Dave Kurley

Dave has been an actor, a sales rep, a stand-up comedian, a dry stone waller, a singer, a civil servant, a playwright, a pub manager and a podcaster. Currently, he is a poet and an online English tutor, living with his wife, The Lovely Ali, in the slowly-beating heart of central Portugal.

My Favourite Constellation

Is Ursa Major, or The Plough, or as my mom called it, The Saucepan (I’m sure she wasn’t the only one). She showed me how to find the North Star using the lip of The Saucepan. That way, she said, I’d never get lost.

Helen Kay’s debut collection It Was Never About the Kingfisher (Dithering Chaps) was shortlisted for the 2025 Rubery Awards. She was a finalist for the 2022 Brotherton Prize and won the Cheshire Prize for Poetry in 2024 and 2025.

Colin Riggs roots his poetry in ordinary moments which have extraordinary resonance. He lives in Hastings; drawing inspiration from the coastal environment...and football. Having recently drawn his teaching career to a close, he is giving more time to the poetry he has always written. His favourite constellation is Scorpius, for obvious reasons.

Doreen Duffy MA Creative Writing, published work including Poetry Ireland Review, Sídhe Press, Arlen House, The Irish Times. She was awarded, The Jonathan Swift Award, The Deirdre Purcell Cup, Maria Edgeworth Literary Festival. Shortlisted in Francis MacManus Competition, her story ‘Tattoo’ broadcast, RTE Radio. Doreen’s a creative writer and tutor.

https://doreenduffy.blogspot.com/

David Annwn

David Annwn (born 1953) is an Anglo-Welsh poet, critic, teacher, playwright and magic lanternist who was raised in Cheshire, England. In his undergraduate years at the University of Aberystwyth, David edited Dragon poetry magazine and helped convene the Gallery Poets series at UCW Neuadd Fawr with Rose Simpson, ex-member of the Incredible String Band. In 1973, he met Robert Duncan, a future influence on his poetry, and studied for his doctorate supervised by Jeremy Hooker. Annwn taught at Wakefield College and Leeds University from 1981 to 1995, latterly becoming Head of English. Active as an organiser and performer, Annwn collaborated with musician John Cowey and poet Roula Pollard in running poetry/drama events at Wakefield College Theatre and convened reading tours for American writers including Robert Berthof, Black Mountain artist Basil King and Bobby Louise Hawkins. Since 2004 Thomas Ingmire and David Annwn have collaborated in the creation of more than 15 unique artist books.

Abatoire

Spiral

Francis H Powell

Born in 1961, in Reading. Francis H Powell currently lives in Moret sur Loing, France writing both prose and poetry. He’s had four books published as well as poems published in anthologies, for both adults and children. His first book was entitled Flight of Destiny, a book full of short stories. His second published book was called Adventures of Death, Reincarnation and Annihilation. Other books include “The Fish King and the Two Wise Ghosts,” a children’s story which included illustrations. He’s done poetry readings for Paris Lit up as well as other events. He also has done poetry workshops and visits to schools.

Jenni Thorne is a writer from the Black Country. Her work explores the space between thought and feeling, and the contradictions and quiet wonders of daily life. She shares her writing on Bluesky @jenthorne.bsky.social.

My favourite constellation is Pegasus, because of my love for the heroic winged horse, committed to the stars for his bravery (at least this is the story in the 1981 film Clash of the Titans).

Jim Paterson worked in the Scottish Highlands for many years, now living in Perpignan, France. Recent work in City of Poets, Ink, Sweat and Tears, Poetry Bus, Antae Journal, The Candyman’s Trumpet, Liminals. Two pamphlets, Grit 1 and 2, book, RSVP, just published in France, with Michel Borla. https://jwdpaterson.wordpress.com

Jim Says: As a city boy I didn’t see many stars. When I moved to the Highlands, Orion was right there above my garden. Loved it then, love it now.

Strider Marcus Jones – is a poet, law graduate and former civil servant from Salford,

England with proud Celtic roots in Ireland and Wales. He is the editor and publisher of

Lothlorien Poetry Journal

https://lothlorienpoetryjournal.blogspot.com/

. A member of

The Poetry Society, and nominated for both the Pushcart Prize x4 and Best of the Net x3, his five published books of poetry Strider Marcus Jones Poet reveal a maverick, moving between cities, playing his saxophone in smoky rooms.

