International Women's Day 2019 event, Hawick, Scotland

It would be great to see you at the International Women's Day 2019 event in Hawick at the Cornucopia Room along with excellent local writers Zozan Yasar, Dorothy Alexander, Honor Donahoe, Jules Horne, Anita John, Margaret Skea and myself. We will be talking about our practice and there will be readings too plus a chance for some chat.

Tickets are available here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-writers-tickets-56654448982. Free event but you need to register.

Mauricewood Devils Dorothy Alexander @FreightBooks launch 27th February 2016 Galashiels Scotland

Poet Dorothy Alexander launches her first novel The Mauricewood Devils in the Scottish Borders.

'This is an engrossing story about a vital piece of social history. If that sounds dull, be assured that Alexander's finely wrought characters are anything but. Martha and Jess sparkle among the poverty and coal dust, their voices ringing out down the years that have seen too many people lost in industrial disasters. It is an important tale, beautifully told, and deserves to be better known.' The National

The event is from 2.30 to 4.30pm at MacArts. There will be readings and cake. Free.

You know we don't go in much for giving fiction a mention on p&g but very much prepared to make an exception for this subtle, warm, and challenging work.

More details and you can buy the book here http://www.freightbooks.co.uk/the-mauricewood-devils-by-dorothy-alexander.html. More about Dorothy here http://www.dorothyalexander.co.uk/

Line up revealed at Stowed Out Roxxap Roar stage 29th August Stow, Scotland

The full line up is revealed for the first ever Roxxap Roar Stage at Stowed Out boutique festival.

Feast your eyes...carefully planned so you can get your poetry and music fix.

And all this for a tenner. U18 £5 U12 free. Plus there is a ukele workshop.

More information here https://www.facebook.com/stowedoutfestival

Calum Bannerman wins the inaugural Stowed Out Poetry Slam 2015

Calum Bannerman was a clear winner today in what is perhaps the first competitive spoken word slam in the Scottish Borders. He wowed with poems on his addiction to his girlfriend, a sweet and violent revenge and why we should write poems about him. A no paper performer - p&g is very much looking forward to his set at the Stowed Out Festival . He will be joining Harry Giles, Colin Will, Rab Wilson, Sara Clark, Bridget Khursheed, Dorothy Alexander and Thomas Clark on the Roxxap Roar Stage on the 29th August along with runners up Stuart Jones (with his memorable poem The Kidnapping of Gary Linker) and David Hendry.

The event took place at Mac Arts in Galashiels - a really memorable venue for spoken word. And respect to all the contenders - the standard was excellent. p&g looks forward to more and more slams...

You can find more on Calum here @Bannerbean and, if you want to come along, details on Stowed Out Festival here http://www.soundout.org.uk/stowed-out/

Stowed Out 2015 dazzle me with your spoken word..

Yes there are a couple of free slots - about 15 minutes each - on the Roxxap Roar Spoken Word Stage: do your stuff and get free entry to the festival and some spending money.

A great opportunity...

The Roxxap Roar Spoken Word stage will feature local performance artists Sara Clark, Dorothy Alexander, Anita John, Jules Horne, Thomas Clark and special guests. Bridget Khursheed says "It is very exciting to be curating the spoken word event at Stowed out - spoken word has been making media headlines but it is an art that has always been alive and well here in the Borders - local talent and some headline names from around the UK will be strutting their stuff on the Roxxap Roar stage in high energy, performance shots on subjects as diverse as punk love, oystercatchers, consumer tics and knitting with dog hair; I am keeping a couple of spaces for anyone who can dazzle me with their set on YouTube - please get in touch via Twitter or the usual email. Sara Clark will be on hand to show festival goers how to write your own spoken word. And a cash slam prize is also available for the best set on the day.

What am I expecting to see on YouTube or your video - well something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbzgnOSVARo
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UColNF6IOKNneVoHFIiU5e7g

Scott's Treasures Abbotsford, Scotland Tuesday 18th 2014

Rehearsals have started in earnest for Scott's Treasures at Abbotsford on Tuesday 18th 2014.

And I have to say, though not as as an impartial observer, things are looking pretty good. The interesting things about this project - or rather the staging of it on Tuesday - is the involvement of actors from award-winning Firebrand Theatre Company.

We had a 2 hour run-through which began with techniques for relaxing and breathing followed by a new one to me - talking and listening in different acted situations; we read our poems but as if for example talking to a young child. This proved an excellent way of releasing intonation and meaning. We worked in pairs - I had a dark poem of Dorothy Alexander's to listen to and found my 5 year old self became quite troubled! The end result is a much clearer understanding of the audience as a person you are talking to and communicating with. Something that performing poets (as opposed to actors) may lose sight of.

Finally we got onto the read-through which after the set of exercises seemed a piece of cake - a satisfying workout for the voice and engagement levels.

You can judge the results for yourself on Tuesday. And expect a twist or two!

More and how to book here -http://www.scottsabbotsford.com/event-registration/?ee=44 - and more on Firebrand here http://www.firebrandtheatre.co.uk/

Scott's Treasures

A wonderful return visit to Abbotsford in the Scottish borders the home and creation of Walter Scott the Scottish poet, novelist, collector and a whole lot more, for this workshop led by poet Dorothy Alexander.

The Scott's Treasures project shares Scott's wonderful collection as a stimulant to creative response. My first participation today and I even got to write a ballad - yes, the ballad form I love - which I may or may not develop; my "object" itself must remain a secret.

More to follow on this as things develop.

In the meantime, this is a picture of Maida, Scott's Scottish deerhound, as sculpted by John Smith - builder and sometimes architect of Abbotsford - who even worked on Christmas Day to complete it. Smith found Maida - who was so used to painters that he used to slope off on their arrival - very wriggly; and had more success with his monumental red sandstone William Wallace further down the Tweed near Dryburgh Abbey where Scott is buried. Maida is buried beneath the statue.

You can find out more about the project here http://cabn.info/events-talks/scotts-treasures-poetry-workshops-at-abbotsford.html.

The latest from the writing Fragments

The writing Fragments project is coming to a conclusion - ready for the final event at Melrose Abbey on 5th April 2014.

We poets have scoured the medieval mind and body for inspiration.

If you check back over the next weeks you can view new work from participating writers: Mary Smith, Sandy Watson, Vivien Jones, Anita John, Dorothy Alexander, John McEwen, Yvonne Crossley, Molly Watson, Eve Polly and Bridget Khursheed.

Find out what is going on here http://fragmentsinwords.tumblr.com/