June 2008
Sheree Mack is studying a PhD in Creative Writing at Newcastle University, after completing an MA in Creative Writing at Northumbria University in 2003. She is an active freelance writer within the UK, having have worked with, among others, Creative Partnerships Durham Sunderland, Cumbria and Northumberland, Arts UK, Sangini, The Poetry Vandals, Diamond Twig, Live Theatre, Durham Literature Festival, Apples and Snakes, Malika’s Kitchen and New Writing North.
Her awards and prizes include Spotlight Award/decibel (2003), Brown Skin Books, short story winner, Arts Council England – Grants for the Arts (2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007), Oxford University – Contemporary Poetry Conference, bursary (2006), Northern Cultural Skills Partnership – Mentoring Award with Dorothea Smartt (2006) and Professional Development Fund (2007)
Keith Armstrong
'No one in the North East has written and read and encouraged and organised so consistently and over so long a period as Keith Armstrong. His poetry is different, original, and politically exhilarating.’ 'It doesn't matter which way his poems are facing, or the subjects they address, it is recognisibly the same sensibility, each part of a unified whole, and unified by the same, strong identifiable voice.'(Andy Croft ).
PAUL SUMMERS ON KEITH ARMSTRONG'S NEW BOOK 'IMAGINED CORNERS'
'Sometimes nostalgic, poignant reflections on love, friendship and identity; sometimes the lament of the defeated. Other times, poems drip with the bellicose pride of the Jingling Geordie, ringing out like a challenge. This collection paints Armstrong as the maturing internationalist leafing through a cache of dusty photographs, celebrating people and places, a world of anecdote and adventure, strong drink and life itself. More importantly though, many of the poems in ‘Imagined Corners’ reveal him as a subtle observer of beauty whether he chooses to do so from the position of global citizen, mourner, lover, friend or son.'
Elizabeth Whyman was shortlisted for an Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors this year. In 2007 she won a Northern Promise Award from New Writing North and her debut collection of poetry, Touchpiece, was launched in September 2007 at the Bristol Poetry Festival and in the North East in December (with support from New Writing North). In 2006 she was winner of the Poetry Can first Collection Competition (judged by Jean Sprackland) and a finalist in a competition run by Cinnamon Press. Her poems have been widely published in literary magazines in the UK and the U.S. She has recently been working on a residency with Tees Valley Arts and the Stockton Asylum Youth Team. Of Elizabeth’s poetry U A Fanthorpe wrote: These poems leap from the dark towards you, and they take you to places you’d never thought existed.
Margaret Swindell
The Blue Room proudly presents extracts from Margaret's exciting new novel "Parallel Paths" Margaret, one of twins, was born in Huddersfield, a Yorkshire woollen town. At the twins’ birth, their mother had a mental breakdown and the six months old babies were farmed out to a foster mother. At two, they were brought home to a house full of strangers. These were the grandmother, the mother and father and three siblings. After time at a girls’ high school, where they gained National Diplomas in Printed Textiles. They started work in design studios in Manchester.
After some years, Margaret left to marry a Huddersfield man. The marriage ended in divorce, and Margaret spent the next ten years working as a tracer in a large engineering company. She met her second husband at a trade union weekend school. They had two children. Margaret’s twin sister Cora died of emphysema at only thirty four. At fifty Margaret spent two years at art school in Newcastle, when the family lived in Hexham. With a diploma in graphics, she took a job doing printing at a party plan company. She also spent time at the Charlotte Press and began a series of autobiographical prints. After a partial vision loss, Margaret couldn’t continue with the prints. She then began her novel “Parallel Paths”, written on tapes and later on computer with a voice system.
The Parallel Paths are the lives of twins in childhood and of one twin in later life.
Part One explores the childhood of the twins Cath and Cora in a Yorkshire woollen town. They are placed in a foster home at six months, as their mother has a mental breakdown. Later they return to a house full of strangers. Growing up close to each other, they view with detachment the exciting lives of their older siblings.
Part Two covers the twins’ years at art school in wartime. Gauche and innocent, they envy the goings on of their friends. The twins’ father’s death and mother’s second breakdown affect them differently.
Part Three, the twins work in a Manchester design studio, but Cora is made redundant. From now on the life of Cath, the healthier twin, forms the main story line. Marriage, divorce and redundancies erode her self worth. A relationship draws her into a new sensual world.
Part Four deals with Cath’s second marriage, much of it set in Newcastle upon Tyne and Hexham. Exciting at first, a lack of harmony develops over time. Cora dies. The final chapter shows Cath, now partially sighted, trying to shore up her collapsing world. She begins to recreate the lives of the twins.
( Extracts from Margaret's work will be read by Su Pickering
Singer songwriter Steve Jinski’s musical territory spans acoustic roots, folk music, ‘jangle jangle’ pop, country music and all the bits in between. He has toured all over Europe and Scandinavia as a solo artist appearing in all kinds of venues from intimate folk clubs to large open-air festivals. His songs come from everywhere and are inspired by the trials and tribulations of everyday life. His music speaks from the heart.
These days Steve an be seen with a band featuring Dave Kennedy on guitar, Penny Callow on cello, Neil Harland on double bass, Brendan Murphy. They have just finished recording a new album entitled 'Hurry Home' released on Lucky Smile Records available now from www.jinski.com and from all record stores from June 2008.
