Patricia M Osborne

Today is a very proud day for me as my debut poetry pamphlet Taxus Baccata is officially launched into the world. I’d like to make a few acknowledgements to some special people.

Firstly, thank you to Mark Davidson at Hedgehog Poetry Press for not only publishing, but believing in me and making this happen.

If you’re a poet and looking for a place to submit, Hedgehog’s Cult of the Spiny Hog is the place to be – not only do you get a bundle of poetry but you also get to enter competitions FREE offering a chance to have your collection published.

Hedgehog Press also offer monthly challenges to cult members only – again a chance for publication. An added bonus is Mark Davidson is a fantastic editor to work with.

Bundle received this quarter

 

If you’re a reader and love poetry The Cult of the Spiny Hog is still great value with the bundle of poetry you receive each quarter. Personally I love being a member of this poetry cult and I’ve also made lots of new friends.

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I’d also like to thank John McCullough for his support and his write-up for Taxus Baccata  

“Reading the poems together is like stepping into a forest where each tree has a highly individual character. Patricia M Osborne does really well to conjure up such a playful range of voices that feel different yet enhance one another, and her shifts in stanza length add brilliant disruption.”  John McCullough – Poet (Shortlisted for the Poetry Costa Award 2019)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John McCullough was not only shortlisted for the Poetry Costa Award in 2019 but has just been awarded the Hawthornden Prize. You can purchase a copy of Reckless Paper Birds from Penned in the Margins at a discount price for ONE WEEK only.

You can read more about John’s writing here from when he visited ‘Patricia’s Pen’ earlier this year. University of Brighton are certainly lucky to have him.

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And thank you to the lovely Alison Chisholm for her continued support over the last few years, not only as a great mentor but also a friend I am proud to have. What Alison said about Taxus Baccata.

 

“Patricia M Osborne writes of the natural world with keen observation and a sensitivity for the trees and flowers, birds and animals that fill it.  In this collection we learn of traditions, mythology and lore, factual information and fantasy, mingling in one glorious cornucopia.  Patricia casts her true poet’s eye over it all, and clothes it in images to enchant the reader.” (Alison Chisholm – Poet and Poetry Columnist on Writing Magazine) 

You can find out more about Alison and her writing on my blog here.

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Not forgetting Craig Jordan-Baker who pushed me to the next level with my narrative poetry during my MA dissertation. He was patient, knowledgeable and whatever subject I researched, he always had a book to recommend on the topic. So thank you, Craig. Again University of Brighton are lucky to have him.

Craig has his own celebrations coming up in a couple of months when he releases his debut novel The Nacullians  You can read more about Craig here from when he visited Patricia’s Pen earlier in the year.

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And a huge thank you to my good friends and talent writers for their continued feedback on my poems to make Taxus Baccata happen: Maureen Cullen, Suzi Bamblett, Sheena Bradley, and Corinne Lawrence.

Not forgetting all my friends and family for their continued belief in me and finally to my fantastic neighbours who have kept me sane over the last three months and  who will help me celebrate this evening.

And with all that – if you’re still reading…

If you’d like to find out more about Taxus Baccata and listen to my interview with Sanctuary (piano is my other love) go here 

To order a signed copy from the publisher’s first print run – SHOP