42

Yes, the answer is 42 (search "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" if you're not certain what that signifies), or at least issue 42 of The Seventh Quarry International Poetry Magazine, which is out now. J.S. has two new poems in issue 42: Dead Deer on Tarmac and Waiting for The Snow To Fall (From Inside The Goldfish Bowl).

Dynamic Duo?

 

J.S. is delighted to have had a poem shortlisted for the Frogmore Poetry Prize for a second time. Ringed Changes was shortlisted for the 2019 prize. This time it's the turn of Fen Shadow, which was shortlisted for the 39th Frogmore Poetry Prize and which you'll be able to read in the September issue of the Frogmore Papers.

It's also the second time around for the winner of this year's prize, Sharon Black. Congratulations, Sharon!

Once Upon a Time in Hitchin

Join J.S. and other members of the Society of Authors at Once Upon a Hitchin for a magical evening as Hertfordshire’s (and near by's) finest authors bring their fiction and poetry to life, live.

Tickets are now available from the Hitchin Festival Box Office for Once Upon A Hitchin at Hitchin Library, Hitchin on Thursday 31st July 2025 starting at 6:30PM.

A Writing Life Retold For OUSC

The next OUSC event will take place on Thursday, 10th July 202 at Little St Mary’s, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1QG (refreshments and a chance to mingle from 7pm, ready for a 7.30pm start), when OUSC member J.S. Watts (Somerville, English) will speak about ‘A Writing Life’.

"J.S.Watts is a British poet and novelist who weaves the fantastical and the literary with other vibrant strands to create glowing, multi-faceted writing as found in her nine published books and many globally published short stories, poems and articles.

Originally from London, she now lives in a village in South Cambridgeshire. In between, she read English at Somerville College, Oxford and spent many years working in the British education sector. 

In this evening event for OUSC, J.S.Watts talks candidly about her journey to becoming a published author, with lessons learned and pointers for those who want them (and stories for those who don’t), along with readings from her poetry and novels."

Her books will be available to browse and buy - cash only, please.

The event is open to OUSC members and guests.

Ten Years Old Today!

It's the tenth anniversary of the publication of Witchlight and the beginning of the Witchlight Series. Happy Anniversary, Witchlight!

Something Old, Something New, Something Blue

It's Spring, but it's not wedding bells you hear. It's the arrival of issue 9 of Lit Shark.

Beneath the deep turquoise blue cover of the literary magazine you can find two poems by J.S. : The Flotilla of Lost Words, a poem that has been published before, and How It Begins. How It Finishes, a brand new poem that's breaking surface for the first time now.

The online edition is available to read for free here and you will soon be able to purchase the paperback edition to cherish and keep.

Go on. Dive in.

Ouse Muse - Musing in May

On Tuesday, 6th May J.S. will be the guest poet at Bedford's Ouse Muse. There will also be an Open Mic. So, come along to listen to the poetry, or read a poem, or both.

Ouse Muse begins at 8pm and is held in The Eagle Bookshop, 16-20 St. Peter's Street, Bedford.