catherine Balaq vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/some-dark-...

I am a neonatologist and a poet, this poem is from my debut collection with @vpresslit.bsky.social

📚 New Review 📚 Some Dark God by Catherine Balaq, out with @vpresslit.bsky.social on 3rd July. Review at victoriaspires.substack.com

“the nothing/formless/what he desires or silence/oil-mouth/musk/she once” From Some Dark God by Catherine Balaq vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/some-dark-...

V. v. excited to share publication of the new bound version of The Neverlands by Damhnait Monaghan @downith.bsky.social – a flash fiction novella that is very raw and very real! vpresspoetry.blogspot.com

“I am the colour of sand, when sand is crushed to slutch. Ochre, yellow, brown, mottled and crosshatched, ground by years […]” From Some Dark God by Catherine Balaq vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/some-dark-...

SO GOOD! 💙

Thrilled to get my hands on an advance copy of Cat Balaq’s new book from @vpresslit.bsky.social. Some collections sing, this one dances. Vital, dark and ultimately life-affirming, it's out 3rd July.

“[…] a family epic in flash form, masterfully and movingly distilled, both devastating and hopeful.” Kathy Fish on The Neverlands by Damhnait Monaghan @downith.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/the-neverl...

“Mammy is using that shiny voice when everything sounds lovely but it isn’t.” from The Neverlands by Damhnait Monaghan @downith.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/the-neverl...

“Nuala doesn’t think she has ever heard Mammy laugh like that. This laugh is beautiful, like fairy whispers.” from The Neverlands by Damhnait Monaghan @downith.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/the-neverl...

“The constable says it’s bad news. And you think, was there ever any other kind? Not in this family.” from The Neverlands by Damhnait Monaghan @downith.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/the-neverl...

“Funny, clever, warm and sad, this is a beautiful book.” Nuala O’Connor on The Neverlands by Damhnait Monaghan @downith.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/the-neverl...

“Nuala wants to fix things even though Mammy says there’s no fixing Da.” from The Neverlands by Damhnait Monaghan vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/the-neverl...

Lovely to be on here with my pal @downith.bsky.social — if she’d not been silly & moved back to Canada, she would have been round my house for lunch today with lots of other lovely people celebrating 🥲

Review news & hot new titles! V. Press summer news & highlights! vpresspoetry.blogspot.com @downith.bsky.social @bethosmond.bsky.social @scooterwriter.bsky.social

“She tells Mammy Sister Angelique is pure of heart and Mammy says she’ll give Nuala pure of heart if she doesn’t eat her cabbage.” from The Neverlands by Damhnait Monaghan @downith.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/the-neverl...

A few words from my flash fiction novella ‘Bereft of Reason’ out from @vpresslit.bsky.social on 1 June. Signed pre-orders available from my website. Copies also available from V. Press.

“On Friday Da gets his wages and goes to the pub. Mammy sits at the fire and polishes her arguments.” from The Neverlands by Damhnait Monaghan @downith.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/the-neverl...

Very happy that ‘The Neverlands’ is back with a third print run after being out of print. ☘️☘️☘️

Now in stock & available to pre-order – a new bound version of The Neverlands by Damhnait Monaghan @downith.bsky.social – a flash fiction novella that is very raw and very real! vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/the-neverl...

V. v. delighted to celebrate poetry of & about all walks of life, & to see this picked up on in a lovely long mention of Alex Reed’s Dreaming Backward, described as a ‘real pleasure’ by Tristram Fane Saunders in the Times Literary Supplement. More info: vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/dreaming-b...

Elizabeth Osmond’s Hatchery is brilliant and beautiful, combining medical expertise (Osmond is a neonatal consultant) and fascinating insights into the history of obstetrics with care and sensitivity in their purest forms. A very impressive debut. @bethosmond.bsky.social @vpresslit.bsky.social

V. Press is v v pleased to share the publication of Bereft of Reason by Diane Simmons @scooterwriter.bsky.social – a novella in flash that is very compelling and very shocking! vpresspoetry.blogspot.com

“[...] it feels like Simmons is expanding her writing – and the genre of historical flash fiction – in brand new ways. It’s wonderful to see.” Michael Loveday on Bereft of Reason by Diane Simmons @scooterwriter.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/bereft-of-...

Thank you @judydarley.bsky.social for this lovely review of ‘Bereft of Reason’: judydarley.wordpress.com/2026/05/27/b...

“Today, Lily manages it. She puts on her hat and coat and, even though she’s trembling, she succeeds in leaving the house. They have no bread or potatoes, so she has no choice. […]” From Bereft of Reason by Diane Simmons @scooterwriter.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/bereft-of-...

“As soon as Sidney hears the knock on the door, he knows. Why else would anyone call at one in the morning? But if he’s honest, he’s known since the first moment he saw […]” From Bereft of Reason by Diane Simmons @scooterwriter.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/bereft-of-...

“This is a well paced, page turner peopled with distinct characters I won’t soon forget.” Alison Woodhouse on Bereft of Reason by Diane Simmons @scooterwriter.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/bereft-of-...

‘Bereft of Reason’ was shortlisted in the Bath Novella-in Flash Comp which was a terrific boost & helped me believe in the novella. You can buy signed copies from my website. Copies also available from V.Press.

“It’s a quarter of an hour since Wilfred, his face ashen, walked in the front door. And after his initial outburst, his mother’s learnt nothing new[…]” From Bereft of Reason by Diane Simmons @scooterwriter.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/bereft-of-...

Launching Hatchery in the lecture theatre next to delivery suite! Felt very fitting! ❤️ 👶 🪺 @vpresslit.bsky.social

A few words from ‘Bereft of Reason’, out 1 June! That is very soon 💃💃💃

“Maybe, her parents won’t take to him. Maybe, they’ll think she could do better for herself. She’s a pretty lass is Hannah and even his mother admits he’s no oil painting[…]” From Bereft of Reason by Diane Simmons @scooterwriter.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/bereft-of-...

Look forward to reading this NIF by @scooterwriter.bsky.social

“Hannah fidgets in her chair. Will Annie’s son ever be quiet? He’s not stopped talking since the three of them sat down to eat. It would have been better if she’d gone straight home […]” From Bereft of Reason by Diane Simmons @scooterwriter.bsky.social vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/bereft-of-...

V. v. excited to get a new print run of Rust Canyon by Lauren Mason – a poetry chapbook that is very ecological and very unflinching! Get one while you can! vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/rust-canyo...

New print run klaxon – only published the start of May & already on a new print run! Get your copy of Hatchery by Elizabeth Osmond @bethosmond.bsky.social while you can! vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/hatchery.h... (And hear her read from it on Sunday: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hatchery-l... )

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hatchery-l... With: @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social @vpresslit.bsky.social @sarahraybould.bsky.social @eleanorholmes.bsky.social

I'm delighted to be among the guest readers at the online launch of Beth Osmond's stunning new @vpresslit.bsky.social pamphlet, 'Hatchery', on Sunday 17th May. 📖🪺🩵 Do join us! Link below. ⬇️

A link that works hopefully… In The Book Bag this week is @bethosmond.bsky.social debut pamphlet from @vpresslit.bsky.social ‘Grab this book with both hands…’ Link here shorturl.at/BzVqe Plus all the usual news, recaps, shoutouts and the playlist.