Spoken Label

Making her long overdue return today to Spoken Label (Author Podcast) is Kristina M. Serrano.Kristina M. Serrano graduated from Cape Fear Community College with an Associate's Degree in Arts, as well as a BFA in Creative Writing Fiction and a Certificate in Publishing from The University of North Carolina Wilmington, landing on the dean's and chancellor's lists. She was the Executive Editor and Prose Editor of an online literary magazine, and, while in college, had the privilege of singing the national anthem at four large events. Slow Echoes is her first published novel, but she has dozens of unfinished YA fantasy and paranormal romance novels stored away for a rainy day.Slow Echoes, her book we talk about mostly is described as "Selk Baioumi is Croatian. She's also Egyptian. And American. Despite her vast heritage, the only family she has known is her mom and late grandfather. Other than that, the closest relationship she has is her friendship with her boxing/kickboxing instructor, Cliff. And she's perfectly happy with her life, until two new men show up in her cozy hometown of Snow Hill, Maryland. The first, Whistler, an ill-reputed boxer with a paranormal secret. The second, Zahid, the Egyptian father who'd left her mother the day after Selk was born. Zahid's return brings the truth about Selk's ancestry and promises of death for many, including Whistler, the not-so-bad boy who's stolen her heart with his dry smile and effortless empathy. In order to obliterate those promises, Selk and Whistler must enter and survive an alternate Egypt where crocodiles swim in venom, stained-glass labyrinths come to life, and mummies can slow your every move, even speech—if overprotective Cliff doesn't kill Whistler first."Slow Echoes is available on Amazon and all of the usual places.Kirstina's website is: https://kristinamserrano.wixsite.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label features making her debut, Lucy Heuschen.LucyHeuschen is a Pushcart and Forward Prize-nominated poet, born in London and living in the Rheinland, Germany. She is The Poetry Society's Stanza Rep for Germany. Lucy's work appears in journals such as Dream Catcher,Lighthouse, Obsessed With Pipework, The High Window, Green Ink, Skylight 47, The Storms and Ink Sweat & Tears among others, and in anthologies from Black Bough, Sídhe Press, New Contexts and Yaffle. She was commended in the Poetry Society's Stanza Competition 2024 and shortlisted for Ink Sweat And Tears' “Pick of the Month” for October 2024. Lucy is part of Wave 2 of The Broken Spine's “Untamed” anthology series and is the author of two poetry chapbooks: We Wear The Crown (Hedgehog Poetry Press, 2022) and Loggerheads (The Broken Spine, 2024).

The latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features Amanda Nicholson doing a live launch of her new novel, 'Death to all men' of course hosted by Andy N.Amanda Nicholson is an author, poet, podcast co-host and copywriter. Her recent novel has the memorable title Death to All Men.Amanda's poetry has been broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester, and she won the Bradford Cares 2023 Competition. She Has a Creative Writing MA, and has articles published by Ask.com, Harlequin and Reader's Digest UK, among others.Her book can be bought from including:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-All-Men-Amanda-Nicholson/dp/B0DVDN2NB6

The latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features Part 2 of a longer Podcast, making her debut the amazing actress, Jessie Liang, perhaps best known for her appearance in season 1 of 'The Night Agent'. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Jessie Liang is a Taiwanese-Brazilian graduate of Studio 58's prestigious Acting conservatory-style program based in Vancouver, Canada. Best known for her recurring roles in The Night Agent and Maid (Netflix), guest starring in Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and her appearances in popular series like Virgin River (Netflix) and Supergirl (CW), Jessie also played Janet in the Arts Club touring production of Kim's Convenience. She is an emerging theatre director, playwright, instructor, and acting coach, and can be seen in the upcoming season of Animal Control (Fox). Jessie speaks Portuguese fluently and is a full member of UBCP-ACTRA.Some links include:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9089635/bio/https://www.instagram.com/jessieliang21/?hl=en

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Bonus Episode today from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) featuring our returning friend, Hayley Lynn Gordon from Giz A Word Collective (Pictured with co-host Rachel Wilton) of which Andy N and Amanda Nicholson will be headlining on Saturday 07 June 2025 over in Liverpool.More about Hayley and Gizaword "Hayley Gordon aka Twisted TalesPoet/Spoken Word Artists/Performer, Co-Creator and Co-Organiser of Giz A Word Collective - @gizaword.collectiveA Scouse spoken word artists and performer and recently had a first publication in The Poetry's Dead Anthology (£10 Amazon)Also been featured on North West radio shows, podcasts and comedy shows in Liverpool. Giz A Word Collective will be hosting their own stall at All Ears Poetry Expo at Liverpool Exhibition Centre on 4th July and hosted by Joseph Roberts. This will be the UK's first ever poetry expo as they contribute towards making poetic history in Liverpool!! Tickets available online either go to Instagram @allearspoetry and click the link in the bio.Or book directly: - www.exhibitioncentreliverpool.com"

