Spoken Label: Recent Episodes

Andy N

Spoken Label is a podcast series designed to interview and record sessions from authors, poets, artists, musicians etc in North West England and beyond.

Formed in 2015 and ran / edited by Andy N, author of ‘Return to Kemptown’ and ‘The End of Summer’,it is always often to submissions from interested artists.

Email: aen1mpo@yahoo.co.uk

Latest Spoken Label (Author / Writer Podcast) features making their debut, Neda Aria.

Neda's bio advises "| write, I create, I build worlds in my imagination. Writing is my soul, creating is my passion. I write to explore the human mind, | write to reveal what's beneath that beautiful mask of yours. I uncover the darkness within. I dare to free words, I dare to be brave, I dare to say what others afraid to say.

Author of ENARO, IDEO: The Bitter Recipes of the Truth, Feminomaniacs, and co-author of The legend of Kelpie.

Coming soon: Clandestine, Insects Circus, Prayer Rope, Production City, and Dream of Dandelions"

Under the name of Lilith Wilde, they have also bought out their debut romance novel "Bella Donna'.

More details about Neda Aria can be found at: https://www.nedaaria.info/

Special episode for Spoken Label (Author Chat) features the return of our friend, Nicola Worswick.Nicola advises "I first started writing and illustrating my children’s book series when I was 13. The stories follow the big bad pirate Captain Cuthbert and his long suffering cat, Scat, whom I guarantee you will fall in love with. Captain Cuthbert on the other hand is bossy, greedy and selfish and always lands himself in trouble. From the age of 13 I suffered lack of confidence due to dyslexia, focus on academics at school and being working class. Creativity always seemed to be dismissed by comments like “that’s good but… you need to improve your maths”. Being working class also limited my options, being on minimum wage meant working long hours. So after writing and illustrating three books I gave up on them. I rediscovered the books in my 30s and I am so glad I did. I had a better payed job by then and my on look on life and confidence had changed over the years. Why can’t someone with dyslexia write and illustrate books? I could just get an editor to check my writing. I already knew an editor who was also a good friend, so I tentatively showed him the books. His response was not what I was expecting and is probably why I am here writing this now. Not only did he think the books and illustrations were great but he thought they were good enough to publish. He asked if he could send them to his publisher who immediately replied saying they were interested in publication. The publisher then let me down, explaining that they didn’t have time to take on a new writer. The failure issues started creeping back. Luckily family and friends made me think straight again and I gained confidence in the fact that a publisher had been interested in my books, and so after much research, I decided to self publish. I would like to use my experience to inspire people to reach to their aspirations. Writing and illustrating the children’s book series is a hobby I love and to have strangers buy and enjoy my books is an added bonus.Join my Facebook page www.facebook.com/CaptainCuthbertScattheCatGifts and Merchandise www.redbubble.com/people/scattheca"Her amazon page is https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B07TY23P7K/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=c5b6d505-05a4-418b-9c6a-5ce3bc5a06a6

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Writer Chat Podcast) features Janet Sternburg.

Janet Sternburg is an American writer of essays, poetry and memoir, as well as a fine art photographer. Her new book, Looking at Mexico/Mexico Looks Back (DISTANZ Press), is a bilingual collaboration in photography and words across the Mexican/US border. She lives between Los Angeles and San Miguel de Allende.

More details about Janet can be found at: https://janetsternburg.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Poet / Writer Podcast) features Chiara Mason.

Chiara is a lifestyle blogger, host of The chiaragoesglobal Podcast, and award-winning author.

Through her blog, podcast, and poetry book, she aims to authentically share stories and connect with others.

At chiaragoesglobal, we hope to foster an inspired and uplifted community where people can show up as their full selves, be seen where they are at, and feel hopeful for the future.

Her website is: https://chiaragoesglobal.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features Drew Garty.

Drew Garty is a rather nomadic Scotsman (still kilt wearing) who currently resides inManchester and London. He has been writing for several years and has performed at a number of venues throughout Manchester and the North West and recently debuted in London.

His work is based on everyday life observations of people and circumstances with a heavy leaning on nostalgia or the unusual (check his work entitled Kilt Day, Stage Name).

Heavily biassed towards humour with a number of pieces reflecting LGBTQ+ issues (Under theRainbow).Drew has been published in various anthologies but maintains a discipline with his writing which observes a personal objective.

Generally eschewing but not dismissing publication, Drew prefers the intimacy of a live performance and an engaging audience.

Also an accomplished photographer he is examining a future of combining his writing with some images.You can contact

Drew can be contacted via email on pumpkinpositive@hotmail.co.uk

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features Rhian Elizabeth.

Rhian Elizabeth is a trainee counsellor and a writer. She was born in 1988 in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales, and now lives in Cardiff. Her debut novel, Six Pounds Eight Ounces, was published in 2014 by Seren Books and is currently being adapted for TV, and her poetry collection, the last polar bear on earth, was published in 2018 by Parthian Books. Her prose and poetry have been listed in various competitions and prizes and appeared in many magazines and anthologies, as well as being featured on Radio 4’s PM programme. She was named by the welsh agenda as one of Wales’ Rising Stars- one of 30 people working to make Wales better over the next 30 years. She is a Hay Festival Writer at Work and Writer in Residence at the Coracle International Literary Festival in Tranås, Sweden. girls etc is her latest book of poems, published by Broken Sleep Books.

**More details can be found at: https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page/rhian-elizabeth-girls-etc

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features the return of our friend, Isabelle Kenyon.

Isabelle Kenyon (Belle to me) is a Manchester writer and the author of 5 chapbooks including Growing Pains (Indigo Dreams). She has had work and articles published internationally and newspapers such as The Somerville Times and The Bookseller.

She is also the founder of Fly on the Wall Press. Fly on the Wall is a social enterprise company and a not for profit publisher, based in Manchester. We publish high quality anthologies on pressing issues, chapbooks and poetry products, from exceptional poets around the globe, with socially conscious themes.

This Podcast primarily talks about her debut novel 'The Dark within them'.

The Dark within them is described as "In this gripping psychological thriller, faith-healer Amber thinks she's found peace in Lehi, the small Mormon town she's moved her family to. But when a death affects her family, her safe haven shatters. As the tight-knit community closes ranks to protect its secrets at all costs, Amber's world unravels. With her beliefs shaken and nothing feeling certain anymore, she's faced with an impossible choice: take a leap of faith to protect her loved ones, or risk losing everything by exposing the truth.

"Luring you in with promises of happily ever after, Kenyon quickly removes any feelings of comfort..." - The Northern Bookworm

But how far is too far when it comes to protecting those you love?

A TIGHT-KNIT MORMON COMMUNITY.

BODIES BURIED IN THE GARDEN.

ONE FAMILY DIVIDED.

‘intense and compelling…an enormously talented writer’ - Shabnom Khanom

'a honed and beautiful writing style…not your usual psychological thriller’ - Debz Hobbs-Wyatt

'A must-read for fans of Paula Hawkins or M. T. Edvarsson... A gripping, pacy thriller.' - Northern Soul Magazine

'Isolated and without even her faith to call on, Amber is left to determine how much darkness is really within her.' - The Northern Bookworm

'Kenyon’s book explores themes of faith, motherhood and marriage with nuance. At the same time, the plot propels the reader forward with the claustrophobic tension of recent grip-lit classics like The Girl on the Train.' - Crime Culture Magazine"

For more details go to: https://www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Artist Podcast) features the singer Dogstar Rose.Dogstar Rose originates from North London and now lives in the Wirral and delivers her music with an inimitable style of sleaze and grace. Dogstar is a singer/songwriter of alternative value, and fronts the band 'futurejack'. Her performance evokes the emotion of a hard rock, punk pop, soulful personality.Links include:https://www.facebook.com/DogstarRosehttps://www.facebook.com/futurejack

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Writer Podcast) features Arini Vlotman

Arini advises she "a romance fanatic, book worm, book hoarder and writer. Writers are my superheroes; readers are my tribe. I’m a people’s person and a wordy nerd so I can find comfort in almost any space but there is nothing quite like being at home with my husband, son and fur babies.Living in Johannesburg, South Africa has given me a slightly quirky world view- we laugh at ourselves all the time here so sometimes my sense of humor doesn’t translate into my words. Be kind, I think I’m funny!One my favourite hobbies is Fangirling (is that a thing?). Musicians, books, movies or obscure characters, when I find something that I love I delve into that world like Harry Potter diving into the Whomping Willow."

Her debut novel is "Pretty Average".

More details can be found at: https://arinivlotman.co.za/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features the wonderful M. L. Liebler.M. L. Liebler is an internationally known & widely published Detroit poet, university professor, literary arts activist and arts organizer.

He was named The 2017-2018 Murray E. Jackson Scholar in the Arts Award at Wayne State University. Liebler is the author of 15 books and chapbooks including the Award winning Wide Awake in Someone Else's Dream (Wayne State University Press 2008) featuring poems written in and about Russia, Israel, Germany, Alaska and Detroit. Wide Awake won both The Paterson Poetry Prize for Literary Excellenceand The American Indie Book Award for 2009.

In 2005, he was named St. Clair Shores (his hometown) first Poet Laureate. Liebler has read and performed his work in Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, Russia, China, France, UK, Macao, Italy, Germany, Spain, Finland and most of the 50 States.

M.L. Liebler has taught English, Creative Writing, American Studies, Labor Studies and World Literature at Wayne State University in Detroit since 1980, and he is the founding director of both The National Writer's Voice Project in Detroit and the Springfed Arts: Metro Detroit Writers Literary Arts Organization. He was selected as Best Detroit Poet by The Detroit Free Press & Detroit's Metro Time. Liebler became the Co-Editor In 2010, he received The Barnes & Noble Poets & Writers Writers for Writers Award with Maxine Hong Kingston & Junot Diaz.

In 2011, his groundbreaking anthology Working Words: Punching the Clock & Kicking Out the James (Coffee House Press) was given a 2011 Library of Michigan Notable Book Award. In 2017, Liebler received a total of 4 Library of Michigan Notable Book Awards for both his new collection of poems entitled I Want to Be Once (Wayne State University Press / Made in Michigan Series) and for Heaven Was Detroit: An Anthology of Detroit Music Essays from Jazz to Hiphop (The Wayne State University Press Painted Turtle Series) Editor. Bob Seger's House: An Anthology of Michigan Short Stories (Co-Editor with Mike Delp). Both Heaven Was Detroit and Bob Seger's House are Finalist for the prestigious Forward Book Awards.

2020 saw the release of RESPECT: Poets on Detroit Music edited by M. L. Liebler & Jim Daniels (Michigan State University Press 2020). RESPECT just received both a 2021 Tillie Olsen Award & 2021 Library of Michigan Notable Book Award. In September 2020, M. L. was awarded the Michigan Humanities Champion of the Year.

Liebler received a Wayne State University Distinguished Scholar Award for 2024-2026. He curretly directs The WSU Humanities Commons and The Detroit Writers' Guild. M.L. Liebler

...

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry / Spoken Word Podcast) features making her debut, Amanda Crundall.

Amanda advises she "began to write again in January 2022 after her friends urged her to write down how she was feeling as a therapeutic outlet; so she did. She has rediscovered her creative self, amongst being a busy mummy and working life. Amanda works as a full time heart failure nurse specialist and is a single mother to two amazing children. Surprising many of her friends how she finds the time amongst such a busy life remains her best kept secret. You can find Amanda performing at her local spoken word events at Speak Out Scunny, The Confessional, Away with Words. Her debut performance was at Yada Yada Noise in February 2022 to whom she is more than grateful to; a special shout out to Alice & Mickey. She now proudly co-hosts 'Rabbiting On' spoken word group held at 'The Rabbit Hole' Independent bookshop, Brigg alongside poetry babe and partner in poetry Amy Garratt. Her poetry was featured in The Scroll Magazine during October 2022. In 2023, Amanda performed her poetry at The Festival of Love, D31 Art Gallery, Doncaster and Scunthorpe Pride on behalf of the Speak Out Scunny. She co hosted the spoken word stage at the No Limits Festival 2023 held at Normanby Hall, Scunthorpe. More recently, Amanda has taken to the radio waves and has featured both pre-recorded and 'live on air' for Phoenix Community Radio, Goole. Without this outlet and the support of friends and family, life would be a much darker place. This is her debut publication. Contact details: Email: Shewearsherheartonhersleeve@proton.me Facebook: 'She wears her heart on her sleeve' Twitter (X): Heartsleeve2024 Instagram: @AmandaCrundallPoet"

Latest up from Spoken Label features Patrick Widdess.

Patrick Widdess is the founder and presenter of Poetry Non-Stop. He was born in Cambridge and now lives in Norwich where he works as a production journalist and fills his time writing, podcasting, taking photos and performing improv comedy.Patrick’s poetry and prose has appeared in Agenda, Cake, The Interpreter’s House, The Guardian and Orbis among other publications. He has also written reviews and features for Clash Music, Drunken Werewolf, Local Secrets and others and has written for the BBC.
Originally from Cambridge Patrick now lives in Norwich where he works as a production journalist and freelance writer.

Links include: http://patrickwiddess-writer.weebly.com/

https://poetrynonstop.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label features the return of our friend, the amazing Grant Curnow.Grant Curnow is an alternative comedian/ tragic novelty folk singer – amateur time lord. Based in Manchester, Grant has performed 3 full length shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as part of the PBH Fringe: Amateur Time Lord Hour (2016), A New Folk (2018), and Salvador Dalek (20220. Currently touring Salvador Dalek throughout the UK and has played various comedy festivals (Leicester Comedy Festival, Faversham Fringe, Morecambe Fringe, Buxton Fringe, Greater Manchester Fringe).Grant is always found with a ukulele and his trusted comedy sidekick, Mini Dalek. His debut album "Troubles of an Amateur Timelord" is out on seahorse records and can be streamed on Spotify "https://open.spotify.com/album/0XSU7Z3sS3burD46xAsops"

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) features Dr Kate Jenkinson.

Dr Kate Jenkinson is scientist and poet reconciled and is one of a handful of LinkedIN Business Poets. She likes hats, writes about the many ones she wears (Mother, Daughter, Friend, Coach, entrepreneur) and she enjoys performing at open mics and slams since the pandemic made the poetry community more accessible. In 2022 she performed her TEDx talk Poetry Never Abandons Us and she enjoys attending and headlining events internationally.

Her work can be found in EyeFlash, Good DadHood, Steel Jackdaw, Flight of the Dragonfly and Feral (their first Mother/Daughter poetry and art collaboration).

Kate recently realised she was neurodivergent so this and her aphantasia is a feature of her recent work.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) featuring making her debut, the amazing Hannah Ledlie.

Hannah is an Edinburgh-born, Manchester-based writer, interested in form and futurism. In 2015 she was shortlisted for the BBC Young Writers’ Award, and in 2019 she was a winner of Penguin’s ‘Platform Pride’ poetry competition. Her work has featured in a number of publications, including Ambit, Gutter, and Magma. In 2022, Hannah completed her MSt in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford.

Her Instagram page is: https://www.instagram.com/hannahledlie/

her email address is:hannahledlie@gmail.com

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author Chat Podcast) features making his debut, Adrian Slatcher.

Adrian Slatcher was born in Staffordshire in 1967. He studied English at Lancaster University, and creative writing at the University of Manchester. He has co-edited several literary magazines, and is a trustee of Castlefield Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in Manchester. His fiction has featured in a number of anthologies, including Best British Short Stories. He has published two poetry pamphlets: Extracts from Levona (2010) and Playing Solitaire for Money (2010).

This Podcast primarily talks about his debut stories collection Loners.

Loners is a collection of six stories by Adrian Slatcher, three of which are published for the first time. It also features images created by the artist Steven Heaton in response to the stories. The book is the second in a series of collaborations between writers and artists - the first, Interpolated Stories by David Rose and Leah Leaf, was published in 2022.

The stories vary widely in form, from ‘Last Testament of a Lighthouse Keeper’, ostensibly a written journal, to ‘sleeveless itchery and parched throat’, an unpunctuated monologue. While all six stories are about ‘loners’ in one way or another, it would be wrong to think of the characters as being without hope – in each case, their isolation is something they are trying to break out of, in search of redemption, often after some kind of trauma. The characters are loners out of either choice or circumstance, but it is never easy to be alone.

The book can be purchased here - https://www.confingopublishing.uk/loners

Adrian's website is https://adrianslatcher.wordpress.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Pdocast) making his debut features from Glossop, the amazing Danny McLoughlin

More about Danny can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/betweenthisthoughtandthat/

More about Danny can be found at:
https://lnkd.in/ef3Z8rCS
Email: dannyomc@gmail.com
He advises he orginates from the Liverpool and appeared at a number of poet events including the Frog & Bucket, Hove, and Chorlton etc over 20 years ago but then for many reasons didn't perform since, and is so making his tentative way back. A mix of the contemporary and the ageless.
His email is: dannyomc@gmail.com

Latest Podcast from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features Lynn Walton.

Lynn advises "I am a Salford based poet and some of my work centres on this inspiring city and nearby Manchester.

My work moves from serious to amusing to risqué. One of my favourite styles is fusing topics that don’t normally belong together.

I perform at a variety of events and venues and occasionally on Salford City Radio, and have been published in several anthologies including one by Virago Press. Recently, I published some of my work in three booklets."

All three of her collections be purchased from

https://www.lynnwaltonpoet.co.uk/

She is also on facebook at:

Latest up from Spoken Label features the wonderful Nayma Chamchoun.

Nayma Chamchoun is a British Moroccan, a self taught writer and poet. Her writing is influenced by her cultural duality. She is interested in female voices in the diaspora community, the challenges they face within both communities and the taboos around mental health within their ancestral communities.
Nayma is an active member of London's vibrant Poetry and Spoken Word community, the international Poetry community online and has performed her work at several Poetry Open Mike events including the Grenfell 5 year Anniversary and had her work featured on West Wiltshire Radio & BBC Radio London several times.
Her published poetry collection COVID: THE WORDY WILDS OF A MIND UNDER LOCKDOWN is a cultural fusion poetry collection which explores themes of identity, duality, displacement, loss, race, feminism, culture, family, love and the search for inner peace as experienced alongside the effects of mental health, menopause, the pandemic and world events.

Poetry contains topics not suitable for all *

The latest Spoken Label Session (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features Amy B Garratt.Amy advises she is "I’m the creator/co-host of a spoken word group ‘Rabbiting On’ based in The Rabbit Hole Bookshop in Brigg North Lincolnshire. I collaborated with the bookshop to run/compere the spoken word stage at ‘No Limits Festival’ at Normanby Hall in September 2022/2023. My poetry was included in ‘Of Earth And Sky’ 2021 installation by Luke Jerram which won an award (Hearts for the Arts) for ‘Best Arts Project’. I have also performed at The Festival Of Love in 2022/2023 at D31 Gallery Doncaster, Scunny Pride Festival August 2023, and The Truth To Power Cafe at Cast Theatre with Jeremy Goldstein/London Arts Project. I have had poems published in Dreich Magazine, HNDL, Written Off Publishing ‘Ey Up Again’ Anthology (formerly BentKey), and my own indie publication through Partnership Publishing ‘Sunlight Stripping Shadows Bare’ in 2021. A book of modern poetry, micro poems and prose."Amy's book can be found on Amazon.

....

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Label Podcast) and making his debut is the amazing Steve Pottinger. Steve is a poet, author, and workshop facilitator, and a founding member of Wolverhampton arts collective ‘Poets, Prattlers, and Pandemonialists’.

His work has featured in poetry magazines and anthologies and he is a regular contributor to online poetry platforms. He has performed at Ledbury and StAnza poetry festivals and the Edinburgh Free Fringe, and in venues across the country, from Penzance to Orkney.In this Podcast. we are talking about Steve's new poetry book "Snapshots from the fall of home'.

More about Steve can be found at: https://stevepottinger.co.uk/#poetrypodcast

Latest up from Spoken Label (Actor / Artist / Poet Podcast) featuresthe amazing Neil Bell.Neil is an actor and performance poet born in Oldham, Lancashire UK in 1970. and raised in the border town of Failsworth. Made in Manchester.His credits include roles in Dead Men's Shoes, Dune, Peterloo and Perky Blinders.His poetry book 'Clog' is now out. Some links include: https://cliveisagoodguy.com/https://www.livebythespin.com/https://www.clog.live/https://www.cameo.com/neil.bell44https://www.instagram.com/neil.bell44/https://app.spotlight.com/7214-7838-3370https://www.clog.live/neil-bell-actorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Bell_(actor))

Latest Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) session featuring making his debut the amazing DK talking about his debut book "Off the Cuff" available from mini poetry press."Off the Cuff" is described as "a poetic gem that will strike a chord with readers of all ages. DK's compelling verse delves into the complexities of humanity, uncovering hidden truths and shedding light on what makes us human. Captivating and thought-provoking, this collection explores the nuances of our emotions and the depth of our connections. With a unique perspective and a gift for words, DK has crafted a collection that will linger long after the last page is turned. Off the Cuff is a must-read for anyone who values emotional authenticity and poetic mastery. Get ready to be inspired by one of the most exciting new voices in poetry today."

The book can be purchased from: https://shop.minipoetrypress.com/product/off-the-cuff

For more about DK go to:https://www.dk4poetry.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author Chat Podcast) making his debut is the wonderful K Scott Fuchs.K. Scott Fuchs is a novelist, poet, and performer. Time and Temperance is his first novel released; the follow-up prequel sequel, Mrs. Coleman of Coalbrookdale is set to be released in early 2024. He is also the author of the poetry compilations, Six Months in Wigan and Poetry from Ryecroft Hall which are also forthcoming.Time and Temperance is described as “Along the canals outside of Marple, England, a despondent and lonely soul crosses paths with Temperance Lee-a woman whose beauty and elegance is matched only by her warmth, intelligence, charm, and wit. Their connection is instant, a love that defies explanation. But Temperance harbours a secret, one that shadows her every step: she is not an ordinary woman and she is not from this time.In this electrifying split-time, dual-narrative saga that melds the Victorian era with the twenty-first century, love collides with the supernatural in a dramatic and action-filled tale of healing, redemption, and recovery. As a passionate and tumultuous romance unfolds, two souls from different times and places find that their love does not come without challenges and troubles; challenges and troubles that they must overcome together whilst they confront their past traumas. But it will take more than just time-it will take understanding, exploration, faith, and unwavering belief in the power of love.The book can be purchased on Amazon at https://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Temperance-K-Scott-Fuchs/dp/B0CQSRTF6X/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1704134383&refinements=p_27%3AK.+Scott+Fuchs&s=books&sr=1-2&text=K.+Scott+Fuchs

A joint episode with 'Spoken Label' (Author Chat Podcast) and Cloaked in the Shadows (Paranormal / Supernatural / Weird Podcast) about the changing face of society in relation to work with the added increase of A.I. in the workplace.Hosted by Andy N and Amanda NicholsonContains backing music by Ocean in a Bottle

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) features making her debut, the wonderful Jen Corcoran.

Jen Corcoran hails from Southport and describes herself as Northern, Feminist and Socialist. She is a mum of five, a local politician and the founder of Sefton Pride which saw the borough’s first march and festival in 2023. Her debut poetry collection Witch/Mother/Child/Lover was released via Bent Key Publishing later the same year and explores the different identities she, and women, hold and represent. Jen loves to write in many different forms and particularly enjoys writing work that inspires, entertains and informs. She has been sharing poems since October 2021 and has also been published in Bloody Hell Zine and Ey Up, an anthology of Northern poetry. You can find her on Instagram as @wrenverse

New from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) features making her debut the wonderful Charlotte Faulconbridge.Charlotte is an autistic prize-winning poet, published author, and musician.After being diagnosed with a delbilating chronic illness in her early teens, Charlotte found peace within writing, processing her trauma and discovering strength and power in her pain has become the lifeblood of her work.Due to birth complications, she was left mute for most of her childhood and relied upon sign language for communication. Writing poetry has enabled Charlotte's voice to be heard, and she often performs her work in BSL to advocate for inclusion within the poetry community.Some links:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... / charlotterobynf https://www.inclusivecreatives.co.uk/

Contains language and topics not suitable for all *

new on Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) and last for 2023 features the return of our friend Clive Oseman

Clive Oseman is a multi slam winning spoken word artist, comedian, satirist, surrealist, story teller and workshop facilitator from Birmingham but currently based in Swindon, UK He has headlined and featured around the UK and internationally, with appearances at the New York City poetry festival and on spoken word stages at several UK music festivals.

More about Clive can be found at:

Clive Oseman Spoken Word (Facebook)

Clive Oseman (Facebook)

Clive_Oseman (twitter)

Oseman Clive (Instrgaram)

Oh Beehive (Facebook)

https://www.cliveosemanspokenword.com/

The latest Spoken Label Podcast (Spoken Word Podcast) features the return of our friend, the wonderful Jackie Morrey Grace.

Based in the Isle of Man, Jackie is a writer of YA Fantasy Fiction, Trombonist and Story-telling Performance Poet.

In this Podcast, we talk about Jackie's latest collection "There are Worse Places to Hide than Inside Secrets".

What has been said about Jackie's work "

Jackie’s work is incredible. Sweet, satisfying and explosive all at once. It’s like each poem is its own honeypot set to detonate – with a flow so captivating that the audience just drops their guard.’ Mark Grist. Teacher, poet, international rap battler and star of internationally acclaimed podcast, Mark Can’t Rap.

‘Sometimes a poet gets right under you skin from showcasing a memorable way of looping words into a masterpiece. Jackie Morrey-Grace is exactly that uniquely beautiful artist.’ Kelly Van Nelson. No 1 bestselling author of poetry collections, Graffiti Lane and Punch and Judy.

‘I was moved by how it not only gives the feeling of discovering an old tale re-wrought as a modern myth, but also the power of this soul-searching journey that wracks the brain, heart and body.’ Story From Stone author, Vicky Lloyd-West, reviewing On Ravensdale Hill for Isle of Man Newspapers."

More details about Jackie and her work can be found here - https://jackiemorreygrace.weebly.com/

Latest up on Spoken Label (Poetry / Author Podcast) from Capetown, South Africa features the wonderful Gavin Prinsloo.

Gavin’s Profile on Amazon advises he was “Born in Port Elizabeth in South Africa in 1968, I was raised in the beautiful coastal city of Cape Town receiving my schooling at Bergvliet High School in Cape Town, I matriculated in 1985.

I was raised by a foster family from the age of four, as a result of our family fracturing,

During the compulsory two years of military National Service, I joined the permanent force in the middle of 1987, attaining the rank of Sergeant.

I served until 1995, then entered the private security industry, eventually the Logistics industry, and ended up owning a small logistics business in 2016.

Suffice it to say, I was NOT a good businessman, and the company folded, as it was also heavily impacted by the worldwide pandemic, where, like so many worldwide, I lost my livelihood, my self-respect, and I think, my sanity.

In December 2019, I was diagnosed as bipolar, and to be honest, I think that was the best thing that ever could have happened.
I started writing as a catharsis, but eventually, it became a way of life for my everyday expression.

I wrote about 1300 pieces from poetry to flash fiction during 2020 and 2021 and decided to publish them on Amazon.

Reviews may be harsh as I am not an English expert, I tend to create viscerally, and in many genres.

All I can really say as a writer is that if any piece of my writing touches you in any way, I have succeeded in some way of affecting someone's life.

Writing has become my passion. I hope some of that passion reflects in my work if you should read any of my books.

To date, I reside in Tableview, Cape Town.”

His books can be bought on Amazon and he can be found on Tiktok (tiktok.com/@tiktoktok_35)

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) features the return of our friend, the neuro-diverse writer, poet and playwright, Sam Rapp gives us an update about what she has been up since we last spoke to.

Sam's book 'Rant Dyslexic me by Sam Rapp the dyslexic poet' is on Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rant-Dyslexic-Me-Sam-Rapp/dp/1726167941

She is on Instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/s_rapp_the_dyslexic_poet_/

Her facebook page is here:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064684000014

Latest Spoken Label (Author Chat Podcast) features Dr Vivien Sieber.

Dr Vivien Sieber worked in biosciences and Higher Education and has published over 100 articles and scientific papers. Kino and Kinder: A family’s journey in the Shadow of the Holocaust is based on research into her family history and the lives of the Kinder cared for by her grandmother. It is her first book. She lives in Oxford with her husband and dogs.

This Podcast talks about her debut novel "Kino and Kinder: A Family's Journey in the Shadow of the Holocaust ".

Kino and Kinder the story of a European Jewish family's struggle to survive in the face of Nazi antisemitism and the Holocaust is brought into the spotlight. Vivien Sieber, reveals the terrible story through the lives and writings of the survivors, illustrating the struggle with more than eighty evocative historic photographs throughout. In 1915, Paula Ticho's family bought a cinema in Vienna. Run by Paula and her sister, Selma, two single Jewish women, the Palast Kino was a great success. As the Nazi Party rose to power in the 1930s antisemitism reared its ugly head and the wonderful cinema was forcibly taken over. Threatened by Hitler's rise to power, Paula sent her younger son, Peter, to safety in England to join his half-brother, Erich, before fleeing herself―a penniless refugee. As the world entered a state of war, Paula found herself a position as a matron at hostels in Tynemouth and Windermere, caring for twenty-five Jewish girls who had been evacuated from Europe by the famed Kindertransport. Sieber uses the girls' own descriptions of their lives and those around them to weave a heartrending tale. From the insidious rise of antisemitism during their childhood in Europe to the distress of leaving their families, adjusting to hostel life, and the trauma of surviving when most of their family perished, the accounts in this profound retelling are all at once distressing, enriching, and evocative. Combined with the myriad realities and experiences of the Tichos, a Jewish family fleeing from the atrocities of the Holocaust, and the eyewitness details about life in Vienna, Austria and Central Europe before World War Two and in post-war London, Sieber’s memoir/history of her own family provides the deepest, most powerful picture into what it was really like in those dark, deadly years.

More details about this can be found here: https://www.viviensieber.eu/

NB. Please note that this Podcast was recorded in two parts over successive weekends. Originally this was slated to be released separately but after some thought it was decided to release it all together as one Podcast to give it the context it deserved.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author Chat) features a special chat with Ellen Butler in discussing the art of writing and the aspects of getting from the idea phase to the goal line of publication on books.Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series. Her experiences working on Capitol Hill and at a medical association in Washington, D.C. inspired the mystery-action series. Book critics call the Karina Cardinal mysteries, “intelligent escapism.” Butler also writes historical spy fiction. Her WWII spy novel, The Brass Compass, recently won a 2022 Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Book Award for historical fiction. Butler's latest release is the second book in the duology, Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel. The novel is inspired by true events and recently won a 2023 Next Generation Indie Award for historical fiction. Reviewers call it “riveting " and “a thrilling adventure.More about Ellen can be found at: https://www.ellenbutler.net/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) making her debut is the wonderful Julia Webb.

Julia's bio advises that she grew up in "Thetford, a small town in rural Norfolk. Her first poetry collection Bird Sisters was published by Nine Arches Press in 2016. Her second collection Threat was published by Nine Arches in May 2019. Her third collection The Telling was published by Nine Arches in May 2022.

Julia lives in Norwich where she is a poetry editor for Lighthouse, teaches online and real world poetry courses, mentors writers, runs Norwich Stanza and works for Cafe Writers. In 2012 she was awarded a TLC free read, which you can read about here. In 2011 she won the Poetry Society’s Stanza competition and in 2018 she won the Battered Moons poetry competition. Her poem “Sisters” was highly commended in the 2016 Forward Prize. In 2016 she spent a month as writer in residence on Norwich Market."

