October 11, 2015

A poet reflects

National Poetry Day came and went on Thursday (8 October) and as well intentioned as I was, I didn’t have a thing to show for it. Between my day job (I’m working as an English support teacher in a London secondary school) and spending my evenings preparing for my forthcoming court case, sadly there isn’t much brain power left for creative pursuits in this limbo life of mine as of late. In the interim, here’s another promo shot taken amidst happier times…and better weather. For as we enter autumn, I will reflect on the good times as I walk the road not taken into happier times post litigation!

V is for Victory...House!

V is for Victory…House!

Posted by on October 11, 2015 in Biography, Poetry, Writing and tagged , .

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September 26, 2015

My poetry pamphlet at the Free Verse Fair London 2015

Free verse fair 2015.jpgToday my poet hubby, Joseph Robert and I swung by the Free Verse Fair at Conway Hall in London. It goes without saying that it was great to see my poetry pamphlet, A Model Archaeologist (available from my publisher Eyewear Publishing and from my online shop Meandi Books) alongside all the other books at the stall.

Eyewear Publishing stall 2015.jpeg

The fair is on until 4.30pm today. As I’m writing over a coffee in Red Lion square park, it’s great to have a moment to enjoy the last of the nice weather in London before getting back into the throng at the fair. This is a much needed day of poetry book shopping that I have delayed for too long!

Posted by on September 26, 2015 in Chapbooks/pamphlets, Eyewear Publishing, Literary Reviews - Leilanie's thoughts, Poetry, Publishing and tagged , , , , .

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September 17, 2015

Fighting the good fight!

Sometimes in life, a writer and poet must struggle with the work-life balance, which can often get knocked askew by things in the real world. In the cold, harsh dawn of reality, the other side of Leilanie Stewart author is fighting a battle that will be going to court in mid-January next year. I have now metamorphosed from writer into litigant in person! Alas, a starving artist must be her own solicitor since there is no such thing as legal aid and court fees are so high in the UK!

A big hairy mess...fighting the legal fight

A big hairy mess…fighting the legal fight

But some things are worth the fight, for if we do not fight for our rights, we lose them.

Continue reading →

Posted by on September 17, 2015 in Biography and tagged , , , .

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August 27, 2015

Eric Gregory Award 2016 prize

With the new academic year about to start next week, what better way to kick off the new term than for young poets to get submitting their work! The Eric Gregory Award is a poetry competition for British poets aged 30 and under for a first pamphlet length collection of up to 30 poems…and a formidable incentive of £20,000 for the first place winner. Details can be found on the competition website here. Good luck!

Posted by on August 27, 2015 in Poetry and tagged , , .

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August 12, 2015

Magazines seeking submissions

Ravenscourt Park.jpgHere is a quick round-up of literary magazines seeking submissions for short stories and poetry over the summer:

Nutshell Magazine – Poetry and Short Stories

The Compass Magazine – Poetry only for online publication

Pulsar Poetry – now a poetry ezine

Keep searching at The Poetry Library!

Posted by on August 12, 2015 in Poetry, Short Stories, Writing and tagged , , .

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July 30, 2015

Poetry reading from the Eyewear Publishing launch

Eyewear summer launch.jpeg

Last night the Eyewear 20/20 pamphlet summer launch was held at The Rugby Tavern in Holborn London. Publisher and poet, Todd Swift, hosted the event with eight poets reading to an audience of around 40-50 people. My lovely hubby, Joseph Robert, kindly took a video of me reading 2 of my poems – Hadrian’s Wall and Peat Bog from my debut pamphlet, A Model Archaeologist (available from my publisher Eyewear Publishing).

Posted by on July 30, 2015 in Chapbooks/pamphlets, Eyewear Publishing, Literary Reviews - Leilanie's thoughts, Poetry and tagged , , .

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July 28, 2015

Eyewear 20/20 Pamphlet Summer Launch

speechbubble.jpegTomorrow, I’ll be reading from my debut poetry pamphlet, A Model Archaeologist (available from my publisher Eyewear Publishing) at the Eyewear Publishing Summer pamphlet launch. Come celebrate with me as I join fellow Eyewear poets including, Shelley Roche-Jacques, Samantha Jackson, Keith Jarrett, Damilola Odelola, George Szirtes and VA Sola Smith. The event will be hosted by publisher and poet, Todd Swift and guest poet, Julie Morrissy, will be reading at the start of the evening. Details here on Facebook.

Posted by on July 28, 2015 in Chapbooks/pamphlets, Eyewear Publishing, Literary Reviews - Leilanie's thoughts, Poetry and tagged , , .

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July 26, 2015

Mistress Quickly’s Bed Issue 6

If I were to summarise why I normally enjoy reading, I would say that I like a little slice of escapism from harsh reality. Granted this is true more of fiction than poetry, and when I feel the need to immerse myself in fanciful verse, I tend to read poets such as Wordsworth or Coleridge.

When reading contemporary poetry, it has to be blunt. It has to be honest. It has to ring true. If my mind begins to drift then the poem has nothing to say. What’s the point in that? If I want to read a bunch of tantalising words, I’ll read the label of my shampoo.

Mistress Quickly's Bed Issue 6.jpg

Mistress Quickly’s Bed Issue 6 has a few goodies that not only kept me focused on the page, but got me thinking. Continue reading →

Posted by on July 26, 2015 in Fiction, Poetry, Reading and tagged , , .

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July 13, 2015

A Model Archaeologist…dissected

Dissecting the gender stereotypes… A Model Archaeologist.

A Model Archaeologist - dissecting gender stereotypes

A Model Archaeologist – dissecting gender stereotypes

Eyewear Publishing writes: The energy and images in this intriguing debut reflect the innocence and anxieties of a student facing an unknown future through the juxtaposition of two unusually distinct paths, as an archaeologist and a glamour model. There is a deceptive simplicity and a subtle, veiled humour in these honest, distinctive and playfully inventive poems.

A Model Archaeologist is available from Amazon US, Amazon UK and Waterstones.

Posted by on July 13, 2015 in Chapbooks/pamphlets, Eyewear Publishing, Poetry and tagged , .

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July 10, 2015

A bit of gratuitous promo…!

A Model Archaeologist (available from my publisher Eyewear Publishing).

A Model Archaeologist promo 1.jpeg

When London grinds to a halt in the midst of a tube strike, and a poet can’t get to her day job on the other side of the city, there’s no better way than to get creative in the sun. And here is the result! A few books, a dash of bright yellow and sunset. Certainly more fun than the laundry earlier in the day!

Leilanie Stewart 🌞

Posted by on July 10, 2015 in Chapbooks/pamphlets, Eyewear Publishing, Poetry and tagged , , .

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