His poetry has been published in numerous publications including: The Huffington

Post USA; The Stray Branch Literary Magazine; Crack The Spine Literary

Magazine; The Recusant, The Lampeter Review and Dissident Voice.

Ian Tattum is a priest in the Church of England, who has now retired and lives in Swanage. He was born into a working-class family in Bletchley and spent most of his first quarter of a century living and working there, doing factory and office work. Between leaving Bletchley and getting ordained at the age of thirty-one he worked variously in catering and hospitality, and with people suffering from chronic mental illness. Ministry in several villages and in inner city London, has, along with his earlier experience of life marked his poetry, in which he seeks to celebrate the precious but usually unexalted aspects of life.

Ian has a keen interest in nature and is a Fellow of the Linnean Society and the Zoological Society of London, and in many of his poems he tries to draw affirming but unsentimental portraits of living beings. He has had essays on birds, the history of science, nature, and place writing, published by The Church Times, The Clearing, Landlines for Nature, Sarx, The Pilgrim, and The John Ray initiative.

His poetry has been published by Spelt, Black Bough, The Starbeck Orion, and Frost Magazine.

He is a Pushcart and BOTN nominee.

He is a champion of the writings of BB- Denys Pitchford-Watkins and counts the poetry of Elizabeth Jennings and Japanese Haiku, and the prose of Edith Wharton as his strongest literary influences. Although H P Lovecraft loiters in the background.

Ian loves walking and listening to the call of the rooks.

Peter J. King was active on the London poetry scene in the 1970s, as poet, publisher, editor, performer, broadcaster, and events organiser. Since returning to poetry in 2013, after a long absence, he’s published three collections and has appeared in a wide range of journals and anthologies. He also translates, mainly from modern Greek and German, writes short prose, and paints. His latest collection, Contact Light (Alien Buddha Press, 2025), is made up of poems in the fields of S.F., fantasy, horror, and myth.

https://wisdomsbottompress.wordpress.com/peter-j-king/

Tim Boardman, a poet from West Yorkshire, crafts lyrical, intimate pieces that illuminate ordinary life, blending reflection, memory, and gentle storytelling into moments of subtle emotional resonance.

http://facebook.com/groups/588235645977509

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Tim Fellows is a poet, writer, and publisher from Chesterfield, Derbyshire. He publishes The Fig Tree webzine and is the editor at Crooked Spire Press. He has had work published in Black Nore Review, Black Bough, the Lake and The Morning Star.

Tim Says: My favourite constellation is The Southern Cross. I have been to the southern hemisphere three times and each time the night sky has fascinated me. There are more stars to see in that direction, and out in the Queensland rainforest, or the Eastern Cape of South Africa, there is no light pollution. The sky is literally awesome. The stars really do go back forever...

Carl has done many collaborations with Jeanette Skirvan, where she produces and reads his poetry in her created video. Here are a couple:

Carl Scharwath has appeared globally with 210+ publications selecting his writing or art. Carl has published four poetry books and four photography books. His photography was exhibited in the Mount Dora and Leesburg Centers for the Arts. Carl is currently an art editor at Glitterati and a former editor for Minute Magazine. He was nominated for four The Best of the Net Awards (2022-25) and two different 2023 Pushcart Nominations for poetry and a short story.

‘Sun Implosion’ by Seranya, 1989. (IMG-0594)

- Expressionist painting in acrylic, depicting the tormented sun.

=> Represents constant endings and beginnings.

‘Room In The House’ by Seranya, September 17, 1990. (IMG-0590)

- Drawing in colour markers, inspired by Van Gogh’s “Bedroom in Arles” circa 1888.

=> Represents the theme of endings, as I believe Van Gogh imagined the end of his life in this room.

‘Alien Accident’ by Seranya, 1992. (IMG-0598)

- Abstract painting in acrylic, showing the face of an alien being with an eye patch, following a spaceship accidental landing on earth, where he lost an eye.

=> Represents extinction on an alien planet.

Flower Water Vase’ by Seranya, 1989.

