News

June 2010

Hello all.

Well, I'll go to the foot of our stairs! I've won the Marple Poetry Competition! I was shortlisted in the Formal/Free verse category, but won the Humorous Verse category outright with my poem 'The Poetry Diet - drop a stanza in just two weeks!'

Obviously I'm thrilled. This was only the second competition I'd entered, and I thought that my Hon Mention in the Many Hands Comp was probably a one-off.

I've now met Ian and Joyce Reed, who ran the competition - there were over 400 entries and they gave a lot of time and effort to the competition. Lovely people.

You can read the poem or see more details of the competition and winners here: http://www.marplewriting.org.uk/page6.html

April 2010

I've been insanely busy recently, what with moving house and co-editing the Best of Manchester Poets anthology, out in June. I've submitted very little recently, though I did have one acceptance. Well sort of - I sent in a poem and a photo to go with it, and Fuselit rejected the poem but accepted the photo! I love Fuselit - it comes across as a real labour of love and is full of interesting things. The 'Tilt' issue with my photo in also comes with 'Bardgames', a great little zine of writing exercises based on board games!
I'll write again soon.
Best wishes,
Cathy x

February 2010

I have three poems and a very flattering photo up at the 'zine Women Writers. I'm very proud of this - I've wanted to express my feminism for a while via poetry, and this was a marvellous way to do it. Also I performed at Poetry Pillow dressed as an elf! Well I was too ill at Christmas, and I wasn't letting that costume go to waste!

The biggest news so far, though, has to be that my first collection, which is probably going to be called, Playing Devil's Avocado, will be published in the autumn by Puppywolf! I'm so excited!

Puppywolf is also publishing a Best of Manchester Poets anthology, and I'm very flattered to have been asked to be part of the editorial board. It'll make a change to evaluate submissions rather than waiting for rejections....anyway, to see more about this project or to submit to it, go to puppywolf.co.uk/news.

22nd January 2010

I'll be performing at the following event along with the very talented Dominic Berry, and Steve Lyons, who is the rudest poet I know! Do come if you can as it promises to be a great night.

Write Out Loud - Sale - 2010!!!

trafford poetry open mic malarkey

January 2010 sees the return of Write Out Loud's poetry night at TheTrafford Waterside Arts Centre, Sale.

First time readers are especially welcome. Open mic spaces are available ona first come, first served basis. If you want a space, get there early asspaces go quickly!

GUEST POETS

Steve Lyons is a regular performer on the Manchester poetry scene. His poetry is earthy, punchy, humorous and insightful.

Cathy Bryant is a poet of great warmth and humour, whose poetry often looks at the everyday from a wry perspective, but still manages to retain a sense of wonder, beauty and the magical.

Dominic Berry - Manchester's premier queer vegan wordsmith, is the co-founder/co-host of two popular poetry nights Freed Up and Poetry Pillow, and founder of writing group Animal Writes. Dominic is also the author of two books (Tomorrow I Will Go Dancing, Lyric of Dragon Claw Keep). Dominic's poetry is exciting, provocative and good-humoured.

Host for the evening is Manchester poet Steve O'Connor.

It's just £3/£2 concessions to get in.

Trafford Waterside Arts Centre - 0161 912 5616

4th January 2010

Goodness me, it's a while since I've updated, isn't it? Basically I went from frantically busy - performing at the East Midlands Vegan Fair, the Animal Reads event and Poulton-le-Fylde Vegan Festival as well as my regular open mics - to frantically ill with a prolonged ear infection that has so far taken three lots of antibiotics to deal with. So my heartfelt apologies for not being in touch.

Big news in January! If you see the copy of Woman & Home magazine with the purple cover and photo of Lulu, turn to page 182 and there's a mention of me and my story 'Fragile', which was runner-up in their short story competition. Also I've got a special mention in the 'Many Hands' poetry competition.

'MH' stands for 'Many Hands' by the way - I wrote a poem for the cafe at a fundraising event so I'm delighted that it was placed. 'Prrr, Prrr' is a comic sonnet about having cats versus having children.

Video from Poulton to follow!

