A whole year after my little Minx was launched upon an unsuspecting world it was a joy to find a review of her in Magma magazine. The lovely Aoife Lyall (@aoife_lyall) gave a very thoughtful review alongside Rosamund Taylor’s Filly and Teresa Lola’s Ceremony for the Nameless. It was lovely to be alongside two poets whose work I love and to have Aoife’s keen eye on Minx in her many formal guises. It seems particularly apt that Minx, Filly and Ceremony for the Nameless appear in this particular edition of Magma as it is one dedicated to the theme of Remix and remixing what’s gone before is something all three books take delight in. Do check it out if you haven’t already bought your copy of Magma. A big ‘thank you’ to Aoife for spending time with Minx and giving such a thought provoking response.
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 