Bob Mee reviews Whatever You Do, Just Don't

Bob Mee, the former editor of Iota magazine and Ragged Raven Press, has kindly reviewed Whatever You Do, Just Don't on his blog. Here's a short extract... "The poems drew me into them slowly. It took me a little time to absorb their depth, given they are short, observant, precise, deceptively relaxed, often gentle in tone, and range between a sense of sadness and the need for amusement and fun..." And you can read his piece in full by following this link.

Mat Riches' Collecting the Data

Bearing in mind that I’ve seen all the poems in Mat Riches first pamphlet, Collecting the Data (Red Squirrel Press, 2023) at multiple stages in their development, and have given feedback on every single one, from first draft to reassembly after Nell’s ritual dismembering of words, lines and stanzas, there’s no way I can rightly write a review of this book.

It wouldn’t be objective or independent of me to do so, as most people know we’re good friends. And then, such a supposed review might well also end up sounding like an extended blurb, as I deeply admire the huge strides he’s made in his poetry over the last six years. Mind you, talking of blurbs, here’s the one I wrote from the heart for his back cover:

Mat Riches is a specialist in the humorous use of the serious and the serious use of the humorous, channelled through a playful but yoked relish for language.

And on that note, I feel it’s only right and correct that I should suggest you immediately visit the Red Squirrel webshop (see here) and get hold of a copy for yourself…!

"These poems are a joy to read"

 The Yorkshire Times (with thanks to their Literary Editor, Steve Whitaker) reviews Whatever You Do, Just Don't here.

The Alternative Stories podcast

For your listening pleasure, be it on a lazy evening at home or as a distraction during your commute, here's the Alternative Stories podcast with me (via this link), featuring several poems from Whatever You Do, Just Don't, plus debate about poetry, Brexit, football and Spain...

A sample poem on Creative Writing at Leicester

Can you imagine never having seen a banana till the age of ten...?!

Creative Writing at Leicester (with thanks to Jonathan Taylor) are featuring today a poem about just this subject from Whatever You Do, Just Don't.

I hope you enjoy it (see this link)!

Terrific review for Whatever You Do, Just Don't on London Grip

A terrific review of Whatever You Do, Just Don't is now up at London Grip (thanks to Emma Storr for her scrupulous reading of my poems!).

Here's a brief quote:

Whatever You Do, Just Don’t will raise important questions in your own mind as you read Stewart’s beautifully crafted poems. I can thoroughly recommend this collection.

You can read the review in full via this link.

The best editor a bloke could hope for...!

At the launch with the best editor a bloke could hope for (with thanks to Clare Best for the photo)...

Who said there isn't an audience for poetry...?!

Here's a pic of our launch last Tuesday, packed with poetry lovers and newbies, all enjoying poems together..

The London launch on 7th November

 Here are the details. It would be great to see you there...!