The International Rubery Book Award News

The winners of the short story competition have been announced. Congratulations to all those who have been longlsited, shortlisted and won! The quality of entries was extremely high and Clare Morrall found it very difficult to choose between them. Their anthology of the shortlist will be published in February 2013.
They hope you'll be entering their short story competition again when it is launched later this year.

BOOK AWARD: They are enjoying the book entries. For those who haven't yet entered please remember the closing date is the 30th April 2013. 
First Prize £1000
The winning book will also be read by a top literary agent from MBA!
 
2nd prize £200

3rd prize £75

For further information please visit: www.ruberybookaward.com         
or email submissions@ruberybookaward.com

Rubery Book Award | PO Box 1582 | Birmingham | United Kingdom | B31 9EA

Get Into Reading Project Worker, The Reader Organisation

This is a dynamic and varied job requiring you to promote, set-up, establish and facilitate a weekly Get Into Reading group in order to promote well-being and good mental for offenders/ex-offenders in the PD PIPE. You will be responsible for choosing and presenting a wide range of reading material, including poetry, and for generating free-flowing conversation as well as for addressing literary questions group members may have. You also need the confidence and enthusiasm to sell the reading for pleasure project to people for whom that may be a new and strange idea. The project worker will work at: • HMP Gartree, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

How to Apply
Please visit www.thereader.org.uk click on the ‘About Us’ tab and scroll down to ‘Job Opportunities’ to view the full job description and download an application form. Please complete the application form and submit a covering letter, explaining how you meet the requirements and fit the person specification (not more than 1 side of A4 please) to Michelle Barrett at michellebarrett@thereader.org.uk

Deadline for applications: 5.00pm 15th January 2013. Please note: applications arriving after this deadline will not be considered. Shortlist by 17th January 2013. Please make sure your contact details include a phone number by which The Reader can contact you if you are called for interview. Interviews will take place on 23rd January 2013 at The Reader Organisation, The Friary Centre, Bute Street, L5 3LA.

Please make all enquiries to www.thereader.org.uk.

Poet Mark Niel makes New Act of the Year final at Bloomsbury Theatre on 27th January

Mark Niel (MK Poet Laureate) makes New Act of the Year final

•     Final on 27th January at Bloomsbury Theatre, London

•     Sixteen acts to perform in showcase

Milton Keynes Poet Laureate, Mark Niel has reached the final of a prestigious comedy competition. The NATYS: New Act of The Year is New Variety’s comedy showcase and awards for emerging talent who are serious about their craft and have the ambition to breakthrough into the live entertainment profession.

Described as "the most important show of the year for new comedy and variety talent" by The Stage, Mark made it through the nerve-wracking audition process to win one of sixteen coveted places out of a field of nearly two hundred applicants. Each act has only five minutes to make an impact on the judges and audience.

Mark said, “I’m delighted to have reached the final and I’m looking forward to performing in a respected competition with such a long and distinguished history”.

The NATYS began in 1983 on the CAST New Variety Circuit and ran for over 20 years at the Hackney Empire, becoming the celebrated industry showcase and key diary event for reviewers (Evening Standard, Time Out, Metro, Guardian Guide, and Chortle), agents, scouts and bookers.

The NATYS comedy roll call is legendary. Previous finalists range from the late Linda Smith to Lee Mack, and include Harry Hill, Alan Davies, Ed Byrne, Ardal O’Hanlon, Ricky Grover, Simon Pegg, Catherine Tate and Micky Flannagan. That history is not lost on Mark:

“I feel very humbled to have made trod the same path as many of my comedy heroes. I believe that poems can be entertainment as well as art and I’m excited to represent Poetry on a big stage”.

Where: Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AH

When:     7.30pm, Sunday 27th January 2013


Host: Arthur Smith


Tickets:     £12.50/£10


Tickets can be booked directly through www.thebloomsbury.com or on 020 7388 8822.

Source: Mark Niel

Vortex by Julie Cross - More heart-stopping action in the breathtaking sequel to TEMPEST

More heart-stopping action in the 

breathtaking sequel to TEMPEST 

Published 3rd January 2013 by Macmillan Children's Books

ISBN 9780230757165 

RRP £10.99 (hardback)

Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, all that changes when Holly - the girl he altered history to save - re-enters his life. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents find themselves under attack and on the run.

Set in a vivid present day and not-so-distant past, VORTEX is a gripping, heart-stopping thriller that, in spite of its page-turning pace, masterfully deals with themes of identity, relationships and grief. Our hero Jackson is an ordinary young man with an extraordinary power – a power which will lead him to make a difficult choice – just how much will he sacrifice for the girl he loves? Julie Cross has created a gripping story with equal measures of action, science fiction and romance.

Jackson must decide between saving the love of his life and the entire world . . .

Julie Cross lives in central Illinois with her husband and three children. She is former YMCA Gymnastics programme director, which meant she spent a lot of time with teenagers who helped to inspire her realistic and relatable characters. Julie said that the story came in phases, starting with the characters, then the love story, “then adding the time-travel element created that ticking clock (literally)…the bomb waiting to happen that gives the story a thriller-type feel. I’m also a bit obsessed with the world of spies and secret agents so, I’ve thrown a little of that in as well.”