Julis's books can be purchased from Nine Arches Press at https://ninearchespress.com/

Her website is https://juliawebb.org/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) making her debut is the wonderful Aakriti Kuntal.
Aakriti Kuntal is a poet and writer. Her work has been featured in Selcouth Station, The Hindu, Madras Courier, Tuck Magazine, Pangolin Review, and Visual Verse among others. She was also awarded the Reuel International Prize 2017 for poetry and was a finalist for the RL Poetry Award 2018.
She is a multidisciplinary artist, she dapples in visual, movement,
and other forms of experimental art that span the
molecular interstices of existence.
She can be contacted at:
www.facebook.com/aakriti.kuntal
twitter.com/AakritiKuntal
www.instagram.com/aakriti_kuntal/

* Contains topics not suitable for all Latest up from Spoken Label (Author Chat Podcast) Podcast features the wonderful Judy Foreman. Judy is the author of “A Nation in Pain” (2014), “The Global Pain Crisis” (2017), and “Exercise is Medicine” (2020), all published by Oxford University Press, and “CRISPR’d” from Skyhorse Publishing (2022). She was a staff writer at the Boston Globe for 23 years and a health columnist for many of those years. Her column was syndicated in national and international outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning News, Baltimore Sun and others.In this Podcast we talk primarily about her new memoir 'Let the More Loving One Be Me' which is described as "n this compelling tale, Judy Foreman reveals the terror she felt every night as a girl as she lay in bed frozen in dread, listening for her father’s footsteps coming down the hall.She recalls his mostly naked body, his stale smell, his silhouette in the bedroom doorway. Worse, in some ways, was her mother’s denial—her insistence that this man was wonderful, her refusal to acknowledge his drinking or his rage. It wasn’t until Foreman spent a high school summer as an exchange student with a Danish family that she began to see how unsafe her own family was; it wasn’t until she went to an all-women’s college that she realized that women had value. Ultimately, this book shows that with time and therapy, it is possible to heal from serious childhood trauma and lead a life of deep fulfillment, rewarding work and, most wonderfully, love. It is a book about the power of emotional courage to change one’s own inner and outer experience of the world, and about what matters most in life: cultivating healthy connections to other people."More about Judy can be found out on her website - https://judyforeman.com/

New from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) Podcast features from Morecombe, the excellent Trystan Lewis.

More details on Trystan can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/trystan.lewisORhttps://www.facebook.com/trystansongs

A special Podcast today from Spoken Label (Artist Podcast) features Lance Roger Axt, Kenton Hall and Jack Bowman from the crew behind this full-cast audio drama.

London After Midnight is a full-cast audio drama, resurrecting the lost silent horror classic, directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney. Originally released in 1927, the film was lost in the notorious 1965 MGM vault fire.

Adapted here by Lance Roger Axt & Kenton Hall from the original screenplay by Waldemar Young & Tod Browning, it stars Art Malik in the role made iconic by Chaney, alongside a full cast.

This extra sized Podcast goes into the history of the original London After Midnight (An legendary lost silent film), the production of this audio re-imagining and so much more.

This shall be out as a Podcast shortly but it can be streamed/downloaded from

https://londonaftermidnightaudio.bandcamp.com/album/london-after-midnight

The latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) is the wonderful Emma K Lea.
Emma is a dyslexic poet, author and SEN specialist living in Stretford with her partner, daughter and rescue hens. She has started to record her writings as videos with the text on the screen to make her books more accessible to people who can't access them as traditional paperbacks for whatever reason. These read along audiobooks are available for free to anyone who wants them and has an internet connection. Emma has an MA in Inclusive Education and SEN. She works with home schooling families who's children cannot access either mainstream or specialist provision in schools and is incredibly proud of the progress 'her chiddlers' make. The chickens are a real conundrum. Emma doesn't like eggs.

Next up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) features a lady who has been making a bit of a splash recently, Marigold Lately.
Marigold Lately was born in the Autumn of 2022 after a gestation period of more than 50 years. Since her birth she has performed at approaching 100 comedy and spoken word events throughout the Northwest.
Sorrowful and snarling - sharing tales and often surreal, comic commentary from someone ‘stuck on a pin’, wriggling, who is willing to share it.
Marigold is viciously gentle – straddling genres but never sitting on the fence.
She will be making her stage debut in her one-woman show 'Dirty Old Town' in November at the Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool.
‘Dirty Old Town’ is a dark, comic place where characters are not always quite what they seem.
The show is a combination of storytelling, stand up comedy and performance. Hilariously NOT funny.
Tickets for the show can be purchased here - ticketquarter.co.uk/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=BA2EEBD1-13AB-488C-B628-CE012727616B&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=0427BB2C-351C-4E2B-824E-AB6CCFD44536
More details are here www.instagram.com/marigoldlately/

The latest Podcast from Spoken Label (Author Chat Podcast) sees us return to meet an returning friend, the wonderful Rebecca Dharlingue to chat about her new novel 'The Map Colorist'.

Rebecca advises " In writing my first novel, The Lines Between Us, I returned to an early love, Spanish literature, which I studied in graduate school. The idea of setting part of my novel in seventeenth-century Spain, their Golden Age of literature, offered me the chance to explore a time and place with which many readers are unfamiliar, and to show some of the challenges for women particular to that time and place.

For my second novel, I decided to stay in the seventeenth century, as I find it fascinating. I wanted to show a woman doing something unusual for the time, and I hit upon the topic of cartography. In my research I soon learned that Amsterdam was the capital of map-printing at that time, so I had my setting. It was while I was exploring that world that I came across the work of map colorists. My protagonist was born.

I have worked in hospital administration and as a teacher of English as a Second Language to adults. I have been lucky to be involved with the same monthly book group, sharing our enchantment with literature, for over thirty years. I live in Oakland, California with my husband, Arthur, where we are fortunate to frequently spend time with our children and grandchildren.

I am member of Paper Lantern Writers, an author collective, and the Historical Novel Society."

Rebecca's Website which contains details of where to buy her book is https://rebeccadharlingue.com/

Making her debut today on Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) features new to the Manchester (UK) Spoken Word Scene, the wonderful Zainab Ahmad perhaps better known as the Intangible Author talking about Zainab's debut poetry book "Edge of Salvation". The book is described as "Sometimes we find ourselves fighting for our lives at the bottom of a hole. It’s dark, damp, and you’re exhausted. You’re not exactly sure how you got there but you definitely fell. Do you stay there and wait for someone to save you or try climbing out? The wait could be endless and the climb is tough. This is the journey to the edge of salvation. Told through a series of poems about life, love, grief, and longing. All written at some point of this journey."The book can be purchased at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edge-Salvati...

Zainab is on Instagram at: theintangibleauthor

Over to Leeds (UK) today for Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) with the amazing Fee Marshall making their debut.

More about Fee can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/felixorfee/

Containing topics not suitable for all * Making her debut today on Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) is the wonderful Lilyth Coglan.Lilyth Coglan is a writer and poet from Hull in the UK. She writes short stories and poetry, about motherhood, mental health domestic abuse and life in general. Her work has been in local festivals and featured on BBC Sounds as well as her local broadcasting service BBC Look North. You can follow her on Twitter and on Instagram at Lilyth Poetry / Lilyth Coglan#poetrypodcast #podcast #spokenwordpodcast #spokenword .

Latest up from Spoken Label (Artist Podcast) making her debut is a dear friend of ours, the wonderful - the singer and artist Lou Ann Bardash.Lou Ann's bio advises "Originally from Effingham, IL, Lou Ann attended Southern Illinois University, graduating with a degree in Music Business before moving to Nashville with her first series of original songs. She spent the next 18 years singing, playing music and making art. Since moving to Austin in 1999, she has exhibited and sold her work in coffee houses and restaurants, while also producing nonprofit workplace art installations at agencies such as Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid and United Way. Her 13-piece art series, Alzheimer’s Memories, was featured in a live tv show on Channel Austin, during which Lou Ann walked through the exhibit while discussing the story behind each painting. "Her website is https://www.louannbardash.com/* As a bonus after the chat features - a song is included with Lou Ann and her husband Tom Ovans - a cover off Tom's song with Lou Ann singing 'Song for the Homeless' from an album both her and Tom are working on#TomOvans #LouAnnBardash #Artist #Art #ArtistPodcast #Podcast #ArtPodcast #SingerPodcast #Music #MusicPodcast #Texas

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Poetry Podcast) features the debut from Liverpool, Mary Fucking Poppins.

Mary is a working class writer/poet.

She makes the UK Literary zine Word Vomit and also hosts the Word Vomit Open Mic Poetry Night at Round The Corner, Liverpool.

She has recently bought out her debut collection "Hop on the Bad Foot and do the good thing'

Some links:

https://www.instagram.com/mary_fuckingpoppins/

https://strictlyunprofessional.bigcartel.com/

https://www.instagram.com/word.vomitzine/

https://falaun.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/falaunhc/

https://www.instagram.com/back_room_poetry/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Poetry Podcast) features the return of ourfriend, Kate Wilson talking about her new poetry collection 'The Impossibility of Love'.‘The Impossibility of Love’ it is stated takes the reader on a journey through a gallery of Vincent Van Gogh’s best loved paintings. The poems in this collection draw inspiration from Van Gogh’s works of art, reflecting on themes of love, loss, and memory.This ekphrastic sequence evokes the blistering colour of Van Gogh’s work in wheatfields, on moonlit plazas, and under starry skies. In this landscape the poet finds hope and a potency of feeling which often borders on destructive. The paintings become both a means of escape and a way of deriving meaning as they intersect with the poet’s own experience.Writing to Van Gogh with great tenderness, Wilson presents the reader with a collection which can be read as an extended love letter to one of our greatest artists. She explores the tragic story of his life, posing the question: what does it mean to live with such intensity?The collection has being published by Bosporus Press but copies can be purchased from Katedirectly at http://www.katejwilson.co.uk/#poetrypodcast #podcast #spokenword #poetry #podcast #spokenwordpodcast #vangogh #VanGoghpoetry

Today's Spoken Label (Poetry Podcast) featuring a newcomer to the Manchester (UK) spoken word scene, Ecologist, Physicist, teacher and Speak Easy regular, Tom Butterworth.www.instagram.com/poetry.and.plants/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Michelle Steiner,Michelle Steiner is a disability, writer, advocate, and paraeducator. She published articles on The Mighty, Non-Verbal Learning Project, Dyscalculia Blog, The Reluctant Spoonie, Imagine the World as One Magazine, and Word Gathering. Recently she began a blog called Michelle’s Mission. Her photographs were featured in Word Gathering and Independent and Work Ready. She works as a paraeducator in a school with students with disabilities. She lives in The United States with her husband and two cats.Her website is: https://www.michellesmission.net/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poet / Author Podcast) features our returning friend, Krystal Gypsy Orellano.

A Tampa, Florida native, Krystal “Gypsy” Orellano Weldon is a spoken word poet, writer, and educator. She is known around the Tampa Bay community as an open mic artist, has been in features such as Pinot & Poetry: A Toast to Herstory and got her start at the USF Poets. Krystal is slowly transpiring as a creative nonfiction writer, being published in St. Petersburg College’s newspaper The Sandbox, Saint Leo University’s book the Sandhill Review and University of Westminster runner-up winner for the 2017 Mental Health Poetry competition.

She has currently published three collections of poetry "The Evolution of Poetry", "Quench" and "Looking into the Reflection of a Biracial Afro-Latina".

She is currently working on a novel called "The Lover’s Passion Lounge", her Memoir and a poetry / spoken word album.

Her books can be purchased at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BRBMHTGG/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) and featuring Amanda Nicholson as special guest features the debut of a longstanding friend of ours, Phoenix Andrews.

Phoenix advises he is a "writer living in West Sussex, UK. I started out as a musician, playing piano, writing and recording songs, but soon fell in love with writing poetry and short stories. This has since progressed into novels. I am passionate about writing in the genres of crime fiction and horror and my first published book, Blood Cells is pure testimony to this. Based around a small group of central characters, I have included a a dark element of conspiracy which, I have to confess, is another guilty pleasure of mine, however farfetched! Don't worry, I don't believe everything I read.

Blood Cells is the first in a series of novels centered around these characters, with a dark, supernatural theme running through them which goes high up to the top levels of government. I hope you enjoy the thrilling ride!"

He can be emailed at ppapublishing@gmail.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091862503703

Tiktok @phoenixandrews

His book can be purchased on Amazon etc.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet chat) Podcast features from Buffalo, New York the amazing Stephen G. Eoannou.

He is the author off Yesteryear (SFWP 2023), Rook (Unsolicited Press 2022), and the short story collection Muscle Cars (SFWP 2015). He has been awarded an Honor Certificate from The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Best Short Screenplay Award at the 36th Starz Denver Film Festival, and the 2021 Eyelands International Book Award for Historical Fiction. Eoannou holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte and an MA from Miami University. He lives and writes in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, the setting and inspiration for much of his work.

His website is: https://www.sgeoannou.com/

New from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features the amazong Margot McMahon.

Margot is a lifelong environment, scuplter, paints human, plant and animals forms to say, through art that she hopes that help decisions be made be support life on earth.

Margot is the author of 1) Mac and Irene: A WWII Saga, 2) IF TREES COULD TALK A National Book Award recipient (NFPW), and 3) AIRDRIE, and 4) RESIST!: A VISUAL HISTORY OF PROTEST that wERE published in 2021-22 (Aquarius Press.)

She has been published in Chicago Magazine, World Book Encyclopedia, and Scholastic Magazine. In 2020, her essay, Sculpting Forms of Nature, was published in the Remembering Fifty Anthology: 50 Years of Women at Yale. The 2021 Anthology Shades of Positively Pandemic includes her short story Soul to Soul. Her THE FIFTH SEASON: THE CHICAGO TREE PROJECT, 2nd edition 2023 (2020 First Place Mate E. Palmer Book Award (IWPA)) is in its second edition and originates from Margot’s MIT Press published paper, Transforming Nature (2018). Soka Gakkai International (Tokyo, Japan) Arts and Culture award, National Sculpture Society and Barat College, and Rose Philippine Duchesne Society have awarded her.

Margot has an Environmental Journalism degree from Hamline University and an MFA from Yale University. She has taught at Yale University, Yale Norfolk, The Art Institute of Chicago, DePaul University, and other institutions.

More about Margot can be read at:

https://margotmcmahon.com/ https://linktr.ee/margotmcmahon

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author Chat Podcast) features the awesome Molly Garcia.

Molly Garcia lives in Spain with her partner of over 30 years, they have two grown-up children.

Molly has worked in social care and the NHS since 1991 and uses her experiences to guide her writing and to create complex and realistic characters and backgrounds

In this Podcast we talk primarily about her new novel "Willow Weeps"

Willow Weeps is "It was 1993 when Andy last saw his sister, Willow, one minute he was holding her hand, and the next she was gone. Thirty years later, Andy has a family of his own, but he’s never forgotten his little sister. How could he? Her disappearance destroyed his family and ended his childhood, and with all the leads dried up and no new clues he’s had to accept that she’s gone forever. That’s until he’s contacted by a woman who claims to have a message for him from Willow, sceptical, but unable to resist trying anything Andy meets up with her. Cleo knows things that were never made public at the time, and Andy starts to think that just maybe, she really is in contact with Willow. When one of his childhood adversaries is found murdered Andy turns to the police officer in charge of the investigation at the time for help. DCI Unwin Phelps had reluctantly retired with Willow being his only cold, unsolved case. Offered the opportunity to finally find out what happened to her he agrees to get involved. Working with Cleo and Andy they don’t realise the danger they're in. Is Willow back and seeking revenge? If so, is she dead or alive, and why are those involved in the case being picked off, one by one? Andy will have to dig deep into a dark past he’d rather forget for the answers, but will finding out break him and those he loves?"

We also talk about her short story collection 'Comeuppance: Dark & Twisted Tales' and talk about her series 'The Adam and Sarah series' and so, so much.

Her websites include https://molly-garcia.square.site/.

http://mollygarcia.com/

Her books can be purchased on Amazon and also heard on Audible.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Writer Podcast) features the amazing Eve Ginnsberg.

Eve describes herself as "I'm a 36 year old queer, jewish, disabled creative writer from Manchester. I started my career off as a creative, going to drama school in London to study theatre production. I then sold my soul to the devil and abandoned my creative roots, and became a manager for various big co-oporate companies. Fast forward fifteen years, and I find myself in lockdown 2020 Manchester. I am struggling with my disabilities and begin to start writing again. I performed a small handful of online shows, which were received well, so I decided to give it a bash and make the transition to actually performing in real life! Got a few dates coming up so very exciting stuff!"

Her Instagram page is: https://www.instagram.com/eveginnsberg

Latest up from Spoken Label (Writing / Artist Podcast) features the actor, the amazing Kenton Craig. In this Podcast, we discuss Kenton's acting career, his forthcoming radio play, the book "COMEUPPANCE - DARK AND TWISTED TALES" which he has just done the audible book on among so many other things.

More about Kenton can be found at: https://www.spotlight.com/6691-6728-5978#podcast #radiopodcast #radio #acting #actorpodcast #actor

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Jamie Woods.

Jamie Woods is a writer from Swansea. He has had poetry in Poetry Wales, iamb, and Ink Sweat and Tears; short fiction in Evergreen Review and The Lonely Crowd; and his poem ‘Ring the Bell’ was commended in the Hippocrates International Prize for Poetry and Medicine 2021.

His debut pamphlet Rebel Blood Cells was published in Jun 2023 – you can order it from PunkDust.com

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features the amazing J.P. Choquette.

J.P. Choquette writes suspense novels set in small towns and rural places. Her books, "turn pages, not stomachs," and frequently tie in the themes of art, nature, folklore, and psychology...along with an underdog theme. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

A Believer, wife, and mother (to one child and one psycho kitty), J.P. enjoys sipping hot beverages while reading great books, traveling, and spending time in nature when not writing.

For more information visit, https://jpchoquette.me/ Join the Reader's Club and get a free gift along with sneak peeks into her writing life, suspense book recommendations, and occasional book sales/freebies for club members.

Her website is: https://jpchoquette.me/

Latest Spoken Label (Author / Artist /Poetry Podcast) session features the return of our dear friend, the wonderful Alise Versella.

Alise Versella is a Pushcart-nominated, contributing writer for Rebelle Society whose work has been published in Circle Show, COG Magazine, Crack the Spine, Entropy, The Opiate, Penumbra Literary and Art Journal, Poydras Review, Ultraviolet Tribe, What Rough Beast, Steam Ticket, and Elephant Journal, among others

As stated elsewhere by Kate Fuller "With dazzling formal range, these poems observe the social ills of the day, using images so beautifully real and painful that the line between the literal and figurative blurs in the way only art attuned to the universally truthful can. The rage and wildness observed and experienced in them, whether through the media or in a visit to the doctor’s office in a female body, serve as a balm to the injustices that only mortality might rectify: “perhaps the dead will breathe again,” writes Versella. Yet even in our “common stress dream” or the dream of “America,” the poet isn’t blind to the enduring spirit of not just the dead, but also the living: “the humpback whale returns to the Hudson, hope on his lips.” Hope–these poems, what these poems say–can be made from the wreckage."
More about Alise can be found on her website at: https://aliseversella.com/

The latest Spoken Label Session (Spoken Word / Poetry / Artist) Podcast features the wonderful Roz Ottery, originally from both Portsmouth and London but now based in Yorkshire.

This Podcast covers as well as Roz’s wonderful work her career of over 40 years in entertainment industrystry as a Juggler, Stilt Walker, Clown, introduced Singing Telegrams to the UK (including singing them for Tom O’Connor, Morecambe and Wise and Bob Geldof), joint work with John Lambert, director of Q20 on "The Circus of Mazelek" and then their own duo for over 20 years “Manji and Mo” into her poetry work where she has recently had work published in The Printed Words Anthology (Edited by Amanda Nicholson) ‘Nobody Left Behind’. More about Roz’s career can be read here:

https://sorchara.wordpress.com/2019/01/16/50-over-50-interviewees-roz-ottery-stilt-walker-and-clown/

She is on facebook as: https://www.facebook.com/roz.ottery

Nobody Left Behind the book Roz is featured on is here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobody-Behind-Printed-Words-Anthology/dp/B0BNKYKRCY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=20C2QZ7YCEW7X&keywords=amanda+nicholson&qid=1687073154&sprefix=amanda+nicholson%2Caps%2C214&sr=8-2

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Today's Spoken Label Podcast (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features our returning friend, Yvonne Reddick.

Yvonne Reddick is an award-winning writer, editor, ecopoetry scholar and climber.

She has received a Leadership Fellowship from the AHRC, the Poetry Society’s inaugural Peggy Poole Award,a Northern Writer’s Award and a Creative Futures Literary Award. Her work has appeared in The Guardian Review, Poetry Review and New Statesman, and has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC North West Tonight.

She has published four pamphlets, including Translating Mountains (Seren, 2017), winner of the Mslexia Women’s Pamphlet Competition, and Spikenard (Laureate’sChoice, 2019), which was a poetry recommendation in the London Review of Books.

Our chat today covers mostly her first book length collection, Burning Season, published by Blood Axe.

Burning Season is a book about fire and survival, climate change and nature’s defiance. Yvonne Reddick’s understanding of climate change is uniquely personal: her father was a petroleum engineer, and many members of her family worked in the fossil fuel industry. The collection speaks of the paradox that her Dad’s gift to her was her love of nature and mountain landscapes.

Burning Season includes a series of vivid, moving and heartfelt poems that explore her grief following her father’s death in a hiking accident. These are set against a wider backdrop of ecological loss and heartbreak.

Yvonne's website is: http://yvonnereddick.org/

New from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Author / Poet Podcast) features Aqeel Parvez.

Aqeel Parvez is a poet who lives in Leeds, UK. He is the author of numerous chapbooks including "The Streetlights Are Beckoning Nirvana" (Analog Submission Press).

His work has been published among other places in 16 Pages Press, Sludge Lit, Horror Sleaze Trash, Back Patio Press, Saturday Night Bombers and is also one of the committee members of Bone Down, the literary affinity group.

He can be found on as Instagram @ap.writer, & twitter @aqeelparvez

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Amy Langley.

Amy has been writing poetry since she was 5 years old; her first experience of writing poetry was when she stayed at her grandparents, who lived in Wiltshire, in the summer holidays; she used to have a little book next to her bed; she would hear the birds singing and be inspired to write.

Amy continued my writing throughout her childhood and recalls writing a poetry book and gifting it to one of her favourite primary school teachers.

Amy used to perform on Manchester’s open mic night scene when she was 18, a lot of it was freestyling however there was some pre-written material.

There was a little hiatus from performing but the stage soon came back to being a spotlight in Amy’s heart in 2017 when she began performing at The Wonder Inn in Manchester City centre. Then followed The Old Abbey Tap House in Hulme to further expanding to Dulcimer in Chorlton, Mind Over Matter in Camden, BYOB at Box Park in Wembley, Mind Over Matter in Ancoats, Pull Up Bar in Ancoats and has spoken at Sale Write Out Loud a few times.

One thing Amy is sure of; her love of writing and performing poetry; expressing herself through word allows her to set free thoughts, feelings & share experiences that can benefit those that take the time to listen.

More about Amy can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/amythepoet_/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) features the awesome Caitlin Kendall.

Caitlin's work is magical, melodic and homely, whilst retaining an air of politically-charged attitude. Currently firmly ensconced in the far reaches of Northern England, she got her first Bent Key publication as part of our first period zine, Bloody Hell, and is a valued member of the Bent Key community. With poetry that zips together the turbulent journey of motherhood with a deep connection with the earth and nature wrapped in human emotion, her words will grab you by the wrist and pull you into another world.

More about Caitlin can be found here - https://www.bentkeypublishing.co.uk/caitlin-kendall

Her debut collection 'Nothing is yours' can be purchased here:

https://www.bentkeypublishing.co.uk/shop?page=2

Latest Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poetry Podcast) features the wonderful Sara Jayne.

Sara Jayne is an established singer, who grew up in Chorlton-Cum-Hardy. Having covered many popular bars and restaurants across South Manchester since 2019, Sara Jayne recently debuted her poetry performance at the much loved SpeakEasy poetry night. Sara Jayne Provides captivating vocals as a professional singer and thought-provoking poetry that aims to decode life and it’s many contradictions using wordplay.

Her Instagram feed is: https://www.instagram.com/sarajaynehaq/

Latest Episode from Spoken Label (Author/Poet/Storyteller Podcast) features the return of our friend, the storyteller Mark Jackson aka Keith's Brother.
Mark's bio says "In 2010 Mark started writing. After the initial euphoria of finding an outlet for that creative fire burning within since childhood, he soon realised that the world wasn't quite ready for his tales of Ian Brown drinking piss, cocaine-induced paranoia, The Stockholm Monsters, the inner workings of a massage parlor, of pretending to be Norman Whiteside in Las Vegas, selling snide football programs outside the Nou Camp, of being arrested wearing someone else's jeans and one about an auntie who looks a bit like Clint Boon.
He’s written non-fiction pieces for Vice website (which were really fiction - but they don't know that), a regular contributor to United We Stand Fanzine and occasionally reads at spoken word events around Manchester and Liverpool"
His website is: www.keithsbrother.com
His Pod Play 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' can be accessed via his website or found on Spotify, Itunes/Apple or Google Podcast.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Artist) Podcast features a dear friend of ours, the wonderful Eric Loveland Heath.

Eric Loveland Heath is vicariously a musician (E.L. Heath), owner of a tiny record label (Plenty Wenlock Records) and an author of short stories. He's also quite possibly Shropshire's only ondist.Eric has released a number of EPs and albums over nearly 20 years - including 2013's Welsh language album 'Tŷ' (released via epic45's 'Wayside and Woodland Recordings' label) - which was named album of the week by BBC Radio Cymru and Radio Foyle. He runs Plenty Wenlock Records with his partner Victoria, producing short runs of mainly intricately hand-fashioned releases by Heath, alongside others by friends and contemporaries.Eric is currently completing his first collection - 'The Arch and Other Stories' - inspired by the rural, the ritual and the obscure. In 2021 his debut short story 'THE COLISEUM' was published by the website Horrified, featuring in their 'Folk Horror - Horror Stories from Horrified - Volume 2' anthology.Plenty Wenlock Records - https://linktr.ee/plentywenlockFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ELHeathukTwitter: https://twitter.com/EL_HeathInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/e.l.heath/

Latest up from Spoken Label in a full length episode features the wonderful Tuesday Tony talking about the relaunch of Tuesday Tony Presents.
Tuesday Tony presents ia a weekly spoken word (poetry) / music / comedy
/ half ared karaoke every Tuesday at the Thirsty Scholar and Zombie Shack, Manchester, UK.
The night is being relaunched on 31 January 2023 on a weekly basis.
Free entry sign up from 7pm.
Tony can be contacted on facebook at www.facebook.com/tuesdaytony.willambolton

..

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast series) features the wonderful Caitlin McKenna whose debut collection "Now Say it back" has being published by Bent Key Publishing.

Her bio advises "Caitlin McKenna is incredibly talented. First appearing on our founder's radar during the On the Mic poetry evening at Leeds' Left Bank, her words are fierce, feminist and unapologetically confrontational. Barely edging into her twenties, she has taken the mantle of queer representative and run with it - delivering fast-paced wit, reflective short-form pieces and lengthier spoken pieces that force you to look at how we exist in society today."

Some links include:

https://www.bentkeypublishing.co.uk/caitlin-mckenna

https://www.instagram.com/caitisapoet/

https://www.instagram.com/bonedownlag/

https://linktr.ee/caitisapoet

https://caitcmckenna.journoportfolio.com/

https://www.bentkeypublishing.co.uk/product-page/now-say-it-back-caitlin-mckenna

Bonus Episode for Spoken Label of the book launch for "The scope of art and poetry'(edited by Daniel Kay and Mel Wardle Woodend).The book is described as "This anthology aims to raise money and awareness for disability charity Scope.The book contains a selection of poetry and art from both well-known and emerging poets and artists. In each piece the art has inspired the poetry. This is known as ekphrasis.The collection includes poems about living with a disability, as well as those that explore the social and political aspects of everyday lives.The anthology is a celebration of people's lives and experiences, and all proceeds from the book will go to Scope.Edited by Daniel Kay and Mel Wardle Woodend with cover art by Paul Riding.Published by Dream Well Writing Ltd - Staffordshire based publishers of dyslexia friendly books with worldwide distribution and an environmentally conscious ethos founded in 2017 by Mel Wardle Woodend Staffordshire Poet Laureate 2019 – 2022.https://www.dreamwellwriting.simplesite.com"https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scope-Art-Poetry-Various-Authors/dp/173971055X/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1681328773&refinements=p_27%3AMel+Wardle+Woodend&s=books&sr=1-1

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features from Stockport but originally Burnage, the brill Joy Wassell Tims.

Joy is a Stockport based writer. Her poetry has been published in various literary magazines including The North, Iota, and Dream Catcher. Both poetry and short stories have been published in Orbis.

In February 2022 she had two poetry pamphlets published by Bedford Falls Publications: Word Hoards and Shout. Both are available for purchase from the publisher.

Shortlisted for the Cinnamon Press Poetry pamphlet competition in 2017, her poems have been anthologised in Invisible Zoos, and Peterloo Poets, both 2019; Writing the Cathedral (2014) and Best of Manchester Poets (2013). Her first novel was shortlisted by North West Arts.

She is currently Writer-in -Residence at Burnage Library, running its monthly Burnage Writers group and organising their 'Wordsmith' open mic events.

Her website is https://joywasselltimms.co.uk/

Latest Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) features the amazing Rhianna Levi

Rhianna Levi is a writer, teacher and academic based in Worcester, England. She holds the title of Worcestershire Poet Laureate 22/23, being the youngest poet ever to have the role. Alongside the publication of her debut poetry collection, Mortal Veins (2023), Rhianna has been published in numerous anthologies and literature mags. Rhianna has degrees from both the University of Worcester and Birmingham City University. As a writer and holistic educator, her work empathises the complexity of humanity and existentialism that in itself is a remarkable phenomenon.

Her debut book 'Mortal Veins' can be bought via Amazon where it is described as "Humanity has always had a complex relationship with the world around it, and yet it can also be a thing of beauty which inspires magic caressed in our palms. Explore the wonders of existence and thereafter inside mortal veins with poet Rhianna Levi. A debut poetry collection that brings our veins together as one."

Some words about Mortal Veins:

"Mortal Veins is a brave and bold debut collection that addresses difficult matters, confronting a plethora of problems that are all too familiar to many readers. An urgent new voice, Levi is writing into a growing canon of mental health and personal development poetry. A haunting, a fresh bruise, or a journey through recovery, there is something here for all." - Dr Charley Barnes, author of Copycat and Sincerely, Yours.

"This dramatic, dynamic debut collection explores fearlessly what it is to be human, other worldly and wild all at once. Passionate and profoundly affecting, these poems find language for those things that are both concrete and hollow in all of us and in doing so encourages us all to find language of our own." - Cathy Carson, creator of the one woman show Becoming Marvellous
"Rhianna Levi makes a striking debut in Mortal Veins. With poetry that provokes the relationship between linguistics and storytelling, Levi tackles existentialism, mental health and self-awareness whilst exploring the boundaries of language. Bold, thought provoking and distinctive." - Chloe Hanks, author of I Call Upon The Witches and May We All Be Artefacts

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Author Chat Podcast) features the wonderful Douglas Weissman.

Douglas writes " stories of friendship, of finding beauty in the grotesque, of finding magic in the mundane; stories about building bridges, about burning bridges, about growing trees, about turning trees into bridges, and the ways strangers find common ground. "

He advises his young adult series "and and New Adult novel were released by Epic Press in Fall 2016. "

His short stories have been published in 3 Elements Review, Wild Musette, Kingdoms in the Wild, Lamplit Underground, and I Must Be Off and was shortlisted in Glimmer Train's "Family Matters" writing contest in 2015.

