So much has happened lately, I'd almost forgotten that my poem 'On finding a cow's jawbone in my city garden' won 1st prize in the Kathryn Bevis Memorial prize back in May, and was published in 'The Alchemy Spoon'. Many thanks to lovely Catherine Redford for the reminder!

Issue nine - trespass - just published. Brand new work from sixty excellent poets. 💙🕊️ Please check the website for order details x

If You can make a biscuit base And not stuff any in your face Before it hits the cheesecake tin Then I admire your discipline

A thrill to receive Finished Creatures and see my poem 'Buddleia in the blood' in the company of many poets I admire. Jan Heritage's signature treasury tag envelope, and the thoughtful placement of a bookmark in each writer's page, is so classy. I can't wait to dive in! @finishedpoetry.bsky.social

Oh, this message. Starting off Sunday by blinking back a few tears. 😳 The power of poetry to make connections never fails to astound and inspire me. And of course, little Laika's story too... 💔

Want to read more about Ford Madox Brown and other Pre-Raphs?  Become a member today at www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org/memberships #art #Wednesday #winter #work #working #wonders #preraphaelite #painting #artist #oilpainting #paint #museum #artgallery #blueskyart

Cosy in cashmere, the Winter Issue of the PRS Review/PRSUS Newsletter is out now! Full of amazing essays, poems, art and reviews looking at how Pre-Raphaelites transformed ideas about work: work for women, work as pleasure and workers as heroes of modern society!

Big thanks to the @preraphaelitesoc.bsky.social & Serena Trowbridge for her wonderful review of Darling Blue in PRS Review! Darling Blue: https://www.sarah-james.co.uk/?page_id=17191 PRS Review is part of PRS Reader membership (from just £15 a year):

A thrill to receive the new @preraphaelitesoc.bsky.social PRS Review and see my latest poem written for the Society. This was such an inspiring commission; how could I fail to be moved by Millais' stark-yet-tender painting? Shared in full, for folks who might enjoy a wintry poem.

I've long admired Sarah James's poetry, and since she has been my publisher, Sarah has become a friend as well. A privilege, then, to endorse Sarah's innovative and beautiful new collection, Darling Blue – and wonderful to see @serena-t.bsky.social's appreciative review in the new PRS Review! 💙⚡️🩵

#ArtistAdventCalendar for Christmas 2025

“[...] James’s finely crafted and intelligently controlled poems brim with vivid imagery and lush sensory detail, reminding the reader ‘how brightly sunlight shines through // when freed from a cracked mirror’.” TY @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social‬ https://indigodreamspublishing.com

I have invented the Poetry Peace Prize and given it to myself.

A wonderful surprise to see that, due to recent interest and demand, my @vpresslit.bsky.social pamphlet '(m)othersongs' has just gone to a fourth print run – two years after publication! Get 'em while they're hot... ❤️‍🔥🍂❤️‍🔥

V. v. excited to have another new print run of @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social’s beautiful (m)othersongs in time for Christmas -- It’s rare to do a new run 2 years after publication & this may well be the last, so get a copy while you still can! vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/p/mothersong...

Have you thought about gifting a loved one a full year of membership to the Pre-Raphaelite Society this Christmas? It’s only £15 for a digital membership, to unlock all the benefits, and it will really help us continue to do all the work we do- www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org/memberships/

'What is... the first and least remarkable thing about this story - is the extent to which Graeme Richardson buries the hatchet into the work.' From @rorywaterman.bsky.social's report 'Remarkable Coincidences', published in PN Review 286. Read for free: www.pnreview.co.uk/archive/rema...

This took courage, and makes me feel very vulnerable, but here I share some insights into how the recent Laika situation played out for me – along with a plea for more compassionate social media engagement. We need reflection, not retribution. www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/... If useful: archive.is

A lot of people should be ashamed, having behaved disgracefully. Congratulations, @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social. This shows immense character: www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/... I also wrote about this, for PNR: www.pnreview.co.uk/archive/rema... But read Sarah's if you only have time for one.

Some nice news to brighten this dull November Sunday: an ekphrastic poem forthcoming with @afterpoetry.com. It's such an elegantly curated website, so I'm very pleased to feature again, and I'm looking forward to reading everyone else's poems too. 🎨🖼️🖌️

If you want – need – an argument as to why Reform and this incarnation of the Tory party are just horrible, look no further than this: they want shot of Poems on the Underground: www.express.co.uk/news/politic...

Thank you to @cafewriters.bsky.social for an excellent evening of poetry and warmth. Particularly fine guest readings from Dillon Jaxx and Ashley Hickson-Lovence. I'm replete with words and images (and love for buses!). 👏👏👏

I have found this whole episode incredibly distressing and isolating, so I'm grateful to see Rory Waterman's analysis shine a light on both the poetry and the poison. Whatever your views, we need a more courteous and humane public discourse, from and for all parties. Please.

My comment, for @pnreview.bsky.social, on the Len Pennie & Sarah Doyle affair - or Canongagegate, as I like to think of it. Honourable mentions: @naush.bsky.social, @thetimes.com. Feel free to share, to attack me with your little jelly pitchforks, or to ignore. www.pnreview.co.uk/archive/rema...

