Category Archives: News

Launch of Jess Mookherjee’s pamphlet

It’s gone to print and we’re getting excited about launching ‘The Swell’, the debut pamphlet from our newest member Jessica Mookherjee.

The official launch event will be on Wednesday 5th October, 7.15pm, at the Pitcher & Piano, Tunbridge Wells. Do come and hear Jess reading from her pamphlet, plus guest readers and who knows, maybe a Telltale-style surprise or two…

And if you’re going to be at the Poetry Book Fair Free Verse on Saturday 17th September, please say hello to the Telltale Poets – not only will be sharing a table with our good friends The Frogmore Press, but some of us will also be reading in the evening at the Square Pig & Pen. Hope to see you there!

 

Another great night at the Poetry Cafe

Poets at Telltale Press & Friends, July 2016

Sarah Barnsley, John McCullough, Jess Mookherjee & Peter Kenny

Despite the best efforts of Southern Rail to derail our evening in London last week (derail! See what I did there?) it was another lovely/lively night at the Poetry Cafe.

Sadly, Siegfried Baber was poorly which meant he was unable to read, but Peter Kenny stepped in and joined Sarah Barnsley, Jess Mookherjee and John McCullough. All strong readings and a particular pleasure to hear Jess in her first reading as a Telltale poet, with a sneak preview of some of the poems in her pamphlet which we’re working on now and planning to launch in October. Exciting!

Huge thanks also to John McCullough, who’s been a friend of Telltale from the start, having read at our Brighton launch in 2014. John’s latest collection is Spacecraft (Penned in the Margins), a fine book which unsurprisingly sold well on the night.

Thank you to everyone who came, bought poetry, donated to the press and made the evening so much fun.

Here’s footage of Peter reading:

Poet Peter Kenny reads ‘Postcard from Ithaca’ from Telltale Press on Vimeo.

Telltale & Friends – 7th July The Poetry Cafe, London

Opinions have been sought, debates held, pros and cons weighed up, and one epoch-shaking decision has been taken. Yes folks Telltale’s summer reading has been finalised!  It will be held at our old stomping ground of The Poetry Cafe, in London’s Covent Garden. It’s all the sevens: the evening starts at 7:00pm, on Thursday 7th July.

Hotter than a sizzling hot thing, is John McCullough right now. He’s a long-term Telltale friend, and his spanking new collection Spacecraft is already going down a storm. On the night we’ll also showcase Telltale’s latest recruit Jess Mookherjee, whose collection Telltale will be launching later this year. You’ll also find on the bill are fabulous Telltale stars Sarah Barnsley (The Fire Station) and Siegfried Baber (When Love Came To The Cartoon Kid). 

Picture the scene… You are sauntering through sophisticated Covent Garden, and effortlessly drift into the Poetry Cafe. Soon you are congratulating yourself on choosing to hear some exceptional poetry. All for free.

If you’re in reach of London, we’re looking forward to giving you a sunny Telltale welcome. Consider this your invitation…

june16-flyer-for-email

Jessica Mookherjee joins Telltale Press

E487oZfx

Jess Mookherjee, the latest poet to join Telltale Press

We’re utterly chuffed to announce that Jess Mookherjee is the latest poet to be scooped up by Telltale Press.

Her pamphlet, The Swell, will be launched in October.

Avid poetry fans will have not failed to notice Jess’s powerful and intriguingly intimate work exploding into print. Having been writing for a mere three years, her poetry has already graced Agenda, Antiphon, Clear, Ink Sweat & Tears, Interpreter’s House, Obsessed with Pipework, Poetry Shed, Prole… We could go on.

When not involved in this outpouring of beautiful writing, Jess works in Public Health, having an academic background in Biological Anthropology. Now firmly rooted in Kent, Jess spent most of her adult life in London, and her childhood in Mumbles, Wales.

For more about Jess look no further than her spanking new blog thejessicapoet.

Watch this space for news of July Telltale & Friends readings at the poetry cafe, the Autumn launch of Jessica’s The Swell and more. It is going to be an outstanding year for Telltale Press, and one in which Jessica’s poetry will win the new audiences it so richly deserves.

A good night of readings in Lewes

Poets reading at Telltale Press & Friends, Lewes, April 2016

The upstairs room at the Lewes Arms is great for poetry readings – intimate, so need for a mic, but with a small stage. It’s also pretty quiet, unless the windows are open, in which case there’s inevitably a bit of noise from outside. If there are 30 people there it’s packed.

