Seasons Wishes

Best Wishes for the 2016 Mid-Winter Festivities - whichever festival you choose (or do not choose) to celebrate - and all the best for 2017.

From

J.S.WATTS

On The Shoreline of Infinity

Issue 6 of the speculative magazine 'Shoreline of Infinity' is launched today.

It contains two new poems by J.S.Watts, which is pretty exciting as far as this small area of planet is concerned.

There is also poetry by Grahaeme Young, stories, puzzles and interviews.

For further details check out this link or just enjoy the rather fine cover image by Steve Pickering.

Getting A Grip

J.S.Watts has a new poem out in the Winter edition of The London Grip. It's called "Lost in The Word Woods" and you can read it, and some other fascinating poems, for free here.

Cambridge Bard Reverses Advent!

The Bard of Cambridge has launched her Christmas Advent Calendar for 2016.

She is taking up the Reverse Advent Calendar challenge from Cambridge City Food Bank.

Every day for a month, starting on 26th November, she is putting an item of food in a box and posting a poem, memory, or reflection about it on her webpage.

All the food is going to the Cambridge Food Bank to distribute at Christmas to those who need it.

She would love people to join her! You could:

– Join in with the poems, by sending your own writing to add to the page, or making your own advent calendar page;

– Join in with the food bank idea by making your own Christmas collection to give to Cambridge Food Bank ;
– Donate money to Cambridge Food Bank;

– Tell your friends about the Food Bank scheme!

The first advent calendar post has now been published with a poem by The Bard herself and a haiku by J.S.Watts. You can read it here.

Telling It... In The Deep Midwinter

The "Telling It..." series of spoken word events is back and this time a fine selection of writers and actors, including J.S.Watts, are performing winter / Christmas themed readings at Huntingdon library from 11am on 3rd December. Books will also be available for sale so this is a great opportunity to get in the Christmas mood and make a dent in that Christmas shopping. Hope to see you there!

Still Life - Reflections

J.S. is very pleased to have a new poem published in the latest issue of The Journal. The issue in question is #49. The poem is titled "Still life - Reflections". Do check it out.

Stamford Poetry Swaps - 16th November

Tomorrow sees the start of November and on Wednesday 16th at 8pm, there is Stamford Poetry Swaps in the Cellar Bar at the Stamford Arts Centre.

As it says on the Arts Centre website:

"In November, award-winning East Anglian poet and writer J.S. Watts will be performing from her new collection, ‘Years Ago You Coloured Me’.  She will be joined by local poet Steve McRobb who will read from his collection ‘Golden days, dark nights’. Peterborough poet Viv Foster will complete the trio of performers with ‘Surviving the Suburbs’."

It's going to be a great night.  Hope to see you there.

Further details can be found on the Arts Centre website by clicking here

October's Allographic Workshop

On Sunday, 30th October, Cambridge based Allographic is hosting "The Art of Getting Published" - a practical workshop with J.S Watts.

Are you hoping to get your work traditionally published? J.S. believes getting published is an art, not a science. She has had five books published and has been Poetry Editor and Poetry Reviews Editor for two magazines, so knows all about rejection from both sides of the fence. She will be talking about her experiences, sharing the lessons learned and highlighting helpful strategies for getting published at the Allographic workshop on Sunday 30th October, 2pm - 5pm at CB2 Bistro, 5/7 Norfolk Street, Cambridge.

As far as practicable, the workshop will be customised to the needs of those attending, so whether you want to publish your first short story, a single poem, a collection of poems or a full-length novel via the traditional publishing route, this could well be the workshop for you. 

If you know you’ll be attending, just let Allographic know in advance of any particular issues you're hoping will be covered.

No of spaces: 12

Suitable for ages: 16+

Entry is free but you will have an opportunity to pay what you think the workshop was worth afterwards. Find out more about Allographic at: http://www.allographic.co.uk/

Good News - Bad News - Good News

GOOD NEWS - J.S.Watts is one of four Cambridge poets (J.S.Watts, Robin Lamboll, Nathan Smith and Michael Brown) participating in this year's Festival of Ideas - Cambridge Poetry Tours on Saturday 22nd October.