Praise for Tempest
(Pre-empted by Summit Entertainment (Twilight) for feature film)

‘I devoured this book - it's a time-travel mystery, with twists and turns. It's a brilliant thriller, totally unputdownable, and should be turned into a film or a TV series. Absolutely brilliant.’ - Books Monthly

'I adored this book, and would recommend it for any teenage reader: from sci-fi to action to romance, this book has something for everyone' - Guardian Children’s Books Website

‘Time travel, Boys POV, action, sexy, shocking, exciting moments and so much more in this amazing entrancing, descriptive, witty... fascinating, memorable, read - 415 pages of awesome perfection!' - Dark Readers Blog

‘This book seriously shook my brain. An original time travel novel that takes your breath away . . . Julie Cross has created strong realistic characters who have the ability to play with your emotions. ‘ - Serendipity Reviews Blog

‘Tempest was action packed from start to finish. The mystery and suspense of the story was written superbly. I was led in multiple different dictions and I loved not knowing who to trust' - The Reader Room

‘From the minute I started Tempest I was hooked, I could not put it down Julie Cross has done an amazing job on her debut book and I for one will be making sure I own a copy of every book she writes.' - Much Loved Books         

Follow the series on Twitter @mykindabook

Source: Press release from Macmillan Children's Books

An Audience with Joanna Trollope!

 

Meet Joanna Trollope

Peterborough Central Library

Friday 1st February - 1pm

£5 (£4 concessions and reading group members)

Tickets from Central Library or Waterstones, Bridge Street

 

Joanna will be talking about her latest novel The Soldier’s Wife, and her life as a writer, as well as answering questions from the audience.

 

Does marrying a soldier mean marrying the army? Joanna Trollope takes a keen look at the home lives of the modern army in this captivating new book. What happens, these days, when love and a vocation collide, head on?

 

Copies of the book will be available to purchase and have signed after the event.

 

Joanna Trollope has been writing for over thirty years. She first wrote a number of historical novels published under Caroline Harvey, and more recently her enormously successful contemporary works of fiction, several of which have been televised. The Rector’s Wife was her first number one bestseller, and made her into a household name. Since then she has written eleven more contemporary novels.

 

Booking is essential, telephone Central Library on 01733 864 280.

 

For further information, please visit:

For http://www.vivacity-peterborough.com/event/meet-joanna-trollope

Featured Poem January 2013 - ‘The Dragon Who Hates Poetry’ by Dominic Berry

‘The Dragon Who Hates Poetry’

The dragon who hates poetry is feared throughout the land.
This brutal beast won't back down until all poetry's banned.
Now every poet’s bullied by his cruel and crazed command;
"FORGET YOUR RHYMING GAME!"
bellows the fiend of fire and flame.

There is no dragon scarier in any earthly place.
His face looks like his bottom and his bottom like his face.
He'll sneeze out snot as big as rocks - you'd better clear some space – (Splat!)
"TREMBLE AT MY NAME!"
demands the fiend of fire and flame.

Oh dragon flame! Oh dragon flame!
His face and bum, they look the same.
He rips verse raw, leaves limericks lame
and poets curse the day he came.

Reciting rhymes to roses was a rhyme lover called Rick.
The dragon sneezed all over him! It hit him like a brick.
A face of boiling bogeys left poor Rick feeling quite sick.
"I AM A PERFECT AIM!"
boasted the fiend of fire and flame.

So poor old Rick stopped reading books, he said, “Why take the chance?
Instead, I’ll stitch my verse into spare pairs of underpants.”
But dragon saw his washing line. Without a second glance,
"YOUR WORDS I'LL MAUL AND MAIM!"
he roared. Rick’s pants went up in flame.
 
Then Suzie Sue the farmer, she just felt so sad and blue.
To whisper verse in horse’s ears seemed a safe thing to do.
When dragon bawled she fainted, fell face-first into...
into...
into...
pony poo.
"JUST GOT YOURSELF TO BLAME!"
chuckled the fiend of fire and flame.

Oh dragon flame! Oh dragon flame!
Leaves poets feeling fear and shame.
Is there nobody who can tame
this flagrant fiend of fire and flame?

One person stands with outstretched hands, calls out to any friend,
"Our poems, rhymes and lyrics, these are things we must defend!
Who here will join me now? Help bring this menace to an end?
Success will find us fame.
We'll stop this fiend of fire and flame.

Oh dragon flame! Oh dragon flame!
My rhyming comrades, I proclaim
we WILL succeed, earn high acclaim.
The poet's path we WILL reclaim!
We'll stop this fiend of fire... and flame... ... ..."

 

© Dominic Berry 2012
Please do not use without the poet’s permission



For further information about Dominic Berry and his work please visit Book a Poet.

Recommended Reads for Dec 2013

Check out the reviews section of our website for the latest recommended reads - from children's fiction to poetry and classic reads we're sure there is something for everyone. We also welcome your reviews too - email them to 'Reviews' at info@bookapoet.co.uk and we'll let you know when we use it!

Below are the titles we recommended during December 2012. You can read our reviews and recommendations at:  http://www.bookapoet.co.uk/book_reviews/book_reviews/december_2012/

‘100 Poems for Children: A Laureate’s Choice’ chosen by Carol Ann Duffy and illustrated by Emily Gravett (Published by Macmillan Children’s Books)
‘Willard Price: Shark Adventure’ by Anthony McGowan (Published by Puffin)
‘A Palace Full of Princesses’ by Sally Gardner (Published by Orion)
‘Blood Prophecy’ by Alyxandra Harvey (Published by Bloomsbury)
‘Again’ by Emily Gravett (Published by Macmillan Children’s Books)
‘The Paper Dolls’ by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb (Published by Macmillan Children’s Books)
‘Don’t Flush!: Lifting the Lid on the Science of Poo and Wee’ by Mary and Richard Platt, illustrated by John Kelly (Published by Kingfisher)
‘The First Christmas’ by Georgie Adams, illustrated by Anna C. Leplar (Published by Orion Books)

January's recommended reads will start to appear on the website from next week. A selection of reviews will be published here too, as well as on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BookaPoet) and links from our Twitter account (@bookapoet).