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Showing posts from April, 2017

Interview _ Marilyn Ricci

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Marilyn Ricci is a poet, playwright and editor. Her poetry has been published in a wide range of small press magazines and her pamphlet, Rebuilding a Number 39 , was published by HappenStance Press . Her first full collection, Night Rider , is out now from SoundsWrite Press. In this interview, Marilyn Ricci talks about her writing and about Journeys in Translation . How would you describe the work you do? In terms of my poetry writing, I’d describe it as fulfilling and often a huge struggle. When a ‘prompt’ or idea comes to me for a poem (usually through reading other people’s poetry) I feel an excitement because I know I’ve stumbled across something which is important to me. This is the beginning of a process which is sometimes quite difficult but will end, I hope, with a poem which is meaningful both to me and to others with whom I hope to connect. That connection is the important thing. Which are the easiest aspects of the work? I think the easiest aspects are enjoying

Interview _ Trevor Wright

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Trevor Wright works part time in social care and is the co-director of a community interest company, InSight , which provides autism awareness training. His first poetry collection, Outsider Heart , was published by Nottingham's Big White Shed in November 2016. In this interview, Trevor Wright talks about the work he is doing. How would you describe the writing that you do? I'm relatively new to poetry and so far I've written about family, masculinity and its impact on others, political events in the wider world, key events from my own past with the odd comedic poke at well known public figures. If there's a theme that links many of them it's inequality which has significantly worsened in recent years and is by no means inevitable. As a writing process, chaotic. Trying to process the endless sensory incoming of everyday life, put some shape to it, find a place within or against it. Sometimes both within one poem. Sin, death and redemption just about covers

Interview _ Penny Jones

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Penny Jones is a writer from Leicestershire. She has been published by Fox Spirit Books , Factor Fiction Press , Five Leaves Publications , and Dahlia Publishing . Among other writers' conventions and conferences, she attends the monthly meet up of Leicester Writes . In this interview, Penny Jones talks about her writing, Over Land, Over Sea and Journeys in Translation . How would you describe the writing that you do? I'm new to writing, so at the moment I write anything and everything. I find writing really hard, but find procrastinating really easy, so writing in different styles and genres means that I can try and fool my brain when it is telling me to give up. I have recently finished the first draft of a novel, and throughout the process all I wanted to do was write the short story I had been commissioned to write; then when I was writing that, all I wanted to do was write the screenplay for the course I was attending, and now I'm doing that all I want t

Interview _ David Wilkinson

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David Wilkinson David Wilkinson lives in Ashby de la Zouch and works as the Midlands Regional Officer for the Institute of Physics. His debut novel, We Bleed the Same (Inspired Quill, 2014) was shortlisted for the East Midlands Book Award 2015 . In this interview, David Wilkinson talks about his concerns as a writer. When did you start writing? I have been making up stories set in my fictional “universe” since I was about five. These have been refined over the years until I had novel plots set in my mind. I would talk extensively to my wife about them and she kept saying I should try writing them out. Then a confluence of events occurred. First I got paid to write an article in a science magazine. Then I heard a successful playwright interviewed on BBC Radio 4 who used to be a girl in my English GCSE class, giving feelings of “well, if she can do it...” But mostly it was my wife just telling me to shut up and get on with it, buying me a course at the Leicester Writing Sch

Interview _ Ursula Kapferer

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Ursula Kapferer was born in Vienna (Austria) in 1989 and currently lives in Freiburg (Germany). She studied German and English to become a teacher and is currently writing her PhD thesis on German-English poetry translation. She is also presently writing an article about translating the German poet Christian Morgenstern forthcoming in the traductology series ECHO. In this interview, Ursula Kapferer talks about writing, poetry and poetry in translation. How would you describe the writing you are doing? I write poetry in German and English and translate poetry in both directions. Currently, I am working on my PhD thesis about poetry translation, where I combine poetry translation practice and theoretical work. I have always been fascinated with sound and rhythm which greatly influences both my writing and research interests and I am also interested in the different advantages and challenges when translating both from German to English and vice versa . Who or what has had t

Interview _ Lydia Towsey

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Lydia Towsey is a poet and a performer. Her previous commissions include: Freedom Showcase (Literature Network); Spoken Word All Stars Tour (Poet in the City); Beyond Words , U.K. tour of South African poets (Apples and Snakes); and, Three the Hard Way UK tour, alongside Jean ‘Binta' Breeze and Alison Dunne in 2014 and Jean Binta Breeze and Shruti Chauhan in 2015. Poet, Performer and Spoken Word Artist, Lydia Towsey. A Decibel commissioned artist, in 2008 Lydia Towsey was one of 50 international artists in residence at Stratford Theatre Royal. Previously shortlisted for the Bridport Poetry Prize, she has spoken and performed everywhere ... from London’s 100 Club, Roundhouse and the House of Lords, to ... Plymouth University’s Zombie Symposium . Her work has been featured in publications that include the magazines: The London Magazine , Hearing Voices and Magma Magazine ; and the anthologies, Hallelujah for 50ft Women (Raving Beauties, Bloodaxe, 2016),  Over Land, Ov

Interview _ Emma Lee

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Emma Lee Emma Lee co-edited Over Land, Over Sea: Poems for those seeking refuge  (Five Leaves Publications, 2015) and is one of the coordinators of Journeys in Translation . She also co-edited Welcome to Leicester  (Dahlia Publishing, 2016) and has three poetry collections, Ghosts in the Desert  (Indigo Dreams Publishing, 2015), Mimicking a Snowdrop  (Thynks, 2014) and Yellow Torchlight and the Blues  (Original Plus, 2004). She reviews for The High Window Journal , The Journal , London Grip and Sabotage Reviews and is currently Vice-President of Leicester Writers' Club . Her poems have been published in the UK, USA, Mexico and South Africa, broadcast on radio and she has performed them at venues such as Leicester City Football Club, Leicester's Guildhall and the Poetry Cafe in London. In this interview Emma Lee talks about her writing and about Journeys in Translation. How would you describe the writing you are currently doing ? In between poetry reviews and blog