Royal Society of Literature 2026 Fellows and Honorary Fellows
Congratulations to my MA supervisor Tim Liardet, my agent Elise Dillsworth, stablemate Leo Boix, and the lovely Sophie Herxheimer on their fellowship and honorary fellowship of the RSL. Here’s the RSL social media announcement…The 2026 Fellows: Arifa Akbar @arifa.akbar, Jake Arnott @jakearnottauthor, Joanna Biggs @joanouvelle, Dinah Birch, Leo Boix @boixleo, James Campbell, Lauren Child @laurenchildthatsme, Patricia Duncker, Melissa Harrison @m_z_harrison, Sophie…
London Grip Reviews MINX
I have just read the poet Jess Mookherjee’s beautiful and sensitive review of Minx for London grip. As a poet, and especially one writing about such personal material, it’s always a pleasure when I hear that Minx has resonated with a reader and Jess just got to the heart of what makes the collection tick.…
Dublin and Waterford
This time last week I was facilitating a workshop and later reading with Kerry Hardie and Eoin Devereux at Speak Your Truth’s Poetry Lounge at Waterford Gallery of Art. We were ably hosted by Ger Duffy, Collette Colfer and Cathy Conlon. It was a broiling day, a pigeon’s nest outside the open window (complete with…
Speak Your Truth
Saturday 23rd May, 2.00-4.00pmCalling all poets and poetry lovers based in Ireland! I’m delighted to announce that I will be reading and in conversation at Speak Your Truth at The Poetry Lounge, Waterford Gallery of Art, O’Connell Street, Waterford. The event is free… yes, totally free! Come along to hear Kerrie Hardie, Eoin Devereux and…
Karen Downs-Barton Wins the John Pollard International Poetry Prize
I’m beyond delighted to be able to share news that I won the John Pollard International Poetry Prize. I’d like to thank Dr Linda Doyle and Trinity College Dublin, Stephen Vernon and the John Pollard Foundation, the lovely judges Professor Eoin McNamee, Una Mannion, and Seán Hewitt for welcoming me and this bestowing this wonderful…
Swindon Literature Festival
Join me with poets Zoe Brooks and Chris Horton at Lower Shaw Farm for the Swindon Literature Festival’s POETS THREE event. We’ll be talking all things poetry and reading from our recent book releases. Poets Three: KAREN DOWNS-BARTON, ZOE BROOKS, and CHRISTOPHER HORTON Presented in association with Poetry Swindon Prize-winning poet Karen Downs-Barton PhD is…
Minx and Magma
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…
Minx – Birthday Girl!
It seems incredible that a year ago today my debut collection, Minx, was launched upon an unsuspecting world. April 8th is International Romani Day, an auspicious start for a collection celebrating the cultural history and diversity of the Roma. The venue was the London Review Bookshop where I first saw my pamphlet, Didicoy, in a…
Deptford Literature Festival
Mother Tongue, Poetry, Family and Inheritance, Saturday 28 March. Just one week until this fabulous event. I’ll be sharing the stage with three wonderful poets, Sarah Howe, and Erica Hesketh, hosted by writer and critic April Yee. We’ll be reading from our latest collections, exploring themes of matrilineage and family, reflecting on how they nourish…
John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize Shortlist 2026
Minx by Karen Downs-Barton is shortlisted for the John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize 2026
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
Karen Downs-Barton 