There's a reading happening at Foyles Bookshop, London tomorrow, which I mention not as advertisement (the event is free & I'm uninvolved) but because:
- Some important but accessible UK poets are reading.
- A lot of people say that a good way to write poetry that gets published is to attend readings and hear what contemporary poets are writing.
- Some "beginning" poets who have won prizes in the annual Poetry London competition will be reading alongside the established poets. It could be interesting to see what kind of work wins the prizes. I should think the PL prize is a good indication of what wins other contests too. . .
- I'll be in the audience!
- Free wine & nibbles. Free entry, too.
So here's is press release:
DISTINGUISHED POETS PENELOPE SHUTTLE, MIMI KHALVATI AND ROSEMARY HARRIS WILL READ WITH THE WINNERS OF POETRY LONDON'S ANNUAL COMPETITION AT THE LAUNCH OF THE MAGAZINE'S AUTUMN ISSUE IN FOYLES GALLERY 7PM WEDNESDAY, OCT. 13
Three distinguished poets, Penelope Shuttle, Mimi Khalvati and Rosemary Harris will be the featured poets in readings with Julia Lewis and other winners of Poetry London's Annual Competition at the launch of the magazine's Autumn issue in Foyles Gallery 7pm Wednesday, October 13th.
Lewis is the winner of the first prize of £1,000. The other winners, who will also read their winning poems and share prizes totalling another £1,000, are Pam Hughes, Ross Cogan, Linda Black, Alan Mumford, Stephen Duncan and Mary Durkin. The Judge of the Competition, Mimi Khalvati, will present cheques to the winners at Foyles.
The Gallery, Foyles new auditorium, is on the 2nd Floor, Foyles,
113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2 (Tottenham Court Road tube). Entrance is free, there will be free wine, and there is access for disabled people. The launch of the Autumn issue of Poetry London is part of the Festival of Foyles, a week-long series of events and celebrations to mark the relaunch of Foyles.