BAD NEWS - Both tours are already fully booked.

GOOD NEWS - If you can get along to Waterstones in Cambridge for either 2.15pm or 4.15pm  you can still hear the culminating poetry readings of the tours AND at 4.30pm poet Michael Brown is launching his new published collection of poetry, Mercurial, in Watersones, Sidney Street, Cambridge (4.30pm - 5.30pm). It's FREE and everyone is very welcome to attend.

National Poetry Day - Poet's Supper

To celebrate National Poetry Day (which is on Thursday 6th October) and in conjunction with The Forward Arts Foundation, The Plough at Shepreth (South Cambridgeshire) is presenting an evening of all things poetry related and inspired. 

From mid-September, you can find postcards in The Plough which invite you to leave a “Message” – the theme of this year's National Poetry Day. Some will be displayed on the Poetry Board throughout the month, and some will be incorporated into specially-composed poems by The Plough's Guest Poet, Clare Crossman. These will be premiered at the pub's Poet’s Supper on Friday 7th October. This two-course artisanal supper will be accompanied by a musical “Fen Poem” performed by Penny Walker & Bryan Causton, poetry readings by J.S.Watts, Claire Robson and Gallery Poets and a film from The Poetry Society. Full details available here.

Poetry Aloud - 27th September

J.S. is delighted to be the featured poet at this month's Poetry Aloud, which will take place on Tuesday, 27th September at The Bay Tree Cafe Bistro in Bury St. Edmunds. See here for more details.

Day Notes on Granite

J.S.Watts' poem, "Day Notes on Granite", is in excellent company in issue 3 of The High Window, the Autumn 2016 edition. You can read it for free right here.

Music, Poetry and Booze

Music and poetry (and drinks, of course) at La Raza in Cambridge on Sunday, 18th September.

J.S.Watts will be reading some of her poetry alongside some fabulously talented musicians and poets.

J.S.Watts Reviews Kshanti

J.S. Watts takes a look at the posthumously published Buddhist collection Kshanti by Wendy Stern for Three Drops From a Cauldron. Read the review here.

Colourful Places - a review of "Years Ago You Coloured Me"

Philip Dunkerley has reviewed J.S.Watts' recent collection, "Years Ago You Coloured Me" in issue 176 of Orbis (the Summer Issue, which is now out and available).

I'm afraid you'll have to buy issue 176 to read the entire review, but here is an extract or two to whet your appetite:

"The range is remarkable. Watts finds space for the metaphysical, the ekphrastic, eulogy and even an encomium to soup"  

"What is most enjoyable is her voice and imagination — black words on a white page that take you gently off into other, colourful, places."

Folk Music and Poetry - What's Not To Like?

Shadows and Teeth Crawls Out of The Shadows

I'm very pleased to be able to announce that "Shadows And Teeth", which includes the short story Back through The Mist by J.S.Watts, has taken the silver medal in the 2016 FAPA President's Award Contest, category of Adult Horror.

Each year the Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) sponsors the FAPA President's Book Awards, which recognizes book publishing excellence and creativity in design, content, and production for North American authors and publishers. Finalists for this year's awards were chosen by publishing professionals and librarians from both within and outside of Florida.

The event, which took place at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort in the Walt Disney World® Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, recognized outstanding books by awarding gold and up to two silver medals in categories ranging from children’s books to adult fiction, from memoirs to self-help, from business books to e-books.

The award winners represent some of the very best books published by national and Florida writers and presses in the past year and a half.

SlackFolk Again

J.S.Watts is returning to the music and poetry of SlackFolk next Saturday, 13th August and is really looking forward to it.

The August SlackFolk session will feature music from Shorelark - an outstanding folk duo (Finn Collinson and Georgia Morgan Turner) with wide ranging instrumentation and a contemporary take on British folk music; The Four Blokes Trio - laid back Americana – the songs of life to sparkling tunes; Imogen and Paul Riley - a performer with a wide range of singing styles accompanied by an outstanding guitarist; Davos Williams - an entertaining singer / guitarist with some of his own material; Dave Rado - with acapella community song, and, of course, poetry from Cambridge author and poet J.S.Watts. 

