Turning Over A New Leaf

I am ashamed to discover that I have written nothing here since August. I resolve to be a good poet and write on a weekly basis henceforth. Honest.

Anyway, I am taking this time to reflect on how things are going, poetry-wise at least. Personally it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster with a grandchild due in the next couple of weeks and a son recently emigrated. I feel as though I am on a more even keel now and am starting to think that I am a reasonably decent writer of poetry. This is a good way to end a year.

Transformations, my pamphlet inspired by the work of the wonderful Elisabeth Frink, had its official launch in November. It was hosted by Annick Yerem, editor of Side Press. Check out her publications here: https://sidhe-press.eu/about/ I was also supported by the poets Jude Marr https://judemarr.com/ and Nina Parmenter https://ninaparmenter.com/ . Their work is brilliant and both had been pivotal in helping Transformations get out into the world. I haven’t exactly been inundated with orders and a friend tells me that it’s a book for poets rather than for readers of poetry in general. This makes me a bit sad as I truly believe it’s my best work. Anyway, if you would like a copy, email me at bethbrooke@me.com . It’s had good reviews, this for example https://jaccigoodingauthor.co.uk/2023/11/27/transformations-by-beth-brooke/ Also, to my utter surprise and joy, two poems from Transformations have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. The splendid Flight Of The Dragonfly nominated Horses At The Battle Of Philippihttps://flightofthedragonfly.com/beth-brook/ and wonderful Mark at Hedgehog Press nominated Greenman. Damien Donnelly was also kind enough to have me on his Eat The Storms Podcast, season 7 episode 13. Do have a listen and let me know what you think.

I also made it into the Poetry Archive with a poem called I Chart My Recovery. https://poetryarchive.org/poem/poetry-archive-now-wordview-2023-i-chart-my-recovery/ I look at little deranged but honestly, that’s how covid and the state of the world made me feel!

Finally, I also have a little collection called Chalk Stories, published by Hobnob Press. These are all poems about Dorset: its landscape, its history, its people and my experience of living in the county for over forty years. I got to take all the photographs that accompany the poems and I just loved that.

So, much to be grateful for and pleased about. I went on a women’s writing retreat back in November and one of the tutors told me that I should celebrate what I have achieved and so this entry is me doing that. Happy New Year and a massive hug to all my poetry friends.