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features making their return is out friend, Ashley Edge.Ashley is the co-host of the online spoken word event 'Prickly Pear' and runs the poetry publishers 'Poetic Edge Publishers' as well as regularly running writing workshops.some links include:https://poeticedgepublishers.com/https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ashley-edge-66407590783https://www.facebook.com/ashleyedge.poet

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features making her debut is John Clifford.John Clifford has shared his poetry around the UK, Europe and the US, with performances in six festivals and twelve cities in the last three years - including Cheltenham Literature Festival in 2022 and New York Poetry Festival in 2023. A Mind Over Matter national slam finalist, his work has been displayed in Manchester's Northern Quarter, musically produced with Iris Lyre, and broadcast on BBC Upload. He is a co-host of the Salford based poetry and storytellers night Verbose and his first collection Tell Us What We Are was published in 2023.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features making his debut,Rich Rubin, author the day before it rained.Rubin's debut book 'The Day Before It Rained' is described as an eclectic collection of short stories ranging from quirky portraits to tales of LGBTQ+ relationships; plus eccentric takes on friendship, romance, and everything in between. Whether period pieces or modern day works, from the magical to the mundane, from the heart of Kansas to the Yorkshire moors or the Tunisian desert, the stories span the years, travel the globe, and explore the spectrum of emotions. The author's characters discover love, loss, hope, and fear—in other words, the dubious joy of being human.Rich Rubin has written fiction for decades. He also spent thirty years writing about travel and food (the best job in the world, literally), with over 1000 stories in print in such publications as Travel & Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, Saveur, The Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Out and About, and others.More about Rich can be found on his website which is: https://www.richrubinwriter.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features making her return is the wonderful Eden Gruger.Eden advises "I am Eden, autistic blogger, and author of four fiction collection, and four nonfiction guides to writing, marketing and publishing. When I am not writing my one books I am helping other people with theirs as one of a handful of Alliance of Independent Authors approved writers mentors globally."More about Eden can be found at: edengruger.comHow to write without Block can be bought from Amazon including - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F7GNZQ62/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-NdJx46uKs0Op-wHxw7Dag.Zag_UfQtBrWwzhD2KTBRzpdO6UkDDRZzQfgSb-HR7-4&dib_tag=se&qid=1746430349&refinements=p_27%3AEden+S+Gruger&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Eden+S+Gruger

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) featuresmaking his debut, Joe Walsh.Joe is from Edinburgh and lives in Aberdeenshire currently. He has had a variety of jobs including working as a butcher and in the bar-trade before working in Social Services. He then qualified as a Social Worker and after 25 years retired early to concentrate on writing. He has had poems published in anthologies by Seahorse Publications, Blot from The Blue Publications, Inherit the Earth Publications and Dreich Publications. He also has three slim collections of poetry, and a book of short stories published. He is working on a novel and a further collection of poetry. His short story ‘The Big Thing That's Everywhere was showcased at the Edinburgh Book Festival in 2022. He is a regular at Open Mic spoken word events in Aberdeen and Edinburgh as well as online Zoom Open Mic events based in Scotland, Ireland, England and Australia.Joe's books include 'Oppressive Love', 'oblivion disguised', 'scunner' and'Joe A.k.a.'All of his books can be purchased on AmazonJoe is on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/alexander.walsh.1042

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry) Podcast features makinghis debut, David Leo Sirois. David Leo Sirois is a Canadian-American poet published 161 times, in 27 countries. His work has been translated into 13 languages (such as Hindi, Bengali, French, Spanish, Greek, & Romanian). He hosts Spoken World Online, the Zoom arm of SpokenWord Paris. His first collection is called Humbledoves (Poems to Pigeons & Plants). He won Third Prize in Winning Writers' Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. Sirois has been honored for his “admirable contribution to world literature” by The Fertile Brains, a renowned literary group in India. He teaches workshops online for The Bombay Review, as well as The Poetry Academy of Poetry Global Network. His poetry has appeared in journals such as The Bombay Review, Artemis Journal, Angles: New Perspectives on the Anglophone World, The Poetry Village, One Hand Clapping, Poetry Super Highway, & Terre à Cièl (which also publishes his translations of French poetry, & his poems in French). Sirois has been featured on countless international programs, podcasts & interviews. His poetry has been featured in films & music. He is also a singer/songwriter, radio DJ (Channel X Radio, Maine/New Brunswick/Quebec) as well as a film/TV/theater actor. He is currently submitting 5 finished manuscripts for publication, & writing several more.Humbledoves (poems to pigeons & plants): https://a.co/d/5MRB33i

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features making his debut is Bethany Handley.Bethany Handley is an award-winning writer, poet and disability activist from Monmouthshire. Named one of the UK's ten most influential disabled people in politics, law, and media by the Shaw Trust 2024, she campaigns for disability rights and better access to nature. An ambassador for Country Living's Access for All, Wales Coast Path, and Ramblers Cymru, her debut poetry pamphlet Cling Film was published by Seren in February 2025. She co-edited Beyond / Tu Hwnt, an anthology of Welsh Deaf and disabled writers. Her work has been featured by the Poetry Foundation, Poetry Wales, BBC Radio 4, Country Living and more.Bethany's Website is: bethanyhandley.com 