SlackFolk is on Saturday 13th August between 2.00 pm and 4.15 pm, at the Piatto Café, 17-19 Priory Walk, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1LG, at the corner of Queen Street and the Priory Walk pedestrian precinct. Coffee, tea and food are available at commercial prices. Entry is FREE.

For more information, contact info.slackfolk@gmail.com

Underword

The final poem from J.S.Watts, in the sequence of five recently published online by In Between Hangovers, is the dark and brooding "Underword".

Read it for FREE here.

Scroll back through the July posts on this website to read the other four poems.

An Author In Search of A Publisher

Following on from her recent interview with Jay Lemming on the subject of literary fiction, J.S.Watts has written a guest post for his literary fiction blog. It concerns her search for a publisher for her first novel, A Darker Moon, and how she ended up going indie.

You can read the guest blog post here

Spaces

A small new poem by J.S.Watts, occupying very little space, but focusing on the opening up of space within words. Now published by In Between Hangovers. Read for FREE here.

Morpheus Tales Supplement - July 2016

The latest Morpheus Tales Supplement is out and FREE to read. There are lots of fascinating reviews on the latest dark films and books, including J.S.Watts' review of the Shakespearian themed fantasy collection, Monstrous Little Voices.

In the Draper's Arms

A night of poetry to see out July.

Sleeper: eyes open

In Between Hangovers continues to publish a set of new poems by J.S.Watts. The latest publication is "Sleeper: eyes open" which you can read FREE and for gratis here.

Pursuing The Hill

The next of J.S.Watts' poems to be published by In Between Hangovers is "Pursuing The Hill". You can read it for FREE by clicking here.

Watch out for further poems over the coming weeks.

Bouncing Bunnies and Cambridge Carrots

A week today, on Saturday 23rd July, Peter Rabbit will be in Cambridge, Allographic will be running their increasingly famous "Poetry To Go" stall where you can commission your own, custom-designed poem, and J.S.Watts will be one of a bright and bouncy collection of poets reading some of her poems, including some specially commissioned for the event.

Allographic "Poetry To Go" will be available to take commissions all day from 10.30am - 5pm. The poetry reading is scheduled to take place between 3.30pm and 4.00pm.

Do hop on over to join in the fun!

Poems in a Bookshop

Coles Books, Bicester has a poetry evening coming up - Thursday, July 21st @ 7pm to be precise. 

The guest poet is J.S.Watts and there is the usual Open Mic Session. Anyone can get up and read their own poetry or a favourite poem - something from childhood or more recent - or maybe even some song lyrics. No one has ever tried a shopping list, but as long as it sounds poetic, then, apparently, anything goes!

J.S.will be reading from her new collection, "Years Ago You Coloured Me", as well as from her earlier books.

Come along and join in (or just watch & listen) - it's only £3 a ticket and Coles will throw in a free glass or two of something to give you some Dutch courage. There is also a 10% discount on books bought on the night.

Ring 01869 320779, visit the bookshop website or call in to Coles to reserve your seat.

Accompanied By Wasps

"Accompanied By Wasps", a brand new poem by J.S.Watts, has been published (and is available to read for free) over on In Between Hangovers. 

More new poems by J.S. will be appearing on the site in future weeks. Keep an eye open for them.

Review: Years Ago You Coloured Me

The Journal's Sam Smith has reviewed J.S.Watts' new collection, "Years Ago You Coloured Me" in issue 48 of The Journal (now out and available).

You will have to buy issue 48 to read the entire review, but here is an extract to whet your appetite:

"well-worked metaphors, lines lovingly crafted... Withal a poet of sounds and colours offering at times a forensic examination of memory, of motives for writing, the trustworthiness of impressionistic recall... undercut by the surprise of memories unbidden. So accessible it's small wonder her single poems have won prizes. She is so very quotable - The Journal"

Poetry and Music

Continuing with her list of performances in July, J.S.Watts will be reading her poetry at The Elm Tree in Cambridge on Sunday 17th July as part of a fabulous music and poetry event curated by Street Lives, Night Lives and Love Lives Poetry.

