I was honoured to read at the Poetry Business book launch at The Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere. A massive congratulations to Zoë Walkington, Jon Miller and Luke Samuel Yates and last years winners Dean Browne, Maya C Popa, Jim McElroy, Anastasia Taylor-Lind. It was wonderful to have both Steve Barton and Sarah Wimbush there to share this incredible day with.
A special ‘Thank you’ goes out to Ann and Peter Sansom for their kindness and faith in my work and the judges, Jonathan Edwards and Romalyn Ante. It was a special day and made even more so when Michael McGregor of Wordsworth Grasmere gave us a personal tour of Dove Cottage. It was wonderful to hold my book, Didicoy, in my hand. Thank you all!
Published by Karen Downs-Barton
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
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Karen Downs-Barton 