Guest Readers
Monday 14th. May
Gaia Holmes
Biography
Gaia Holmes lives in Halifax. She’s been a busker, a cleaner, a lolly-pop lady, a gallery attendant and an oral historian. She is currently an associate lecturer in Creative Writing at the university of Huddersfield and a free-lance writer. She has recently started up her own ‘Igniting the spark’ writing workshops at Dean Clough, Halifax.. When she’s not teaching, reading or writing poetry she is a DJ for Phoenix fm (Calderdale’s community radio station) or tapping her tambourine with Halifax Samba band. Gaia has worked as a creative writing workshop facilitator, with students ranging in age, ability and ethnicity, for over ten years. She is able to tailor her workshops to suit particular requirements.
Comments on Gaia’s workshops:
“Gaia’s unique style made the workshop work for me. She encourages participants in a positive way and her comments useful and thoughtful.” ‘Igniting the spark’ student.
” I really enjoyed being stretched into new language and new ideas through existing poetry with a tutor without pretentions and with oodles of humanity.” Huddersfield literature festival 2008
“Gaia has an openness which helps to bring you out of your shell. She explains things clearly and encourages you. Her constructive criticism is delivered in such a way that you feel focused and not discouraged.” Huddersfield university student, 2010.
“Just wanted to say again how much I enjoyed your ‘workshop of sensory delights’.. Your approach to create evocative poetry is fantastic! I’d love to come to more of your workshops!” Anne Vickerstaff.
Website
gaiaholmes.wordpress.com
Winston Plowes
Based near Hebden Bridge in Calderdale Winston Plowes lives aboard his floating home with his cat ‘Fatty’. In the past year he has collaborated with The Arvon Foundation, the BBC, Glastonbury Festival, UCLAN and Manchester Museum and has recently tutored on courses and workshops for The Square Chapel, The Princes Trust and West Yorkshire Playhouse. As Poet in Residence for the Rochdale Canal Festival in 2012 and The Hebden Bridge Arts Festival for the past three years he has being lucky enough to share his community orientated poetry with a wider audience. As Judge for the Found Poetry Review and author of experimental work published in over 50 journals worldwide he gets the chance to play with our precious language and by providing workshops for schools hopes to continue to inspire through mutual creativity for many years to come. The jointly self published Misery Begins at Home, 2010 and Micro Chap-book Extras, Origami Press, 2014 will soon be followed by his first collection of ghazals First of all I Wrote Your Name, Stairwell Books. Winston is also inventor of the worlds first (and possibly last) Random Poetry Generating Bicycle, the ‘Spoke-n-Word’.
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Monday 16th. April
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Read Around
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Bring some poems and read them with others in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere with real fire, real ale, candles and gas lights. Arrive at 8.00pm. for 8.30pm. start.
Monday 23rd. April
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Workshop
- Bring at least six copies of a poem that you are working on or that you want to improve and group members will provide positive constructive criticism, pointing out its strengths and any areas where changes could be made. The workshop will be lead by either Bruce Barnes, Kevin Byrne or Frank Brindle, or all three, whoever is there first with glasses and a sharp mind.
Monday 30th. April
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Read Around
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Bring some poems and read them with others in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere with real fire, real ale, candles and gas lights. Arrive at 8.00pm. for 8.30pm. start.
Monday 7th. May
No Meeting.
May Day Holiday
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Monday 14th. May
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Guest Readers
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Gaia Holmes
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Whinston Plowes