He is a graduate of the Master of Fine Arts program in Creative Writing at the University of San Francisco and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, fun-loving daughter, anxious dog, and indifferent cat.

His website is: https://www.douglasweissman.com/

The latest episode from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Author / Artist Podcast) is another bonus episode from the recent Ashley Edge book launch features Alice Gretton who delivered a fantastic supporting set.

Alice Gretton is an award winning spoken word artist, with their works spanning across the UK and reaching the USA. They produce SunroseArts Festival, joining us on 22nd and 23rd July. Their book, Fruit Salad and Rocket Ships, will be out in 2023.

Alice is on facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/alicerosegretton

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/alicerosegretton/

https://www.instagram.com/thankyoufortonight/

https://www.instagram.com/sunroseartsfestival/

https://www.tiktok.com/@alice.gretton

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features the wonderful Tom S. Juniper recorded live in support of Ashley Edge during their recent book launch.

Tom S. Juniper (they/he) is a genderqueer autistic poet living in Sheffield. They have recently published a book of poems about monsters. They like doing slams and absolutely don't get overly competitive.

Some links for Tom include:

https://www.instagram.com/tom_s_juniper/

https://tomjuniper.poetry.blog/

https://twitter.com/tom_s_juniper?lang=en

https://twitter.com/tom_s_juniper?lang=en

..

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) features the wonderful Kay Channon.

Kay Channon is a PhD Student. Her research focuses on re-telling The Hunger Games using the social, personal, and political issues she encountered during Covid 19. She is also a Disability Arts Online blogger and qualified University Lecturer. She has a passion for philosophy and is a published Poet. Her debut poetry collection The Dark Side of Light was published in 2017. Some of her poems have also appeared in Online Magazines, such as the London Progressive Journal and I am not a silent poet. She is also a trained Makaton Signer and is currently taking online classes to gain a level One British Sign Language award. Outside of her PhD, she reads children’s literature as an Ambassador for Inclusive Minds. This company connects with publishers to seek guidance from those living with disabilities in order to provide a healthy and more accurate reading experience for younger people. Last year she was engaged in webinars with the NHS to raise awareness around complex health conditions and improve patient care.

Useful links:

Kay's disability arts online blog: https://disabilityarts.online/blog/author/kay-channon/
One of Kay's latest poems:

https://londonprogressivejournal.com/2022/09/02/division/

Kay's YouTube channel: (for Makaton signing and my Hunger Games film that have premiered so far with and without subtitles):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClb5z-wkw4KLuBWveZ_AOcQ

Bonus Episode from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features the magnificent Dee Dickens recorded live at the recent Ashley Edge live launch for Spoken Label with a great support slot.

Dee's bio advises "Dee Dickens lives on a mountain in Wales with her shedding familiars and

her wizard consort. She etches symbols onto dead trees to make people hallucinate. Sometimes she does that for other people under the Llais Newydd spell. Trainee adult, she loves ribs."

More about Dee can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/deedickenswriter/

https://deedickens.wordpress.com/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Dee-Dickens/s?rh=n%3A266239%2Cp_27%3ADee+Dickens

https://twitter.com/thepontypoet

https://www.instagram.com/thepontypoet/

Latest up from Spoken Label is the wonderful Anne Delargy, author off "Rex My Love" and "Mermaids in My Basement".

Anne herself is retired and lives in Manchester, where she was born. She has been writing poems since she was six years old.

She was a labour councillor in tower hamlets, east London for 8 years. She has travelled widely in Europe and North America often on her own and speaks five languages.

Anne has worked as a legal clerk in soho, a copy editor of political publications, a technical writer on engineering magazines, a learning mentor for children with autism, a life coach and a tutor. She trained in Flamenco dance in London and Spain, and as a clown.

Her two books are available on Amazon.
She is on facebook at: www.facebook.com/anne.delargy.5

Audio version of the live event Spoken Label recently did from the book launch of Ashley Edge's recent book 'Those days, These Days' recorded last week.

Ashley's book advises "Ashley Edge was an out tomboy before it was cool. This retrospective introspective takes us through growing up, coming out and the adventures that took them through it all. In this collection, they look at love in every form. From exploring their sexuality to poems which declare heir everlasting love of football, this is a ferocious, sometimes furious but always bittersweet must-read that will have you hooked from start to finish.

The book can be purchased here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Those-Days-These-Ashley-Edge/dp/B0BVPFYNNF?

Ashley is on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ashleyedge.poet

Brand new from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) features from originally Salford but now Denton, the amazing Roy Page talking about his debut book "Fifties Child" as well as his love of bands and painting / drawing and growing up and around Salford (UK) in the 1950s. Roy's book can be purchased from him direct at: https://www.facebook.com/roy.page.1297

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry / Artist Podcast) features the amazing Karina Fiorini.

Karina is a poet and an environmentalist of Maltese origin, now based in France. I started writing poetry and short stories at the age of ten and been campaigning in favour of a better environment for over sixteen years.

Her poetry is marked by scraps of fragments, teasing rhythms and subtle colours, at times postmodern and minimalist. I am the founder and coordinator of the Luxembourg Poetry Group.

In 2022, Habiba was highly commended by poet Joelle Taylor, judge for the Ledbury Poetry Competition. In 2021, the poem The Calling featured in PEN International and PEN Malta's A Poetry Memorial for Daphne Caruana Galizia. My poem Ruts placed third in The Mattia Family 15th International Poetry Competition in 2013. Twelve inky years received a special mention by the Welsh Poetry International Competition in 2018, whilst La Moselle was chosen as an editor's choice in the 2020 Hammond House International Literary Prize, awarded by the University Centre Grimsby. In 2020 I served as a judge for Stories of the Nature of Cities, New York.

She has undertook a MSc in Sustainable Development at the Imperial College and SOAS Univeristy and a BA in Geography at the University of Malta. She is now now reading for a BA in English with Philosophy at the University of London – Goldsmiths and Birkbeck, whilst working on her first poetry collection.

www.instagram.com/karinafiorinipoetry/
soundcloud.com/user-522234864
www.karinafiorini.com
twitter.com/karinafiorini?lang=en-GB

Contains exclusive bonus track

Latest Spoken Label session (Artist / Writer Podcast) features an exclusive interview and session with London born now Manchester based Folk Singer songwriter Alf Whitby.

Alf's alternative folk style revolves around a core of voice, guitar and piano, and draws influence from both traditional folk (Nick Drake) and more modern alternative styles (Sufjan Stevens).

Juxtaposition between tenderness and angst is a key element to Alf's songs, with dynamic shifts bringing the listener along on a meandering ride. Lyrically the songs began as a cathartic release of thoughts and feelings too often left buried inside, but this has evolved into more structured storytelling involving an array of characters and imagery.

More details about Alf can be found on his website: https://www.alfwhitby.com/

Latest Spoken Label (Poetry / Spoken Word Podcast series) session features the amazing Scarlett Ward.

Scarlett advises "I have been writing poetry for 10 years, and was first published by Verve Poetry Press in 2019. In 2022 I was shortlisted for Women Poet's Prize, and I have come runner up in several prizes such as The Spellt poetry prize, verve prize and Wolverhampton literature festival. I ofted give poetry workshops to schools and have recently ran a series of workshops with the BBC and Verve Poetry Festival.

I set up my own publishing company called Fawn Press in 2021, and I work to discover emerging and under-represented writers in the community to produce their books. Fawn Press was nominated for a Saboteur award in 2022.

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2021, when I fell into a coma and had to learn how to walk, talk, read, write and even eat again. I worked to overcome these challenges and now live with my chronic illness. I am passionate about raising awareness about this disease as I was misdiagnosed with "anxiety and period hormones" when I first started to display symptoms.

I am a queer writer, and find great strength in my poetry as a woman who loves women."

Some links about Scarlett:

https://www.instagram.com/scarlett.ward/

https://www.instagram.com/fawnpress/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCsE_lza7H0

https://vervepoetrypress.com/product/ache-scarlett-ward-pre-order-free-uk-pp/?v=79cba1185463

https://www.iambapoet.com/scarlett-ward-bennett

https://deardamsels.com/2021/10/13/my-therapist-asks-me-how-my-weeks-been/

https://inksweatandtears.co.uk/scarlett-ward-bennett/

https://www.fawnpress.co.uk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocGgKYJzZcs

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/eqpqwh/acts/a9j9xj

Latest Spoken label Podcast (Spoken Word / Author / Artist Chat Podcast) features features the amazing Alice Godliman

Alice is a poet, writer, performer and workshop facilitator based in Manchester, who’s performed for International Women’s Day and Reclaim the Night, as well as events around London, Manchester and at the Edinburgh Fringe. You can find more of her work in the anthology Let Me Know When You’re Home, as well as Blood Orange Tarot, Twist in Time Mag,

Alice's work is fierce, feminine, fancy and fragile all at once. Combining traditional poetic form with spells and magic, her upcoming collection is not to be missed - it really is a kind of magic.

Her debut collection "The Book of (Seeing Past the)" is published by Bent Key Publishing.

Alice can be found at @alicegodliman on Twitter or Instagram.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry / Spoken Word Podcast) features the brill Holly Bars.

Holly Bars is a mature student currently studying at the University of Leeds. Holly’s poems have been published since January 2021 by The Moth, Ink, Sweat & Tears, Fragmented Voices, Porridge, Anti-Heroin Chic, Visual Verse, Runcible Spoon, and more, as well as appearing in anthologies. Her debut collection, Dirty, is available from Yaffle Press. Twitter: @holly_bars

Note… This podcast concerns itself with poems relating to childhood sexual abuse, child abuse, trauma and survivorship. Please keep this in mind as you read, and look after yourself however you need to, even if it means throwing this book at the wall. Please see poem Stay Sane for further suggestions. Samaritans are open 24/7.

Latest Spoken label Podcast (Spoken Word / Artist Podcast series) session features the wonderful Goodnighttheskye

She is described as a "I am a published poet and award-winning spoken word artist, whose work has been featured across print, radio and stage, from Radiophrenia Glasgow to The Blue Heron Review. I have led poetry and spoken word workshops with groups aged from 13 to 21, on themes such as identity, queerness, mental health and politics, and recently published three interconnected zines entitled A Posy For Balance, which can be purchased here.

Her website is: goodnighttheskye.com/"

**

Zoom launch for the charity book 'Nobody left behind' for the Mustard Tree. The book can be purchased from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobody-Behind-Printed-Words-Anthology/dp/B0BNKYKRCY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=15Z2UBA0AVGAL&keywords=nobody+left+behind&qid=1676760472&sprefix=nobody+left+behind%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1

Thanks to the following readers:

Amanda Nicholson

Andy N

Richard Harries

Roz Ottery

Rich Davenport

Gordon Zola

Ade Couper

Clive Oseman

None

Short bonus episode tonight from myself (Andy N) in support off Richard Harries on his book launch back in December 2022.

Andy N is the author of nine full length poetry collections, the most recent being 'from the diabetic ward' and numerous split poetry books, including 'run away with me in 7 words' with his wife Amanda Steel (Also known as Amanda Nicholson)

He is the co-host of Chorlton Cum Hardy's always welcoming Spoken Word Open Mic Night which meets on the 1st Thursday of each month and he does ambient music under the name of Ocean in a Bottle.

He is also the host and the creator of 'Spoken Label', a poet, writer and artist Podcast series also the paranormal, supernatural and just plain spooky Podcast series with his wife Amanda Nicholson 'Cloaked in the Shadows' and the readaround Podcast series 'Storytime with Andy and Amanda' also with Amanda.

His official website is onewriterandhispc.blogspot.co.uk/

Latest Spoken Label (Poetry / Writer / Artist Podcast) features the amazing Perry Gasteiger.

Perry Gasteiger (they/them) is a non-binary Canadian poet who focuses on the mundanity of existence through a lens of empathetic consideration. They enjoy exploring phenomenological ideas of lived experience and how they mold our understanding of ourselves and our world. By pushing the boundaries of their own experiences, Perry tries to find universalities in unique situations for people to connect through. Bringing attention to the extraordinary nature of life and pain, they juxtapose the beautiful and the deformed, the congruent and the discordant, and the comfortable and the anxious.

Perry draws much of their imagery from the landscapes of northern Ontario where they grew up, and severe bodily exploration and discomfort. They find the connection between human nature and the wider rhythms of the natural world especially intriguing, taking particular pleasure in dismantling the corporeal experience into its component parts and closing the gap between the controlled and the wild.

In this session, we talk about Perry's debut collection "Meditations for the Dead and Dying". This collection explores topics of self, identity, and relationship through a thorough undoing of the body. Tearing open the discomfort of corporeality, this brief selection is a feast of blood, bone, and flesh that will leave you hungry for more.

More about Perry can be found at: https://perrygasteiger.ca/

Latest Spoken Label (Artist / Writer Podcast series) features the excellent singer songwriter Raven Shelley.

Raven Shelley is a self-described misfit who takes influence from the likes of Bob Dylan and Ani DiFranco to create her own style of whimsical folk pop music. Originally growing up in the south of France, Raven taught herself English literature from an early age, then going on to study the subject at University.

From there her passion for writing poetic lyricism was born, with the artist commenting, “all the hurt, all the anger, all the love, everything that runs through she advises can be found somewhere in my lyrics, because to write something real, you have to pour yourself onto the page and into the songs. ”

As soon as she moved to the UK from France she founded her own band, fronting the outfit as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist where she first cut her teeth playing her own original material.

Making her introduction as a solo artist, in June this year (2022) she released her debut single “Sink in Solitude” via The Animal Farm imprint and since then has followed up with two more singles 'Do You Miss Me Yet?' and 'Erroneous Lives'.

Raven can be found on social media at: https://www.instagram.com/ravenshelleymusic/or https://www.facebook.com/ravenshelleymusic/

NB. Erroneous Lives follows the interview.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Creative Podcast) is a special mini episode (Full length episode to follow in the Spring) features the wonderful Tuesday Tony talking about the relaunch of Tuesday Tony Presents.

Tuesday Tony presents ia a weekly spoken word (poetry) / music / comedy

/ half ared karaoke every Tuesday at the Thirsty Scholar and Zombie Shack, Manchester, UK.

The night is being relaunched on 31 January 2023 on a weekly basis.

Free entry sign up from 7pm.

Tony can be contacted on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tuesdaytony.willambolton

The new Spoken Label Podcast features Jay Rose Ana.

Jay is a poet, writer, storyteller, and performance artist, born and raised in the heart of the Black Country, West Midlands, UK talking about her debut poetry book "Whispers in the Wind".

Her website is https://www.jayroseana.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jayroseana?lang=en-GB

Performed to a crowd of over 40 people at Chorlton Cum Hardy's Dulicmer, this recording is the live launch of 'Nobody left behind' a charity book for the Mustard Tree.

The book is described as "A collection of poetry, prose and non-fiction inspired by the cost-of-living crisis. Edited by Amanda Nicholson, with writing by over 30 poets and authors from around the UK. This anthology was produced to raise awareness of the experiences you rarely see in the mainstream media. All the profits go to Mustard Tree to support the important work they do.

Some of the pieces use dark humour to highlight the struggles people face, while others are more direct. They may not be easy to read, but perhaps they will inspire us all to do what little we can to help. Then, maybe we can make some small improvements to each other’s lives instead of judging people."

The book can be bought on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobody-Left-Behind-Printed-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0BNK23NR9

Hosted and ran by Steve Smythe and Andy N, the night featured readings by the following readers in the book:

1st Half:

1) Amanda Nicholson

2) Scott Fellows

3) Steven Wailing (who read out a poem by John G Hall also)

4) Lucy Power

5) Phillip Burton

6) Linda Downs

7) Rosemary Moore

2nd Half:

1) Andy N

2) Michael Burton

3) April Manderson

4) Nigel Austell (who read out a poem also by Dorinda MacDowell)

5) Phillip Carter

6) Gordon Zola (who read out a poem also by Eve Nortley)

None

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry / Spoken Word Podcast) features the wonderful Natalie Easton author off “I’ll buy you a bird instead”.

Natalie Easton’s poems have appeared in such publications as Jet Fuel Review, Superstition Review, and tinywords. She was nominated for a Pushcart in 2014, and was a contributor at Bread Loaf in 2015. Her debut chapbook, I’ll Buy You a Bird Instead, is was releeased on Femme Salve Books on November 9th 2022.

“I’ll buy you a bird instead” is described as “In this intimate chapbook of poems, Natalie Easton examines the complexity of her relationship with her mother through a kaleidoscope of loss, grief, and love. The troubles of childhood are reexamined in adulthood, brought out and looked at with a new depth of understanding. This is a book that encourages the reader to look harder at the difficult moments, and find the gems hidden there.”
Some praise for “I’ll buy you a bird instead”:
“I’ll Buy You a Bird Instead is a complex cry of longing – from a ‘throat veined white like a cut strawberry’ – for the ever-disappearing mother. These poems are painted in the many colors of illness, healing, resentment, surprising humor, regret: ‘Go in, I will my former self. / Just for a glass of water.’ From caring for the parent in extremis (‘If you weren’t conscious in an hour, / then I should make a call’) to tending her body after death (‘For all I knew you felt it still’), from denial (‘I have tried to escape without / burying you’) to acceptance (‘Now that I’m alone I know / you’ll never stop returning to me’), Easton brings a mother-daughter relationship – both foundational and impossible – into razor-edge focus, side-by-side with its loss. Easton’s eye is unflinching, her portrayal of grief unstinting. The red bird glowing behind these poems – the parrot itself and the mother’s devotion, even mixed with betrayal – is a reminder that love can wreck us and still we can be ‘filled – like an urn – with its beauty.’”
—Laura Cherry, author of Haunts (Cooper Dillon Books)
“In forthright and gutting language, this collection looks resolutely at the ways in which we communicate with our past in mourning. This is a beautiful book that will break your heart.”
—Erin Elizabeth Smith, author of DOWN

“…these fierce and tender poems affirm that at the end of pain, what remains is wisdom. What remains is love.”
—Angela Narciso Torres, author of What Happens Is Neither

More about Natalie can be found here - www.natalieeastonpoetry.com

The book is available through femme salve books directly here -
femmesalvebooks.net/bird-instead-by-natalie-easton/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Sophie Parkes. Her bio advises She "was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire in 1985. Following degrees from the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University, Sophie is currently studying for a PhD in creative writing and folklore at Sheffield Hallum University. She won a Northern Writers' Award in 2017 and has published a biography of musician, Eliza Carthy, and co-wrote the autobiography of endurance athlete Dave Heeley." In this Spoken Label episode, we talk about her work with Mosley Writers and The Tameside Workshop in addition to her debut novel historical fiction ' Out of Human Sight'.

Follow Sophie on twitter: @Sophparkes

Bonus Episode from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetrty Podcast) features a repeat of the set Amanda Nicholson did in support for Richard Harries's book launch in December 2023.

Amanda Nicholson is an author, poet, podcast co-host and copywriter. She has written several books as Amanda Steel, including Ghost of Me.
Amanda’s poetry has been broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester. She Has a Creative Writing MA, and has had articles published by Jericho Writers, Reader’s Digest UK, Ask.com, and Authors Publish.

Her blog is: amandasteelwriter.wordpress.com

The latest session by Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) session the wonderful Joseph J Jordan, author of “ The Clima-Race” series.

The Clima-Race is described as “The year is 2100 and our planet has been ravaged by climate change but Isabel Hope believes there is a discovery that could save humanity. As CEO of Hope Incorporated she uses her power and wealth to help steer a new generation that could be the future of all humankind. However, she quickly encounters resistance, engulfing her twin sons, nineteen year old Elijah and Hajile who unknowingly find themselves at the centre of what could be the biggest leap in human evolution.

World leaders and corporate titans clash in this epic journey of destiny, loyalty, deception and heart breaking loss, as only the bravest will fight to save their family and humanity as one.”

Joseph’s author amazon page is: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Joseph-J-Jordan/e/B08XNL8PKH/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Other links off Joseph's include:

https://twitter.com/joeyjacobjordan?s=21

https://www.facebook.com/josephjjordanofficial

http://www.instagram.com/joeyjacobjordan

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry / Artist Podcast) features the excellent Ashley Edge.

Ashley is a non-binary, autistic poet from the heart of England. They take great pleasure in opening the rusty can full of phobic critters, shining a laser on them and beating them with a poetic hammer. Prone to tugging at your soul with their tales of childhood trauma, Ashley is also able to produce the odd happy poem. Usually about cats.

They have been published in many anthologies over the years and won multiple slams. A fan of trying all poetic styles, on the stage and on the page. Due for release in February 2023, Ashley's collection, "Those Days, These Days", is a double-whammy. An exploration of their early life as a loud and proud queer, coming out and falling in love during Section 28, Ashley fast forwards to present times, being non-binary and the passions that keep them sane and fighting.

Facebook: observeandmuse with Ehjee

Instagram: observeandmuse_Ashley

Twitter: @AshleyEdgePoet

YouTube: ObserveandMuse Ashley

https://ashleyedgepoet.wordpress.com/

Today's Spoken Label Session (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) features the wonderful Michael Burton.

Michael Burton is from East Lancashire in the UK and his poems have been published most recently in The The Interpreter’s House, The Honest Ulsterman & Pennine Platform. He also writes and performs as NotAnotherPoet and is the vocalist in the band New Age of Decay. Their debut album can be found on all major streaming platforms.

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Judy Liu, author of the Vending Portal.

Judy’s work is inspired by her love of Marvel, sci-fi, old Taiwanese dramas, and ridiculous anime, Judy scribbles mini-stories wherever she can (and subsequently forgets them!). She graduated from Rice University in Houston, Texas, studying history, Asian studies, and education. Judy is not unfamiliar with extensive writing, having published multiple pieces. She spent some time living in rural Japan before working in the legal and compliance sphere. With her debut novel The Vending Portal, Liu hopes to meaningfully add to Asian American literature to further enrich the YA genre.

Her debut book is the Vending Portal is described as “Memory fades, but Reminserum is forever.

It’s just a normal day for Mel and Sage. They’re walking home from school, when they come upon a battered vending machine of mysterious snacks. While examining it, the sisters are whisked away to another dimension by the seemingly innocuous machine. They encounter advanced memory-enhancing technologies, a strange new government, and an ominous secret behind it all. Follow Mel and Sage as they discover friendships, unravel an unknown family history, and brave a multitude of hazards to save a society in a world that was never theirs.

Judy Liu’s debut novel is a passion project motivated by a desire to explore the concept of a “perfect” society. In it, she explores both the fantasies and the frightening possibilities that can exist in a world of any design. The Vending Portal is a lightly distorted, funhouse mirror to reflect the pitfalls of our own society, seen through the innocent eyes of two young protagonists. “

The book can be bought on Amazon etc.

UK Amazon link is: /Vending-Portal-Judy-Liu-ebook/dp/B0BCH7FL9S

Judy's Instagram page is:
www.instagram.com/judyliu_author/

Latest from Spoken Label and our last session of the year features the magnificent Louise Fazackerley.

Louise’s work is described as “ work rooted in word-witchery and the working class, Louise explores the synergy between poetry, voice and movement in a way that makes the ugly beautiful and the mundane fantastical. Winner of BBC Radio 3 ‘New Voices’, European Slam Finalist and support artist for punk legend Dr. John Cooper Clark, Louise is a true, Northern powerhouse. Welcome to her world of darkly humorous poetry. Previous poetry collections include The Lolitas and The Uniform Factory (Verve Poetry Press), Bird St. (The Secret Writers Club) and audio book, Council House Poetry (Nymphs & Thugs.) Louise has a degree in Theatre Studies and Creative Writing from Lancaster University and an MA in Creative Writing from Edge Hill University. She lectures and teaches creative writing in schools, prisons and universities. When she is not writing, Louise is loping around Wigan and wrangling two teenage daughters and two teenage cats. “

Louise’s latest book ‘pleasure dome which this sesison talks about ’ is described as: “Take your little feelings-junkie-self on a dash through the house of fun. Here is hedonism and anhedonia a.k.a 'the inability to feel anything' nothing? explored through lyric poetry and dystopian prose poetry. Here are the Romantic Poets. Here are some bands from the 1980's. Here is a bathroom. Here is a place where the super-rich get to use your organs instead of their own. Obvs. Think escapism, mothers guilt and drink- some of it set in an alternate dimension of distorted mirrors and super-fun balloons. Dilettantes and the discerning brain are welcome here. “

More about Louise can be found at: https://www.louisethepoet.co.uk/

Back with Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) today is our returning friend “Ilaria Passeri”

Ilaria Passeri is a Scottish-Italian writer-performer living in South Manchester. She works as a storyteller in schools, libraries, art centres, theatres and woodland areas. You can often find Ilaria under a tree telling stories with a rubber chicken and a crowd of giggling kids with their grown-ups — failing that, you may find her on a train lugging around a suitcase of puppets or in a sweaty pub room telling people all her secrets through a microphone. She performed her debut show ‘Lady Ilaria’s Drawers’ at The Hen and Chickens as part of the Camden Fringe Festival and received a four-star review. Before becoming a writer and storyteller, Ilaria was Mandy the CrimeSolving Monkey, Sparkle Chops the Elf, a Bar Crawl Babe, an Aperol Spritz Girl and she also worked in a call centre for three days.

In this Spoken Label Session, we talk about her show from a few years back “Lady Ilaria’s drawers” and what led into her book ‘Tales of a confused Life’.

Instagram @ilariathestoryteller

Twitter @ilariapasseri

Back with Spoken Label (Poet Podcast) tody is our returning friend “Ilaria Passeri”

Ilaria Passeri is a Scottish-Italian writer-performer living in South Manchester. She works as a storyteller in schools, libraries, art centres, theatres and woodland areas. You can often find Ilaria under a tree telling stories with a rubber chicken and a crowd of giggling kids with their grown-ups — failing that, you may find her on a train lugging around a suitcase of puppets or in a sweaty pub room telling people all her secrets through a microphone. She performed her debut show ‘Lady Ilaria’s Drawers’ at The Hen and Chickens as part of the Camden Fringe Festival and received a four-star review. Before becoming a writer and storyteller, Ilaria was Mandy the CrimeSolving Monkey, Sparkle Chops the Elf, a Bar Crawl Babe, an Aperol Spritz Girl and she also worked in a call centre for three days.

In this Spoken Label Session, we talk about her show from a few years back “Lady Ilaria’s drawers” and what led into her book ‘Tales of a confused Life’.

Instagram @ilariathestoryteller
Twitter @ilariapasseri

New from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) features the wonderful Martin Elder talking about his debut poetry book "Rewind / Replay"

Martin describes himself as "Writer Poet and Dr of Hope the story so far.....as a spotty faced teenager back in the mists of time I once wrote a poem about the Vietnam war which has been thankfully lost. I then picked up a pencil again in my late thirties and started writing short stories and subsequently a couple of books. I followed this with an attempt at poetry . However a friend told me that he did not like them. (The poems that is) so I stopped. But the loss of a job back in 2012 stimulated me to write a poem again which was quickly followed by another and then another , sadly I haven't been able to stop pouring out a sea of babble and drivel since. Having tried the public domain few times in 2014 I have continued to subject members of the unwitting public to my utterances and dribblings through open mic gigs in a variety of locations with very few rotten vegetables or eggs being thrown....so far"

More about Martin can be found at: https://www.writeoutloud.net/profiles/martinelder

His Email address to purchase a copy of his collection is: martin.d.elder@ntlworld.com

Latest Spoken Label session (Author / Artist Podcast series) features the brilliant Ed Davis discussing his new book ‘The Last Professional’. originally from Northern California but originally from Kanas City.

‘The Last Professional’ focuses on a hobo, a wanderer, a madman; three characters hurtling toward a heart-wrenching climax where their way of life, and their lives, hang in the balance.

These freights let you ride, they don't let you go!

Lynden Hoover, a young man on the brink of a new beginning, cannot embrace it without confronting the traumas of his past. Help comes from The Duke, an old loner who calls America' s landscape his home. He clings to an honor code, but in fleeing from Short Arm, his merciless enemy, his code is being tested. The Duke mentors Lynden, enlisting old traveling friends to keep himself and his apprentice just ahead of Short Arm' s relentless pursuit. When two of those friends are murdered, the stakes become life or death.

Bonds are formed, secrets exposed, sacrifices made, trusts betrayed; all against a breathtaking American landscape of promise and peril. Three unforgettable characters, hurtling toward a spellbinding climax where pasts and futures collide, and lives hang in the balance.

More about Ed can be read at his website: https://www.eddavisbooks.com/

Audio rip of the live Spoken Label Zoom launch containing the set Richard Harries did for the launch of his second poetry book "Iconic Tattoo' recorded live on Monday 28 November 2022.

Richard Harries(not to be confused with the Bishop of Oxford) is a well known spoken word artist with a considerable following on YouTube. He performs mainly in the North of England but concentrates on East Yorkshire, Hull and the surrounding area. One of his first poems, Pirate Izzy, was written for his Granddaughter; and thereafter he began writing and performing at Folk Clubs and Pubs.

In addition to several years at the Hull Freedom Festival he has been a popular feature at the Filey Folk Festival, Cottingham Springboard, and in venues in Leeds, Harrogate, York and Wakefield. Richard's historical poems have been published in American Journals and his war poems were read in Ypres 100 years after the first shot in the Battle of Bellewaarde in World War I. He was also a significant contributor to the Saboteur project Haunt.

Richard is often known as the Bard of Withernsea or the Activist Poet of Hull having written for the Action for Hull Group, The Wilberforce Society and supported campaigns to save the Lord line building and Beverlygate.

The book can be purchased from: https://www.stairwellbooks.co.uk/authors/richard-harries/ and all good booksellers etc

New from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features the incredible Selina Halliwell.

Selina is Multi award-winning theatremaker. Actor. Writer. Penned &
starred in The Formidable Lizzie Boone, Fruit Salad & BURNOUT.
Burlesques as 'Ember Travixen'.

More links can be found at:
linktr.ee/selinahproductions
www.instagram.com/selinahproductions/?hl=en
twitter.com/selinahelliwell

Katie Chonacas is a globally outstanding Greek-American actor with over two decades of experience in the Hollywood entertainment industry.

She is "a multi-disciplinary artist who utilizes her voice to inspire change and transformation in people who want to make an impact on the world." and has extensive experience acting in films, TV shows, theatre, voice acting, is the Podcast host of 'She's all over the place".

Her debut poetry book "A Lover's Fairytale" came out in 2021.

Her website is: https://www.chonacas.com/

New from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) features the fantastic Hannah Ahle.

Hannah is a British Palestinian based in Manchester, UK. She is a writer, illustrator, marathon runner and activist. She was a closet poet for most of her adult life until Spring 2021, when she began reciting and posting to Instagram and taking her work to live audiences a year later.

Her work is inspired by her life experiences and observations of various aspects of the human condition.

You can follow Hannah on Instagram at @hannahahle

Latest session from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Writer Chat Podcast) features the amazing Kathryn Lund, author off "The things we left sleeping".

Kathryn's bio advises "won the Blackwell Prize for her MA in Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes. As a writer with an invisible disability she often uses her work to explore issues of physical and mental health, as well as how we construct the conscious world around us. With undergrad and post grad qualifications in archaeology and teaching, she is continuously fascinated with how we make our worlds, inhabit them and re-express them. Kathryn is deeply influenced by her environmentalism, feminism and queer identity. She often explores themes of memory and loss, deeply influenced by the death of her mother within six weeks of a fatal cancer diagnosis. Her father is a cancer survivor. Despite many years spent at universities in the south she believes her voice is strongly northern. She is based in York and can sometimes be found at open mic nights in the city.

