Karen Downs-Barton

Didicoy, a Poetry Book Society recommendation

I am beyond delighted to announce that the Poetry Book Society has chosen my book, Didicoy, in the summer recommended reading list. A massive ‘Thank you’ to the Poetry Book Society and my publishers Smith|Doorstop for their encouragement and belief in my work. Congratulations to my fellow recommendees, I’m honoured to be among you.

Didicoy, Creative Writing @ Leicester

I’m delighted to see my pamphlet, Didicoy, featured on the Creative Writing @ Leicester. It’s a fantastic page featuring both poetry and prose reviews. Do check it out and read some of the poems from my pamphlet. My thanks to Jonathan Taylor of Leicester University for including my pamphlet on the blog.

Book Launch at the Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere

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 shareContinue reading “Book Launch at the Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere”

Poetry Reading, Grasmere

Celebrating the Poetry Business book launch The annual Poetry Business International Book & Pamphlet Competition has launched the careers of many successful poets. This year the winners of the 2021 and 2022 competitions will give readings in the atmospheric setting of the book-lined Reading Room in the Jerwood Centre at Wordsworth Grasmere. Please come alongContinue reading “Poetry Reading, Grasmere”

Didicoy

(update: Didicoy is now the Poetry Book Society recommended pamphlet, summer 2023! I’m absolutely thrilled.)Today I signed-off on the final edits of my first book with my wonderful editors, Ann and Peter Sansom. As of this evening Didicoy is wending its way to the printer in readiness for its launch on March 3rd. I’d likeContinue reading “Didicoy”

How it Started

I was thrilled to receive the first copies of How it Started yesterday morning. My poetry sequence ‘Framed by Woodgrain’ is a silver award winner in the poetry category. I’ve been enjoying a wonderful Sunday afternoon with a cup of coffee reading all the other incredible entries. Well done to all those who took part,Continue reading “How it Started”

Creative Future Silver Winner

I’m absolutely delighted to announce that my poetry sequence Framed by Woodgrain has won the silver award in the 2022 Creative Future competition. Even more thrilling, the judge was Joelle Taylor, winner of the 2022 T.S.Elliot prize. I’ll be reading my sequence at the London Literary Festival as part of the Creative Future Awards Showcase,Continue reading “Creative Future Silver Winner”

Shortlisted for the Creative Futures Writers’ Award

I’m delighted to have been shortlisted for the Creative Futures Writers’ Award with my poem Framed by Woodgrain. Congratulations to my fellow shortlistees! The award nominees are a wonderfully diverse group of writers, both poets and prose writers, and I’m looking forward to hearing them reading in London in October.

Vampira

Yesterday, I spent many wonderful, and thankfully cool, hours investigating this intriguing femme fatale. Her name is Maila Elizabeth Niemi, but she’s better known to fans of kitsch horror as Vampira. As with so many theatricals there is a deal of ‘creating your own persona’ in her history – which I love – but it was herContinue reading “Vampira”

International Book & Pamphlet Competition

Today I signed-off on the final edits of my first book with my wonderful editors, Ann and Peter Sansom. As of this evening Didicoy is wending its way to the printer in readiness for its launch on March 3rd. I’d like to send a huge ‘Thank You’ to everyone at The Poetry Business for theirContinue reading “International Book & Pamphlet Competition”