Yep, I have a full compliment of people for Reading for Writing. So thank you to everyone who expressed an interest, and especially those who have signed up.
For those of you who have missed out, never fear – I’m planning to run a couple of one-off poetry weekends over summer, and hopefully to have four Reading for Writing classes over the course of next year. There’s also a possibility of running a regular Workshop Group class, if enough people are interested. The downside is that they won’t be free …
And for those of you on the West Coast, keep your eyes peeled, as I’m in the final stages of organising (well, actually being organised by Greg) a reading and workshop in Greymouth, looking likely to be the first weekend in November. Watch this space!
A Dark Feathered Art 
Oh, I can be bossy when I want to be! And while I’m at it: I want to issue a challenge to all you “peripatetic” (GORGEOUS word) plains-based poetry fans to traverse the alps for Guy Fawkes weekend, as a literary ‘cohort of support’ for your very generous and esteemed J.P. After all, if I can make it to the Canterbury Poets’ Collective annual poetry readings, then you Cantabs can easily return the favour, yes? WORD OF MOUTH (The Greymouth Live Poets’ Group) is rallying to make Sat 5 Nov and Sun 6 Nov an explosion of Preston-inspired fireworks! (Does that make Joanna the skyrocket, or the fairy wheel?) In the spirit of the REAL NZ Festival, make up a team of J.P. groupies for a road trip to the hospitable West Coast. I promise you that Joanna’s venue for her reading and workshop (The Left Bank Art Gallery) is one of the most uniquely beautiful and acoustically-endowed galleries anywhere. The programme of events is shaping up like this: ‘The Summer King’ A Poetry Reading by multi award-winning poet Joanna Preston, $10 Sat 5 Nov 7pm Left Bank Art Gallery, followed by supper and drinks and FIREWORKS! (if I can manage to con the Council). Sun 6 Nov 10am-3pm (Lunch 12pm-1pm) ‘Introduction to Poetry’ A Whole Day Poetry Workshop with Joanna Preston. $30 STRICTLY LIMITED to 20 places. So register NOW! Contact The Left Bank Art Gallery, Greymouth. Phone: (03) 768 0038 and speak with the lovely Marg and the lovely Karen. Or Email: leftbank@paradise.net.nz This online chatter is all very well, but get a little retro: fill up a car with REAL poetry-friendly faces and wax lyrical over the spectacular Arthur’s Pass and back. We promise to make you welcome! (on behalf of WORD OF MOUTH, The Greymouth Live Poets’ Group).
By a spooky coincidence, I’ve been working on a poem called Guy Fawkes …