You can contact Kathryn about her writing at: kathrynlundtheauthor@gmail.com Her book can be found at all the usual places and she has a website at: http://kathrynlundtheauthor.co.uk/

Latest Spoken Label (Poet / Artist Podcast) talks to the wonderful Isabelle Pandora Byrne, author of 'Pandora's Ruin'.

More about Isabelle can be found at: linktr.ee/isabellepbyrne

Her book 'Pandora's Ruin' can be ordered from Waterstones and many other places.

MentalHealthpoetry #MentalHealth #BentKeyPublishing #BentKey #IsabellePandoraBryne

Following from her excellent preview episode of her play 'Playfight' a few months back at Peckham Fringe, today sees us return today to talk to our friend Christina Alagaratnam. Christina describes herself as "I'm a writer, author, playwright and podcaster. I've published my work on Amazon and work on the London theatre scene. Now, I run my own podcast called The Night Writer, creating content for the insomniacs."

In this full length session, we talk about Christina's background as a writer, how Playfight went at Peckham Fringe and news about various awards she has won over the summer in various countries.

More about Christina can be found at:

chrissysnotebook.com

twitter.com/ChrissyA_92

www.instagram.com/xchristina.writer/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Writer) Podcast features a special episode featuring Kris Sumner just in time for Halloween.

Kris Sumner is a member off "Soul Sisters Paranormal".

"'Soul Sisters Paranormal" began as a group of sisters and friends who travel to some of the most reportedly haunted locations across the U.S., as well as private homes and businesses, to investigate claims of paranormal activity. In 2020, the group became primarily twin sisters Jenny and Kristy investigating for the team.

Their Website is: www.soulsistersparanormal.com

Latest Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Spoken Word Podcast) features our returning friend Rich Davenport talking about his latest book "Horsetrousers".

Rich Davenport is a comedy poet, stand-up comedian and musician from exotic Bolton, in the UK. Inspired by Spike Milligan, Ogden Nash, Billy Connolly, John Cooper-Clarke, Robin Williams, Benjamin Zephanaiah, Victoria Wood, Lenny Henry, and by his friend and fellow Boltonian, the late Hovis Presley, Rich has gigged all over the UK, spreading mirth and making loud noises. No, he’s never heard of him either. Rich was described in one review as a “no-nonsense Northerner,” which is ridiculous, because nonsense is his business, and business is good. Rich was first encouraged to compile a book of his poems of extreme gormlessness by Hovis Presley. After accidentally winning a couple of poetry slams, other encouraging individuals said the same thing. And now, finally, Rich's first book, GORMLESS is available now from Chinbeard books at the link below with fabulous illustrations from the marvellous Minty B. A percentage from every book will be donated to the ME Association.

Horsetrousers is his second book.

More details about Rich including how to purchase his book can be found here: - https://www.richdavenport.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Spoken Word Podcast) is the amazing, multi talented Christine Stoddard.

Christine Stoddard is a Salvadoran-American writer, actor, director, and artist creating books, films, plays, murals, etc. She founded Quail Bell Magazine and Quail Bell Press & Productions. Her books include Heaven is a Photograph, Hello, New York: The Living And Dead, Naomi & The Reckoning, Desert Fox by the Sea, Belladonna Magic, and Water for the Cactus Woman, among others. In its review of Stoddard's work, Glassworks wrote that "[Stoddard] tells stories in magical and hauntingly beautiful ways." In a Poetry Foundation/Luna Luna Magazine feature, her hybrid poetry and photography book Water for the Cactus Woman was praised for its portrayal of "the fragmented nature of Latinidad." This same book placed in a university-wide competition across academic disciplines for work concerning families, winning the Nyman Family Award during Stoddard's time as an MFA candidate at The City College of New York. Old Dominion University invited her to be its 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month keynote speaker for her non-fiction book, Hispanic & Latino Heritage in Virginia.

Supported by a 2020 Space Grant from 1708 Gallery, Stoddard premiered her first feature, Sirena's Gallery, an arthouse feature, after directing shorts such as Bottled, Virtual Caress, Butterflies, Drunken History, and Brooklyn Burial. In June 2022, she directed her nationally award-winning play, "Mi Abuela, Queen of Nightmares" at the Gene Frankel Theatre in New York City.

Previously, she was the first-ever artist-in-residence at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House in Manhattan and served as an inaugural AnkhLave Arts Alliance artist fellow at the Queens Botanical Garden. She was part of the first cohort of resident artists at Woodlawn Plantation, originally part of George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, and Brooklyn Public Library-Eastern Parkway Branch. The Puffin Foundation awarded her individual artist grants in photography and film. She is one of the subjects in the documentaries "Artists Unmasked" (dir. Dario Mohr) and "Poetry, New York" (dir. Patrick Pfister).

Stoddard is a graduate of VCUarts and The City College of New York. She lives in Brooklyn, New York and regularly produces plays and showcases for the Broadway Comedy Club in Manhattan.

Her website is: http://www.worldofchristinestoddard.com/

Today's Spoken Label Podcast (Author / Artist / Spoken Word Podcast) features extracts from the debut novel by the late Annie O'Neill Stein.

I was contacted to feature Annie for October's 2022 Spoken Label back at the end of August 2022 regarding her debut novel 'Exit Wounds'.

Sadly, Annie sadly passed away before I was able to speak to her and so instead as a tribute to this talented writer are several extracts off her novel by Susan Blakely in tribute to Annie.

Exit Wounds is the story off Laura "Born to shanty Irish on one side and Park Avenue privilege on the other, Laura navigates a turbulent childhood filled with the alcohol-fueled abuse of her volatile father and her mother's excessive drinking. As the middle child of three girls, she assigns herself the role of her mother's protector, who dies when Laura is thirteen, leaving her heartbroken and adrift.

Insecure, anxious, and fearful, she tries drugs, random sex, and a sequence of lovers. Along the way she becomes a successful painter and has a bad first marriage. Nothing however seems to assuage her emptiness and her sense of loss. Eventually, she marries a caring man and has a loving daughter. It is only at the end of her life and by way of an unusual and unexpected turn of events that she is finally able to make peace with herself, to let go of the feeling that she never really grieved, and said goodbye to her beloved mother, and to appreciate that though we work at love and acceptance, sometimes the most wonderful experiences in our lives come in unanticipated and unsought ways.

Annie O'Neill Stein has an engaging voice- quirky, funny, full of original observations and expressions, as she adroitly explores the mysteries of the human heart."

Native New Yorker Annie O’Neill Stein moved to Los Angeles in the early eighties as an actress. After many small parts in TV series, from Miami Vice to Charlie’s Angels, she decided to follow her true passion, writing.

Being accepted to Sewanee Writers Conference to study with Alice McDermott planted the seed for Exit Wounds, her first novel.

Annie has written for several magazines, More, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Distinction, Folks and was a regular contributor to The Huffington Post for several years."

Because I tend to read fiction cinematically, I saw each chapter of Exit Wounds as fully realized scenes in a movie. It isn’t a happy book and it’s not a sad book. It’s a brave, raw story of redemption infused with clever and witty black Irish humor. -- Moritz Borman, Producer Snowden, Terminator Salvation, Basic, Savages

It manages to be harrowing and hopeful in equal measure. The scenes of a childhood defined by a brutal drunk beating a young girl's dying mother are as scarifying as any coming of age novel I’ve read, and the scenes of a life lived in defiance of the script she was handed is no less than thrilling. -- Tom Lutz, Distinguished Professor and Chair of Creative Writing, UC Riverside/Founding Editor in Chief and Publisher of the Los Angeles Review of Books

Exit Wounds, Annie O’Neill Stein’s debut novel will draw you in, tug at your heart, and help you appreciate the subtle pleasure of black irish humor. She hooks you in with her original voice and takes you on a journey without sugar coating or apology and helps one understand the importance of an examined life. -- Bob Wallace, Former Managing Editor, Rolling Stone

Annie O’Neill Stein’s novel Exit Wounds is a striking debut. Her writing is sensory, emotionally honest, and darkly comic. Like Laura, her main character, Stein is a rule breaker. She takes the reader on a wild and satisfying ride. -- Jan Cherubin, author of Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2020, The Orphan's Daughter

thepermanentpress.com/products/exit-wounds

www.annieoneillstein.com

Bonus Episode today from recent Spoken Label guest Skylar J Wynter recorded live in Stockport.

Skylar J Wynter is the best-selling Author of poetry and flash fiction collection, Pieces of Humanity released on October 10th, 2020 to align with National Mental Health month.After an incident which changed the course of her life in 2014, Wynter turned to various art forms to process the trauma and make sense of her new self. She shares her poetry in the hopes it will help others find peace within their own realities and encourage humanity to reach out to each other with decency.Skylar resides in the Perth Hills of Western Australia, where she pens her creations overlooking national parkland and when she is not writing, she likes to create beautiful things with her limited jewellery making and sculpting skills, and serene spaces in her garden. She loves a great book, a sunny day and witnessing humans behaving decently. She hates cooking, and injustice, hopes Covid-19 disappears and online poetry events don't, and that someone finds a way to make celery taste like cheesecake.

More about Skylar can be found here:

linktr.ee/Skylarjwynter?fbclid=IwAR04baWqTg4rbHDbtPu143yilAerODi38QQ_CA42xod7euqA0v1oaM039Hw

OR

www.facebook.com/skylarjwynterauthor

A few videos of this performance are here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S77HPDmGidw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zShjVs0DBos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K_P7N0J2go

Recorded live at Stockport's The Petersgate Tap on Wednesday 05 October, this special live Spoken Label (Poet / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful poet Skylar J Wynter and the equally wonderful artist, Neshka Turner talking about their joint book 'Shine' and also their UK and Europe tour 'Decent Beings' which is ongoing as we speak.

Shine, their joint book is described as "In the wake of global pandemic, COVID-19, best-selling author, Skylar J Wynter and artist, Neshka Turner, bring us a captivating collaboration of art and poetry exploring humanity's quest for transformation from adversity.

Turner's artwork, an unafraid combination of pieces morphing between stark to rich with symbology, provide the perfect textured landscape for Wynter's unapologetic exploration of modern-day challenges we face as individuals and collectives in a bid to be seen, heard, and accepted just as we are.

SHINE, embodying the work of two women from very different cultural backgrounds and lived experiences, navigating their way towards love of self, is a visual and poetic invitation to all to embrace the abrasiveness of life. The unflinching images captured between its covers will crack you open, let in the light, and set your mind free with a humble truth: we don't know what we don't know, so the only way forward is with decency towards self and others."

More about Skylar can be found here: https://linktr.ee/Skylarjwynter?fbclid=IwAR04baWqTg4rbHDbtPu143yilAerODi38QQ_CA42xod7euqA0v1oaM039Hw

OR

https://www.facebook.com/skylarjwynterauthor

and more about Neshka can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/magicbyneshka

Bios are:

Skylar J Wynter is the best-selling Author of poetry and flash fiction collection, Pieces of Humanity released on October 10th, 2020 to align with National Mental Health month.After an incident which changed the course of her life in 2014, Wynter turned to various art forms to process the trauma and make sense of her new self. She shares her poetry in the hopes it will help others find peace within their own realities and encourage humanity to reach out to each other with decency.Skylar resides in the Perth Hills of Western Australia, where she pens her creations overlooking national parkland and when she is not writing, she likes to create beautiful things with her limited jewellery making and sculpting skills, and serene spaces in her garden. She loves a great book, a sunny day and witnessing humans behaving decently. She hates cooking, and injustice, hopes Covid-19 disappears and online poetry events don't, and that someone finds a way to make celery taste like cheesecake.

Neshka Turner is an emerging Australian artist, living in sunny Perth, Western Australia. She was born in Poland as Agnieszka Beata Chechlowska in the early 70s, from where she was ripped away and moved to Germany and then Australia. She changed her first name so you can pronounce it more easily and gained an easy surname through marriage.Neshka studied art under her mother's, also an artist, guidance since early childhood. Not that her mother ever wanted her to be an artist; you hardly ever succeed and don't make enough money. She graduated from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and went on to study Visual Art at the Sydney College of the Arts in the 90s. However, her career has taken her on a different path before rediscovering creativity again in the 2020s.She has worked in retail, Internet and Information Technology areas, training, HR, Vocational Education, and lately, working with special needs children as an Educational Assistant. Now she illustrates poems and more. Neshka works in most media, including pencil and coloured pencil, charcoal, hard, soft and oil pastels, acrylic and oils. Her subjects are all and many. You can view and purchase her art through her website,

Latest Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Artist / Author Podcast) features the fantastic Heidi Hinda Chadwick.

Heidi Hinda Chadwick is a Creative Life Coach, Writer, and Creative Director, based in Manchester, UK. She has been writing for over 15 years, about life, love, sex, relationships, soul, creativity, and arts & culture, and has been published in various online and paper publications. Heidi would describe herself as a storyteller, and she is curious about the world and what it means to be human. This year she has been writing a series for Elephant Journal called ‘An A to Z Guide To Being Human’. Alongside personal essays, Heidi writes short stories, novels and spoken word. She has been creating and writing courses for teaching, facilitation, and coaching for over 20 years, and offers her services as a writing coach and mentor, a content and course creator, copy editor, and creative consultant. The foundations of Heidi’s Creative Life Coaching are about understanding what is vital to us, what makes us feel alive, what we value, and why. It’s all about how to live a juicy and full life, and the potency of living from a deep sense of wellbeing.

Heidi brings a deep playfulness and humour to her work, such as, reframing limiting beliefs as superpowers, and allowing ourselves to be vividly and wildly imperfect. Having a clear voice and telling our stories is the crucial underpinning to what she offers, empowering us and deepening our place of responsibility and accountability in the world. Heidi also offers Creative Coaching Toolkits for writers, artists, entrepreneurs and creative businesses. For more info: www.heidihindachadwick.com

Following on from a bonus mini episode recently. new from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Spoken Word) Podcast features with a full session is the wonderful Liz Gibson.

A bio about Liz is (in her own words): “Hello! I'm Liz. I am a writer, performer and tutor based in Manchester. I write poetry and fiction, reviews, essays, and opinion pieces. I am inspired by themes of community, city life, queerness, body image, and mental health, as well as by travel, the natural world, and folklore. I was awarded a DYCP grant by Arts Council England in Spring 2021, to develop my poetry and performance. In early 2021, I was chosen by Dibby Theatre for the competitive First Dibs programme for LGBTQ+ theatre-makers, and am working on my spoken-word show about walking in an empty city, and finding comfort in the places, nature, and animals around me. In 2020, my poem "Arrival" was selected by Manchester City of Literature to be part of the Tartu Bus Poetry Project in Estonia, and it currently appears on bus windows in Tartu, representing Manchester. I am a graduate of The Writing Squad and Young Identity (who I represented at One Mic Stand in 2019), and a member of Out on the Page.

More about Liz can be found at: http://elizabethgibsonwriter.blogspot.com/

Latest episode from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Spoken Word) Podcast features Peter Humphreys, author off "Hong Kong Rocks" and Podcast host off "First Impressions".

Hong Kong Rocks is described as "Nick Powell, arriving in Hong Kong with his soon-to-be-ex-wife Lennox, finds himself drawn into the political machinations affecting the city as the Occupy movement takes root. A fatal accident exposes the factions vying for control of the SAR and gives Nick the second chance desired by many Hong Kong expats, but will he make the most of the opportunity, or find himself on the wrong side of history? Shifting between a variety of unique voices, HONG KONG ROCKS (a Proverse Prize 2018 finalist) is part thriller, part meditation on the challenges facing a special autonomous region punching above its weight.

"'Hong Kong Rocks' is a story set in an alternative present; it is in part a whodunit, with the who and the it constantly in doubt. At the centre is a group of dissolute, middle-aged, expatriates, who are held more or less upright, or let fall by surer, stronger women. Dissolution, however, has its consequences, in conflict with either the newly introduced Deportation Act, or two cross-border goons, or both. And, as the tale reaches its finale, we cannot but agree with the narrator that Hong Kong is 'hotting up'."—Philip Chatting, author of "The Snow Bridge and Other Stories", Winner of the Proverse Prize 2014.

"Funny and twisted, in Humphreys’ spirited novel Nick and a garrulous band of expats are caught in the shifting societal landscape of Hong Kong. Nights drinking at the Brolly, missing friends, the Occupy movement, fear of deportation and the threat of discovery by Chinese agents, all loom large. As his freedom hangs on the edge of a precipice, Nick seizes on the absurdities, secrets and joys of a life lived with regret."—Maria Roberts, author of "Single Mother on the Verge", Penguin."

Peter can be spoke to via https://www.instagram.com/theworddiver/

His Podcast 'First Impressions' can be found on all of the usual places.

Hong Kong Rocks is available on amazon and all the usual places.

Latest Spoken Label Session features Elisabeth Horan from Animal Heart Press as a additional guest explaining a little bit about the collection "L(EYE)GHT" in discussion features the wonderful Jessica Kim.

Jessica Kim (she/her) is a Korean-American high school junior and poet who has lived in Korea, Singapore, and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She identifies as visually-impaired and advocates for the disabled community. Recently, she has been named the 2021-22 Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate and runner-up for the 2022 United States National Youth Poet Laureate.

She is the author of L(EYE)GHT, runner-up for Animal Heart Press' Chapbook Contest, which has been published in April 2022. You can read all my interviews and press releases under EXPERIENCE. Jessica's poems appear in POETRY Magazine, The Adroit Journal, Frontier Poetry, The Journal, and Waxwing Magazine among others. A Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize Nominee, she is also a YoungArts Finalist in Writing (Poetry), 1st Place Winner of Columbia College Chicago's Young Authors Contest, Commended Foyle Young Poet, 2nd Place Winner of the Bennington Young Writers Awards (Poetry), Gregory Djanikian Scholar Finalist, and more.

More about Jessica can be found at: https://jessicakimwrites.weebly.com/

Her collection can be bought from all major websites but in particularly from https://animalheartpress.net/

Latest Spoken Label features our returning friend, the wonderful Matt Nicholson.

Matt is described as "Hi, I’m Matt Nicholson – I’m a poet, writer and performer from East Yorkshire (near to the poetic hotspot of Hull). I began writing as a kid, that kind of who am I and what’s it all about? stuff that a lot of people need as they begin to find their place in the world. I only really began to write with any purpose though when I found myself out of work when I was around 40…I have a heart condition and hated the work I had been doing, so I was seeking something new. I was lucky enough to do a creative writing course with The Open University and haven’t really stopped since then."

The session is primarily talking about Matt's new book 'Untanglement' which has had praise such as:

"Proof that poetry can break your heart and mend it again” – Helen Mort

“A collection by a poet who knows their voice and the world is a richer place because of it” – Wendy Pratt

“A body of work both beautifully intricate and thrillingly unsettling” – Russ Litten

More about Matt can be found at: https://mattpoet.com/

MattNicholson #SpokenLabel #SpokenwordPodcast #PoetryPodcast #Podcast #Poetry

Latest Spoken Label session (Spoken Word / Poet Podcast) features Taro Card Reader / Astronomy and Poet, Kelly Buchan.

More about Kelly can be found at:

https://www.instagram.com/the_witchcrafter/

https://www.tiktok.com/@the_witchcrafter

https://www.facebook.com/The-Witchcrafters-Tarot-109058434661287

Latest Spoken Label Podcast is from the wonderful Adam C Fleming.

Adam G. Fleming is a novelist and leadership coach from Goshen, IN. Married with four kids, Adam brings his unique blend of cross-cultural humor to his work as a writer, speaker, and professional executive coach. Raised in the Midwest, Adam is a world traveler and has spent significant amounts of time in Zaire/ DRC, France, Ivory Coast, and a dozen or more other countries. Adam's primary current international project is in Egypt.

Adam blogs on a diverse variety of topics from fiction writing, poetry and leadership at www.adamgfleming.com

Latest episode from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Artist Podcast) features a dear friend making her debut, Polly Anna Rose.

Polly Anna Rose "teaches yoga, manages projects, and likes to run, meditate, talk, think and make art about reframing (dis)ability and justice issues. She has recently launched a Podcast - Well-Healed, on just these topics, and is taking submissions. Polly writes as a means for survival. She performs from a place of compassionate rage. Her narratives interrogate the endemic corruption within our global political and economic systems. Sometimes an incantation, but more often a call for action, such as Matka Země (mother earth), her work draws on a range of influences from Mary Oliver to Saul Williams, Kae Tempest to Ted Hughes. Born in Oxford, hailing from Welsh and Czech lineage, Polly’s work walks the line between protest poetry and autobiographical sojourning. Living in the South of England she always felt a profound and melancholic hiraeth. Polly moved to Salford in her twenties to complete her studies in Visual Arts, and was adopted as an honorary Northerner. Her voice is worth a listen, whether you hear it spoken, or written. Her recent poetry collection - Severní Někde (North Somewhere) - will be published later this year. Alongside this release, is a second installment of an artist collective zine, produced by international collaborations with poets, visual artists, writers and photographers. As mentioned, she is also is in the process of producing a series of Podcasts under the moniker- Well Healed. So//Journ 2 is out for print in September 2022. Email: pollyannasteiner@gmail for submissions or follow @hiclamour and @yogawithpollyanna for updates."

NB. The band / project I was referring during this session with Polly now has a name "Polly Ocean" (decided on after this session) and our debut EP will be following in September all being well and will be available from oceaninabottle.bandcamp.com

Latest Spoken Label (Author / Writer / Artist) session features from Stockport, Jan Foster.

Jan lives in the North West of England, where it rains too much for her liking. However, despite a busy household filled with children, dogs, several businesses and books, she retreats into her writing world as much as possible. Time permitting!

As a volunteer reader within a local school, Jan realised that some children have a great fear about trying something new – especially if they are not ‘sporty’ kids. This led her to write a humorous introduction to different activities, the Mitch and Mooch Try Series. Dyslexia friendly font and dialogue in speech bubbles, the books aim to be as inclusive as possible and cater also for children on the autistic spectrum.

History has always fascinated Jan, and she revels in being left alone in ruins to ponder the ‘What If’s.’ Her passion is the Tudor Age, a rich tapestry of events and people which formed the foundations of modern British society. She also loves the idea that there may be something as yet undiscovered about the world as we know it – what if there was a parallel world where magic happens? How would it impact the lives of ordinary people? And extraordinary people… Find out more in the Naturae Series where fantasy and reality collide with surprising consequences.

You can find more out about Jan at https://escapeintoatale.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author/Poet Podcast) is the wonderful Jo Somerset.

Jo Somerset is a Manchester-based writer. She has lived in Manchester for over 40 years, during which time she has been a student, feminist, peace activist, skilled tradeswoman, housing officer, local government officer, mother, equality consultant and company director. Now that her children are grown up Jo is going backwards, revisiting the powerful feminist and lesbian movements of the 1980s and looking for untold stories. Her aim is to make sense of the twentieth century, so we can understand it for today’s world.

Her writing found a voice through the Northern Gay Writers group at Commonword, Manchester’s community writing organisation, and honed her craft with the help of Arvon Foundation courses and groups led by writers Charlotte Keatley and Heather Leach. In 2020 she completed a MA in Creative Writing at Salford University, where she received the inaugural Leanne Bridgewater Award for Innovation and Experiment.

In a former life, Jo was a founding director, alongside her partner Liz Clarke, of Manchester-based cycle training company BikeRight! Under their leadership BikeRight! became the leading UK company in its sector, winning four awards for women in business / business growth in 2009, 2014 and 2018. She was also a non-executive director of Central Manchester Hospitals NHS Trust, and a Governor for Manchester Health Academy.

Previously she won the Prince’s Trust Quality Award (2000) and a British Diversity Award on behalf of Manchester City Council (1998).

Having jointly brought up five children, Jo is passionate about lifelong learning. In 2016 she gained a distinction for her Graduate Certificate in History from Birkbeck College, London, and made it a double when she graduated with distinction from Salford University MA in Creative Writing: Innovation and Experiment in 2020.

As a keen cyclist, Jo commutes by bike, and is a member of Team Glow Women’s Road Cycling Network. She has undertaken several bike tours, triathlons and 100-mile cycling sportives, and led a Team Glow women’s charity ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

You can speak to Jo at: https://josomersetwriter.wordpress.com/

Another Bonus Mini Episode today from Spoken Label features the wonderful Liz Gibson talking a some work she will be showing shortly on 10th August 2022 at Islington Mill, Salford, UK on the theme of Worker’s rights with assistance of several actors.

A bio about Liz is (in her own words): “Hello! I'm Liz. I am a writer, performer and tutor based in Manchester. I write poetry and fiction, reviews, essays, and opinion pieces. I am inspired by themes of community, city life, queerness, body image, and mental health, as well as by travel, the natural world, and folklore. I was awarded a DYCP grant by Arts Council England in Spring 2021, to develop my poetry and performance. In early 2021, I was chosen by Dibby Theatre for the competitive First Dibs programme for LGBTQ+ theatre-makers, and am working on my spoken-word show about walking in an empty city, and finding comfort in the places, nature, and animals around me. In 2020, my poem "Arrival" was selected by Manchester City of Literature to be part of the Tartu Bus Poetry Project in Estonia, and it currently appears on bus windows in Tartu, representing Manchester. I am a graduate of The Writing Squad and Young Identity (who I represented at One Mic Stand in 2019), and a member of Out on the Page.

More about Liz can be found at: http://elizabethgibsonwriter.blogspot.com/

More details about the event is here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workers-rights-tickets-393166239807?fbclid=IwAR0e0xYeWV4aMrssfh3yXyoVH5tk2twtM5rUtmm_yfpGgJoMnkC0kmLXcMw

The event starts at 6.30pm.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poet / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Lauren Temple.

LAUREN TEMPLE is an emerging poet and writer from Manchester, she is part of the poetry collective Young Identity; published in their anthology Ecosystems of Fury.

Her work often explores mental health, emotional inheritance, domestic abuse, neurodiversity, and dementia. When she isn’t writing poetry, Lauren works as an Activities Co-ordinator in a care home, teaching poetry to the residents.

Her website is: https://laurentemplepoet.wordpress.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurentemplepoet/

Top of the Label is a new semi regular poetry / spoken word Podcast series within the umbrella off Spoken Label hosted by Andy N and Amanda Nicholson featuring a mixture of new and returning friends all returning a piece each (on occasion two).

Part 2 features the following guests:

Polly Anna Rose, Andy N, Sarah James (Sarah Leavsley), Elisabeth Horan, Katy Konrad, Jessica Kim, Amanda Nicholson, Clive Oseman, Jenny Berry and Steve Mingle.

Top of the Label is a new semi regular poetry / spoken word Podcast series within the umbrella off Spoken Label hosted by Andy N and Amanda Nicholson featuring a mixture of new and returning friends all returning to read out a piece (sometimes two) each.

Part 1 features the following guests:

Skylar J Wynter (reading two pieces), Nick Lurvell, Kealan Coady, Lauren Temple (reading two pieces), Mike Booth, Quigley C B, Rich Davenport, Peter Humphries.

Latest Spoken Label (Author / Writer Podcast) session features from Platt Bridge, Gareth Ellis. Gareth is from Platt Bridge, Wigan and his bio says "Gareth started writing a few years ago. Initially, it was a means to get a story that was in his head down on paper, but quickly found that he enjoyed the process of writing and creating a world. It also helped him cope with some of the ups and downs involved in his bipolar. He is a multi-genre author so far releasing books relating to horror and sci-fi. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, gaming and Lego." His Website is - https://garethellis.co.uk/

Latesty from Spoken Label (Author/Artist/Poet Podcast series) features the return of our wonderful friend, Leila Ziari

talking about her second poetry book "Seaside Serenades: The Ocean in Haiku"

The book is described as "Seaside Serenades: The Ocean in Haiku" is the poetic chronicle of an intense love affair with the ocean, the secret lover and source of inspiration for many artists.

Leila Ziari’s collection of haikus will transfer you through the rivers of time, love, and passion while you bear witness to the ocean’s ever-changing, awe-inspiring nature.

With her soothing, resonating poems, Ziari will remind you of your own memories of the ocean and make you long to reunite with it.

Do you remember how far the ripples of the water extend? What’s beneath lies the surface of such immaculate depths? "

More about Leila can be found at: https://leilaziari.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) features the wonderful Rebecca Phythian.

Rebecca is a actor, singer, poet and co-founder of Blue Balloon Theatre among other things.

She also has a collection of poetry due out from Bent Key Publishing 'Perfect Mess' at the start of 2023.

More about Rebecca can be found at the following links among other things:

linktr.ee/RebeccaPhythian?fbclid=IwAR2M7yJf59kok6T_v1OHPPTAq-QKMxrVlEL_ur3P8fse8z3PETZiU5HTWs4

www.spotlight.com/9813-5643-0220

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfz3l_K3VH2KorpnqYsfRJsSpHuKhu3nfKG8JCeN9wC_EBokg/viewform

www.blueballoontheatre.com

www.facebook.com/RebeccaPhythian16/

www.instagram.com/rebeccaphythian/

www.instagram.com/blueballoonmcr/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Our Poet/Artist/Writer Podcast) features our returning friend, Sarah James also known as Sarah Leavesley to talk about her latest poetry collection from Verve Poetry Press "Blood Sugar, Sex, Magic"

The book is described as "Blood Sugar, Sex, Magic is award-winning poet Sarah James’s exploration of 40 years living with type one diabetes, a life-threatening autoimmune condition that is now treatable, but remains incurable. The collection tracks her personal journey from diagnosis, age six, to adulthood, including the high and the low points, as well as the further long-term health risks lurking in the background. These are poems of pain, but also of love and beauty, taking in motherhood, aging and establishing self-identity in a constantly updating world. The route to some kind of acceptance and belonging may be troubled by ‘trying to escape’ but it also ‘holds | more light than your eye | will ever know’

‘Sarah James’ Blood Sugar, Sex, Magic compellingly conveys the journey of a life pervaded by type one diabetes and the myriad struggles of that hidden disability. It’s a world of sunlit fields and night sweats, “doorstep birdsong” and pricked fingertips, at once arduous and munificent. Always engaging and often moving, James’ poems deftly immerse as well as inform, urging a deep appreciation of life’s plenty, “breath[ing] in the sky.’ – Carrie Etter

“These poems speak with such urgency and humanity that we take the deeply researched science (and magic) in our stride, then get pulled up short by its failure to ‘make sense of unfairness’. It’s an exhilarating, poignant collection combining raw honesty with impressive craft. The way ‘the world shrinks’ in personal hardship and the sheer and constant work it takes to open it up again. I feel more awake and alive for reading it.” – Luke Kennard

“Sarah James’s fine poems are wonderfully abundant in experiment, energy, and expression. She has a remarkable sense for how the self-discipline of illness—like art—can release and shape the language of wonder, wisdom, and love.” – David Morley"

More about Sarah can be found at: https://www.sarah-james.co.uk/

NB. As a P.S. and recorded after the poetry session of the Podcast - there is a bonus poem recorded - "How to become your own worst friend".

Returning to Spoken Label after a long break are two dear friends (off) ours the wonderful Chelsea Tadeyeske and Edie Roberts who we met in Manchester years back (speaking to us from the Gamli Skoli Residency on Hrisey Island) in Iceland

Chelsea Tadeyeske is a poet, performer, and bookmaker from and currently based in Milwaukee, WI. She is the founding editor of pitymilk press where she publishes short-run chapbooks and edits both online and print journals.

Edie Roberts is a multi-disciplinary genderqueer performer and curator living in Detroit, MI.

More about both can be found at:

https://edieroberts.wordpress.com/

https://chelseatadeyeske.wordpress.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label features a special Podcast with Kimberley Goldie aka The Lancashire Wellness Witch.

In this very special Podcast we talk to Kimberley about her work in the NHS and how it has now led to her work as the Lancashire Wellness Witch where in her own words about the services she offers "to help people be happier, healthier and take charge of their own wellbeing. And I aim to do this as naturally as possible, with just a little sprinkle of Lancashire magic!"

