Guest Poet: Charles G Lauder Jr
Charles G Lauder Jr was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and has lived in the UK since 2000. His poems have appeared internationally and his pamphlet Bleeds was published in 2012 by Crystal Clear Creators. More recently he was highly commended in the 2015 Poetry Society Stanza Competition. He is the assistant editor of The Interpreter's House, and his pamphlet Camouflaged Beasts will be published by Black Light Engine Room in 2017.
Guest Poet: Jennifer A McGowan
Jennifer A. McGowan obtained her MA and PhD from the University of Wales. Despite being certified as disabled at age 16 with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, she has persevered and has published poetry and prose in many magazines and anthologies on both sides of the Atlantic, including Pank and The Rialto. She won the Geoff Stevens Memorial Prize 2014, which led to her first full collection, The Weight of Coming Home, being published by Indigo Dreams. She has also been commended in the YorkMix poetry competition and Highly Commended in the prestigious Torbay Poetry Competition and the Manchester Cathedral Poetry Competition amongst others. Life in Captivity and Sounding, her pamphlets, are available through Finishing Line Press. Her website, with more poetry and examples of her mediaeval calligraphy, can be found at http://www.jenniferamcgowan.com
30th March 2017, The Swan Hotel, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire BA15 1LN
Such a great privilege to walk in to Words & Ears around 8.30 last night as a (late-arriving) member of the audience - feeling the intensity and grace of the listening, hearing people share their work in the open mic, and seeing Stephen Payne doing such a fine job as MC. Paris Lit Up, a group of writers and other creative people currently touring the UK, brought their philosophy of 'keeping minds and borders open' to the steps of the Swan just after the interval, with a live stream of an Arabic-English & music performance to their own open mic group in Paris, before excellent second half readings from guest poets Charles Lauder Jr. and Jennifer McGowan (dreams and witches and other fine territories) - plus open mic poems from, among others, Rachael Clyne, Ruth Sharman, Brian Reid, Moira Andrew and Jinny Fisher. Massive thanks to Stephen for taking this on with such aplomb, and to everyone who came, shared and listened.