John Keats was born on this day in 1795. I was deeply moved on viewing his original handwritten manuscript of 'Ode to a Nightingale' at Keats House in 2018. Thank you to 'After... Poetry' for publishing my poem in response: www.afterpoetry.com/poem/nov-08-...

Painted and glazed. I have reached peak pumpkin! 🧡

My Halloween crafternoon displacement activity got a bit out of hand.

I'm not a fan of the clocks going back, but carving out some Halloween craft time is a nice compensation! These were relaxing and fun to make, but it will be an impatient wait for them to dry so I can paint them. 🧡👻🎃🤍

@menstrualpoetic.bsky.social Hi Laura! 😊 Lovely to see you here. I hope all is well with you. x

⚠️ The 2025 National Poetry Competition closes in ONE WEEK! The deadline for entries is 11:59pm (GMT UK time) on 31 October 2025. ⚠️ More information at npc.poetrysociety.org.uk/ Good luck!

I know I've had a decent day's writing when I am completely dehydrated and have added several new words to my PC's dictionary! 💦

Big thanks to @emmalee1.bsky.social for this wonderful review of Darling Blue..just a week till publication now and Droitwich launch a month today!!! 🎉🎉🎉 (More info here: sarah-james.co.uk/?page_id=17191)

For #WorldMenopauseDay: my poem 'Sea Gooseberries', which was highly commended in the 2022 Ginkgo Prize and is included in my V. Press pamphlet '(m)othersongs'. The poem merges ecological fragility with body crisis, and was inspired by witnessing a mass beaching in Norfolk.

Two stunning poems celebrating women in STEM. ✨

Can you make our Skychat this week? We’re talking about women writers and mindset. Can you join us? @arleneandrews.bsky.social @sunisamara11.bsky.social @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social @louiseduckling.bsky.social @jolloyds.bsky.social @heathertweed.bsky.social @nicolawriting.bsky.social

I was delighted to endorse Sue Burge's brilliant new Yaffle Press collection, and am honoured to be guest-reading at her Zoom launch of 'watch it slowly fade'. Please join us on Sunday 14th September at 7pm! 📚💻🎤 All welcome, just contact Sue via the link in the poster. 💚🐝💛

Life has been quite tough lately, and I'm often sad or stressed at the moment. However, I managed to find some small pockets of peace over the long weekend, and made these little pumpkins from air dry clay! I find crafting very soothing. What uplifting activities help you to ease your stress? x

In May I had the lovely honour of winning 1st prize in the inaugural Kathryn Bevis Memorial Poetry Prize. I'll be reading my poem at the Zoom launch of @thealchemyspoon.bsky.social on Friday 29th August and I'd love to see any poet chums there if you're free. xx www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-launch...

Want to read more about Rossetti and other Pre-Raphs?  Become a member today at www.pre-raphaelitesociety.org/memberships

Cloaked in cascading bronze chiffon, the Summer Issue of the PRS Review/PRSUS Newsletter is out now! Crammed with essays that’ll whisk you away to 13thC Florence and marvels closer to home, astonishing art, poetry, architecture, book & exhibition reviews, opinion pieces and more! 💎

Thrilled to receive the summer edition of preraphaelitesoc.bsky.social PRS Review, and to see my new poem given such wonderful treatment. Being Poet-in-Residence to the PRS is an extraordinary honour. I'm sharing an obscured image here... no spoilers! 🧡🍂💛

If your Tuesday is lacking a gorgeous otter poem… 🦦🤎

A privilege and a career highlight to have (twice) been published by V. Press. Working with Sarah Leavesley was incredibly rewarding, and I'm still grateful for her generosity of spirit and her perceptive editorial support. Ten years is an amazing achievement. Hurrah for V. Press! 🍾🙌🎉

10 Years of Publications – celebrating 2021!!! vpresspoetry.blogspot.com @poetsarahdoyle.bsky.social @ajwoodhouse.bsky.social l‬ & others!

Hey everyone, one of my favourite poetry mags has joined Bluesky, so please give Finished Creatures a follow! 💙📖🩵 bsky.app/profile/fini...htt

News: issue nine of Finished Creatures opens for submissions tomorrow - for the month of August. The theme is Trespass: verb and noun; sin and action; rights and wrongs. Please see the website for more information. xx

Yesss! Another email from a poet who undertook my five-week email course, with feedback option, and has placed one of those poems with a great publication. I'm so happy for her, and it's a lovely feeling of pride for me. ☺️

30 years since the first date with the love of my life! We celebrated with a lovely trudge around the west side (ie. the fancy bit) of Highgate Cemetery and lunch afterwards at Lauderdale House café. 🪦🩶

Delighted to share the cover of The Infernal Garden by Gregory Leadbetter, with art by Leonora Carrington (The Juggler, 1954). Pre-order yours now with limited UK free post. Out mid-August. Discover art, science and magic in #poetry of incantatory power. ninearchespress.com/publications...

Birthday card portrait by my gorgeous little step-granddaughter, Alice, 8. Flowers and weather, she has me to a T! 🌻🌤️🥰