More about the Lancashire Wellness Witch can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/lancashirewellnesswitch/

She also has a website at: https://the-lancashire-wellness-witch.sumup.link/

and a instragram page at: https://www.instagram.com/the_lancashire_wellness_witch/

Latest Spoken Label session (Spoken Word / Poetry / Author) session features the wonderful Nick Toczek. Born in Yorkshire in 1950, Nick has been writing since he was a child, began getting his poetry published in his mid-teens, did his first public readings when he was nineteen, and had his first collection of poetry published when he was twenty-one. Since then, he’s done more than fifty thousand performances and presentations, has worked in more than forty countries, has published more than forty books, and has never had a ‘proper job’.

More about Nick can be found at: https://www.nicktoczek.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label features newcomer to the spoken word scene, previously from Stafford but now based Manchester, flash fiction writer Scott Hall.

More about Scott Hall can be found at:

https://www.instagram.com/hill_scott_heron

Latest Episode from Spoken Label (Author/Poet/Storyteller Podcast) features the storyteller Mark Jackson.

Mark's bio says "In 2010 Mark started writing.

After the initial euphoria of finding an outlet for that creative fire burning within since childhood, he soon realised that the world wasn't quite ready for his tales of Ian Brown drinking piss, cocaine induced paranoia, The Stockholm Monsters, the inner workings of a massage parlor, of pretending to be Norman Whiteside in Las Vegas, selling snide football programs outside the Nou Camp, of being arrested wearing someone else's jeans and one about an auntie who looks a bit like Clint Boon.

He’s written non-fiction pieces for Vice website (which were really fiction - but they don't know that), a regular contributor to United We Stand Fanzine and occasionallyy reads at spoken word events around Manchester and Liverpool"

His website is: https://www.keithsbrother.com/

His Pod Play 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' can be accessed via his website or found on Spotify, Itunes/Apple or Google Podcast.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry / Author / Artist) Podcast features Melissa Sussens (she/her).

Melissa is a queer South African veterinarian and poet. Her work has appeared in Capsule Stories, Horse Egg Literary, Kissing Dynamite, SFWP Quarterly and Anti-Heroin Chic, among others. She was runner up for the New Contrast National Poetry Prize. By day she works as a small animal veterinarian and whenever she’s not doctoring animals, she assists in teaching Megan Falley’s Poems That Don’t Suck international online writing course. Melissa lives in Cape Town with her wife and their two dogs. Find her on Instagram @melissasussens and on Twitter @girlstillwrites.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Our Author / Poet / Artist Podcast) is a kinda bonus episode you could say before we bring her on for a full session in the Autumn is the wonderful Christina Alagaratnam.

Christina describes herself as "I'm a writer, author, playwright and podcaster. I've published my work on Amazon and work on the London theatre scene. Now, I run my own podcast called The Night Writer, creating content for the insomniacs."

In this episode we talk about the forthcoming production and performance of Christina's play for Peckham Fringe the 2nd and 3rd June 2022 called 'Playfight'.

'Playfight' is a play where "Fifteen year old best friends Kai, TJ & Zara have been tight since, well, forever. Always together. Inseperable. But as they've grown older things have begun to change. Why did life start to get so complicated? When did the world stop seeing them as children and start demanding that they behave according to some script written in stone and carved decades before their birth? And when did the weight of that stone start to crush them - slowly and imperceptibly at first, until they could hardly breathe?

Based on an idea by Shereener Browne and written by Christina Alagaratnam, PlayFight examines the corrosive way in which racism determines the direction young Black lives take. "

Tickets for the play can be purchased from: https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/show/playfight/

More about Christina can be found at:

https://chrissysnotebook.com/

https://twitter.com/ChrissyA_92

https://www.instagram.com/xchristina.writer/

Latest Spoken Label session (Spoken Word / Poetry / Author / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Charles Haffner.

Charles is from Florida. He describes himself as "I have a few passions, one being my love to express myself through Tanka and various other poetic forms. This passion started in my late teens when I read Edgar Allan Poe and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. After a 30 year hiatus I decided to actually write poetry to cope with taking care of my terminally ill mother. That is when I really discovered my passion for Japanese poetry. I have published 3 full paperbacks, "Orchids under the stars, Four colors of my life in Cinquain and If love was a Rose", a beautiful gift to leave behind for my children, to let them understand a little more about myself."

More about Charles can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/Fayjai1970

https://www.instagram.com/angryhobiepoetry/

https://charlesrhaffner.my.canva.site/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Author / Artist Podcast) is a interview with the wonderful Elisabeth Horan. Elisabeth is a poet, mother, and small press publisher living in the wilds of Vermont. She is the author of numerous poetry chapbooks and collections, and the Editor-In-Chief of Animal Heart Press. Elisabeth is passionate about discovering new voices and mentoring emerging poets. She is also a fierce advocate for those impacted by mental illness. More about Elisabeth can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Elisabeth-Horan/e/B07QDPPMPZ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share OR https://ehoranpoet.net/

Latest Spoken Label session features the wonderful Leonie Rowland.

Leonie Rowland is a writer living in Manchester, UK. She is currently doing her PhD with the Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she researches commodity animism in the Japanese Gothic. Leonie is Editor-in-Chief of The Hungry Ghost Project and Assistant Reviews Editor at The British Society for Literature and Science. Her writing has been published widely, and she won Third Prize in the June 2021 Bath Flash Fiction Award. Her debut chapbook, In Bed with Melon Bread, is available from Dreich.

More about Leonie can be found at her website: www.leonierowland.com

credits license all rights reserved

Contains Pieces of a adult nature *

New from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Author / Artist Podcast)

features the wonderful Rosie Rayworth, originally from Sheffield, now Manchester

poet and drummer for the country / folk band Millie Milner and The Deadnames.

Pieces read out in this session include:

Barbies
The Tree
Wandering Hands

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry) Podcast features newcomer the storyteller / short story writer Quigley CB.

More about Quigley can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/quigley_cb/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry/Spoken Word Podcast) is our returning friend who we first chatted all the way just after we first got going back in 2016, Ushiku Crisafulli

Ushiku is a chef, poet, playwright, actor, performance artist, comedian, musician, writer, spoken word and hip hop artist, and founder of the OpenMind Collective which curates community focused cross-genre creative collaborations through live events with a multi-disciplinary focus.

He runs the various Bards projects throughout the UK on behalf of Local Gems Poetry Press, and is currently honing his writing, directing, music and comedy skills as a recipient of an Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice grant.

He’s currently working on his second solo show, Unmasked, which challenges language around autistic authenticity through comedy, hip hop, and theatrical monologues and an accompanying exhibition that uses visual arts and soundscapes to challenge the language around autistic enjoyment and environmentalism in collaboration with Filipino Artist Miel Timtiman and Nigerian artist Akilo Joseph. It will be previewing in a free and accessible event at The Peer Hat on Wednesday 13th April from 7pm.

Ushiku advises as a footnote the comedy night he couldn't remember the name off during the session is Comedy for Hot People.

His website is: https://ushikucrisafulli.com/about/

Latest episode from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Writer / Poet Podcast) heads over to South Africa to speak to our returning friend Alta H Mabin.

Alta is a South African writer, poet and publisher. She has published many e-books and over 20 full paperbacks.

She is also the editor and publisher of Poets Unlimited & Haiku for your soul - both international poetry magazines.

She advises she writes in all poetic genres but lean fully and wholeheartedly towards haiku.

She also hosts a poetry podcast on Spotify and Anchor. Alta H Mabin.

Email: alta@altamabin.co.za

Instagram: alta.h.mabin

Latest Spoken Label (Poetry / Author Podcast) features the wonderful Culain Wood from Salford.

Culain Wood is also the host off 'Rhyming Words' which is a new spoken word night at the Globe, Glossop. More details of which (1st event) is at: https://www.facebook.com/events/488963932948540/

Poems read out in this session include:

Stop watching the news
I was watching the news
There's a dog barking
Just on what on Earth

Latest up from Spoken Label features the wonderful Moshe Mikanovsky.

Moshe is the author The Resurrector (New Degree Press).

The book is described as "Can someone be brought back from the dead? Could it change the life of the living?

The Levi family is in their darkest hour. The sudden death of Nir, the middle child, launches a dark journey filled with moments of light and hope. An estranged father and son, a loving older brother, and a religiously devout but sad younger sister, are threaded together by family ties, in a religious enclave in Israel and the greater unknown. The traditions of Judaism, grief, loss, and mysticism come to life through their eyes.

At the Jewish week-long mourning period—the shiva, a mysterious stranger arrives and sets into motion a series of events that are both tangible and otherworldly. It is a journey to discover the bonds that have both broken and healed this family. It is up to the reader to decide what power the Resurrector has, but one thing is certain—it is important to heal relationships with loved ones before it is too late.

His website is: https://author.mikanovsky.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poet/Artist Podcast) features Andrea Carter Brown, author of 'September 12'.

Poet and editor Andrea Carter Brown is the author of three previous poetry collections: The Disheveled Bed (CavanKerry Press, 2006) and two chapbooks, Brook & Rainbow (winner of the 2001 Sow's Ear Poetry Review chapbook contest) and Domestic Karma, (Finishing Line Press, 2018).

This session talks about her new collection 'September 12'.

This book has being described as "“A more haunting memorial to 9/11 than this book will be hard to find," writes Martha Collins. "Reading September 12 is a wrenching but restorative experience you won't soon forget". In the words of New York State Poet Laureate Alicia Ostriker, "In Andrea Carter Brown's September 12,detail by detail, we watch the process of innocence captured by absolutely unpredicted trauma, and how the experience lives on and on, through shock and terror, through the kindness of strangers, through the heart of a beloved, through grief and elegy, through normality that will never again be normal." And Cynthia Hogue writes, "This brave book documents great loss, but also hard-won psychic resilience in poems of astonishing beauty and wisdom. September 12 is necessary poetry."

More about Andrea can be found at:

https://www.andreacarterbrown.com/

Latest Spoken Label session features the amazing Rebecca Kenny talking about her debut poetry collection 'Crash and Burn'.

'Crash and Burn' covers the events off "At 7.21am on October 1st 2021, Rebecca Kenny was driving to work when she lost control of her car. Skidding on oil and into the path of an oncoming vehicle, she was directly hit, breaking her back, neck, pelvis and sternum - a grand and somewhat impressive total of eleven bones. Following a week in a Major Trauma Centre and extensive physiotherapy, she was able to return home to recover. It was here she decided to document her journey.

Crash & Learn is a collection of poetry written between October 1st and New Year's Day 2022, as Rebecca recovered from her injuries and learned to live with the massive changes the accident had made to her life. It explores the complex process of recovery, both physical and mental, and how a person learns to adjust to a new normal following a traumatic and life-changing event.

Rebecca also runs the publishing house 'Bent Key Publishing' and more details about that and her book can be found at:

https://www.bentkeypublishing.co.uk/

Pieces read out in this session include:

String Theory
The body I used to have
Elephant Juice
Lads

Latest Spoken Label session is from Dean Rhetoric. His collection Cancer [+Pop Punk] is described as a "meditation on teenage angst, loss and alienation, backdropped by the music of Rhetoric’s formative years. Cancer [+Pop Punk] is full of poignant, often devastating poetry, told through forms which cleverly navigate the overlap between words and music, where ‘black octaves’ are ‘blooming under the skin’. Rhetoric is a poet with a big heart, proud to pin it to his shirtsleeve, in these beautiful, sad and deeply moving poems." PRAISE for Cancer [+Pop Punk]:

'Dean Rhetoric’s Cancer [+ Pop Punk] is a deeply poignant pamphlet exploring illness and the subsequent grief of losing a loved one. The author uses music to signpost the poems with personal and lyrical significance, intelligently connecting the reader to the struggles contain within. Rhetoric explains that “there are times when the words we don’t use hum a chorus too loud to ignore” In doing so, Cancer [+ Pop Punk] builds to an emotional crescendo, one that cannot fail to reach the heart. A luminous debut.'

— Stuart McPherson, Waterbearer

Poems read out in the second half of this session include:

Love letter to your animal e composition
The nation bogs
Fighting styles of Cancer

Latest up from Spoken Label features the wonderful Carla Mellor,

author of Scraps.

Carla's work is described as:

“Carla reminds us to love our rough edges and embrace the imperfect. A candid and crucial first collection from a bright new voice.” – Toria Garbutt

“Common but not commonplace, lyrical and luminescent. If you like early Armitage, karaoke, Cooper Clarke, cans of Carling, Garry and Garbutt, and growing up working class, you’ll love this book of bitter-sweet poetry from an up-and-coming Northern star.” – Louise Fazackerley

“Microscopic reflections. Half answered questions, half answered.” – Mike Garry

More about Carla can be found at: https://www.carlamellor.co.uk/

Poems read out in this session include:

Neurodiversity
Karaoke Grandad
Scraps
Seats

Poetry #PoetryPodcast #Podcast

Latest Podcast from Spoken Label features the wonderful Laura Formentini.

Laura in her own words is "I am an author, photographer, and activist. I share how a stranger has helped me to heal from tragic loss thanks to an act of kindness."

She is the author of Twentyone Olive Trees which is "is my personal spiritual pilgrimage from uncontrollable pain to acceptance and healing that I gift to the world to help those going through their own grief and dark moments. I chose the title Twentyone Olive Trees because my son was twenty-one when he passed away and I also intend to plant twenty-one olive trees in his honor at a healing sanctuary that I am currently creating."

1) Intro (Extract)

2) The Weaver by Grant Coldfax

3) Camel and spider (Fable)

4) One thing

5) What difference does it make?

More about Laura can be found out at his website:

https://lauraformentini.com/

Praise for Laura's book include:

Alexa Bigwarfe

Author, Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother

“Truly, 21 Olive Trees is a beautiful expression of a mother’s aching love and will resonate with those who have experienced grief.”

Mea Smith

Author, Grief Like a River: Poems and Illustrations

“Turning the love that grief leaves behind into a piece of beauty that lifts up others, Laura Formeninti shares the life lessons that loving and losing her son has taught her in 21 Olive Trees. These tender and touching fables offer a message of hope to the grieving – that love never dies.”

Lindsey M. Henke, MSW, LICSW

Founder of Pregnancy After Loss Support

“The thread that runs through Twentyone Olive Trees is her eternal love for her son. As a grief counselor to parents who lose babies, I have witnessed countless times how the pain of the loss continues to transform over time and how much solace parents find when they eventually create an “intuitive bridge” between themselves and their child, as the author did. The poignant poems beautifully express the varied experiences of bereaved parents, and the beautifully illustrated fables will teach children and adults alike important lessons in coping with grief and moving toward hope, acceptance and growth. The author’s wish to “lift up as many people as possible” will most certainly be realized as they use their own inner wisdom and imagination to connect with their child after death.”

Bit nearer home today - well very near is a chat with the most excellent Amanda Nicholson (Formerly Amanda Steel), where she pops by to talk about to read about her recently finished 12 projects in 12 months where over the space of 12 months she has produced all kinds of creative writing projects from poetry, flash fiction, non fiction, spoof click bait, audio versions of some of her books and so, so much more.

More about Amanda can be found at:

https://amandasteelwriter.wordpress.com/

Latest from Spoken Label (Author/Artist/Poetry Podcast) sees us heading

over to the Isle of Man where we meet the excellent Jackie Morrey Grace.

Jackie describes herself as "I am a musician, wild swimming, kayaking, stomping, and story obsessed anti-realist, mother to 3 teenagers,

4 cats, and wife to the awesomely talented bespoke furniture designer and maker (and annoyingly good drummer), Ed.

Likes: Cats, kind hearts, kids and camomile tea.

Dislikes: D*ckheads. Ticks.

I am also a professional copywriter and published author of On Ravensdale Hill and Asila's Song, my two

IOM Arts Council funded, self-illustrated poetic stories.

I have two YA fantasy fiction novels in the pipeline too -

The Boy Without Wings & The Call of the Birds."

More about Jackie can be found at: https://jackiemorreygrace.weebly.com/

or https://www.instagram.com/jackieswickedrhymes/

Pieces read out in this session include:

Vesparum (Wasp)
Stardust
Blackbird
(Untitled)
Extract from "On Ravensdale Hill"

Latest Spoken Label (Writer/Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Tom Melsen.

Tom is a "a dutch artist, born in Rotterdam. Melsen is best known for his artwork, for which he has been nominated for numerous awards and winning the abstract art contest in 2016 by International Gallery Of The Arts in Canada. His paintings have been published in magazines worldwide and Melsen published a collection of art books. His work has been widely exhibited in group and solo exhibitions around the world.

After releasing several albums with various bands and film/art-project soundtracks, Melsen released three experimental, electronic solo albums. His latest album titled “Dadaism” (2019) was recorded in Berlin and features soundscapes of the German capital; a city forever in construction. ‘Dadaism’ is an all instrumental album and tells the story of the dada art movement in sound.

Melsen self-published a book of little rhymes in 2020. The book, titled Quack, is full of rebellious and humorous short rhymes. In Quack, Melsen revisits experiences from his early years up until his thirties.

Aftermath is Melsen’s first worldwide published poetry book."

More about Tom can be found at:

https://linktr.ee/melsenpoetry

https://tommelsen.com/

https://www.instagram.com/melsenpoetry/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aftermath-Tom-Melsen/dp/B09GZH3QVW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=tom+melsen+aftermath&qid=1632936513&sr=8-1

Pieces read out in this session include:

The Search
Ireland
Widower

Aftermath

New from Spoken Label (Author / Poetry Podcast) features from Marple, the excellent Phillip Carter.

Phillip is "a science-fiction novelist, humourist and poet. His debut book, WHO BUILT THE HUMANS? is a hybrid of these three forms. Whilst the main body of the text is science-fiction, fleeting interjections of comedy and lengthy 'space-slam' poetry cut up an otherwise huge multiverse into manageable slices. "

More about Phillip can be found at:

https://pod.link/1536513851

https://www.whobuiltthehumans.com/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Who-Built-Humans-Phillip-Carter/product-reviews/1838112154/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews

https://www.wattpad.com/1060546029-the-stephanie-glitch-ya-science-fiction-novel-part

https://www.mixcloud.com/Hannahs_Bookshelf/hannahs-bookshelf-with-special-guest-phillip-carter-27112021/

https://paisleyprintauthor.substack.com/

https://linktr.ee/Phillipcarter

https://twitter.com/hologrammatical

https://www.instagram.com/paisleyprintauthor/

Pieces read out in this session include:

1) False Vacuum

2) Blood Sell

3) Jeodesics not free

4) Universal Slam Poem

Who Built The Humans?

Contains language and topics not suitable for all *

Latest Spoken Label session features the wonderful Loll Perkin.

More about Loll can be found out at:

https://www.instagram.com/loll_1989/

or

https://www.instagram.com/loll_barber89/

Pieces read out in this session include:

Depression
Funny Insults

3.

Latest Spoken Label (Author/Artist/Poet) Podcast from Spoken Label features the wonderful Ray Douglas.

All of Ray's books can be bought on Amazon ("The Silly Sausage Saga,

Lucy the Tooth Fairy’s Last Chance and Some Pretty, Witty Ditties) and you can contact him via facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ray.douglas.750) or instragram (https://www.instagram.com/mrraydouglas/)

Poems recorded

Global trotting
Homework
Bubbles
Farts
Greatest
If aliens played football
The Silly Sausage Saga Part 2 (Take 1)
The Silly Sausage Saga Part 2 (Take 2)
Salad time
Untitled
The tooth fairy's last chance
Families
Pants

Latest Spoken Label, features our returning friend Susan Darlington talking about her new collection "traumatropic heart".

This wonderful collection has being described by:

"In taut, precise language, Susan Darlington finds both gothic horror and lusciousness in the world around her. Crammed into display cases and confined in doll's houses, the poet's persona conveys the same brave emancipation of Ibsen's Nora, and - like her - will leave you looking at the world with fresh eyes."

Hannah Stone, author of Reflections: A Poet-Theologian in Lockdown Leeds (Maytree Press)

and

"Like a doll’s house, this neat, playful chapbook gives us the world in miniature. Only the wall is off. These poems expose the reader to the elements of Susan Darlington’s lucid imagination, vining the body of the speaker to the non-human world and illuminating what natural cycles can transform. Traumatropic Heart is a bewitching read.”

Becky Cherriman, author of Empires of Clay (Cinnamon Press).

Pieces read out in this session include:

Traumatropic heart
After the storm has passed
It's said
The Doll's House
Stone babies

The collection can be bought at:

www.selcouthstation.com/product-page/traumatropic-heart-by-susan-darlington

Susan can be found on twitter at:

twitter.com/S_sanDarlington

Her 1st session for Spoken Label can be found on all the usual networks including:

spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/album/susan-darlington-spoken-label-march-2021

Latest up from Spoken Label (My Author / Artist / Poetry Podcast) from Great Sankey,

Warrington is the briliant Terry Caffrey.

Terry is / was poet in residence at the National Football Museum, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester,

National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield and Citadel Theatre in St. Helens

Terry was commissioned to write by the Roald Dahl Foundation and had the lyrics to one of his songs chosen to

be one of the official children's songs for the 2012 Olympic and was wrote numerous poetry books

including 'It wasn't me, miss'.

New from Spoken Label is a dear friend of Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) that I (Andy N) first met at Speak Easy ages back, the wonderful Esther Koch

Esther Koch describes her poetry as honest, earnest, emotional and ironic. She doesn't play a character on stage, she says; she's authentic and true to herself. Esther found poetry at a time in her life when she felt lost. She says that she “needed an outlet for the nonsense” in her head and wanted people to see who she really was.

More about Esther can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/estie_poet/

Pieces read out in this session include:

Sarrasine
Soulful

EstherKoch #Poetry #PoetryPodcast #Podcast #SpokenWordPodcast #SpokenWord #ManchesterPoetry #PoetryManchester #Manchester

Latest up from Spoken Label is Playwright, Producer, Facilitator Crystal Stewart.

More about Crystal can be found at:

https://twitter.com/crys_stew

https://visualverse.org/writers/crystal-stewart/?fbclid=IwAR1BiUnBG8v5Xobp-zavTdAj5o6Gie4jRoL6sLbRtB9rxe7S6XAv_D547Gs

Instragram: cryscolli

Pieces read during this session (Recorded after the session was originally recorded) are:

1) Lost Cat

2) Disco Lives

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Louise Finnigan.

Louise is a novelist and short story writer. Her work has been longlisted for the Mairtin Crawford Award and shortlisted for the Cambridge and Manchester Fiction Prize. Her story, Muscle and Mouth, was published by Fly on the Wall press as part of their 2021 shorts season. She holds a degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Manchester. Her stories are set on council estates, in high-rise flats or cheap holiday resorts and aim to present the complexity of situations and lives that might be easily dismissed as non-literary. She is working on her first novel.

More about Louise can be found out at twitter.com/LouFinwrites

Latest up from Spoken Label is the incredible Lauren Eckhardt.

Lauren is an award-winning and best-selling author, ghostwriter, book coach and the CEO of Burning Soul Press, a book coaching and publishing company that helps soul-driven writers share their inspiring and empowering stories with the world.

More about Lauren can be seen at:

https://www.burningsoulpress.com/

https://www.authorlaureneckhardt.com/

Latest Spoken Label features a dear friend of Spoken Label, the wonderful Mary Cunningham.

More about Mary can be found at:

www.facebook.com/mary.cunningham.poet

www.instagram.com/mary.cunningham.poet/

www.marycunningham.co.uk

Pieces read out include:

Taken
Kathleen
Another Manchester Dawn
Stretford Precident

Latest session features the wonderful Tom Stocks, co-host of Mic at the Mill, found of Actor Awareness, Chubby Northern Writer, producer, poet & award winning writer.

More about Tom can be found at:

twitter.com/tom_stocks

twitter.com/actorawareness

twitter.com/IYAF

t.co/v4Ot5PHnfT?amp=1

uk.linkedin.com/in/tom-stocks-864410190

Poems read out in this session include:

Here's to the lads
Generation Rent
B & M
Up here

Latest session from Spoken Label (Author / Poetry talk Podcast) features the wonderful P D Alleva.

PD Alleva in his own words "writes thrillers. Whether those thrillers are Sci-Fi Fantasy’s about Alien Vampires attempting to subjugate the human race, or steeped in a haunting horror novel, or an urban fantasy with supernatural themes, PD always provides readers with a profound, entertaining, and satisfying reader experience, in a new genre he has coined as alternative fiction. His novels blend mystery, conspiracy, psychology, and action with the supernatural, horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Alternative fiction is PD's attempt at describing what readers uncover in any one of his books, a new discovery towards mainstream storytelling. He's been writing since childhood, creating and developing stories with brash and impactful concepts he describes are metaphors for the shifting energies that exist in the universe. PD lives inside of his own universe, working diligently on the Sci-Fi/Fantasy series, The Rose Vol. II, the urban fantasy novella series, Girl on a Mission, and Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect, PD’s upcoming horror thriller."

"This author delivers on each and every count. And he does it in style!" ~ Laura D. Child The Magic Book Corner (Top 5 Goodreads Reviewer)

More about PD can be found out on his website at: https://pdalleva.com/

Latest Spoken Label features our lovely and returning friend Sara Culleno.

Sarra Culleno is a British writer, mother and English teacher who performs her writing at events across the UK. Sarra is widely published. She has written fiction and poetry for publication, performance, print, audiodramas, podcasts and radio. Sarra was longlisted for the Cinnamon Press Pamphlet Prize, for Nightingale and Sparrow’s Full Collections 2020, and nominated for Best of the Net 2020 by iambapoet. Sarra co-hosts Write Out Loud at Waterside Arts, and performs as guest and featured poet at numerous literary festivals.

Her debut book Bonds is now out from CAAB Publishing Ltd.

More details about Sarra can be found at:

Youtube.com/user/sarra1978 – YouTube

@sarracullenopoetry – Instagram

@sarra1978 – Twitter

Sarra1978@hotmail.com – Email

facebook.com/sarracullenopoetry – FaceBook

In conjunction as part of Book Week Scotland and Fly on the Wall Press, the latest session is with Kevin Crowe Author of 'No Home in this World' with Nick Newman asking additional questions and then reading a story from Kevin's book 'Texas Condom' as the second part of this book.

'No Home in this World' as described on Amazon by Cath F is described as "This challenging and gritty first collection of short stories is hard hitting and thought provoking. Each one needs reflection and the experience lingers with you . I found myself returning to absorb and dwell on the detail. This is not necessarily a comfortable experience, but neither are the issues which Kevin shows us and explores through his writing. But despite and through the bleak despair there is the redeeming power of love and Art. Let us see more from this gifted and brave writer!"

More about this book can be read at Fly on the Wall Press here - https://www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/product-page/no-home-in-this-world-by-kevin-crowe and the book can be purchased at all the usual places. Special thanks to Nick for his help with this session.

Latest Spoken Label session features the wonderful Eden Gruger.

Eden is a "Essex woman in her mid forties, on her second husband, with two dogs and no children. Inspired by David Sedaris’s humour, Barbara Conwys writing style, and Sarah Millican’s unashamed love of food. As well as being the author of two books, and a blog, Eden is a creativity coach with a variety of workshops, and an author coaching programme, called ‘Out of your head and onto the page’.

Her first book ‘Down With Frogs’ (released August 2018), a collection of humorous, candid and occasionally tragic stories about the frogs you have to kiss before you find your prince, or give up looking.

Eden’s second book ‘Laughing at Myself'(released June 2020), a collection of stories about the times life conspires to make you look like an idiot, and how to survive the embarrassment."

More about Eden can be found on her website which is: https://edengrugerwriter.online/

Latest Up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) features the wonderful Rebecca D'Harlingue, author of 'The Lines Between Us'.

Rebecca in her own words In writing my first novel, The Lines Between Us, I returned to an early love, Spanish literature and history, which I studied in graduate school. The idea of setting part of my novel in seventeenth-century Spain, their Golden Age of literature, offered me the chance to explore a time and place with which many readers are unfamiliar. Study of this subject matter, and writing a novel, however, were hardly a straight shot. Deciding that academia was not for me, I abandoned my dissertation, got an MBA, and worked in hospital administration for some years. I then took a break to start my novel, only to later put it aside to teach English as a Second Language to adults. Getting to know hundreds of students from dozens of countries, as we reflected together on language and culture, was an experience for which I will always be grateful. Almost twenty years after I had started my novel, my sister and I discovered some family papers. We were already aware of certain family secrets, but the documents provided more mystery than explanation. Supported by a writing group that met twice a month, I returned to my novel, exploring the topic of what we choose to tell those whom we most love, and how those decisions can have repercussions for generations to come."

More about Rebecca can be found at: https://rebeccadharlingue.com/

Latest Spoken Label (Poetry/Artist/Writer Podcast) features Katy Konrad aka the Rebel Poetess.

More about Katy can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/TheRebelPoetess/

https://twitter.com/TheRebelPoetess

https://www.instagram.com/katypoet1/

https://www.instagram.com/purplepoetess/

https://www.tiktok.com/@katypoet1

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkpXOlYFff5F4aUkt_o4JYw

Pieces read in this session include:

Disney is dead inside
You are enough
This is England
2006
Our holidays and public properties

Latest Spoken Label session (Author / Poet / Artist Chat) features the wonderful Suki Rae.

Suki is "A native Chicagoan, Suki began playing piano at the age of five under the tutelage of her mother, a classical pianist. Classical flute instruction followed with Ralph Johnson and Walfried Kujala of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She attended Hull House Arts Camp; Interlochen Music Camp and Interlochen Arts Academy as well as the Northwestern University School of Music Cherub Program where she was awarded a Certificate of Merit for Flute Performance. Awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Benington College Jazz Lab, she also studied with Harvey Estrin; and Frank Wess of the New York Jazz Quartet. She has a BA from the University of California Berkeley and an MA from NYU in Music and Film.

Suki has been the recipient of many awards for her playing as well as her songwriting including: ASCAP PLUS AWARDS(1994 until the present day);only American Finalist in the Hoiellart Jazz Festival in Belgium;Honorary Award from American Song Festival;Award from Nashville Song Festival;two Runner-up Awards from the Song of the Year Awards;Viewer's Choice Award from Kweevak.com;Nomination for Just Plain Folks Awards and NAR Best Song Awards."

Her debut book "Neshama: (Breath of God)" which we talk about in depth

in this session is described as "My intimate spiritual journey through Israel combining original poetry,original music and colorful tapestries/pictures by Bracha Lavee.

Please be aware that the interactive music links are available only on 3rd generation or newer Fire tablets and on free Kindle reading apps for Android phones and Android tablets.These features are not available on free Kindle reading apps for iPad and iPhone.

If you are unable to hear the music on your device please listen at https://soundcloud.com>sukiatry"

Pieces read in this session include:

Neshama
Divine Sparks (Gap)
Lost Red Bag
Suki in the desert

More about Suki can be found at:

https://www.sukiatry.com/

Her book 'Neshama: (Breath of God)' can be easily found on Amazon.

Latest Spoken Label (Poetry/Artist/Writer Podcast) features the wonderful Skye Hearn, author of her debut poetry collection"Rhythm of Darkness"

Rhythm of Darkness is described as "Blinded by the darkness, feeling as though life could not get any worse?

It can always be worse. Put yourself in the shoes of others. Take the time to imagine; to feel what they have felt when their lives took a terrible turn. Open up your soul to those who have loved and lost.

One's who have been broken and put back together, just to be shattered all over again.

Embrace the utter sadness, and relate to the experiences of despair.

Once you open yourself up to it then let it in, you will explore a whole new world."