Anyway, the point is we had a super-relaxed Telltale Press & Friends night there on Wednesday, with a full room and attentive audience. Great to see so many poet friends and supporters.

The poets reading were Telltales Sarah Barnsley and Robin Houghton, newcomer Rebecca White and special guest Abegail Morley, with Siegfried Baber doing the introductions.

Thank you to everyone who came, and see you at the next one – date and venue tbc but probably in the summer – make sure you join our mailing list if you’re not already on it, and we’ll keep you posted.

Poets reading at Telltale Press & Friends, Lewes, April 2016

Robin Houghton, Rebecca White, Sarah Barnsley and Abegail Morley after their readings.

 

Telltale & Friends – 13th April, Lewes Arms, Lewes

Spring is almost here, and Telltale Press is at it again. For the second Telltale and Friends event of 2016, we’ll be spellbinding Lewes with powerful lineup of poets. We’ve coaxed the wonderful Abegail Morley (whose new book The Skin Diary is out this year) to read for us. Then we added Telltale’s own stars Sarah Barnsley and Robin Houghton, and invited Rebecca White – a poet whose strong work has been catching our eye lately.

The venue is upstairs at the characterful Lewes Arms, a place of fine boozes and warm hospitality. The night starts at 7:00 pm. Can you think of a better way to spend a Wednesday night? Thought not. And, what’s more, the event is absolutely FREE (though if you feel moved to slide voluntary doubloons into the Telltale coffers, we won’t stop you).

We’re looking forward to warmly welcoming you to a night of exceptional poetry.

Telltale Press & Friends, Lewes 2016

Video: Peter Kenny & Jack Underwood at the Poetry Cafe

Two short clips from our Telltale Press & Friends night on 7th January 2016:

 

Great night of readings at the Poetry Cafe

On Thursday we had a full house at the Poetry Cafe in London for our first Telltale Press & Friends night of 2016.

Our guest poets were Jack Underwood and Kitty Coles. Jack’s first full collection Happiness was published last year by Faber & Faber – we heard poems from this plus a number of new poems. Kitty is an up and coming poet from Surrey who’s widely published across a range of magazines. Telltale readers were Peter Kenny and Siegfried Baber. It was an excellent variety of voices and a great way to kick off the New Year.

Thank you to everyone who came along, including Hilaire, Louise Ordish, Rebecca White and a host of lovely people, plus everyone who helped spread the word on social media – you are all stars.

Jack Underwood reading at Telltale Press & Friends, Poetry Cafe, London, January 2016

Jack Underwood

 

Peter Kenny reading at Telltale Press & Friends, Poetry Cafe, London, January 2016

Peter Kenny

Kitty Coles reading at Telltale Press & Friends, Poetry Cafe, London, January 2016

Kitty Coles

 

Siegfried Baber reading at Telltale Press & Friends, Poetry Cafe, London, January 2016

Siegfried Baber

Announcing our new Patron: Carol Ann Duffy

We’re delighted and proud to announce that Dame Carol Ann Duffy, the Poet Laureate, has agreed to be our Patron.

Carol Ann Duffy, Patron of Telltale Press

Photo by Michael Woods.

Carol Ann is a fantastic supporter of new poetry initiatives and it was her encouragement that sowed the seeds of Telltale Press in 2014. She believes in our idea of being proactive, creating opportunities for poets and seizing the means of poetry production.

It’s a brilliant endorsement of our model and extremely motivational for us that Carol Ann is willing to associate her name with the Press.

These are exciting times for Telltale as we move into our third year – with plans for new members, more readings and more first pamphlets.

 

 

Telltale & Friends – 7th January at The Poetry Cafe

Poetry-lovers, blow away those post-Christmas blues with a cracking night of verse from Telltale Press and Friends!

On Thursday 7th January, Faber’s Jack Underwood and the wonderful Kitty Coles join Telltale poets Peter Kenny and Siegfried Baber at London’s Poetry Cafe to help kick-start the New Year.

So bring your friends and family along, have a drink, or two, or three, and don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to hear four fantastic poets reading from their work. What could be better?

Oh, that’s right – it’s free!

We look forward to seeing you there…and to sharing our exciting plans for 2016.

image