Poet Town
OLI SPLEEN
Hastings poets are coming together to celebrate 200 years of poetry in our town. Poet Town: The Poets & Poetry of Hastings & Thereabouts is in production, edited by St Leonards-born poet Richard Newham-Sullivan. A number of exciting side projects are emerging, including live events and an exhibition of poet-inspired photography.
Clockwise from top right: Salena Godden, Henry Normal, Oli Spleen, Reanna Valentine, Merlin Betts, Jude Montague
The Poet Town project has already gained an enthusiastic online following since it launched earlier this year, with active involvement by many local writers and artists. One such artist, local photographer Maxine Silver, is currently photographing Hastings poets in various locations around the town, and an exhibition will coincide with the release of the book. These photos will also be included in a deluxe edition of the anthology.
A series of exclusive interviews with the poets featured in Poet Town is also under way. Lucas Howard (aka Lucas the Peaceful Poet), known for his Flight Feathers events, will be interviewing some of the writers. These will include Hastings-born, award winning author and poet Salena Godden, comedy writer, TV producer and poet Henry Normal, and many other well-loved local writers including Reanna Valentine, Merlin Betts and Jude Montague – and Oli Spleen . The first of the interviews has already happened and is free to view on the Poet Town Patreon page. More are set to appear on the second Sunday of each month, including exclusive interviews with Salena, Merlin and me on 8 December.
Lucas Howard, performance poet and writer, says of the project: “As soon as I was told about the Poet Town project, I was on board with it completely. It is the perfect opportunity for people in Hastings from all backgrounds to have their voices heard. This book is going to be a seminal collection, reminding us of the great writers who have lived in Hastings in the past and introducing people to the many poets living here today. In my interviews, my hope is to understand what the medium of poetry, and the town of Hastings, mean to these incredibly talented writers.”
Lucas Howard will also be hosting some special Flight Feathers events at St Andrews Mews, with poets from the Poet Town Anthology headlining. The first of these is at 7.00pm on 7 December, donation only.
Poet Town at Patreon: patreon.com/PoetTown
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