Crosswords in July

J.S.Watts' July performances and readings kick off in Nottingham on Wednesday, 13th July at Crosswords Open Mic, where J.S. will be the month's featured artist. She will be reading from her new collection, "Years Ago You Coloured Me", as well as earlier poems.

Crosswords takes place at The Malt Cross, 16 St James' Street, Nottingham, NG1 6FG. Entry to the night costs £2.00

Eventful July

J.S.Watts is performing at heaps of readings and events across July and across the country in Bicester, Cambridge, Nottingham and Peterborough. Check out EVENTS for current details, with more information to follow...

A Conversation About Writing and Literary Fiction

J.S.Watts has been interviewed by the author Jay Lemming about writing in general and literary fiction in particular.

It was a thought provoking interview and Jay Lemming claims that "J.S. Watts has put me in my place…in the best way possible!"

To find out what J.S. had to say to Jay click here

The interview is part on an ongoing series of interviews with indie authors on the topic of literary fiction. There are lots of deliciously different opinions, in turns out.

Next Weekend: 17th - 19th June

There's a busy weekend coming up!

If you are in Stevenage check out:

If you are in Cambridge, how about:

Make sure you do something poetic across this weekend.

June Performances

It's June and this month J.S.Watts will be performing her poetry alongside a host of other talented poets at Strawberry Fair in Cambridge, which is taking place this coming Saturday, 4th June, and at the Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, on Friday 17th June as part of the Stevenage Mini Festival.

Full details of both events can be found on the Events Page of this website, along with details of J.S.'s readings over the coming months from her new poetry collection, Years Ago You Coloured Me, in Nottingham, Bicester, Colchester, Cambridge and Bedford.

The Children of Woolpit

The tale of the green children of Woolpit is an old Suffolk legend. J.S.Watts' poem on the subject, called (not surprisingly) The Children of Woolpit, has just been published by the magazine of many arts, Polu Texni, and can be read by clicking here

Acumen Issue 85 (May 2016)

Issue 85 of the literary journal, Acumen, is back from the printers. Its tag line - "Poetry Unites the World".

J.S.Watts is extremely pleased to have a brand new poem, "The Pianist", included within its superb 136 pages.

When Words Are Not Enough...

Coming to the theatre in Stevenage in a month's time...

New Month - Book of the Month

J.S.Watts is delighted that her latest poetry collection, Years Ago You Coloured Me, is the Poetry Kit Book of the Month for May.

Thank you Poetry Kit!

Shadows and Teeth - NOW OUT!

Shadows and Teeth, volume 1 of an anthology of terrifying tales of horror and suspense from Darkwater Syndicate, has been released and is crawling through the dark towards you. Buy it, before it reaches you...

The book contains ten dark tales by an international group of authors including a brand new story by J.S.Watts. The story is "Back Through the Mist" - a tale of bone-aching cold and freezing fog and things that are best kept hidden within the fog: What secrets might the mist be hiding where the divide between years has been rubbed thin?

The full list of stories and contributors is:

Water, Ice, And Vice, by Antonio Simon, Jr. – Jeremy's new apartment harbors a demonic wish-granting fridge, which he uses to exact bloody vengeance on his obnoxious roommate. 

The Dinner Party, by Trevor Boelter – A dinner party devolves into a massacre when the blood flows as freely as the wine. 

Routine, by Mia Bravo – Edward's life is neat and orderly, just the way he likes it. It doesn't stay that way for long once bizarre apparitions threaten to end his life, and worse – break his daily routine. 

The Final Spell, by Mark Meier – Ken, a modern-day wizard, risks life and liberty in pursuit of the ultimate magick. How far will he go to obtain limitless power? 

Back Through The Mist, by J.S. Watts – Police Sergeant Comberton's investigation of a baffling murder strains her resolve to its breaking point. When the enquiry takes an otherworldly turn, she questions whether the past holds the key to her future. 

Spawn, by Paige Reiring – Assassin-for-hire Alice's personality is so keen, it can kill. She'll need every edge she can get when the hunter becomes the hunted. 

