I’m excited to finally be able to reveal the cover for my new collection, Minx. She’s due to be released into the wide world on March 20th but here is a sneak preview of the cover. I’m sending huge thanks to Jackie Kay ( @jackiekaypoet) and Lemn Sissay ( @sissaylemn ) for their wonderful words. Thank you also to my wonderful team at Penguin Random House for all their support along Minx’s journey.
Karen Downs-Barton is an award winning poet. Minx, her first collection, is published by Chatto and Windus, Penguin Random House in March 2025. Her pamphlet, Didicoy, won the 2022 International Book and Pamphlet Competition and was the Poetry Book Society recommended pamphlet 2023. Her writing incorporates experimental form and multilingualism alongside lyric pieces exploring an Angloromani heritage, times in state child care, and in diverse occupations including a magician's assistant. Karen has appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Verb, Ledbury Literature Festival, and is currently touring, promoting Minx. Karen gained a Doctorate in Creative Writing from King's College, London and is a regular workshop facilitator for Creative Future UK. Follow her on social media at: @downsbarton Instagram, @karendownsbarton.bsky.social View more posts
Karen Downs-Barton