More about https://www.booksbyskye.ca/

Pieces read out in this session include:

1) The End

2) Yours truely

3) Blind

4) Change

5) Shadow

Latest Spoken Label features textile artist, puppet maker, digital artist and creator / poet of the Covid Life Book, Amanda Beck McKim.

More about Amanda can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/WiredAndWild/

https://www.instagram.com/beckmckim/

Poems read out in this session include:

The Protest Poem
A feast with all the trimmings
The day I went to the dentist
Students before profit

Latest Spoken Label (Author/Poet Podcast) features the wonderful Stan Notte.

He has being described by C Spillane, HR BUSINESS PARTNER VOXPRO as "an outstanding motivational speaker, who speaks from a place of

humility, bravery and compassion. Through relaying his own personal experiences in battling with mental health, he reminded employees to speak up about mental health and to seek all available help possible. On a second visit Stanley portrayed his experiences through the medium of performance art, which was a unique, and powerful way to get an incredible message across. It was a privilege to welcome Stanley Notte as a motivational speaker as part of our organisations wellness strategy."

More about Stan can be found at: https://stannottecreations.ie/

Poems read out in this session include:

Gold Medals
I heard love was blind
Policy of truth
In search of grace
In gratitude for this magnificent day

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful and very funny Ron L Lahr, author of The Kathaldi Chronicles).

He has being described as: “If David Eddings, Joe Abercrombie and Douglas Adams had their brains sucked out and blended together then reanimated they would write a book like this."

RK Billiau, author of Primeverse

More about him can be found at his website:

https://www.kathaldi.com/

Back for a second session with Spoken Label (Author/Poetry Chat) is our returning friend, Danielle Holian talking about her third and new poetry book 'Surviving You'.

Her new poetry book is described in her own words as "Depicting a story told through poetry, Surviving You, touches on many topics about a relationship transition from love to pain with lies dressed like the truth falling for someone who pretended through it all then feeling the truth arise over time knowing in the end it was the best thing that could have ever happened. Treading with caution, the contents of the book discusses stories with mental health, sexual assault, love, abusive relationships, heartbreak, trauma and everything in-between, in the hopes to spread awareness on these heavy topics.

"I write this book for the hearts that need mending, the voices that need to be heard, and the souls that need healing. And once upon a time, in the thick of healing, I survived."

More about Danielle can be found at:

https://twitter.com/danielleholian_

https://www.instagram.com/danielleholian_/

https://linktr.ee/danielleholian_

Poems read in this session include:

Trauma
My Safe Place
To a future lover

Latest Spoken Label is from the wonderful Erin Miller.

He is described as "Ever since Erin Miller was a child, he found immense joy in storytelling and acting. In 2009 he finally decided to attend the school of storytelling at Emerson College where he obtained his certificate of storytelling. He went on to apply his skills as a storyteller to his spoken word performances and eventually, into becoming a Hip-Hop emcee, producer, arranger, and band leader.

With more than 15 years of working in the music industry, Erin has honed his craft as a storyteller and modern day bard by turning spoken-word and stories into intricate sound productions and stage performances. His fusion band, Subconscious Culture is still ongoing, and their expected release of the new album, "What Separates Us" is set to release in May of 2021.

In the last three years, Erin Miller has been working on honing his skills as an audiobook narrator, voice actor, and producer. He is also the author and voice talent of his new podcast series, "Betwixt the Veil". A fantasy, in which once a month, will delve into a world where magic, mystery, and myths come to life. Prepare to embark on a journey through our known world, into those of the fey, and beyond! A world where creatures that were thought to be legends, walk among us; where magic, conjures, crafts create our existence! This showcases his talent as a narrator, writer, and storyteller bringing to you quality content that will keep you wanting more.

Occasionally throughout this journey, you will have the opportunity to experience some dazzling and delightfully collaborative short stories written by a guest author, and narrated by Erin Miller alongside guest story tellers."

More about Erin and his Podcast can be found at: https://subconsciousculture.com/

Latest Spoken Label features the lovely Bela Cruvinel, author off "Burning Rose: Between Beasts and Devils"

The book is described as "From running away from home to finding herself in a church that more resembles a battlefield, Eleanor has to manage to regain her independence while relying only on the kindness of the priest that housed her in his church and a mysterious speechless man who help her overcome the hate of the nuns. As the problems escalate from gossips to threats, Eleanor enhances her ties with the ones helping her to apply for a job as a pianist, as well as dealing with the odd visions she gets.

The numerous characters and their struggles explore multiple themes, especially the effects of the great domain in one's hands, the evil and the savage within the individual and contemporary global issues. Shifting from romance, family relationships and values to action, violence and tragedies, the novel features carefully developed characters that unravel themselves throughout the series by diving into intense conflicts within its narrative."

The book has being praised from Olympia Editorial who state "A well-written work with a consistent and absorbing narrative"

Some links for Bela include:

https://www.instagram.com/belacruvinel/?hl=en-gb

https://www.instagram.com/belas.art.decor/?hl=en-gb

https://www.artpal.com/beladc4747

https://beladc4747.wixsite.com/beladc

The book is available on Amazon for example: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Burning-Rose-Between-Beasts-Devils-ebook/dp/B0966YB6MC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1631373211&refinements=p_27%3ABela+Cruvinel&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Bela+Cruvinel

None

Latest Spoken Label features our returning friend

Yvonne UGarte returning to her new children's poetry book

"My Aunt Jean's a Dinosaur"

More about this book can be found at:

"https://www.runciblespoonpress.co.uk/shop/4594847794/my-aunt-jean's-a-dinosaur-and-other-poems/11644538

Her email is:

yvonnebeeston59@gmail.com

Yvonne can be found on facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/yvonne.beeston

jurassic dinosaur
dear diary
betrayal
sicario
earth song

Latest up from Spoken Label features a old friend of Spoken Label making her debut, Krystal Gypsey Orellano.

Krystal is described as "A Tampa, Florida native, Krystal “Gypsy” Orellano Weldon is a spoken word poet, writer and educator. Krystal is slowly transpiring as a creative nonfiction writer, being published in St. Petersburg College’s newspaper The Sandbox, Saint Leo University’s book the Sandhill Review and University of Westminster runner-up winner for the 2017 Mental Health Poetry competition"

Poems read out in this session include:

Immortal
Murder
Point of view
Freestyle Melody
Miles
Aunt Stacey

Krystal's two books can be easily be found on Amazon but for our UK readers, they are:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evolution-Poetry-Krystal-Gypsy-Orellano-ebook/dp/B07M6Q6CFD

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0977KN87Q/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0

The Evolution of Poetry!

Quench Gypsy's Hidden Love Series!

Latest Spoken Label (Poetry, Author and Artist Chat) features the wonderful Chris Campbell talking about his second collection "White Eye of the Needle".

Some praise about the author include:

Stunning, sensual and subtle. In White Eye of the Needle, we see a clear love of language with a deft alertness to the power of sound and what it can create. Combined with stunning images, this is a book to give those you love.' – Katherine Lockton, co-editor of South Bank Poetry

'These poems are sparkling with affection. Campbell finds beauty in the everyday, in the connections to each other and to the land. In a world when we are feeling cut off, these poems are like a bridge back to some sense of balance. They are celebrations of relationships, places and of being alive. Some of them feel like a home I’ve never been to.' – Poet and performer David Linklater, author of Black Box

*

'Chris Campbell's poems are accessible, enjoyable, and formally and stylistically thoughtful and dextrous – as in 'Yellow dress', which empathetically slips into and out of ballad metre, or the well-pitched epigram 'Time doesn’t slow', or the subtle uses of slant-rhyme and couplets in 'Last night of our honeymoon', in which 'We eat side by side, the candle facing us, / The taps of shoes are circling // But beside us, a restaurant sits empty, / Laid out cutlery and glass'. A lot of the explorations in these poems are personal, but this is no solipsist's diary: he is constantly conscious of the power a poet can have to touch someone's heart by revealing his own.' – Poet Rory Waterman, senior lecturer in English and Creative Writing, Nottingham Trent University

*

'At a time when the world feels a little darker, White Eye of the Needle invites the reader to gaze upon a world where "houses rub shoulders", "the taps of shoes are circling" and dawn spreads its welcome light "like the oranges brightening Seville". In this tender, wistful collection, Campbell observes humanity with a sharp eye – where the lockdown poems offer a relatable and searingly honest depiction of our days transfixed on blinking screens, there is always the human touch to offer relief in a lemon dress, the notes of 'Für Elise', tumbling hedgerows and the tender simplicity of a shared meal with a loved one. Like the flowers that push through its city gardens, this is a collection that reminds us that it's the human connection and the power of the natural world that keep hope alive in a world gone dark.' – Natalie Ann Holborow, award-winning poet and former versifier in residence at Dylan Thomas Birthplace

*

More about Chris can be found at his website which is: https://www.chriscampbellpoetry.co.uk/

Poems read out in this session include:

1) Chimney Snorkels

2) St Ives Cafe

3) Last night of our honeymoon

4) Mister Painter

5) Yellow Dress

Latest Spoken Label features our returning friend, Helen Kay.

Her collection "This Lexia & Other Languages" is published by V Press and can be bought here http://vpresspoetry.blogspot.com/2020/07/ or Helen directly.

Her Dyslexia Poetry project is here: http://www.dyslexiapoetry.co.uk/

Helen can be found on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/helen.kay2

She is also on twitter: https://twitter.com/HelenKay166 Poems read out in this session were:

The day Joe found out
Short Term Memory Loss
The Student's Essay Blues
Tocking Back

Latest up from Spoken Label is a chat with the awesome Nick Lovell, co-host of the excellent spoken word night Ooh beehive and a excellent writer in his own right.

Ooh Beehive can be found on both facebook and youtube.

Nick Lovell is also on facebook.

Poems read out included:

The Race of his life
Market Garden
Take stork between teeth pull stork from blossom throw blossom over arm towards enemy lay flat await explosion (cover of poem by Adrian Mitchell)
The Jinx effect

SpokenWord #Oohbeehive #SpokenWord #Poetry #PoetryPodcast #SpokenwordPodcast

Today's session from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Chat Podcast) is a special session featuring Mina Manchester.

Mina Manchester is the Fiction Editor of Five South and former Assistant Editor for Narrative Magazine. She is currently an MFA candidate at the Sewanee School of Letters.

Her work has appeared in HuffPost, Columbia Journal, The Normal School, Inscape, and elsewhere. She is a Pinch Literary Award Finalist, Cutthroat Journal Rick DeMarinis Short Story Award Finalist, and UCLA James Kirkwood Price in Creative Writing nominee.

Mina is a workshop recipient at Kenyon Review Writing Workshop, The Writer's Hotel where she was a TA in 2020 and 2021, and Narrative Magazine's The Art of the Story.

In this special Spoken Label session, we talk to Mina about her journey as a writer but also her journey as a publicist from which her client Carol Orange who I chatted to just before this session with editing and publicity among many other topics. Her website is: https://www.minamanchester.com/

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features currently from Chicago, the wonderful Carol Orange author off "A Discerning Eye".

A Discerning Eye is described as "Portia Malatesta, an art dealer and a docent at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, is devastated by the robbery of thirteen paintings. Vermeer’s Concert had been her artist brother’s favorite, and its loss intensifies her grief over his recent death. As the days drift by, and the police can’t find any leads, Portia analyzes the stolen art and discovers that the thief did not remove the most valuable work, but has instead chosen moody paintings.

Driven to share her insights, Portia meets Julian Henderson, an Oxford–educated maverick heading the FBI’s Art Crime Unit. The FBI searches their database to see if they can match her profile of the thief. Within 24 hours they confirm rumors about a Colombian suspect with a hidden room. The FBI hires Portia to join their team, and she travels with them to drug-riddled Medellin. Her role is to befriend the drug lord’s wife and gain entry into the villa."

More about Carol can be found at her website which is: https://www.carolorange.com/

Latest Spoken Label session features the wonderful Queen Dee.

Queen Dee as described on her bandcamp page is described as "QUEEN DEE began her career performing spoken word, but has branched out into music and visual design over the last few years. She is now producing her own music, as well as collaborating with other artists. Her style is eclectic; a mix of poetry and loosely structured pop music" Her links can be found at:

https://linktr.ee/Queendeesheen

Podcast #QueenDee #SpokenLabel

Today's Spoken Label session features the wonderful L Bordetsky Williams, author of Forgot Russia.

You can read more about L Bordetsky Williams or Lisa to me at:

forgotrussia.com

https://twitter.com/BordetskyL https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20647578.L_Bordetsky_Williams https://www.facebook.com/ForgetRussia/ https://www.letterstovirginiawoolf.com/ https://wordmothers.com/2021/01/17/what-to-do-when-youre-struggling-to-finish-a-manuscript-guest-post-by-l-bordetsky-williams/

Forgot Russia can be purchased at Amazon, Bookshelf and Barnes & Noble and all the usual places.

Latest up for Spoken Label is the wonderful Ciara Shuttleworth originally from San Fransico but now East Washington.

Ciara Shuttleworth was born in San Francisco and grew up in Nebraska, Nevada, and Washington state. Her poetry has been published in journals and anthologies, including The New Yorker, The Norton Introduction to Literature, Ploughshares, and The Southern Review. Shuttleworth received an MFA in poetry from University of Idaho. Rabbit Heart (SFA Press), is her first full collection of poetry. Shuttleworth's books also include the poetry chapbook, Night Holds Its Own (Blue Horse Press), and gonzo prose book, 4,500 Miles: Taking Jack Back on the Road (Humanitas Media Publishing).

More about Ciara can be found at:

ciarashuttleworth.com

ciarashuttleworth (instagram)

Poems read out included:

Love Cartographers
No Further West
Prologue to Seven Years in San Fransico.
Rabbit Heart

Latest up for Spoken Label (Author/Artist/Poet chat Podcast) features the lovely Pam Munter, author of Fading Fame.

Fading frame in the words of Kirbus Reviews is “Munter probes the lives of Hollywood women after the lights have gone down in this debut collection of fiction and drama.…Munter writes purposefully about the systemic misogyny that has dominated Hollywood throughout its history, from predatory producers on casting couches to women being considered too old before they were out of their 30s. A common theme is the exploitation perpetrated by the various husbands who only continue the damage started by other men… A thought-provoking, well-crafted collection of Hollywood survival stories.”

More about Pam can be found at her website which is:

https://www.pammunter.com/

Latest Spoken Label features a chat with the wonderful Jan Kotouč.

Jan Kotouč is a Czech military science fiction and space opera author. He is the author of several science fiction books including the Central Imperium Series.

In this extended interview, we chat about the origins off his writing from writing Star Wars, translation in Science Fiction and teaching Creative Writing in the Czech Republic among many other things.

Jan's website is: http://www.jan-kotouc.cz/

Returning to Spoken Label today is the always wonderful Joe Williams talking about his latest collection 'The Taking Part'

Joe Williams is an award-winning writer and performing poet from Leeds. He tells tales about lost love, people in pubs, and the best ways to insult footballers in Spanish.

Pieces read include:

1) A reliable history of the Marathon

2) Cathedrals

3) Royal Visit to Headlington Stadium

4) The Ten Pin Trilogy

More about Joe can be found at his website: https://joewilliams.co.uk/

Latest Spoken Label Session features the wonderful Kate Wilson.

More details about Kate can be read at:

http://katejwilson.co.uk/

Her collection be can bought on Wildpressbooks at:

http://www.wildpressedbooks.com/one-night-in-january.html

and can be puchased on Amazon for £1.99 (sterling)

Pieces read out in this session include:

Mount Esja
America
Yearning
Anecdote
Sunflowers
Lessons

Latest from Spoken Label is the wonderful Alison Nissen.

Alison is the host of the Florida Writer Podcast and as says on her website

"is a writer who does daily battle with dog hair and laundry. She has taught collegiate composition and literature classes for over a decade. Currently, she is the co-founder of Revel Coach, an inspirational platform and managing partner of 3 Dog Tales Productions, a full-service Ghostwriting, Editing, Coaching, and Publishing company."

Her website is: alisonnissen.com

Latest up from Spoken Label features the wonderful Natalie Ann Holborow.

More about Natalie Ann can be seen at: https://natalieholborow.com/

Poems read out in this session include:

Medea
7 Miles down
Gabriel
Diagnostics (Small)
Queen of hearts

Containing language not suitable for all *

Latest Spoken Label session (My Poetry Podcast) features the lovely Alise Versella.

You can find out more about Alise here: http://www.aliseversella.com/

Pieces read out in this session include:

1) When Wolves become birds

2) I have never written love poems

3) The distance between two cells

4) For all the dreams I have still yet to dream and all the dreams once had

5) A walking verse of poetry

Latest from Spoken Label features the wonderful Chloe Jacquet.

More about Chloe can be found at:

www.facebook.com/chloejpoetry

www.chloejpoetry.com

Poems read out during this session include:

The Dealer
I want to write poems
I am Woman
The Court Room

Today's latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Vironika Wilde.

Vironika also known as Vironika Tugaleva is a poet, feminist, award-winning author, nomad, queer, cat fanatic, immigrant, survivor, tree hugger, and activist. She was born in Donetsk, Ukraine and has Russian indigenous (Tatar and Nagaybak) roots. She loves getting lost, looking at the stars, dancing, and eating pickles (sometimes, all at once).

In this session, we talk about her start as a artist to her debut poetry book Love and Gaslight, that is described as not only a collection of poems but also a story. It’s about a sexual assault survivor reclaiming her body, an immigrant climbing into the home-sized hole in her heart, an adult comforting her inner child, and a woman questioning the social conditioning that governs her freedom. Love and Gaslight is raw, political, and transgressive. It’s edgy, feminist, and relevant. Most importantly, it’s honest. You will feel it. Whether it makes you feel sad, glad, or attacked, it will also make you feel brave enough to speak your truth.

We also talk about her album "Too much for you" which has being getting some great reviews.

More about Vironika can be found at her website: https://www.vironika.org/

'Too much for you' can be found on Amazon, Spotify and Itunes / Apple etc.

'Too much for you' can also be found on Amazon.

Latest Podcast is from the excellent Jack Horner (aka Leon the Pig Farmer).

Poems read out in this session include:

Parole
The beat goes on
Even a monkey falls from a tree
Flashback
Devil in my shoes

Some useful links for Jack include:

emmaus.org.uk/mossley/support-from-new-leon-the-pig-farmer-book/

thepigfarmer.art

thedirt71.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/LeonThePigFarmer/

www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/simon-horner-and-phil-wagstaff/talking-myself-out-of-trouble/paperback/product-yr9pj4.html?fbclid=IwAR1VVEpMdp_IAwH1XcLjXcGbxBCY4otBNjBSqn2RUkjXlmm5uX7ab69sLdM&page=1&pageSize=4

Latest Spoken Label podcast features the wonderful Conor Bredlin, author of the 'Stolen Dagger' and 'the longest night'.

Conor is also the creator / host of the Podcast series Story of a storyteller.

More about Conor can be found at:

https://www.conorbredin.com/

The second half of this Podcast also includes extracts from both 'Stolen Dagger' and 'the longest night'

Latest Spoken Label Podcast is with the Author Michelle Cox, author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series.as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there."

Her series 'Henrietta and Inspector Howard' is described as "“Downton Abbey meets Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries!”

“Henrietta and Clive are a sexy, endearing, and downright fun pair of sleuths. Readers will not see the final twist coming.” ―Library Journal, starred review

“Fans of spunky, historical heroines will love Henrietta Von Harmon.” ―Booklist, starred review

“Henrietta and Inspector Howard are the best pair of sleuths I’ve come across in ages. A fantastic start to what is sure to be a long running series.” ―Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author

More about Michelle can be found at her website which is "https://michellecoxauthor.com/"

Latest Spoken Label session features the legend that is Richard Harries.

More can be found out about Richard can be found at:

http://www.stairwellbooks.co.uk/product/awakening/ (Details of Richard's book)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edxXGVmqBvQ (Video of Richard's book launch)

https://www.youtube.com/user/RCPoems (Richard's Youtube channel)

Pieces read out included:

On David Bowie passing.
Friendship Hotel (Edit required)
The headmaster's error
A Lesson Learned
George Stinney
Good intentions

Latest up from Spoken Label is the amazing

Anne Walsh Donnelly author of "Odd as f&ck"

published by Fly on the Wall Press.

More about Anne can be found at:

https://annewdonnelly.com/

https://www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/product-page/odd-as-f-ck-by-anne-walsh-donnelly

https://twitter.com/AnneWDonnelly (Twitter)

https://www.facebook.com/Anne-Walsh-Donnelly-Writer-2220081094726593/

https://www.instagram.com/annewalshdonnellypoetry/

Poems read out in this session include:

How did you know?
Menopause vagina
Lioness or labrador
The day the mouse talked to me in my daughters bedroom
Signet

Latest up from Spoken Label features from Nottingham the wonderful Chris Oliver.

More about Chris can be found at:

Instagram - chrisoliver_wordslayer

Facebook - Chris Oliver Spoken Word Artist

Pieces read out in this session were:

Keeping it simple
The Calm before the storm
Smoke and Mirrors
Mount Sinai
The Rest of my history

Latest Spoken Label session features Cat Lumb, Author off "In lies we trust" and "The Memorial tree and other short stories"

Her Amazon page is www.amazon.co.uk/Cat-Lumb/e/B07F2M7GCX

She can be found on facebook as The Write Catalyst (www.facebook.com/TheWriteCatalyst/)

She is on twitter as Cat Lumb on twitter (twitter.com/Cat_Lumb)

Her website is catlumb.com

Her previous feature on the Sunday Tribune is www.thesundaytribune

.com/2021/02/21/writers-influences-11-cat-lumb-on-christina-rosetti-and-daphne-du-maurie/

Pieces read out include:

Red Roses
Extract from "In lies we trust"

Contains topics not suitable for all *

Latest up for Spoken Label from London is the wonderful Poet_rs.

More about R can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHvZk-_288hMrXrzxwRzFQ

https://www.instagram.com/poet_rs/?hl=en-gb

Poems read out in this session include:

Custody
100 aches in my mind
God like

Latest Podcast from Spoken Label

is from the wonderful Stephanie Finegan.

Stephanie's work has being described by Chinwag Poetry as "Allen Ginsberg’s Howl combined with the feminine power of Kate Bush.

A wonderful mix of psychedelic stream of consciousness, urban punk, post-beat poetry, psycho-metaphysics with a bit of Zen thrown in for good fun. A lexical ensemble of wonderful diversity, shot through with eclectic imagery and electric metaphors"

More about Stephanie can be found at:

https://www.instagram.com/solutionyouare/

(Instagram)

https://stephaniefinegan.com/

(Website)

https://ko-fi.com/stephaniefinegan?fbclid=IwAR22DJi1r7UvPernexXawe1G6HtdDKyAo8g0ACaIF30A7EOg8SGzNuJ7zYs

(Ko-fi)

The Session is split into two parts on this recording, the first of which we talk about the history of her writing / music / creative projects and the second where we talk about some of her published works and she performs a short selection of work.

Latest from Spoken Label the excellent Jo Harker Shaw.

More about Jo can be read at:

harkershaw.wordpress.com

www.facebook.com/harkershawpoetry

Poems read out in this session include:

The word is not enough
Morning Song
Barefoot child towards the moon
Your eyes are never where I want them.

Latest Spoken Label session features Stephen Coates from the wonderful The Real Tuesday Weld talking about their new album 'Blood',

the first in a final trilogy of new albums that the band will be releasing throughout 2021 into 2022.

Stephen Coates formed The Real Tuesday Weld in 2001 (after a dream of the actress Tuesday Weld) pioneering a style he dubbed 'Antique Beat',

a combination of old jazz sounds and electronics that was to influence the emerging electro-swing scene. Reluctant scene-joiners themselves,

the band run their own label, working with writers, animators and filmmakers and on a variety of commissioned arts projects.

They tour worldwide - often playing to animated backgrounds in venues including churches, museums, parks, galleries, buses and crypts -

but they have remained cult and critical, rather than commercial, favourites despite multi-million youtube plays, film placements and multiple awards.

Their music has been used in many films, TV series and art installations and their collaborations with animators have proved enduringly popular,

particularly the genre bending, multi-award-winning Bathtime in Clerkenwell and The Crooner series that has spawned a whole catalogue of fan art.

"Beautiful...giddily recalls Gainsbourg, Pulp, Cole Porter, early Disney soundtracks and seedy postwar revue bars" SUNDAY TIMES

"Utterly unique, utterly delightful" THE TELEGRAPH

"These heart-pricking songs speak to us all” WORD

“Superbly atmospheric” UNCUT

"An English-speaking Serge Gainsbourg rolling around Tin Pan Alley with synthesizer in hand." THE NEW YORKER

"Wildly inventive and completely miserable, a fascinating combination of old-timey jazz and modern-day electronica, drenched in heartbreak and despair. in a hushed, nioctine-bu ed purr" SF WEEKLY

“A sly witty, cinematic fusion of contemporary styles with classic elements of Serge Gainsbourg and Burt Bacharach” NEWSDAY

" The P.G. Wodehouse of electro-pop, or the Cole Porter of modern cool, superbly arranged, wickedly clever textures and beats will set your toes to tapping, but its bittersweet melodies will linger for days and weeks' LA WEEKLY

More about the tuesday weld can be seen at www.tuesdayweld.com

Stephen's "BUREAU OF LOST CULTURE" Podcast can be found on Itunes, Podbay, Listennotes and Audible among many other websites.

Contains language and topics not suitable for all *

Latest Spoken Label Podcast featuring the most excellent Clive Oseman, co-host of Oh Beehive.

More about Clive can be found at:

Clive Oseman Spoken Word (Facebook)

Clive Oseman (Facebook)

Clive_Oseman (twitter)

Oseman Clive (Instrgaram)

Oh Beehive (Facebook)

Poems read out in this session include:

The A – Z of Animals (Match of the day edited highlights)
Disciple (Also called Tin Foil Hat Poem)
Possible unsuitable children’s stories
The Queen’s Greyhound commentary (Getting to know Elizabeth (Extract))
Typos

Latest Spoken Label Podcast is from the wonderful Jenn Ashton, author of "People like Frank and other stories from the edge of normal"

The book is described as "A young woman in a group home investigates a mysterious piece of knitting. An obsessed bag boy does grim battle with a squirrel. A woman, an asparagus bag and a garbageman have a tumultuous short-term relationship.

In the tradition of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Room and If I Fall, If I Die, this uplifting collection explores the world through the eyes of protagonists whose perspectives are informed by their unique circumstances.

Some are struggling with physical challenges while others seek to overcome psychological barriers.

Far from being defined by their limitations, these characters revel in achievements others take for granted and find wonder in unexpected places. By celebrating the private triumphs of people who are all too often dismissed, Ashton reminds us all of our own humanity."

More about Jen can be found at:

http://jenniferashton.ca/WP/ (Her Art Website)

http://jenniferashton.ca/ (Her Writing Website)

.Latest Spoken Label Podcast features Claudia Clark, the author off "Dear Barack".

The book is described as "Dear Barack explores how the relationship between Barack Obama and Dr. Angela Merkel evolved from one of extreme apprehension to one of deep friendship and a partnership that captivated the world.

Dear Barack explains why Barack Obama’s and Dr. Angela Merkel’s partnership is so important to today’s world leaders – the transformation of their relationship exemplifies how it is possible for political adversaries to establish a bond of trust, respect, and even friendship."

More about the book can be found at: https://claudiaclarkauthor.com/

Latest Spoken Label is a chat with Manchester based actor, East 15 Graduate, co-founder of 'Quite Frankly Theatre, Jason Johns.

More about Jason can be found at:

https://twitter.com/jasonjohns98?lang=en (Twitter)

https://www.spotlight.com/4855-6720-3080 (Spotlight)

Latest up from Spoken Label is the lovely Hellena Jane, the author off “The Winter of Our Femininity”.

The book is described as “Dear reader, you may wonder why this girl should matter to you. You might besaying, why should I, dear narrator, care what this child dressed in women’s clothing does?Well, my dear reader, this girl will soon be dead. If you had twelve hours left oflife, what would you do? What mystic forces and players would you confront? But moreimportantly, most importantly, up most importantly, who would you be afraid of?This is a tale of a lonely girl in a depressing world with no real friends. By the end, her body will be cold and her heart will have been stopped. But what did it? Or more importantly, who did it? The last twelve hours of her life could hold the clues to solving it but only if you look close enough.An innocent bystander, convinced that the death has to mean something more. A professor, desperate to hide his secrets. A group of friends just angry enough to be pushed off the edge.Everyone has a motive. Everyone has reason. Everyone has secrets they want to hide.Hellena Jane’s debut novella paints a harsh portrait of society, and the pain lurking within it.”

The book can be purchased at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08QS692ST?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860&fbclid=IwAR3pFhagsMVtt9ch8MUlY5xDmZOiKfgjHByPIG-oHhwD4TZmOLbsKQVcACk

https://www.thesundaytribune.com/2021/01/24/entering-the-winter-of-our-femininity-with-hellena-jane/(A recent feature at the Sunday Tribune)

The Winter of Our Femininity

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Paul Sutherland.

Poems read out in this session include:

1) my granddaughter battles the sea with a red plastic fork

2) on cola beach

3) special children in car - suzie tank

4) the earth orphaned birds

5) winter falls

More about Paul can be found at:

https://www.authorpaulsutherland.com/

https://chaffinchpress.com/paul-sutherland-2/

https://www.valleypressuk.com/author/53/paul__sutherland#:~:text=Paul%20Sutherland%20was%20born%20in,countless%20anthologies%2C%20newspapers%20and%20periodicals.

Latest up from Spoken Label is the wonderful Heige Boehm, author of 'Secrets in the shadows'. Heige is described as "Heige's writing is influenced by the stories of her parents who grew up in Nazi Germany, and who at the end of the war, found themselves in East Germany. They escaped with their first two children to West Berlin in 1961, and Heige was born in Euskirchen West Germany on November 11, 1964. Ten years later the family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, where they lived at the Sylvia Hotel for the first few months. In 1983 her father was murdered in Texas. It was her desire to know his stories, and to understand him, that inspired the novel."

Her book 'Secrets in the shadows' is described as" Secrets in the Shadows is the account of best friends Michael and Wolfie who are boys growing up in Nazi Germany. Both of them are excited to join the Hitler Youth. But by the time the boys are twelve, a devastating event turns their world upside down. On a school trip to Berlin, the boys see a beautiful Jewish girl boarding the train with her mother. Shortly after, a horrified Michael witnesses their brutal murder -- the result of anti-Semitism. As a result, Michael's loyalty to Hitler begins to show cracks. In 1943 when Michael turns sixteen, his father orders him to volunteer with the Waffen-SS. Wolfie joins him. Assigned to the Hitlerjugend 12th SS Panzer Division, they cope with the horrors of war, trying to keep one another alive the grim battlefields fighting hand-to-hand in the villages and towns, sometimes against the Canadians. Seeing what is happening on the battlefield, they come to reject the Nazi regime and its propaganda. In the final showdown, Michael and Wolfie are ordered to travel to Berlin, and it is there they confront the secrets that lie in the shadows of the past."

More about Heige can be found at her website at: https://www.heigeboehm.ca/

Latest Spoken Label is from the wonderful Leeds based Freelance arts writer and poet, Susan Darlington.

Her debut collection, Under The Devil's Moon, is out via The Penniless Press.

More about Susan can be found at: https://twitter.com/s_sandarlington?lang=en

Poems read out in this session include:

The Cage
Swan and the snow
Its alright
Translate the notes

Latest Spoken Label session features a dear friend of Spoken Label, Randy Horton.

Randy's Website is:

https://somebodyfamous.co.uk/

Links of other performances etc can be found here

https://somebodyfamous.co.uk/about-me/

Probably meant to be ironic? (Randy's collection)

can be purchased on Amazon

(https://www.amazon.co.uk/Probably-Meant-Ironic-Randy-Horton/dp/171635725X)

Write & Release his night is on the second weds of the month. 7.30pm (UK time).