- Abstract *ACRYLIC painting of two flowers in a vase filled with blue water

=> Representing the theme of loss, with flowers left over for the grief, surviving bitter demise.

Seranya is a Gen-X visual artist who studied fine art in the 1990s, but now also writes expressive poetry and fantastical novels. In her artwork, Seranya focuses on abstract, cubist, and impressionist drawings and paintings, with a fascination for brilliant colourful expressionism. However, her inspiration is based in cubism that best relays a disjointed human condition. Seranya utilizes her art intently, with the aim to help raise the vibration on Earth, to positively transform humanity, for a better impact on all of life.

Link to previous artworker post:

Artworker Interview (Conclusion)

6. What motivates you to make artworks?

My writing informs my art. And I write from my perspective in life.

7. What is your work ethic?

It varies from season to season. Right now I’m taking it easy… other times, I like to get everything done by 10 in the morning!

Q:8. How do the artworks you saw when you were young influence your artwork today?

Good question… Thinking back I remember the fluidity of my aunt’s sculptures.. she created these oval shaped 3D abstracts that looked like beautiful constellations you could get lost in. So I feel that randomness in abstraction set in concrete allowed me to let my imagination run free and imagine the universe comeback to life.

Q:9.Whom of today’s artworkers do you admire the most and why?

I really love expressive psychics as they involve so much of their true power in their artwork.

Q:10.Why do you make artwork, as opposed to doing anything else?

Visual art is in my heart and soul, like second nature (or first nature) so it’s very immersive and immediately accessible to my creative self. But I also write which requires a sort-of translation from a visual/emotional language or sense.

Q:11.Tell me about the artwork projects you have on at the moment.

Well I have a new project coming online called TheProfiles where I invent an interview with historical figures and/or artists from the past. Stay tuned…

Paul is a poet and writer from Western Australia who lives in the south-west corner at a place called Augusta with wife Lyn. Paul has a background in philosophy and theology, he works occasionally as a spiritual director or companion. He loves creativity, nature, meditation, and is committed to non-violence. Paul’s poetic is all about asking questions, social justice, evoking experiences, stirring hearts and trying to be a better self.

Paul’s blog Parallax: https://pvcann.com

Paul Connolly’s poems have appeared in many magazines including Agenda, Poetry Salzburg, Stand, Warwick Review, Chiron, Scintilla, takahē, Seventh Quarry, Sarasvati, High Window, and Quadrant. He took third place in the Magna Carta competition, was shortlisted for the Bridport and Charles Causley prizes, and longlisted for the Orwell Prize.

I love the night sky but can’t honestly say I have a favourite constellation. But over the years my fascination with Venus has intensified.

ID SMITH is from Manchester but now living in Wiltshire. He has national and international writing credits: The Ekphrastic Review, Stand, Spelt, Abridged, Poetry Ireland Review, the Live Canon Anthology, Honest Ulsterman, Icefloe Press, Wombwell Rainbow, Obsessed With Pipework, Trowbridge Stanza Anthology, Eratio and Otoliths.

Sandra Noel is from Jersey. Her poems appear in Anthropocene, Ink Sweat & Tears, Prole, Skylight 47, Strix, Ekphrastic Review, The Phare, Yaffle. Her debut collection ‘Into The Under’ (published 2024 - Yaffle Press). She is part of a collaboration titled ‘Linger’, the first in a new 3 poet series, (2025 - Yaffle Press)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandra.noel.526, X: @sandrajnoel, Instagram: @sandrajnoel

Peter Knaggs lives and works hard in Hull. He has had poems published in The North, The Morning Star and The Realter. His forthcoming collection is called; Everything I Know in this Life I Learned From Shaggy and Scooby.

He Says: My favourite constellation would be Taurus...

Julie Stevens writes poems that cover many themes but often engages with the problems of disability. She is widely published in places such as Ink Sweat & Tears, Broken Sleep Books, Indigo Dreams Publishing and in anthologies from Macmillan and OUP. She has five published pamphlets.

Website: www.jumpingjulespoetry.com.

My favourite constellation would have to be Ursa Major, also known as The Great Bear, my favourite animal. The Plough brings back the joy of being outside.