September 2009

As promised, my poem 'Her Light Touch in Darkness' is printed in this month's edition of Velvet magazine, which is nice.

I'm having a month off performances in September; just resting and relaxing, which, given my health problems, is going to be necessary from time to time. There are a couple of great videos of me at the Many Hands fundraiser though, courtesy of the masterly cameragoddess Angela Smith:

It was a lovely gig, and the sensitive will be pleased to see that I'm properly clothed rather than pyjama-clad.

August 2009

Terribly short notice I know, but tonight (Saturday August 22nd) I'm doing a 15 minute set as part of the 'Many Hands' fundraising night event. The Many Hands cafe will be a community arts space and vegan cafe in Chorlton, so it's well worth supporting. As well as me there'll be a violinist, Himalayan drumming and the poetry of copland smith and Linda Chase. The evening starts at 7.30 and the suggested donation is £3.

There will be vegan wine and canapes available! Hurrah! It's at the Scout Hut of St Clement's Church, Edge Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, M21 9JF. Phone Leigh on 07910075950 for further details. Such a good cause. If you're curious about my performances but can't make one, you can see me here in very unflattering pyjamas: part 1 and part 2 (embedded below).

Unsung magazine have printed one of my poems, 'Confession', with a lovely illustration. It's very well laid out, with my name in big letters! See more on my publications page.

I didn't win the Woman & Home competition, sadly, but was a runner-up. So no riches and fame yet, but never mind. My story finishing in the top ten of over eight hundred entries is still very pleasing!

This month's Freedup (for location details etc see earlier posts) is on Thursday 20th August and the theme is Trash. I haven't decided yet whether or not to read, but it's a cracking night out either way.

On 7th I was the special guest at Poetry Pillow, a 'slam without the bam' run by Dominic Berry and Steve O'Connor. It was a 15 minute slot so I was very nervous, but there was a fantastic atmosphere and I ended up feeling really intimate with the audience. Unsurprising perhaps as I was in my pyjamas! (There's a free raffle for those who attend in pyjamas.) There should be a video of it up on YouTube soon. Look out for the bunny earrings.

July 2009

My short story 'Fragile' has been shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards in the category 'Woman and Home Best Short Fiction'. Gulp! If I win I get an award, publication in the magazine and £1000! There are nine other stories shortlisted though, so it's a slim chance. As a runner up I get a prize too, free coffee and books I think, so that's still lovely.

Two performances planned this month, on two consecutive days!
Freedup at the Green Room, Whitworth Street West, Thursday 16th July from about 7.30pm. This is a great night - about 20 poets will read in a fantastic and friendly atmosphere.
Poetry Pillow at An Outlet, 77 Dale Street, Friday 17th July from 7.30pm. This is a competition but in a gentle, pillow-like way. There's a free raffle for those who turn up in their pyjamas! £3 or £2 Concessions. This is open mic so join me!!!!

June 2009

On Thursday 18th June I'll be doing a 3 minute spot at Freedup Poets at the Green Room, 54-56 Whitworth Street West, Manchester, which starts at 7.30pm. It's free to get in and the theme this month is 'Beasts'.

May 2009

The poem 'Her light Touch in Darkness' will appear in either the August or the November edition of Velvet magazine.

Two Performances in May:

Monday May 25th, 7pm Matt and Phred's, Tib St, Manchester - POETS AND MASH celebrates its birthday in true poetic style with a host of beautiful guest artists and a healthy dollop of birthday surprises. Come help us celebrate! Door entry £4 / £2 if you're skint.

Performing for us will be:
PEN ULTIMATE
CATHY BRYANT
FERGUS EVANS
KRISS FOSTER
DOMINIC BERRY

Thursday 28th May, 6pm, Central Library
This is part of the 'That's Your Lot!' gig to say farewell to 'The Ugly Tree' poetry magazine. Poets will include me and Dominic Berry, and the amazing Jackie Hagan who is bringing glittered cakes! Take this chance to be part of the NorthWest's Literary History as we say goodbye to an iconic publication. I don't know what the charge is, but let's face it, it won't be loads will it? It's usually a few quid.

Best wishes and looking forward to seeing you,

Cathy

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