Author Archives: Sarah Barnsley

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Anthology launch

Finally – it’s here!  No, not the brilliant spring sun (although HURRAY for that), we mean the new offering from Telltale Press: our anthology has been published and it’s time for a book launch!

Truths:  A Telltale Press Anthology marks the culmination of the Telltale Press & Friends 2014-2017 reading series, which has been terrific fun.   Invited to summon, explore, or query ‘truths’ however they wished, contributors have met the brief with such compelling imagination and verve – we can’t wait to share!

All are most warmly invited to the launch where we will be delighted to introduce readings by a variety of contributors.   This will take place on Wednesday 25 April 2018, from 7.30pm onwards, at the John Harvey Tavern (upstairs), Bear Yard, Cliffe High St, Lewes, BN7 2AN,

Hope to see you there!

Sarah Barnsley, Robin Houghton and Peter Kenny, Editors

 

Front cover of Truths anthology

Truths:  A Telltale Press Anthology features work from:

Siegfried Baber / Sarah Barnsley / Michael Bartholomew-Biggs / Clare Best / Stephen Bone / Judy Brown / Rishi Dastidar / Helen Fletcher / Charlotte Gann / Robin Houghton / Peter Kenny / Martin Malone / John McCullough / Jessica Mookherjee / Abegail Morley / Katrina Naomi / E.E. Nobbs / Jeremy Page / Abigail Parry / Sue Rose / Catherine Smith / Janet Sutherland / Louise Tondeur / Marion Tracy / Rebecca Violet White

‘In this eclectic and hugely enjoyable anthology, I’m reminded of that old notion that the “poetic truth” might be more important than the literal facts of what happened’ – Andrew McMillan

‘This glorious, panoramic anthology taps truth on the shoulder, or leaves truth in that shaded corner of the room, suggests that truths are in words and in the silences in between’ – Tania Hershman

New month, new space, new poetry

1 November saw the Telltale gang return to the newly-refurbished Poetry Café in Covent Garden where we were delighted to be joined by special guests Catherine Smith and Abigail Parry.   The spare and smart décor was the perfect backdrop for readings that were by turns elaborate, engaging, intense, irreverent, comic, caustic and yes indeed alliterative, rhythmic; downright brilliant displays of the sonic magic of live poetry.

Telltale co-founder Robin Houghton kicked off proceedings in style with an exclusive preview of her exciting new pamphlet, All the Relevant Gods, due out in February 2018 with Cinnamon Press.  Next on the floor was Catherine Smith with a funky festoon of poems from collections including Lip and Otherwhere (Smith/Doorstop).   Two stomping sets, a break to enjoy the refreshed upstairs café complete with poetry miscellany on each table like inviting menus (my favourite was the school exercise book inviting visitors to leave a poem), then it was back downstairs for a corker of a set by other Telltale co-founder Peter Kenny.  Halloween may have just come and gone but that didn’t stop Abigail Parry treating us to a trio of Gothic poems amid an exhilarating set that tricked and turned on wicked word plays – we simply cannot wait for Bloodaxe to bring out Abby’s collection Jinx next March.

Thank you once again to Robin Houghton, Catherine Smith, Peter Kenny, Abigail Parry, the Poetry Café and the wonderful audience who filled the room with warmth and laughter.  Next stop:  the Telltale Anthology 2018 – watch this space!

TT 1 Nov pic

Peter Kenny, Abigail Parry, Robin Houghton and Catherine Smith

Telltale Press & Friends, poetry reading, Lewes Arms, Lewes, Friday 28th April at 8.00pm

Poetry reading Lewes Arms 28th April 2017

Spring is here and with it another sparkly Telltale Press & Friends’ reading in Lewes, kicking off the Bank Holiday weekend in style on Friday 28 April 2017 @ 8pm.

Our guest poets come from near and far.  From Penzance we are delighted to present Katrina Naomi, whose spectacular second collection, The Way the Crocodile Taught Me (Seren, 2016) is a must-read; and we are thrilled to be joined by Brighton-based Marion Tracy, whose dazzling debut collection Dreaming of our Better Selves is fresh out from VanguardEditions.   Telltale poets Siegfried Baber (When Love Came To The Cartoon Kid, singled out by The TLS as one to watch) and Sarah Barnsley (The Fire Station) complete the lineup in what promises to be an exquisite evening.

The event is at the Lewes Arms and admission is FREE (donations welcome).  We hope you can join us!

How to find the Lewes Arms.

 

Poetry reading Lewes Arms 28th April 2017