Their group on facebook is https://www.facebook.com/groups/2039272652995460

Poems read out in this session include:

Standard Disclaimer
The risk of metaphor
The problem with irony
The band plays on
The other side of love

Probably Meant to be Ironic

Latest Spoken Label features the lovely Ayshen Irfan.

Ayshen is described on her website as "I'm Ayshen (pronounced I-shen), born-and-bred Brightonian, occult enthusiast,

and author of the Scarlet Cherie: Vampire Series.

Whilst I write urban fantasy, my penchant for magick and the paranormal is displayed throughout my work,

toying with elements of life and death, light and darkness, and reality and the inconceivable in my work.

As a practising Witch, I try to incorporate some elements of my beliefs and practice into my work, especially when

it comes to writing about energy and intention of power."

Piece read:

The Fire Within My Heart (Extract)

More about Ayshen can be found at:

https://linktr.ee/ayshen

Latest Spoken Label featuring the powerful Denetta Copeland, known professionally as D3.

UK based spoken-word artist Denetta Copeland, known professionally as D3, is a professional writer and

musician with years' of experience in writing lyrics, poetry and prose. D3 is recognised for using unique

lyrical approaches in rhyme as a form of storytelling. D3 writes and performs her own style of Ra-Poetry,

whilst incorporating other genres into her sound, including;

Hip Hop, House, Jungle and Drum’n’Bass and has performed her work across the UK over the past 11 years.

More about Denetta can be found at:

https://www.d3creations.uk/

Pieces read out in this session include:

Check me out.
Contradictory information
Love is Blind
Nicole

.

.Todays session on Spoken Label the always lovely Carol Fenwick.

Pieces read out include:

A Key worker (Unreleased)
Sweet Potato (From Keyboard Warriors)
The Bee Sting (From Bouncing back with a bang)
The Church Bells chime the cherry trees bloom (Unreleased)

Her books under the name of Geraldine Ward can be found on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Geraldine-Ward/e/B00BP4Z1EU?ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vu00_taft_p1_i2(Amazon)

Today's Spoken Label session features the wonderful Charlotte Mary, a country singer from Manchester, UK.

She is "a Singer/Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Manchester, UK. She sings feisty country-soaked songs about love, breakups and the assured swagger of a woman who knows it’s all about three chords and the truth. She’s worked hard to rise up through the Manchester gig scene earning her place with standout festival performances alongside the likes of The Proclaimers, Kodaline and The Wonder Stuff.

Her previous single, 2018’s ‘Dreamer’, was a sweet slice of foot-stomping Americana that earned a place on Ladies of Country’s Sounds of 2018 list alongside Kacey Musgraves and Kelsea Ballerini."

More about her can be found at her website which is http://charlottemary.co.uk/

Songs sung during this session include:

Moment
Man Up
Set yourself free

Latest Spoken Label is our returning friend Umor Haque aka DrayZera talking about the creation of DrayZera and a talk about how mental health and how it impacts writers in particular during lockdown.

You can find Umor as DrayZera at: linktr.ee/drayzera

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Red Medusa.

Red Medusa "is a poet, academic and activist hailing from south-east London. Having taken a 5-year hiatus from spoken word, Red has exploded back onto the scene stunning poems that capture the sentiments of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the deepest of love poetry. Her style fluctuates between unapologetic, brutal honesty and fiery, sensual passion for which she is loved and admired."

More about Red Medusa can be found on her website: https://poetrybyredmedusa.squarespace.com/

She is also on youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfFByDMlN1tCXITTuisIUfA

Poems read out in this session is:

Here to Stay
Medusas' Apotrope
These Hands

Latest from Spoken Label is the wonderful Keith Lander, author of Pandemonium.

Keith's official website is: keithlander.co.uk (where you can pick up his book as well as Yaffle Press)

His app website discussed in this website is: writing-shed.com

Poems read out in this session include:

Fantasy in New York (For Linda Chase)
Chocolate
The Waterman Inn
Forced Landing
The Borderline
In Theatre (Milo's view)
I.T.

Latest Spoken Label podcast features a dear friend of Spoken Label, the returning Penny Sharman

to talk about her new book "The day before Joy"

The book can be purchased from Penny directly at: https://pennysharman.co.uk/

and can be easily found on Amazon.

Penny also has a page on facebook which is: https://www.facebook.com/Penny-Sharman-Poet-216790205705868/

Poems read out in this session include:

Making a winter coat
The Salt Bride
Self Portrait with gold finches
Free falling
Aerial
Ghost Hill

..* Containing language not suitable for all *

Latest from Spoken Label, featuring our returning friend David R Mellor

talking about his new book "So This Is It".

This book can be bought here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/So-This-David-R-Mellor/dp/8194827108/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=David+R+Mellor+So+This+Is+It&qid=1607728148&quartzVehicle=842-813&replacementKeywords=david+r+mellor+so+this+it&sr=8-1

A recent feature on David can be read at the Sunday Tribune https://www.thesundaytribune.com/2020/12/16/writing-is-what-posh-people-do-with-david-r-mellor/

David's page on facebook can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/The-Poetry-of-David-R-Mellor-209851495778641/

Poems read out in this session include:

1) The Speak Easy group

2) Dating in a state

3) Street Scene

4) The Daily count of lives

5) Swan Song

6) A Dead One

So This Is It

Latest Spoken Label session features Cancer nurse, counsellor, writer, performer, truth teller and champion of the underdog Cathy Carson.

More about Cathy can be read at: facebook page (www.facebook.com/cathy.carson.7161)

or simply searching youtube.

Poems read in this session:

Nightingale
Opioids
Spectrum
17

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features Author, Performance Poet/Weaving Words, Creative Writing Facilitator/Speaker, Voice Over Artist & Mistress of Ceremonies and Authors of 5 books such as "Truly Me","Kezzabockerglory (with extra sauce)", "All The Loves", "When You Say Yes" and "Permission To Speak", Kezzabelle Ambler.

More details about kezzabelle can be found at:

https://www.kezzabelle.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/kezzabelleambler/

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/kezzabelle-ambler-56302023

https://twitter.com/kezzabellepoet?lang=en

https://www.facebook.com/Kezzabelle-Poet-872013276218493/

Poems read out include:

Pre Judge
Clarity
Three Wishes
Retro Afro Muff
Emergency Muse

Latest up from Spoken Label is the returning Jenny Berry to talk about her debut collection 'The Great Escape'.

Her book is described as "Once upon a time in the North West of England, a poet cold-called a local prison and boldly asked if she could volunteer to host workshops and perform some poetry. To her surprise the prison said 'yes'. This was the start of a new adventure for writer Jenny Berry who has since dedicated her time and efforts to delivering workshops inside prisons. This short collection captures her experiences and encourages the reader to think more widely about a 'life locked down'

Jenny's book is available on amazon amongst many other places.

Her facebook page is www.facebook.com/jenny.watty.927

Her official website is www.jennyberry.co.uk

A recent feature on Jenny was also done on the Sunday Tribune

www.thesundaytribune.com/2021/01/01/the-great-escape-with-jenny-berry/

Poems read out include:

I think
To whom whoever you wish this rant
Butterfly thinking
A haiku in your head

The latest Spoken Podcast features Andy N chatting to Amanda Steel about her forthcoming Podcast series 'Ghost of Me' which is a Podcast audio version of her book of the same name.

Ghost of Me is described as "Imagine getting the chance to solve your own murder. For Sarah, the prospect becomes a reality after finding her dead body in the morgue and deciding that the injuries sustained indicate she was murdered.

She won’t let being a ghost stop her from tracking down the murderer and stopping him from killing again. However, she’ll need help from someone living. She finds that help in the form of Steve; a near recluse who sees ghosts and isn’t thrilled at the idea of Sarah appearing in his house whenever she feels like it.

Can they work together and save lives, or will more women have to die?"

The adventure begins on 1st Feb 2021 and can be found on all good Podcast networks including https://anchor.fm/amanda-steel0

.Latest Spoken Label (My Poet / Author Chat series) features the Poet, performance poet writer of flash fiction and all round nice guy the wonderful Markey Mark Symmonds.

More about Mark can be found at:

https://rhythmoftheink.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RhythmoftheInk

https://twitter.com/markeymarkpoet

https://www.instagram.com/markeymarksymmonds/

His debut collection "Rhythm of the Ink - The First Wave" should be out shortly.

Poems read out in this session include:

Pineapple fritter and chips
Bullied for life
Summer Days
Mum, I can't breath

Something a bit different now as the enclosed lovely, touching message came through on Anchor from a young lady who I will just call Dionne regarding Spoken Label, and I thought you all would like to hear it.

It brought a lump to my throat.

Hope it will to you all also.

Andy N

Latest from Spoken Label is Austin based American Folk Singer Tom Ovans.

www.folkradio.co.uk have recently described Tom's new album 'Crows in the Corn' "Sparse, raw and recorded in analog to a 4-track, his cracked, dry and dusty voice seasoned with life and time, at times evocative of Dylan at his early best, Crows in the Corn, is Tom Ovans 14th album and first in six years. An unfiltered classic of American folk-blues filled with dark stories of the road, of redemption, losers, survivors and ghosts that haunt, opening with just the voice, harmonica and guitar capturing a tribal rhythm for Going Back Home, a song that carries a contemporary resonance of alienation and exclusion with its line about “Going back home before they build that wall”.

Tom's music can be found at all of the usual places.

His official website is: www.tomovans.com

Songs played in this session include:

Mama Went to Arkansas
Poor Boy Blues
A love song
Hard Road Mama
The Mighty Sea

Latest session from Spoken Label is the wonderful Fin Hall, Host of Like A Blot From The Blue’

and the Curator of Joined Up Writing.

Poems read:

Like a blot from a blue
Closed Captions English Standard
The Anguish of one

More about Finn can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/fin.hall.14 (Facebook)

https://www.facebook.com/Finhall2 (Like a blot from the blue - writing page on Facebook)

https://www.instagram.com/fin.hall.14/ (Instagram)

Latest Spoken Label Podcast featuring comic / comic poet originally from Bolton now Morecombe based, Rich Davenport.

Rich has being described as:

“Funny.” – Hovis Presley, describing Rich’s comedy to Badly Drawn Boy’s sister (long story).

“Rich Davenport is a brilliant comedian. Genuinely bringing something different to the table and is always a big hit with audiences”. - Lee Martin, Director, Gag Reflex Comedy Agency

“Rich Davenport is a terrific performer whose enthusiasm and innate likability shine through. He also has a pleasingly madcap eye on the world and a gift for taking apparently innocuous words - like poultice - and making them extremely funny.” – Toby Hadoke, Comedian, host with the most at XS Malarkey, Manchester

Rich Davenport is a comedy poet, stand-up comedian and musician from exotic Bolton, in the UK. Inspired by Spike Milligan, Ogden Nash, Billy Connolly, John Cooper-Clarke, Robin Williams, Benjamin Zephanaiah, Victoria Wood, Lenny Henry, and by his friend and fellow Boltonian, the late Hovis Presley, Rich has gigged all over the UK, spreading mirth and making loud noises. No, he’s never heard of him either. Rich was described in one review as a “no-nonsense Northerner,” which is ridiculous, because nonsense is his business, and business is good. Rich was first encouraged to compile a book of his poems of extreme gormlessness by Hovis Presley. After accidentally winning a couple of poetry slams, other encouraging individuals said the same thing. And now, finally, Rich's first book, GORMLESS is available now from Chinbeard books at the link below with fabulous illustrations from the marvellous Minty B. A percentage from every book will be donated to the ME Association https://www.chinbeardbooks.com/apps/webstore/products/show/8155538 Winner - Best Local Comedy, Morecambe Fringe Festival 2020

Poems read out include: 1. The Ballad of Bloody Nora 2. its rough and roughage 3. seven shades 4. fast poo haiku 5. Stripey Elf

New from Spoken Label is the wonderful Chris Chilton, the author of How to count trees and other poems.

Chris can be contacted via email: chris_chilton@hotmail.com

OR

via Bolton Socialist Club website (use contact menu)

OR

Facebook, Instagram (chilton7714)

The book is available on amazon at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08B39MQTM?pf_rd_r=K1P141VG3VKMVB89CG3G&pf_rd_p=b1f0fb82-34c4-4290-8c13-535fb29d84d5&pd_rd_r=f71adade-53c9-4d8b-920b-18ef2dbd6f89&pd_rd_w=zQp1n&pd_rd_wg=t9Cfc&ref_=pd_gw_unk

Poems read out in this session include:

How to count trees
Silver Birch
Willows
Rowan
Blackthorn

How To Count Trees and Other Poems

Back in the house, Spoken Label has a new session with singer songwriter, Katy Rose Bennett.

Katy is described as "Katy Rose Bennett has been writing and performing her idiosyncratic brand of Americana-tinged folk for over 20 years. October 2020 sees the release of her 6th solo album: ‘Where Does It Hurt? An Introduction to Katy Rose Bennett’.

“Gentle acoustics from the Nick Drake school… literate songs which ride youth’s emotional rollercoaster… strikingly original.” UNCUT

“Sophisticated mix of folk, jazz, pop and rustica.” Independent"

More about Katy can be found on her website at:

katyrosebennett.com

Songs played in this session include:

Cold November Day
Where does it hurt?

Latest Spoken Label chat is with the lovely Liza Miles.

Liza Miles is the author of 'Love Bites'. 'Love Bites' is described as 'If you enjoy slice of life stories with a touch of Bridget Jones Diary, Love Bites is the perfect guilt free treat. Seven short stories about relationships that bite. Relationships between men and women, friends, families and women and women. The protagonists are from different ages, and places, but they have one thing in common, love. In Grace, we meet the protagonist starting life over. Grace ponders what she learned about her past and how she will choose to move forward. In All Change and Mind the Gap, Polly Brisbane a sixty year old single mother, who has been celibate for twenty years, survived breast cancer and the menopause, takes a lover. In Fresh Compost, when Greta chooses Oscar, the shy professional architect has no idea how the trauma leaving Germany at the age of four has affected her.In, A Moment in Time, the reader is invited into a relationship between Pam and Geoffrey. Pam is an older woman who takes a younger lover after they have both been widowed. The Herbalists, explores the love between two women, Maggie and Jo, a gift shop owner whose same sex relationship in a small village brings them under the evil eye of an evangelical priest. In Neighbours, a famous foodie, Mike and a wannabe Burlesque dancer, Anna, have a fling. Their affair sets the stage for personal change and recognition of his “sins” in the foodie. In the final story, Sweet Dreams, we meet Harry who had just lost his beloved wife Brenda,'

In this chat, we chat about the above and also Lisa's work on Television on Harry Secombe's Highway including a story about Prince Phillip which has to be heard to be believed and her work as a indie Television documentary worker and her work as a Family Mediator and Family Support Worker.

As a foot-note, the publisher that Liza refers to in this interview but was unable to announce at the time was revealed since as Scaramouche Press.

Her Amazon page is (Uk) Liza-Miles/e/B08F3MHHKQ?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizamileswriter/

Scaramouche Press can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/scaramouchepressscotland

Liza has also published a christmas story at her website which can be found at:

https://lizamileswriter.wixsite.com/mysite/post/november-25th-2020

Piece read at the end of the session:

Fresh Compo (Extract)

Latest up from Spoken Label is a regular at my co-run Literature Open Mic night Speak Easy, the wonderful Mike Booth.

You can read some of MIke's work at write out loud:

www.writeoutloud.net/profiles/mikebooth

He's also on facebook at:

www.facebook.com/mike.booth.18062

Poems read out in this session include:

Under Parrswood
Grave thoughts from above ground
Vertify
The Northern Society
I like to think of you
Lines
Granny Hi Tech

Latest Spoken Label Podcast is from the lovely Libby Taylor.

Libby L. Taylor is described as is a globally published poet and writer. She is originally from Leicestershire, England, but has spent most of her life living in the north of England in Sheffield.

She is currently an undergraduate student studying English Literature and Creative Writing at university.

Her work has featured in a wide range of literary journals across the world such as, Vaughan Street Doubles, Yellow Paint Magazine, Pendemic, Eris & Eros review and Flare Literary Journal

She works as a news journalist for the award-winning newspaper, The Linc, as well as working as a fiction editor for The Lincoln Review.

Her first poetry chapbook is Ethereality.

Her website is: https://libbyltaylor.wixsite.com/libbyltaylor

Poems read out in this session include:

Ethereality
The Old man and his memories
A Ghost of Me

Latest Spoken Label session features the lovely Lily Massey author of 'Work in Progress'.

'Work in Progress' as can be seen on her Amazon page is the debut collection by former Staffordshire Young Poet Laureate from 2018 to 2019, Lily Massey.

Lily Massey began writing poetry at the age of fourteen as a hobby, and has loved it ever since achieving the Young Laureate position for Staffordshire enabled her to really develop her craft and become a part of the poetry scene and community that spans across the county and further afield. Her poems are of many forms, genres, and lengths, but Lily lets her emotion diffuse into her words, and performing is when she feels they come alive.

You can find Lily's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Work-Progress-Lily-Massey/dp/1916369510/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Lily+Massey+work+in+progress&qid=1607551284&quartzVehicle=4015-1880&replacementKeywords=lily+massey+in+progress&sr=8-1

Poems read out in this session include:

Mask
The stars that try
Addiction
Empty Frames
Seeing her

Work in Progress

Contains adult topics and language not suitable for all

Latest up from Spoken Label is the wonderful Sarah Jane O'Hare.

Sarah Jane is a female poet nurturing an intimate relationship with herself, expressing through a deep connection with the sacred feminine and guiding other female identities in the process.

She is currently working on her debut poetry book on the themes of magick and myth, death and loss, healing, erotica, romance.

She is also the co-founder of Creation:Poetry in Sheffield, an inclusive poetry community, featuring rising poets,

and offering creative writing workshops.

More about Sarah can be found at:

www.ohsarahjane.co.uk

www.facebook.com/creationpoetryopc/

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/handle-with-care/id1476444878?uo=4

www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-jane-o-hare-8217591a3/

1.Ms. Red Polka Dot Box

Tinder Lessons

Latest from Spoken Label features the wonderful Rosie Wilby.

Rosie Wilby is an award-winning comedian who has appeared many times on BBC Radio 4 programmes including Woman’s Hour, Loose Ends and Four Thought, TV programmes including Good Morning Britain and at major festivals around the world. Her first book Is Monogamy Dead? was longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize 2018 and followed her TEDx talk of the same name and a trilogy of internationally-acclaimed solo shows investigating love and relationships. Rosie also presents The Breakup Monologues podcast, which will be published by Bloomsbury as a book in May 2021.

Follow her on twitter @rosiewilby

Her website is www.rosiewilby.com

The extract that follows the interview is from her debut book "Is Monogamy Dead?"

Todays Spoken Label feature is the wonderful Andrew Shanahan, author of Before and After.

Before and After is "Ben Stone is terrified. He's terrified because he weighs 601 pounds and needs his right leg amputating. He's terrified because a crane will shortly lift him from his fourth-floor flat and lower him 44 feet to an ambulance waiting below. He's terrified because he hasn't been outside in nine years and he doesn't know who will look after his beautiful dog. He needn't worry though, because the world is about to end.

"If you’re looking for a lovable main character, an action-packed story and a load of humour and horror along the way, you should definitely grab a copy of Before and After. Gore, humour, suspense, heart – it has everything, with as many twists and turns as you could hope for." Dystopic.co.uk

"Thought-provoking and inspiring, Before and After works on many levels." The British Fantasy Society ★★★★★ "

This book is almost too well written, I had to stop reading to wince at some of the gory bits. I cried in parts and found myself just wanting MORE." Emma Jones ★★★★★

"I love this book - it's like Shaun of the Dead with a weight loss twist." Yo ★★★★★

"As good a debut novel as The Wasp Factory. A really stunning book and as horrible as Iain Banks' debut novel." Jeremy Smith Before and After is a must-read for anyone who loves intelligent post-apocalyptic science fiction with a twist."

More about Andrew can be found at:

beforeandafter.youcanbook.me

helloshan.co.uk

(Amazon uk) /dp/B082XFC63T/

twitter.com/nervouscrying

shaniswriting (facebook)

shaniswriting (instragram)

The extract read out after the interview is roughly just over half of the first chapter of Before and After.

Latest up for Spoken Label is the wonderful Paul Stevens.

Originally from the swamps of Stockport, Paul Rev Porl Stevens has been performing as a poet since 1995.

The main thrust of his work though has been to bring poetry to non-poetry audiences, usually by appearing as a compere or support act to bands playing at venues such as Night and Day, the Star and Garter, Retro Bar and the Roadhouse. He has supported veteran Punk bands the UK Subs, GBH and the Subhumans, has appeared with Attilla the Stockbroker and Nick Toczek and has performed throughout most of England and Wales bearing sharp shades, a pint of something lethal and a big pink cross. Since 2003, he has also been involved in the Speakeasy project, bringing together the cream of Manchester Spoken Word artists with musicians from a variety of disciplines. 2012 saw the launch of Rise of Neon, his début novella, the first in a series of Superhero books set in Manchester.

More about Paul can be seen at: https://soundcloud.com/revporl/

OR https://revporl.bandcamp.com/

Pieces read out in this session include:

1.Ravens

2.Man alive

3.Doctor Thirsty

4.Poets>Houdini>PeacetimeHarm>Poets

Latest Podcast from Spoken Label features the wonderful Michael Brian, author off "My Introvert Journey To Being Visible!"

Michael's book is described as "If you've spent any amount of time online, at events or watching the media you might be forgiven for thinking that everyone you see is an extrovert and as an introvert there's no place for you to be visible unless you're willing to be someone different. That's exactly what author Michael Brian McDonnell thought, after a difficult beginning in life, diagnosed with a life long health condition, bullied as a teenager and a total introvert Michael felt as if his dreams of making a difference, having a successful online business and speaking on stage wasn't meant for someone like him, he battled with feeling safe VS chasing his dreams. Inside this book Michael shares his journey as an introvert that takes him from hiding to being seen, interviewing celebrities, becoming a media personality himself and everything in between. Dive behind the scenes and discover how this introvert overcame all the odds and obstacles to quit hiding and have the bright shinning lights of a Sky TV studio set beaming down on him. This book is perfect for you if you're ready to be seen but dealing with the fears, doubts and worries about whether it's safe for you or how you even go about it."

Michael can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VisibilityWithMike

https://linktr.ee/michael_mcdonnell1?fbclid=IwAR0dmg7b6MuxvZGw_7Z-IrzNDGVIwc-i0KDMHo8hRLUHkDxF1jcNaoQhX2k *(His Podcast show 'Ask Mike)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Introvert-Journey-Being-Visible/dp/B08KH3T7XF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=My+Introvert+Journey+To+Being+Visible%21&qid=1603821007&sr=8-1

My Introvert Journey To Being Visible: Join me on my journey from hiding in the shadows full of fear to Sky TV and beyond

Latest up from Spoken Label is a chat with a old friend, Rosa Wright.

She describes herself as a poet, performer and professional weirdo as well as acting, singing, playing ukulele, writing, directing, compering and creating immersive walkabout experiences.

She is the author of 'All my Mothers' and also has done shows such as the Love Calculator.

Poems read in this session include:

MA
Theory 2
Bay
Mothers Day
Don't blame us (BONUS)

More about Rosa can be found at: https://www.rosawright.co.uk/

Or on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/rosawrightperformer/

.New from Spoken Label today features a session with the wonderful Andi Talbot.

Andi can be found on intragram at: andichrist19

Poems read in this session include:

1.slough

2.don't let that be me

3.note to self

landlocked

Latest Spoken Label is with new Worcestershire Poet Laureate Leena Batchelor.

Leena is a spoken word artist, author, and poetic minstrel with a random thought-generator for a brain,

Leena currently has 3 poetry collections available, offering journeys through life, travels, relationships

and peeks into the darker corners of society and the judgements we make.

Her amazon page is: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ms-Leena-Batchelor/e/B07TDLLNGM%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Her website is https://pixiemuse.wordpress.com/

Poems read out include:

1) Hangover

2) Cool glass of water

3) Easy peace in uneasy times

4) Interminable waiting of a day dream

Latest from Spoken Label features the wonderful Carolyn Crossley.

Carolyn's Website is:

https://backfromdarknesstolight.com/

Poems read out were:

The Make-up Artist
Sacral Chakra
Invisible Women.

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features electronic ambient, dark ambient, atmospheric, experimental, sound artist Raych V.

Raych's solo music can be found here: raychv.bandcamp.com

Her project with Michael O'Brien as Summoners of the Soul can be found here summonersofthesoil.bandcamp.com

Contains topics not suitable for everybody

Latest Spoken Label is from the wonderful Isaac Hughes-Dennis.

Isaac Hughes-Dennis is a politi-folk comedy musician and occasional magician who combines eloquent wit,

upbeat tunes and bold political statements for the pleasure and entertainment of any given audience.

Described as ‘Tim Minchin on steroids’ and ‘The most un-politically correct young person’.

Instagram- @isaac.hughes.dennis

Bandcamp: https://isaachughesdennis.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isaachughesdennismusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdkIP5UFIbZWnFCfHmGAydA?fbclid=IwAR0D5TMYGIdY8uH5Z2yAwxC0rJUJ2S5aNLsYQLPwBEs4e04QKdaFo88H_yc

Pieces read out in this session include:

Cough on a tory
A song for Rishi Sunak
Teenage Jesus

Today's guest on Spoken Label is the wonderful Jeffrey Bryan who plays keyboards and rhythm guitar with the legendary Survivor among lots of other projects.

Jeffrey can be found at www.jeffreybryanmusic.com

Back in the house is the latest session from Spoken Label featuring the wonderful Annemarie Ní Churreáin.

ANNEMARIE NÍ CHURREÁIN is a poet from the Donegal Gaeltacht. Her publication list includes Bloodroot (Doire Press, 2017) Town (The Salvage Press, 2018) and a sequence of poems titled The Foundling Crib (Solstice Arts, 2020). She has also co-written a libretto titled Elsewhere with composer/director Michael Gallen and writer Dylan Coburn-Gray. Ní Churreáin is a 2020 Artist in Residence at Centre Culturel Irlandais Paris. Her book Bloodroot is available for order here: https://www.doirepress.com/writers/a_f/annemarie_ni_churreain/

Poem read out in this session was:

Family Law

Additional details about Annmarie can be found at:

http://studiotwentyfive.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64kJpSQTUQk&fbclid=IwAR3q7ya5CyBzT0qbvN-3bYFnq76WydOAxicjK2Mj4Xjo-3DLU2KftICHWDo

(The Song referred in the interview which Annmarie wrote)

https://twitter.com/NiChurr (Twitter)

https://www.doirepress.com/writers/a_f/annemarie_ni_churreain/ (Doire Press)

https://vimeo.com/287620534?

fbclid=IwAR2wQCfckwEU7y1aScx6y9uptKSwU3_rz3uavc_WkGFPdodF9d5qryV4X9I

(An excellent reading of Annmarie’s poem Sisters)

Latest Spoken Label session features the wonderful Saif Chaudhry (Who does immersive exhibits for museums) and Farah Ahmad (Poet)

Saif can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/saif.chaudhry.10/

Farah's poem which she reads towards the end is called War Child.

The video we refer to during the video that Farah is in can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFeHksgNr4c&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2VsFPP194niE5ijS8WMWE1gwQ0qCMPVKlr0qJum_u3WhDr_iFy6m-5Zh8

(I should have hugged you tighter when we last met (Oh what a joy))

Also mentioned in this session are:

ch?v=WS-zLm-54CQ&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR093xrIvmqr5ep9iidscKU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ObGUrpW2U&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR093xrIvmqr5ep9iidscKUpVA8sR5lnMTHO7_jDJnbodPCpLIoJqMcXB1Q

Latest Spoken Label is from the wonderful and very funny Tony KInsella.

More about Tony Kinsella can be found on his facebook profile at:

https://www.facebook.com/tony.kinsella.73

Both of his collections, Vladimar Putin is in my kettle and if you tolerate this this, your brain cells shall be next as well the Bard Company book he features in - Little Red Book can also be bought direct from tony on his email address: tonykinsella.61@gmail.com

Pieces read out in this session include:

she thought
festival
my life as a undertoe
vladimar putin is in my kettle
5 more minutes

Latest from Spoken Label is a session featuring a dear friend of ours from over 10 years from Write Out Loud Stockport Nigel Astell.

Poems read out in this session include:

When the Pink Petals fall
Bridge of Stone
Poetic pistols drawn
Time to Kill
A tragic last farewell
The eyes of history watch
can be found in Always Remember me (A Charity book from Printed Words)

at www.amazon.co.uk/Words-Remember-Printed-Anthology/dp/1393548857/ref=sr_1_1

3 - 6 can be found in

6 Weeks of Lockdown

www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/john-keane/6-weeks-of-lockdown/paperback/product-gdedq9.html

and 8 Weeks of Lockdown

www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/john-keane/8-weeks-of-lockdown/paperback/product-ddq89g.html

Nigel also has a profile on Write Out Loud which can be found here

www.writeoutloud.net/profiles/nigelastell

Words to Remember: A Printed Words Anthology

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features the amazing Nadia Kingsley off Fairacre Press and podcast host of Word Bin among many other projects.

More about Nadia can be found at: https://fairacrepress.co.uk/

https://fairacrepress.co.uk/the-word-bin/(which is available at Itunes, Soundcloud, Spotify, Podbean and all Podcast apps)

Viewpoint
Red for Danger
House Spider
Some things can be relayed on.

Latest up from Spoken Label features the wonderful James Russell.

Pieces read out include:

The Club
The Guest

More about James can be found at:

https://twitter.com/jamesrwrites

Latest Spoken Label features the lovely Amy Charlotte Kean:

You can find out more about Amy at:

twitter.com/keano81

Poems read out in this session include:

Captives
Evening Primrose
Mind your own business
Crow garlic

New from Spoken Label is the wonderful Tallulah Howarth.

More about Tallulah can be found at;

https://www.facebook.com/tallulahhowarthcreative/

Poems read out in this session include:

Kitchen Sink Surrealism
Bedroom at the bottom of the English Channel
There is something wrong with the tap
Humans are infintive repulsive

.Latest Spoken Label session is from the amazing Leanne Moden

More about Leanne can be found at:

https://www.leannemoden.com/

Pieces read out in this session include:

A piece of the pie
Fishface
Bad Kisser
Star Struck

.Back in the house today is Spoken Label this time with

the wonderful Steve Mingle.

More about Steve can be found at:

https://www.instagram.com/vlad.the.inhaler57/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu3svfsAzlAwQcAnTljLXVA

(Youtube - Garden Shed Poetry)

Ashton Market Part 1
Pictures of your dinner.
15 minutes of fame.
Smart Phone Wa*kers

Latest Podcast is back in Ireland with Danielle Holian

author off "Beautifully Chaotic" and "The Dilemma"

Danielle Holian can be found on twitter, instragram and facebook.

Poems read out include:

Four Walls.
Community
Wake Up Call
Where are you leaving?
Finding up
Boy to Man
My other half
Past Life
Stump
Grace to heartbreak

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Leila Ziari:

Some links for Leila include:

Official Website:

http://leilaziari.com/

Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/Leila-Ziari/e/B084RGXJJF

Official Poetry Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/lovepoemstoapoet/

Leila Ziari Official Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/leilaziaripoet/

Love Poems To A Poet:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084GNPMPR/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Official Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2gU46F9RmhTkZteu8qjpyg

Poems read out include:

Rivers of Passion
Born to love
Loyalty
Wishing on a star
Heartstrings

Love Poems To A Poet: 111 Poems Of Eternal Love, Passion and Desire

Top of the morning guys, back with anther session is Spoken Label with a session from Dina Nassour, all the way from Latakia, Al Ladhiqiyah in Syria.

