News:
Katrina's first full poetry collection 'The Girl with the Cactus Handshake' is hot off the press (November 2009) and is available now from Templar Poetry. Her new book was launched at the 2009 Derwent Poetry Festival and at a private party in London, and she is currently giving readings in London and elsewhere - see below for details of forthcoming events at London's Ronnie Scotts, among others.
The Bronte Parsonage Museum has appointed Katrina as its first Writer in Residence. From October 2009 to April 2010 she is working at the museum, running workshops with a local women's group and museum visitors, and writing new poems in response to the museum's collections. A new collection will be published in 2010 and an exhibition of Katrina's poems is also planned. See www.bronte.info for more information.
Katrina was recently shortlisted for the 2009 Bridport Prize and was runner-up in the Poetry Society's 2009 Stanza Competition with two poems: 'Pinochet's Garden' and 'My Perfect Father'. You can read these poems at the Poetry Society's website, see www.poetrysociety.org.uk and see a video of Katrina reading these poems. She also had a poem commended in the 2009 Poetry on the Lake Competition. A specially-commissioned poetry DVD for Oxfam, 'Asking a Shadow to Dance: 35 Young British Poets for Oxfam' features Katrina's poetry and is available from Oxfam Bookshops and ebay, price £12.99.
Katrina is part in the Accident & Emergence (A&E) group of writers and artists. She is working with the artist Chris Ward on a soundscape art/poetry installation set in Brixton. An exhibition featuring Chris and Katrina's installation will have its private view on 30 April and will run until 12 May. For an invitation to the private view get in touch.
From May 2010, Katrina will be teaching a distance learning course in poetry at the University of Exeter. She also teaches creative writing for the Open University.
Katrina writes poetry reviews for Echo from the Canyon and Eyewear. See her recent reviews on Sharon Olds and Adrienne Rich.
See www.likestarlings.co.uk for a recent poetry conversation between Katrina and the poet Sue Wood.
Readings/Events:
2010
Thurs 7 January - reading poems from The Girl with the Cactus Handshake plus interview by Clare Coyne on Sydenham Community Radio 8-9 pm. Listen on www.sydenhamradio.co.uk.
Mon 11 January - reading with Maureen Boyle, John Wedgwood Clark, Wendy French, Paul Maddern, William Oxley, Christopher Reid and Sue Rose at Coffee House Poetry, Troubadour Cafe, 265 Old Brompton Road, London SW5 - 8 pm £7/£5. See www.coffeehousepoetry.org.
Sat 13 February - reading with a host of poets at 'The Vulgar Tongue' event, with Roddy Lumsden, at the Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Road, London EC1 - 8 pm
Sun 14 February - reading at the Jazz Verse Jukebox, upstairs at Ronnie Scotts, Frith Street, London W1, with Fran Landesman and Dorothea Smart - 8 pm £6
Fri 5 March - reading at Ware Poets, Ware Arts Centre, Kibes Lane, Ware, Herts SG12, plus open mic - 8 pm £4/£2.50
Sat 6 March - reading poems based on modern day fairy tales at Book Club Boutique, Blacks, Dean Street, London W1 with Dzifa Benson and others - 3-6 pm
Sat 27 March - Poetry in the Crypt - reading with Joanna Boulter and Phil Kirby, St Mary's Crypt, Upper St, Islington N1- 7 pm £4/£3 - includes cake! All proceeds to Hospice Care Kenya
Weds 14 April - reading and discussion with Dulwich Stanza group on art and poetry - details tbc
Tue 27 April - reading at Days of Roses - details tbc
Thurs 29 April - reading at the launch of South Bank Poetry - details tbc
Fri 30 April - private view of Accident & Emergence (A&E) artists and poets collaboration, featuring Katrina's and Chris's installation soundscape - details tbc
Sat 18 Sept - reading at the Haworth Literature Festival with Carol Ann Duffy - full details tbc
POETRY
- My Poetry Online
- Lunch at the Elephant & Castle
- B Movie
- Tunnel of Love
- Other Poems Online