Welcome to Acacia Publications. Here I share my own poems and discoveries, and the work of fellow poets. Many of my blog posts include a prompt. Just search for ‘writing prompt’.

My poems have been broadcast, widely published and anthologised. They’ve been successful in over 20 competitions and nominated for the Forward Prize. I have three poetry collections (Oversteps Books, 2016; Indigo Dreams Publishing, 2019; Broken Sleep Books, 2022) and a pamphlet with Grey Hen Press (2020).

The original manuscript of my third collection was praised by Vahni (Anthony Ezekiel) Capildeo, judge of the 2020 poetry entries, for its ‘beautiful minimalism and intriguing poise‘ and received a Northern Writers’ Award. Published in October 2022, copies are available from Broken Sleep Books.

The poet Matthew Paul has posted a perceptive and detailed analysis of my poem Safe House, from my new collection Remembering / Disease. The poem was inspired by a poem by the late poet Andrew Waterhouse. I’m very grateful to Matthew: his post gets to the heart and soul, not just of the poem, but of my writing. Here is the link.

News

Delighted that my pamphlet submission was longlisted by Broken Sleep Books. They received more than 850 submissions. I also had my hybrid memoir shortlisted by Cinnamon Press for their 2024 New Voices initiative.

I was delighted to be invited to contribute a poem to the anthology of poems about Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife. Isn’t that a gorgeous cover? The anthology has been chosen by both the Guardian and Daily Telegraph as one of their books of 2023. Here is the link .

It’s a while since I had a haiku accepted for publication. So, I’m very pleased to be in the collection To Live Here, published by The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. The anthology over 150 haiku by poets from across the globe. The proceeds are all donated to charity.

Three of my poems have been included in Welcome to Britain: An Anthology of Poems and Short Fiction, edited by Ambrose Musiyiwa.

Blog

For regular new content, please see my Blog, where I write articles, reflections, publish poems and also showcase guest poets monthly.