One of the very few competitions that’s free to enter ♥️ up the Déise x

⚡️National Poetry Day: All Ages Competition closes TODAY at 5pm! Get your entries in 😃

Edna O'Brien

Column in The Sunday Times Ireland today is about why an ‘emerging’ artist (writer, etc) doesn’t have to be a ‘young’ artist, feat noentry - in Culture magazine only 🌟

Saw this gorgeous film about Dame Fiona for the second time yesterday - it’s a sensitive and loving portrait of a fierce and magical person who has led always with warmth and wicked sense of humour. I wish we had more films like these of our lit heroes. thespinoff.co.nz/books/01-08-20…

DN Public Libraries, NZ Society of Authors Otago/Southland Branch and Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature warmly invite you to celebrate National Poetry Day 2024 with us. 🗓️Fri 23 Aug ⏰5.30pm 📍4th Floor | City Library RSVP ESSENTIAL by Fri 16 Aug - Limited Spaces!: tinyurl.com/DPLNPD24

Longest training walk for El Camino today. Walk from our house to Emerson's Brewery for lunch and back to Port again. 5 hrs 21 minutes. I'm creaky but still alive 😀

Years ago I read Niall Williams' Four Letters of Love and loved it. I've just finished listening to it on audiobook. What a stunning, beautifully written story Niall & Christine. Reminded me of the best of Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

On the this day last yr, I started my 1st chemo treatment. In 5 weeks we're off to Spain to walk El Camino de Santiago. I'm still recovering my strength & fitness but I reckon if I continue to put one foot in front of the other I'll be grand😊

theguardian.com/books/article/…

The amount of burglars I've befriended in the early hours of the morning reading from my collection of Irish writers...

Fancy seeing Scotland’s Makar and one of Aotearoa’s finest writers? Thought you might. Come and see ⁦Kathleen Jamie⁩ and ⁦Talia Marshall 🍉🍉🍉⁩, chaired by Dr ⁦Majella Cullinane⁩, 5.30pm, 13 September, Dunedin City Library. Free admission. All welcome. See you there…!

The poem “Shoestring” by Kathleen Jamie reflects on the hapless state of funding for the arts in Scotland

Looking forward to this tonight!

This is your casual reminder that Amazon is not always the cheapest option. Buying your books (and other things) from local and independent sellers has so many benefits.

Go Tracey Slaughter!

Thanks Paddy Richardson for including a thoughtful wee review of Meantime (the only poetry book) here: nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/book…

Stunning morning wandering around the Botanic Gardens while A and R do The Big Easy

This Tuesday: free lunchtime poetry reading with 9 poets starting 12.30 at Dunedin City Library, marking World Suicide Prevention Day. Theme: mental health & loss. I’m reading alongside Rushi Vyas, Majella Cullinane, ⁦Linda Collins⁩ et al. Come join us!

My subconscious is about as subtle as ChatGPT... I wonder what last night's dream could possibly mean 🤔 ... I'm interviewing the wrong author, I've lost my notes and forgotten what to ask! All will be well, all will be well...