I was delighted to have a poem included in the latest issue of the Poetry Bus, PB5. Great cover isn’t it? Peadar and Collette O’Donoghue do a superb job putting together the poetry and art work for this top quality publication. The willingness to take a chance and do something a little bit different is what makes Poetry Bus stand out. The paraphrase of Frost on the flyleaf says it all: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — / thought, fuck it, I’ll take the bus / and that has made all the difference.”
My poem God’s Gift appears alongside work by the likes of Alan McMonagle, John Saunders, Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Afric McGlinchey, Stephanie Conn, Noel King, Micheál Gallagher, Alan Jude Moore, Valerie Sirr, Niamh Boyce, Kate Dempsey, John MacKenna and many many more. Long may the Bus continue!
You can order your copy of PB5 here. I recommend it highly.
Another poem of mine, The Poet’s Work, was featured in this year’s Stony Thursday Book. The anthology was launched in the old Belltable Arts Centre on O’Connell Street in Limerick last Thursday, and it was a great night. Paddy Bushe, this year’s editor, spoke about the difficult task of choosing poems and then invited featured poets to read their poems. It was a pleasure to read there and to hear such a variety of voices, among them Orla Fay, Louis Mulcahy, Kevin Griffin, Mark Whelan, Terri Murray and Susan Kelly. Other poets featured in the anthology who weren’t there on the night include John W. Sexton, Micheál Gallagher, Gene Barry, Theo Dorgan, Noel King, Eamonn Lynskey, Alan Weadick and Gerard Smyth. It’s a beautiful production as usual and it reads as well as it looks. It’s a great pleasure to be part of it.
Two other bits of news. I was commended for a short story in the Over the Edge New Writer of the Year 2013. The poetry section was won by the brilliant Breda Wall Ryan and the wonderful Jennifer Matthews of Munster Literature Centre and Long Story Short fame was commended for poetry too.
Sad news also this week that Doghouse Books is no longer publishing. Founder and editor Noel King announced the bad news earlier this week after more than ten years and almost fifty quality publications. Copies of Doghouse books can still be bought here at the website however while stocks last.
Delighted to feature with you in The Poetry Bus, Brian. Peadar & Collette have done us all proud. And congrats on your Stony Thursday Book poem too! Pity about Doghouse (& Revival too apparently – at least in its current version)
Thanks Valerie. Yea, PB is a great publication alright. I love the way your poems sits so well with Niamh Boyce’s. It’s sad about Doghouse and Revival – two great outlets for poets.
Congratulations on all your good news, Brian.
Delighted for you.
Yes, it’s always sad when a poetry press or journal closes shop.
Great to hear from you Connie! Hope to see your collection in the shops some day soon.