Every issue we find an exciting new writer whom you should keep an eye on and ask them a few questions.

This issue we are happy to present Kathryn Simmonds, a poet and short story writer whose debut collection of poetry Sunday at the Skin Launderette was published to great critical acclaim and won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection.

“…I found that if I read quickly enough, I could ignore the quality of the writing and focus on the bubblegum sweet romance and faintly ridiculous but nonetheless gripping action…”

Incisive comments on recently published books. Sharpen your taste here…

Anyway this (.) basically this (0.5) last one is just to say that (0.5) when, erm (.) when I lose this (.) arm (0.5) I’m not going to be able to (0.5) use the •hhh Dictaphone (0.5) any more (0.5) and I still have my tongue for the moment (1) so I’d better say bye (.) now (.) I’d better say it’s been a •hhh pleasure talking to you (.) I’d better say that (.) er (0.5) I’ll miss you (0.5) •hhh (unintelligible) it’s been nice (.) it’s been (0.5)

Apologies for any disturbance to the site while we upload Issue 2. It will be worth it!

INTERVIEWS

The retiring poet laureate ANDREW MOTION talks to us about getting over writer’s block and the poems he regrets writing.

The leading Shakespeare expert PROFESSOR STANLEY WELLS on the life portrait and loopy conspiracy theorists.

Renowned Faber poet MARK FORD on his love of oddities, fear of clichés and a swimming pool full of peanuts.

Keep an eye on…KATHRYN SIMMONDS. Exciting new award-winning poet.

ARTICLES

Stanza Festival report: Are poetry readings a waste of time?

Nightmare of Existence: The ordeal of Samuel Beckett’s Not I

Guilty Pleasures: The delicious appeal of shiny shiny vampires and bad writing.

Disconnection/Dystopia: Losing yourself in dystopian novels

POETRY

New Voices in Poetry. This issue, Oli Hazzard, Colette Sensier, Anna Kirk and Liz Fincham.

SHORT STORIES

Recordings by a man literally falling apart in a story by Anna Towers

A Minotaur, chess, a prodigy and disappointment in ‘China Shop’ by Eley Williams
REVIEWS
Incisive comments on latest releases by our team of reviewers.

Oli Hazzard

as dawn
new
shadows soak

through the earth chasing

the dip
of their spool
hmm

i have lain here hours
waiting for the rattling birds
spilling on
tilting panes

to sink into sight

the
stars withdrew long ago

claiming the rights

of distance
no
my armpits offer
no warmth for hands
still cold
still clean
as ladles

in my palm
the holly leaf rocks

its crown of cradles

now the birds cry out
loosely swung in a net
long still shafts of light
stand through the clouds
thinking
what came to itself
with such ease

as though through years

it is here
it has …