The Pied Piper's Appetite, by Rich Phelan – A competitive eater leads a ghastly double life in pursuit of a gruesome personal crusade. 

Riana In The Gray Dusk, by Viktoria Faust – A hastily taken photograph leads to a shocking revelation and a rare glimpse at a singular individual. 

The Autobiography Of An Unsuccessful Author, by Brittany Gonzalez – A one-hit-wonder's search for inspiration blurs the line between reality and insanity, with horrifying results. 

Crying, by Darren Worrow – Vinny's research into an urban legend about a haunted painting reveals more about himself than he ever dared to ask.

HIV Here and Now - Day 328

HIV Here and Now is a project creating a Poem-a-Day countdown to 35 years of AIDS on June 5,

2016.

J.S.Watts  is honoured to have her poem, "The Sunflower", chosen for the project's 328th poem (and poem 25 of NaPoMo 2016).

You can read the poem by clicking here (and also explore the other poems in the project).

BedPop Poetry Slam

J.S.Watts is the winner of April's BedPop Poetry Slam!

 It was a very close field and J.S. is convinced she only won because of a sympathy vote (she wasn't very well at the time), but who cares? It was a very fine afternoon of poetry and all the riveting performers deserve a shout out, including: Hazera Forth, Ben Haynes, Alex Levene, Alex J. Monks, Iain Orkiscz and Ian McEwan for organising things, compering and being the sacrificial poet.

Hazera Forth took some really cool black and white photos which you can see below:

Touring Years Ago You Coloured Me

The series of readings of poems from J.S.'s new collection, "Years Ago You Coloured Me", is beginning to take shape. So far there are confirmed dates in Bedford, Bicester, Cambridge, Nottingham and Stevenage.

Full details will follow soon. Check out the Events Page of this website to keep up to date on progress.

If you know of a poetry night/event that would like J.S. to come and read some of her new poems, do feel fee to make contact.

Morpheus Tales Supplement - April 2016

The new edition of the Morpheus Tales Supplement is now available for your FREE reading pleasure. Amongst its reading delights is a review of the 2nd Spectral Book of Horror Stories by J.S.Watts. Is it as outstanding as the 1st Book, or is it the equivalent of that difficult second album? Read the supplement to find out.

Shadows and Teeth

Two great months for dark fiction fans:

The end of March saw the publication of Ink Stains, volume 1 of a dark fiction anthology containing a brand new short story by J.S.Watts. The story was called "Phoenix" - a tale of fire and heat.

The end of April will see the publication of Shadows and Teeth, volume 1 of an anthology of terrifying tales of horror and suspense containing a another brand new story by J.S.Watts. The story is called "Back Through the Mist" - a tale of bone-aching cold and freezing fog. You can pre-order the book to make sure you get it as soon as it comes out on 30th April.

Pictures Within Words

The electrifying Authors Electric have generously provided J.S.Watts with a guest spot in which she can write about anything she chooses (as long as it's about writing). She's chosen to talk about painting and visual art!

If you want to find out what she had to say on the subject, particularly in relation to her new poetry collection, "Years Ago You Coloured Me" and her novel, "A Darker Moon", click here

Ink Stains On My Pillow

Death. A permanent end. Termination of life. Some embrace death as if reuniting with a long-missing old friend. Others fear it, try to outwit it, hide from it. And then there are those who are fascinated by it, mesmerized by it, chasing it down, taunting it, challenging it. In Ink Stains, Volume 1, eight authors explore death in all its facets in a collection of short stories that range from fantastical to gritty to supernaturally creepy. Join them in a journey through the darker side of fiction. Ink Stains, Volume 1 features stories by Michelle K. Bujnowski , Eddie Cantrell, John S. McFarland, Steph Minns, A. O’Neal Tamela J. Ritter, Aaron Vlek, and J. S. Watts

Ink Stains is a new dark fiction literary anthology from Dark Alley Press. Available in paperback and kindle editions.

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk

Official Launch - Years Ago You Coloured Me

Yes, it's been a month-long launch, but the official launch event and reading for Years Ago You Coloured Me is here and it's tomorrow.

