I’m super excited to announce that Minx has made it into the pages of the Guardian newspaper as one of Rishi Dastidar’s ‘Best Poetry of 2025’. Here’s what Rishi had to say about her… ‘Karen Downs‑Barton’s debut /Minx/ (Chatto & Windus) was similarly eye-catching, unsparingly detailing both the poet’s time in the care system, and theContinue reading “Minx in the Guardian”
Category Archives: King’s College, London
A New Form for National Poetry Day
I’m delighted to announce that Ink Sweat and Tears has published my poem Gone Not Gone on International Poetry Day. This years theme is PLAY and the poem not only features the wonders of the infinite inventiveness of children in a form that ‘plays’ with the use of language.
Digital Launch: Book and Pamphlet Competition winners
A virtual event to celebrate Karen Downs-Barton, Luke Samuel-Yates, Jon Miller and Zoë Walkington. Join us as we celebrate these excellent new books from the four winners of the 2022 International Book & Pamphlet Competition. Tune into our special digital launch event for readings and discussion with Karen Downs Barton, Luke Samuel Yates, Jon Miller andContinue reading “Digital Launch: Book and Pamphlet Competition winners”
Didicoy, Poetry Reading at Cheltenham Poetry Festival
I’m delighted to be reading a selection of poems from my book, Didicoy, at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival event on Monday, July 31st alongside the fantastic Rachael Clyne. The event will be live-streamed at 7.30 and tickets are available via TicketSource (link also in image). Didicoy has been announced as the Poetry Book Society recommendationContinue reading “Didicoy, Poetry Reading at Cheltenham Poetry Festival”
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”
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”
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”
Karen Downs-Barton 