More about Dina can be found at:

daughterofall (instragam)

Poems read out on this session include:

Disoriented
Bird
Of poetry, of desert and wild imagination with him
Snuffed Soul

Back in the house with Spoken Label is a old friend of ours, Sarah James reading and talking about his new multi media project Room

More about Sarah including a link to the project is here

www.sarah-james.co.uk

Pieces read out in this project include:

1) Diagnosis.

2) The arc as.

3) People scare me because.

4) Self forgivenes

5) Not

Contains topics and language not suitable for all

Back in the house, here is another new Podcast from Spoken Label featuring the lovely Leanne Geaney.

Poems read out in this session include:

Living the dream
The bee and the flower
I thought I couldn't live without you (...)
Are you loving it?

You can find out more about Leanne at:

www.commongroundscollective.ie/leannegeaney

Latest Spoken Label back in the house as always features the excellent Joanne McCarthy.

Poems read in this session include:

No Carbon Footprints
Inbite
Stargazing (with Irish translation afterwrds)
Unhousing

You can read Unhousing here:

https://humag.co/poetry/unhousing

And she also has work forthcoming in the Stony Thursday Book and the Stinging Fly.

..Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Beau Williams.

More about Beau can be found at:

https://beauwilliamspoet.com/

https://www.facebook.com/beauwilliamspoet/

https://www.instagram.com/beauwilliamspoet/

https://beauwilliamspoet.com/videos/

Pieces read out in this session include:

Highland Inn
Kylie Mae
Strongest act of bravery
Happiness is an old harmonium

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features the wonderful Sam Rapp.

Poems read out in this session include:

My World
I don't do Maths
Allington Lock
Don't Dys me
Friendship
My journey with Dyselxia

Some links for Sam include:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnEGlTHZkw0 (Her Poem -Rant)

whiskyandbeards.co.uk/2018/09/15/sam-rapp/ (Her page on whiskyandbeards)

uk.linkedin.com/in/sam-rapp-dyslexic-poet-and-fun-with-words-productions-06aa5a3a (Linkedin)

www.facebook.com/Sam-rapp-the-dyslexic-poet-1607623482810400/?ref=br_rs (Her page on facebook)

www.facebook.com/groups/354784238704167/?ref=br_rs (Fun with words facebook)

twitter.com/SamRapp8?fbclid=IwAR0iV2gt5hILIC7tt5cVUUIigl52Tt8yge5_wv8eNDsfujQ5VH_teZJ11lM (Twitter)

www.instagram.com/s_rapp_the_dyslexic_poet_/?fbclid=IwAR33vLdlBbGrG2W8q8Q6E4sUysWmxQWltnoDEc3eFFADKf5pEcM2hd8tNOQ (Instagram)

Back in the house for Spoken Label is the wonderful Mark Rogers.

Pieces read out were:

1) So

2) So

3) So

4) So

Mark can be found on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002462382303

He can also be contacted through markrogers462@btinternet.com & links to his books; '.....So,50' and '....So, much better' available direct from me or thru www.lulu.com

Back in the house for a returning session features a old friend of Spoken Label, Stafford's Poet Laureate, Mel Wardle Woodend.

Poets read out in this session include:

What is Community?
Echoes
Ally
Empathy

A video of Echoes created with Jonathon Watkiss can be found here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWtQ0xbNZQw&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3dn0ytg5Zj6Z1Y99PwSgyvymAVhHEaH09CnWL7fVUb67GrDji3hfs0COM

More about Mel can be found at: www.melwoodendwriting.com

Her facebook page is: www.facebook.com/melwardlewoodend/

With Amanda Steel sitting in attendance, Returning guest today for Spoken Label is the lovely Roz Weaver, originally from Liverpool but now based in Leeds.

Poems read out in this session include:

How Trauma dresses at Daybreak
Home is where the spirit goes
Vigil
Communion
Smoke the Peace Pipe
The moment you haven't met yet (Live, That's what she said, August 2019)

Her Instagram is @weaverroz

Blog is www.undercompulsionpoetry.com

Her debut book Smoke the Peace Pipe is available here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smoke-Peace-Pipe-Roz-Weaver/dp/1735023019/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Roz+Weaver&qid=1596743442&sr=8-1

Smoke the Peace Pipe

Latest from Spoken Label features the wonderful Grae J Wall all the way from St Albans.

More about Grae can be found at:

The poetry underground (facebook)

graejwall.bandcamp.com

graejwall.bandcamp.com/album/mouseclubvirusblues

Pieces read out during this session include:

Breathe
Barely talking
One simple day
We
The Waiting Lounge (Bonus – from mouseclubvirusblues)
The Bomb (Bonus from - mouseclubvirusblues)

The wonderful Don Dolby is our latest guest on Spoken Label.

Pieces read out on this session include:

November forest frost.
Can you?
Reflections on Hammersmith
Nothing
18 years, 10 months and 19 days.

Useful links for Don include:

blog: griffonnier.blogspot.com

website: www.elusiveillusion.co.uk

Poems by other poets local to Buxton can be found at:

buxtonspokenwords.blogspot.com

Latest up for Spoken Label is the wonderful Ruairi Coneely

You can find out more about Ruairi at:

https://about.me/rmconneely

https://twitter.com/RMConneely

Pieces read in this session were:

1) Sneeze Collector

2) (Untitled)

3) Auburn

Latest Spoken Label is from the wonderful Carol Fenwick, host of the excellent new Podcast series Carol's Pod reading out a few of her own poems:

Poems read out include:

1) Customer Service Experience

2) The Day Alex turns Dictator

The facebook for the Podcast series is: www.facebook.com/groups/2842007266022392/

A few links for the Podcast include:

(Anchor) anchor.fm/carol5297

(Spotify) open.spotify.com/show/53SDHg7oLcNjJF2uznD5m4

(Itunes/Apple) podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1523068198

(Breaker) www.breaker.audio/carols-pod

(Google Podcast) www.google.com/podcasts

(Overcast) overcast.fm/itunes1523068198/carol-s-pod

(Pocketcast) pca.st/nzfnudgk

(Radiopublic) radiopublic.com/carols-pod-Wx34oV

Spoken Label's archive is: spokenlabel.bandcamp.com

Back on the road for Spoken Label is a feature with the wonderful Mark P Henderson.

More about Mark can be found at: markphenderson.com

Pieces read in this session include:

(Extract from Folk Tales of the Peak)
(Extract from Cruel and unusual punnishments)
(Extract from National Cake Day)
(Extract from The Engklimastat)

Latest Spoken Label and keeping the flow going as always features all the way from France, Richard Earls.

More about Richard can be found at: www.facebook.com/richardearlslive/

www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbZEihDd1U3Re2JPRrAmmDdX9CTS3aT0d&fbclid=IwAR0PX5t5mVfxGWBinfpRHJRixs7uI7nTU8AH81qy8rdHsOjQJhOKy41UT68

Poems read out in this session include:

1) The Arms Factory Tour (Hellfire)

2) Too soon

3) Signposts

4) Don't hate Heroes

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Caroline Burrows (Versecycle).

More about Caroline can be found at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfagvsYi3w_p-Un63KgS_A (youtube)

VerseCycle (twitter)

VerseCycle (facebook)

Poems read out in this session include:

Junkies in the underpass
A Wilfred Owen Oydssey (A Spring cycling offensive)
Neil Young is everywhere.
The Hawthorn
The Last Waltz

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features the wonderful Lucy Sullivan, author / artist of Barking.

More details about Lucy can be found at: lucysullivanuk.com

(A second session with Lucy should be following all been well in July / August 2020 with my Comics Podcast Comics Unity)

Latest from Spoken Label features the wonderful Yvonne Reddick

Poems read out in this session include:

In Oil
Madness lake (Slight fluff – a cut will need to be made)
Translating Mountains from the Gaelic
In the burning seasons
Mountain Hare

More on Yvonne can be found at:

yvonnereddick.org

www.uclan.ac.uk/staff_profiles/yvonne_reddick.php

twitter.com/yvonnereddick

www.serenbooks.com/author/yvonne-reddick

Back in the house is Spoken Label, with a dear friend Steve Smythe who Andy co-runs a open mic literature night with called Speak Easy with Andy's partner, Amanda.

More information about Steve can be found at:

www.facebook.com/steve.smythe.12

Pieces read out include:

Spotlight
High Tide
Karaoke siren
Misconnected
Leaving Do

New from Spoken Label features a long time friend of Spoken Label Jeffarama! aka Jeff Dawson.

More about Jeff Dawson can be found on his write out loud page:

www.writeoutloud.net/profiles/jeffarama

The Bard Company albums are available for downloaded from:

thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/album/bard-company-all-systems-go

thecrowsofalbion.bandcamp.com/album/bard-company-raising-the-standards

Poems read out during this session include:

1) God grant me the serenity

2) Rock N Roll love poem

3) Give me a country that cares.

4) To you who gave everything.

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features the wonderful Anna Jordan.

Poems read out include:

1) Mothers Goodbye letter to a dirty face

2) Sticky feet

3) Tokyo, New York, My Ireland

4) Amazonian nights

More about Anna can be found here:

Modwords https://www.facebook.com/modwordswaterford/Modhearts

Modhearts Poetry Posts

https://www.facebook.com/modartsx/

Latest Spoken Label Podcast is from the excellent Luci:d .

Luci:d is an award-winning writer and spoken word poet. Her feature sets have included The Poetry Society. Her poetry has appeared in The Social Distancing Festival, covered by BBC, The Stage, and LA Times. Her poem, Clap featured alongside contributions from celebrities Emilia Clarke and Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock in the #copingtogether campaign.

Her work has been published in Litro, and has won the Writers Forum International short story competition. She was also one of the winners at Hammer and Tongue in October 2019.

Instagram @lucid_spokenword

YouTube: Luci:d Spoken Word

www.youtube.com/channel/UCde76iCSapjlBCmO-Nr43YA/videos

Poems read out in this session include:

Clap
Alright
Trolled

Latest archive session on Spoken Label dating back to November 2019 features the wonderful Linda Quinn

Linda Quinn grew up in a caravan in West Country fields and byways. Training at East 15, she worked for 15 years as an actress in theatre, tv and film, later creating and directing performances for Manumission Club in Ibiza. Completing an MA in Creative Writing at Birkbeck in London, her filmscripts have attracted A-lister attention. She lives and works in London, teaching Creative Writing at City Lit, Greek Street and Pikes Ibiza. She is now completing her first novel, and a series of short stories. She is a co-founder of Pikes Ibiza Literary Festival.

More information on Linda be seen at:

@ikanto on Instagram

@ikanto121 on Twitter

thewordfactory.tv/writer/linda-quinn/

Read latest work on thewordfactory.tv/story/what-the-eyes-dont-see/

Her agent is : Julia Silk: julia.silk@kingsfordcampbell.com

The extract is from 'Toffee man'.

Returning for Spoken Label is a old, dear friend of ours Stefan C Gambrell.

More about Stefan be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012988232484

Poems read out here include: (with thanks to Amanda Steel for attending the poetry section)

Free.
Ode to the Sofa Surfer
Evolution Baby

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Sophia Behal all the way from Czech Republic.

More about about Sophia can be found at:

wuhanpoetry, (bit.ly)

souphistication (tumblr)

audiobook/wuhan 1 (kobo)

Poems read out as part of this session include:

1) NUCity - Lights

2) Weapons down

3) Taken out of #Wuhan

Latest Spoken Label session features Natalie Crick.

Natalie Crick, from Newcastle in the UK, has poems published or forthcoming in Stand, Poetry Salzburg Review, Orbis, The Moth, Banshee, Strix, Bare Fiction, New Welsh Review and elsewhere. She is studying for an MPhil in Creative Writing at Newcastle University. Her poetry has been nominated for The Pushcart Prize twice, shortlisted for The Anthony Cronin International Poetry Award 2018, commended in the 2019 Hippocrates Open Awards for Poetry and Medicine and one of her poems was a runner-up in the PBS & Mslexia Women's Poetry Competition 2018, judged by Carol Ann Duffy. This year one of Natalie's poems was commended in the Verve Poetry Festival Competition 2020 on the theme of diversity. She is currently a creative-practitioner-in-residence at the Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research at Newcastle University.

Some links for Natalie include:

And there are a few links:

www.ncl.ac.uk/elll/study/students/cricknatalie.html?fbclid=IwAR2VjsqLHykWwdaNnvEp-i6aI5FRdyW0_xith4QHmOEzmzbz3YZzWSbNDFU

www.poetrybooks.co.uk/blogs/news/womens-poetry-competition-runner-up-natalie-crick

Twitter; natalieiswriting999

Instragram: PoetryNatalie

Facebook: fragmentedvoices

Poems read out in this session include:

1.'I See You' (published in The Manchester Review)

'Red' (published in Banshee)
'In Remembrance' (published in New Welsh Review)
'Acute Admissions Ward' (published in The Verve Anthology of Diversity Poems and commended in the Verve Poetry Festival Competition 2020)
'30 Days' (published in Orbis)
'Baby's Breath' (published in The Interpreter's House.)

Back with his 200th episode (somehow), Andy N chats to Amanda Steel about the history of Spoken Label, and answers questions about the development of this Podcast, how things have changed and offers hints about the future.

The full archive is at spokenlabel.bandcamp.com

contains topics not suitable for everybody

Latest Poet is from the wonderful and very funny poet from Limmerick

Paul McNamara:

Pieces read out in this session include:

1) Dating is hard

2) Pauline O'Kelly (aka The Granny Poem)

3) Quarterlife crisis

More information about Paul can be found at:

paulmcpoet (Twitter)

PaulMcPoet (Facebook)

New from Spoken Label is a old friend from Spoken Label, Pete Slater who returns with a brief chat and lots of his poetry.

Poetry read out in this session include:

1) The End of Summer

2) We are Soldiers

3) Homeless Blues

4) No Return.

5) Olden Days

Pete can be found on facebook as PeteSlaterPoet and youtube as the same.

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features the wonderful Tahira Rehman.

Tahira Rehman is a Performance-Poet and an Outreach support worker in Leeds. Her poetry has been published in the US by Our Verse Magazine, Soul-Lit and locally by Make Our Rights Reality Campaign.

She made a big name for herself in 2019 with headline performances at award-winning and long running spoken word nights such as Spoken Weird and Punk in Drublic. She is also the author of Mirages to Reality published in

April 2019.

"A uniquely styled performance that was atmospheric and powerfully thought provoking!" - Blur

The Lines | Leeds Playhouse

More about Tahira can be found at: www.tahirarehman.com

Poems read out during this session include:

1) Mirage

2) Escape

3) Sit by me

4) Travelling Eyes

5) Undefined happiness

Back in the house is a new session with old friend of Spoken Label, DreyZera.

Some links for Drey include:

www.drayzera.net

www.drayzera.net/merch.html

www.facebook.com/drayzera

www.twitter.com/drayzera

www.youtube.com/c/drayzera

www.instagram.com/drayzera

Pieces read out in this session include:

1) Love of Gabrielle

2) Breeze Of The Sweet Blue Sea

3) Gin unlocked

Latest Spoken Label features the lovely Helena Ascough.

Pieces read out in this session include:

The Wicked Witch
I might not get a 1st.
Spring
Balloon Brain

More about Helena can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/HelenaLouiseAscough/ (facebook)

https://www.instagram.com/hellielouascough (Instagram)

https://twitter.com/Helena_Ascough (Twitter)

Back in the house for Spoken Label is the wonderful Martin Zarrop, author of three collections, his most recent collection being ‘Is anyone there?’

All three of Martin’s books can be found easily on Amazon

And all great booksellers.

Poems read out in this session include:

Lonelyville.
Zombie
Hands
To my 90s

Latest Spoken Label Podcast is from MIchael Maul, author of "Dancing Naked in Front of Dogs (Selected Poems 2014 - 2018)" and "Birds Who Eat French Fries".

More about Michael can be found at his website www.michaelmaul.net

or his facebook page

www.facebook.com/Michael-Maul-Poetry-429141337692248/

Poems read out in this session include:

Anniversary Poem
German Town
Love songs for Melanie Harrison
Husbands lost in Florida

Latest Spoken Label Podcast featuring the wonderful Amy Lee Tempest.

More details about:

www.amyleetempest.co.uk (Website)

@ amy_lee_tempest (Twitter)

@ Amy-Lee-Tempest-102449711139713 (Facebook)

Pieces read out during this session include:

1) Slaughterhouse 4

2) The tent

3) Lungs

4) Things I didn't do during Co-vid 19.

Featuring adult language not suitable for all

Latest Spoken Label feature features the wonderful Natasha Borton.

More about Natasha can be found at:

https://natashaborton.com/ (Website)

https://www.facebook.com/natasha.borton/ (Facebook)

Pieces read out in this session include:

Hidden in plain sight
Ginger
My body

Back in the house for Spoken Label is a wonderful Irish Poet I met somewhere around 2010 Órla Fay.

More about Órla can be found at: http://orlafay.blogspot.com/

Poems read out in this session include:

1) The Persuasion of time

2) Words for mobile

3) The member of the wedding

4) How the West is won

Contains language not suitable for everybody

Latest Spoken Label is from the lovely Gemma Whiteley.

More details about Gemma can be found at:

Twitter: @Gemma_Whiteley

Twitter: @CompanyFourMcr

sensiblegem.weebly.com/poetry.html

(Some of Gemma's work can be read here)

Work read out in this session:

Bricks
Sand
Hangover
Mam

Latest Spoken Label features myself, Andy n on a reprint from the excellent Jenny Berry Show on Salford City FM Word on the Street.

On this show, I read out the following poems:

Hardrock Village
The streets were all we could see (extracts)
the ghost of liverpool empire

More about me as always can be found at: onewriterandhisplc.blogspot.com

or facebook - andynstorytellerpoet

Back in the house from Spoken Label is another new session from the lovely Deirdre Rose.

More about Deirdre can be found at:

www.commongroundscollective.ie/deirdrerose

www.instagram.com/writeondee/

Poems read out in this session include:

Anti-Immaculate,
Lessons for my former self,
You
A & E

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Christopher Moriarty.

Poems read out in this session include:

Green Eggs and Sam
Who killed John Lennon?
End Games

More about Christopher can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherMoriartyAuthor/?ref=br_rs

Back in the house with our second session already for May,

is the excellent Reggie Agulha.

Recorded literally just lockdown was announced (about three hours

actually), this is the last currently of Podcasts for Spoken Label

recorded in person and this case was outside a bar when it was raining

a little and we had people walking past and the odd car going past too.

More about Reggie can be found on his facebook profile which is:

https://www.facebook.com/regi.agulha

Poems read out in this session include:

A Man for all seasons:

1) Autumn

2) Summer

3) Bit of Reasoning

4) Things I will never understand

First Podcast for May for Spoken label features the lovely Sarah Pritchard:

More about Sarah can eb found at:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07SJ7YWXP/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

(Amazon link to her book - when women fly)

www.facebook.com/SarahPegasus/

(English Alien - her page on facebook)

www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Voice-Publishing-Anthology-1-ebook/dp/B07W6R9MP8/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&qid=1588338825&refinements=p_27%3ASarah+Pritchard&s=digital-text&sr=1-5&text=Sarah+Pritchard

(Hidden Voices Publishing Volume 1 which Sarah edited)

Poems read out in this session include:

when women fly (extract from forward)
not a girl yet (extract from daddy's minx girl)
guitar woman
fragile freedom

Hidden Voice Publishing Anthology: Volume 1 (Hidden Voice Publishing Anthologies)

When Women Fly: The Seven Ages of a Mad Woman

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Fokkina McDonnell who I met back in March at her home. She is the author of three collections 'Another Life (2016 - Oversteps Books), Nothing serious nothing dangerous (2019 - Indigo Dreams) and A Stolen Hour (2020 - Grey hun Press)

You can find out more about Fokkina at: https://acaciapublications.co.uk/

Poems read in this session were:

1) Cellar

2) Music

3) A Stolen Hour

4) Quantum

Back in the house, latest Spoken Label features a writer right from my old home town, Stretford D_James_Bond

More about D can be found out at:

https://twitter.com/D_jamesbond

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dbond34

https://www.wattpad.com/davidjbond

He is also the cohost of the new Podcast series Managing Without Football:

https://soundcloud.com/managingwithoutfootball

Pieces read out in this session include:

1) 1913

2) Silent Sunset

3) English Village

4) Alpine Sunset

Latest Spoken Label session features Crumpsall Riddle. Crumpsall Riddle is Steven Ball and Jude Cowan Montague talking about their debut album 'Looking after the Duck'.

The album can be purchased from: https://wormholeworld.bandcamp.com/album/looking-after-the-duck

Song played after the session is 'The Old Man'

www.judecowanmontague.com

twitter.com/JudeMontague

www.facebook.com/jude.montague

directobjective.blogspot.com

twitter.com/Steven_Ball

www.facebook.com/ballsteven

Contains language not suitable for everybody

Recorded pre lockdown and at Stretford’s always welcoming Literature open Mic night, Speak Easy before a recent show (and includes two pieces recorded live) features the wonderful Amy King.

More details about Amy can be found on Facebook at: amykingpoetry.

Poems read out include two bonus pieces recorded at Speak Easy on the night

Which give a feel for Amy live too:

1) Eight things that prove I am growing.

2) Coming out in Witherspoons

3) Eight things that prove I am growing (Live SpeakEasy April 2020)

4) It’s fine to get checked for a FTI (Live SpeakEasy April 2020)

Featuring special guest co host, Amanda Steel - Making a long overdue return to Spoken Label is David Hartley was originally featured back on Spoken Label all the way back in April 2016, and at the time was the runner of Speak Easy, Stretford's always welcoming open mic literature night. Since I (Andy N) took over the night with Steve and Amanda, David has now moved onto to running Big Words, a very similar kind of night in Chorlton which ran from 2018 to the end of 2019.

David also talks about his work starring in new indie horror film 'Chasm of Lies' and his new EP 'Yawn' a ep of stories.

Yawn can be streamed / downloaded from https://davidhartley.bandcamp.com/

His official website is http://www.davidhartleywriter.com/

Chasm of Lies can be seen on youtube at - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES3OGPSQrJs

Tracks from Yawn played following the interview are:

1) Yawn

2) Float

Latest Session Spoken Label recorded recently features the wonderful Thomas McColl, author of "Grenade Genie" from Fly in the Wall Press (Thanks to Fly in the Wall for putting us in touch) who I chatted to recently.

Poems recorded during this session included:

the greatest poem
Security pass
the phony war
the surgery I go to has a two headed doctor

More details about Thomas can be found at:

Website: thomasmccoll.wordpress.com

Twitter: thomasmccoll2

Latest Spoken Label features the wonderful Anthony Smith, a regular at Speak Easy, the Literature open mic night I co run.

Anthony can be contacted at: anthonypauleosmith@outlook.com

Pieces read out during this session:

1) One at a time.

2) A intriguing idea

3) P T S D (Darker Days and Nights)

4) A change of perspective.

5) A love for the simple things so beautiful.

6) Listen to you

7) A love letter

8) Manchester

Following from the welcome reissue of her first session on Spoken Label a few days ago, Spoken Label is proud to present a brand new session from Sarra Culleno where she reads the following pieces:

Pieces read out here include:

Burn Out
Fireworks in February
Shut Up
Big Voice
Beacon
Dam Busting

London born and Manchester based, Sarra Culleno is a poet, mother of two and English teacher who is widely published and performs at poetry events across the UK. She writes about children’s rights, motherhood, identity, gender, age, technology, the environment, politics, modern monogamy and education. She features in numerous podcasts, radio shows, and literary festivals as Featured Poet. She was longlisted for the Cinnamon Press Pamphlet Prize.

@sarracullenopoetry – Instagram

@sarra1978 – Twitter

Sarra1978@hotmail.com – Email

facebook.com/sarracullenopoetry – FaceBook

Recorded live on twitter on 09 April 2020, Amanda Steel reads out a extract from her new book 'Ghost of Me' and answers questions sent in by Andy N (Spoken label).

Ghost of Me can be bought from all booksellers including Amazon on:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghost-Me-Amanda-Steel-ebook/dp/B07YNRH3FC/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=amanda+steel+ghost+of+me&qid=1586451879&sr=8-2

(among lots of places)

Ghost of Me

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features the amazing Pete K Mally, rock compere/DJ/comedian and Author of 'Resurrection Mill' and the forthcoming 'The Call'

More information about Pete can be found at:

petekmally.co.uk

Latest Spoken Label flashback episode dates back to June 2019 and features is the lovely Sarra Culleno who I met at Stretford's leading Spoken Word night 'Speakasy' just before.

More of Sarra's poetry can be seen at her youtube channel of www.youtube.com/channel/UCOXQq5kcpq5hhOZBvA0T_Ag

Poems read out during this session include:

Lamb & Tiger
Wedding Lie
Muruch Gollerus
Madam May
Lost in my D.Ms
Anahita

After the interest in my recent two magazines special, enclosed today is another special featuring the return of a dear friend of Spoken Label, Belle Kenyon of the publishers Fly on the Wall Press

More details about Fly on the Wall can be found at: www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features the lovely Attracta Fahy who I had the pleasure of chatting with recently.

Attracta is the author of 'Dinner in the fields' which is published by Fly on the Wall Press.

The book can be found at: https://www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk/product-page/dinner-in-the-fields-by-attracta-fahy

Pieces read out in this session include:

1) The Woman in waterside House

2) Etchings

3) Moon World

4) Our Sleeping World

Flashback episode from the Spoken Label archive (spokenlabel.bandcamp.com) originally recorded

back in July 2019 featuring a dear friend of Spoken Label, Ant Briscoe.

Pieces read out during this session include:

Report from the Clown Funeral
Space is Ace
Sell out
Heartbreak

More details about Ant can be found at:

Instergram: Abfreelanceartist

Twitter: ABFArtist

Facebook: anthony.briscoe.58

Latest Spoken Label is a extra little session done by the returning Roxy Walsh who did a few poems supporting myself and Amanda when we read out at Write Out Loud Sale on their first virtual gig (Our set will follow as a separate session shortly)

More about Roxy can be seen here:

Facebook @ fearlessmusicmcr

Instragram @ fearlessmusicmcr

Some of Roxy's poetry can be read on this facebook group @ groups/1606097133042691/

With special guest Amanda Steel, the latest Spoken Label Podcast features the excellent Juliette van der Mole

Juliette van der Molen is an expat poet living in Wales. She is an intersectional feminist and member of the LGBTQIA community.

Her work has also appeared in The Wellington Street Review, Nightingale & Sparrow, Burning House Press and several other publications.

Her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize (2018) and Best of The Net (2019).

Juliette is also the Poetry Editor for Mookychick Magazine.

Her books include: Death Library: The Exquisite Corpse Collection and Mother May I? Forthcoming books: Anatomy of A Dress (The Hedgehog Poetry Press, December 2019) and Confess: The untold story of Dorothy Good (TwisiT Press, October 2020).

You can connect with her on Twitter via @j_vandermolen.

Her website is: www.juliettewrites.com

Pieces read out in this session include:

1) Anatomy of A Dress

2) Extract from "Birth Night"

Contains language in some of the poems not suitable for all

Latest from Spoken Label features the wonderful Leeds based Mike Southwell.

Mike can be found on facebook at: facebook.com/mike.southwell.9

or instragram at @mikespokenword

Poems read out during this session were:

1) Masculinity

2) Every Single breath

3) Plenty of bumbling on tinder fish

credits released March 19, 2020

A special tonight with Amanda Steel (Creator of Printed Words) and Alta Mabin (Creator of Poets United) talking about together their magazines they are both running.

You can contact Alta about her magazine on AMabin@protonmail.com

or her facebook page - www.facebook.com/alta.mabin.10

Amanda can be emailed at: contact@amandasteelwriter.com

Printed Words be found at: www.amandasteelwriter.com/440793822

Latest Spoken Label session is from the lovely Alice Spencer.

Links / more information about Alice can be found at:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=CT8Bv2GdxoE&feature=youtu.be (Unleashed voices video)

Instagram :alicegracepoetry

Facebook: Alicegracepoetry

Instagram: The Rise Collective

Therisecollective.org.uk

Poems recorded ofr Spoken Label include:

1) Unleashed voices

2) Superhero

3) underneath my head scarf

all rights reserved

Flashback episode to January 2020 from Spoken Label featuring Roxy Walsh,

Pieces read during this session include:

Looking Glass
Almost Over
Narcissist
Neglected Favourite

More about Roxy can be seen here:

Facebook @ fearlessmusicmcr

Instragram @ fearlessmusicmcr

Some of Roxy's poetry can be read on this facebook group @ groups/1606097133042691/

Latest Session is from the lovely Emily Oldfield.

Her collection can be bought from

www.poetrysalzburg.com/grit.htm

Other links relation to Emily include:

twitter.com/emilyvoldfield

www.visitmanchester.com/ideas-and-inspiration/haunt-manchester

Poems read out in this session include:

1) Bacup

2) Brock

3) Brown Wardle Hill

4) Waterfoot

Latest Spoken Label session is a rebroadcast of a recent session Amanda did for Jenny Berry's show on Salford FM in Feb.

The extract Amanda read out from is his recently released book 'Ghost of Me'

Book can be purchased from www.amandasteelwriter.com/440655072

Latest Spoken Label Podcast features the wonderful Mara Malins.

Mara's official website is maramalins.com

She is also on twitter @MaraMalins

Lastest Spoken Label Session is by the lovely Sophia Hadji-Michael.

More details about Sophia can be found at:

Instagram: artdressit

Facebook: Artdress-it

The Event Sophia is referring to can be found at:

facebook.com/events/s/artdress-it-artistic-awareness/179180373142495/?ti=icl&__mref=mb

**

Spoken Label is a podcast label and series designed to interview and record sessions from authors, poets, artists, musicians etc in North West England and beyond.

Formed in 2015 and ran / edited by Andy N, author of ‘Return to Kemptown’ and ‘The End of Summer’,it is always often to submissions from interested artists

It's full archive of over 150 episodes can be found at spokenlabel.bandcamp.com

Email: aen1mpo@yahoo.co.uk

Latest Spoken Label session features the wonderful Emma Lee.

Pieces read out in this session include:

Bridal dresses in Beirut
I saw life jackets left on the beach
The significance of a dress
When your name’s not Smith

More details about Emma can be read:

emmalee1.wordpress.com

Spoken Label is a podcast label and series designed to interview and record sessions from authors, poets, artists, musicians etc in North West England and beyond.

Formed in 2015 and ran / edited by Andy N, author of ‘Return to Kemptown’ and ‘The End of Summer’,it is always often to submissions from interested artists.

Its full archive of over 150 episodes can be found at spokenlabel.bandcamp.com

Email: aen1mpo@yahoo.co.uk

Latest Spoken Label Podcast (My Author Chat series) features the wonderful David Dalgleish

More about David Dalgleish can be seen at his website:

vermilionbee.co.uk

A video of his original book launch of his book from 2010 can be seen here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5niqxs3oUCQ

His youtube channel is:

www.youtube.com/channel/UCgw-7Y56yLcQrQDCoOjyGGw

Work read out in this session include:

1) Water

2) Extract from 'Where does Racism come from?'

**

Spoken Label is a podcast label and series designed to interview and record sessions from authors, poets, artists, musicians etc in North West England and beyond.

Formed in 2015 and ran / edited by Andy N, author of ‘Return to Kemptown’ and ‘The End of Summer’,it is always often to submissions from interested artists.

It's full archive of over 150 sessions can be found at spokenlabel.bandcamp.com

Email for Andy N is aen1mpo@yahoo.co.uk