Allographic are delighted to present a delicious array of spoken word - storytelling, poetry, and improvised theatre - in aid of the "Once Upon A Time", a Collaborating Cambridge Art Exhibition, and "In Other Words", the forthcoming Fringe Festival for Cambridge, plus Allographic are also incredibly excited to be hosting the book launch of poet and author J.S Watts!

Tomorrow night's line up includes the fantastic Fay Roberts, Uppahar Subba and Tim Knight, Jack Bateman, Abi Palmer and, of course, J.S.Watts.

Full details of the evening, which is taking place at the Cambridge Art Salon, 1 Thrifts Walk, Cambridge, CB4 1NR, can be found here

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Allographic Featuring J.S.Watts

Just a reminder that Allographic will be playing host to J.S.Watts this coming Sunday, 27th March, for the unofficial pre-launch of her latest book, along with a chance to hear her mesmerising voice performing some of her work in person.

So, what’s Allographic Open Mic then? It’s a simple concept really - a nice function room at the top of a pleasant bistro (CB2 in Cambridge); a stage, a microphone, a bunch of lovely people, and some words. And free snacks! Entry is free, but they take a donation (i.e. pay as you like). Doors are at 6:30pm and the gig kicks off at 7pm.

Bring your poems, stories, dramatic monologues (or duologues!), improv, hip hop, and anything else that fits the bill of spoken word. At 2pm there'll be a workshop on exploring surrealism in your poetry ("What does your writing taste like?") with Emma Ormond: https://www.facebook.com/events/1584929518492280/

The main event starts at 7pm and the venue is CB2 Bistro, Norfolk Street, Cambridge, CB1 2LD.

Pre-Launch Video - Blue Eggshell Moment

Prior to the official preview and launch readings of her new poetry collection, Years Ago You Coloured Me, which take place on Sunday 27th March and Tuesday 29th March respectively in Cambridge (see the Events Page for further details), J.S. has recorded a couple of videos of her reading from Years Ago You Coloured Me.

The first video was J.S. reading the title poem of the collection, Years Ago You Coloured Me. You can view the video here

The second of these videos is J.S. reading the poem Blue Eggshell Moment from the collection - Years Ago You Coloured Me.

More Books in a Bookshop

Delighted to announce that Heffers of Cambridge will be stocking “Years Ago You Coloured Me”.

Anyone in the Cambridge area will therefore be able to buy a copy of J.S.’s new poetry collection whilst supporting their local bookshop.

Pre-Launch Video - Years Ago You Coloured Me

Prior to the official preview and launch readings of her new poetry collection, Years Ago You Coloured Me, which take place on Sunday 27th March and Tuesday 29th March respectively in Cambridge (see the Events Page for further details), J.S. has recorded a couple of videos of her reading from Years Ago You Coloured Me.

The first of these videos is J.S. reading the title poem from the collection - Years Ago You Coloured Me.

A Colourful Launch and Radio Podcast

J.S. Watts had a lovely time talking to Suzie Thorpe on Cambridge 105 last Saturday morning about the launch of her new book, Years Ago You Coloured Me, and plans for a Cambridge Literary Fringe Festival in June.

If you missed the live radio broadcast, shame on you, but never fear.  You can listen to the podcast of the interview here. It starts at approximately 01:09:55 into the week's highlights of the Best of the Guests on Cambridge 105 Daytime.

Here's the link:  http://cambridge105.fm/best-of-the-guests-07-03-2016/

Bookmarking Witchlight And Other Books

J.S.Watts was interviewed last month by novelist Menna Van Praag for the Cambridge 105 literary programme Bookmark.

The interview about J.S.'s writing, including Witchlight, A Darker Moon and Years Ago You Coloured Me, was broadcast yesterday at 1pm as part of a larger Bookmark programme. The podcast for yesterday's programme is now available online for your listening pleasure. 

Angela Clarke is in the studio talking to presenter Leigh Chambers about her debut novel and J.S.Watts is on, about 15.04 minutes into the programme, talking about her writing in general and especially Witchlight. You can listen to the podcast by clicking here . Go on. You know you want to.

