Just a month to go to my appearance at Crafty Crows. I’ll be reading my favourite poems from Minx, Didicoy, and debuting some exciting new work… because I can! Wednesday, 5th August 2026, 7 pm to 9 pm.Hosted by Emma Clowsley There is an open mic with a generous 3 minutes for readers so doContinue reading “Minx at Crafty Crows”
Tag Archives: #poetryfromthemargins
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.Continue reading “London Grip Reviews MINX”
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 withContinue reading “Dublin and Waterford”
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 wonderfulContinue reading “Karen Downs-Barton Wins the John Pollard International Poetry Prize”
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 isContinue reading “Swindon Literature Festival”
John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize Shortlist 2026
Minx by Karen Downs-Barton is shortlisted for the John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize 2026
Minx in the Guardian
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”
i Newspaper Article
Did you know that November is National Care Leavers month? It wasn’t well publicised but as an in-and-out resident of state childcare I was delighted to contribute this article to the i newspaper. I hope it goes some way to raising awareness of the changes taking place for young people in care and how simpleContinue reading “i Newspaper Article”
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.
Minx at Edinburgh International Book Festival
I’m excited to share that next week I’ll be at #EdBookFest, in conversation with the lovely Shasta Hanif Ali about what it means to belong, and how exploring belonging is at the core of Minx. Expect the unexpected in this conversation that looks at the quirks of language, mining archives for rootedness, and creating newContinue reading “Minx at Edinburgh International Book Festival”
Karen Downs-Barton 