Broadcasts Like Buses

J.S. had a lovely time talking to Suzie Thorpe on Cambridge 105 this morning about Years Ago You Coloured Me. Rumour has it that her Bookmark interview for the same radio station might also have been on air this afternoon, but this morning's broadcast words and the radio station's written words on Facebook and their website were strangely divergent on the matter.

An investigation of Cambridge 105's schedule for the day has, however, unearthed the fact that J.S.'s Bookmark interview about Witchlight, A Darker Moon and Years Ago You Coloured Me was scheduled to be broadcast today at 1pm as part of the Bookmark programme. Who knew?

It seems that radio interviews are indeed like buses: nothing for ages and then two come along together.

We are hoping that one or both interviews were recorded for podcast purposes and will be available for your further listening pleasure. If they are, we will post them here in due course. Check back over the next week or so to see...

Colouring Cambridge 105

Tune in to Cambridge 105 tomorrow morning, just before 11.30am, to hear J.S. Watts talking to Suzie Thorpe about the launch of her new poetry collection, Years Ago You Coloured Me.

Years Ago You Coloured Me - Launch and Preview Readings

To celebrate the launch of J.S.'s new poetry collection, "Years Ago You Coloured Me", which was released at the beginning of this month, there are going to be a variety of events and "occurrences" taking place across March.

The wonderful Cambridge-based Allographic is helping to give the book a grand start with two (not one, but two) events at which J.S. will read from her new collection. 

The first preview event is on Sunday, 27th March, when J.S. will be the guest poet at the monthly Allographic evening held at CB2, Norfolk Street, Cambridge. The evening kicks off at 7pm and there will be open mic slots as well as J.S.'s reading. Why not bring one of your own poems along?

The second event is on Tuesday, 29th March, beginning around 6pm, at the Cambridge Art Salon Gallery, 1 Thrifts Walk, Cambridge. This is going to be a joint fund raiser for the Cambridge Literary Fringe Festival, "In Other Words", and the official launch reading for "Years Ago You Coloured Me", with plenty of opportunity to buy J.S.'s new book (hint, hint), plus there will be a variety of other fine poets performing alongside J.S.

There is no entrance fee for either of these evenings, but donations will be sought and appreciated.

Hope to see you at one or both of these events!

International Women's Day Issue

Issue 42 of literary magazine A New Ulster is available NOW. It's March and this edition celebrates International Women's Day. There are over a hundred pages of poetry and prose in celebration of women, including three poems from J.S.Watts.

There are also some wonderful words from the likes of Peter O'Neil, Marie Maxwell and Eithne Lannon.

You can read the magazine online for FREE.

Years Ago You Coloured Me - The Launch

It's March and J.S.Watts' brand new poetry collection, Years Ago You Coloured Me, is out from Lapwing Publications. Cue fanfare of French Horns and a month long launch!

Years Ago You Coloured Me (ISBN 978-1-910855-15-7) is a poetry collection echoing with things, times, places and people lost and not quite lost, as well as those never lost while memory lingers. These are poems of influence and resonance, both past and current, capturing personal and broader histories, and the shadows that sometimes follow. What is history, after all, if not selective, recorded memories? The past tells stories as we choose to recall them. The personal is there, plus the wider matters that shaped it. We have only to remember to remember. That is an art.

Included amongst the poems in the collection are: Bonedancing, which was shortlisted for the 2008 Wells Literary Festival International Poetry Competition; Green Rushes, nominated for a 2011 Pushcart Prize and View From Sheep Field Barn, Much Hadham, which won won third prize in the Yeovil Literary Prize for Poetry 2015.

You can see full details over on the Books page of this website (just scroll down to the Poetry section of the page) and needless to say, you can buy the book on Amazon and from this website, as well as from the publisher, Lapwing Publications, and selected stockists.

To celebrate the launch, there will be a variety of events and "occurrences" taking place across March, including several opportunities to hear J.S. read from her new collection. Check back regularly for further details, including news of the end of March launch event and a special, pre-launch event preview reading.