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features making her debut is Kathryn Millington talking about her debut poetry collection 'Imprint'.Some thoughts said about Kathryn's collection:“It is rare to find a collection that is brave enough to place the complexities of IVF and the strange world of grief that the infertile inhabit in such direct light. Kathryn Millington's collection Imprint does just that. This is a story of confrontation and acceptance, a journey into a world that feels niche, but is anything but. The poetry world benefits from sharing experience, it will be enriched by this collection.”Wendy Pratt‘” Kathryn's poems move me, make me laugh, reflect on this strange business we call life and feel more hopeful about navigating a path through it. These are tender, beautifully crafted poems that work on the page and in the air. Read them, keep them with you.'Helen Mort‘”Kathryn Millington's Imprint is a gutting account of involuntary childlessness. Adeptly bending rhyme and form, Millington conjures yearning visions of the future alongside memories that ache and sing with loss. In this compelling debut pamphlet, grief is bound in the strings of “a mobile, shot through with sunlight” and hope is a stinging barb that pierces the reader again and again.”Chris Lanyon“I am at a loss for words, because you have said them all”Benjamin ZephaniahThe collection can be bought from:https://fawnpress.co.uk/product/imprint-by-kathryn-millington/

Second Part of our extended chat with Peter Roe from Jawbone with a few poems at the end

Part 1 of a longer Podcast today from Spoken Label (Author / Poet Podcast) with the wonderful Peter Roe from Jawbone.*

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Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry / Author Podcast) features making her debut, Lisa O'Hare.Lisa O'Hare is a Saboteur Award shortlisted poet and 2023 BBC Words First Finalist and has been writing herself into existence since 2019. After two decades of letting her creativity lie dormant, Lisa who spends her time between Manchester and Wrexham, has resoundingly reclaimed it through live performances and readings and her debut collection of poetry. published todayRhythmic, relatable, and reflective Lisa's poems sit perfectly at the intersection of the personal and the universal. Exploring existing in the every day, within the pages of Proving I Exist you will find a range of works from the reflective to the ridiculous.Lisa's work has been featured on BBC Upload in the North West, BBC Radio 3 and she is a regular feature performance poet across the UK, including taking a one woman show to multiple fringe festivals including Greater Manchester, Camden, Morecambe and Edinburgh. Her work has taken her to Boardmasters festival and Worthy Pastures (aka Glastonbury in Lockdown) and iconic venues such as Band on the Wall, Manchester.Lisa can be contacted through https://lisaoharewriter.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Amanda Nicholson.Amanda Nicholson is an author, poet, podcast co-host and copywriter. Her recent novel has the memorable title Death to All Men.Amanda's poetry has been broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester, and she won the Bradford Cares 2023 Competition. She Has a Creative Writing MA, and has articles published by Ask.com, Harlequin and Reader's Digest UK, among others.'Death to all men' is available for all of the usual places including - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-All-Men-Amanda-Nicholson/dp/B0DVDN2NB6

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) making her debut, Sophia Elan.Currently based in Turkey, but will be moving to France, Sophia, a University of Chicago Law School alum and former corporate lawyer, left her career to feed her soul. “Sicilian Seductions” is the first novel in Sophia's 7-part Mediterranean-based "Happily Ever Now" collection, a testament to the power of following one's instincts and finding true happiness.Sophia's books are available on AmazonAll of her links are on:https://linktr.ee/mediterraneanmeHer website:https://www.mediterraneanme.org/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features Andy N for a change being interviewed by Amanda for a change talking about his new novel ‘Death'.Andy N is the author of ten poetry collections, thelast being ‘Changing Carriages at Birmingham New Street' and is the co-host of Chorlton's Spoken Word night ‘Speak Easy'.He is in the bands Ocean in a Bottle and Polly Oceanand his Podcast credits include Spoken Label and Not the TV Guide.He has bought out two novels ‘Birth' and ‘Death and iscurrently working on his next poetry book ‘Ghosts' and a currently untitled Science Fiction Novella.His links can be found at:https://linktr.ee/andynartistDeath is described as “'Death' Andy N's secondfull-length novel is as much a sequel to his first novel 'Birth' (described as a charming come-of-age novel) as facing the end of something else altogether.Having navigated the tumultuous waters of youth andfound his voice as a writer after having everything pulled out, 'Death' leads us to what happens next, picking up where 'Birth' left off, charting his journey through the complexities of adulthood, how his and everybody's lifearound him changes, love, loss and the ever-faithful present shadow of mortality and life itself.Speaking with the same raw honesty and poetic gracethat defined 'Birth,' 'Death' is a book that builds an unforgettable narrative that explores the very fabric and the bittersweet beauty of life and the acceptance of its inevitability, and wherever it may lead to next.'Death' is a powerful and moving testament to thehuman condition, a reflection on the enduring power of art, and a reminder to cherish every precious moment and live each moment like it is your last.”

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Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) making her debut features Juliette Tomlinson discussing her debut novel "Longford". Longford is set in 1864, and the great city of Manchester was Cottonopolis, rising with the sound of industry, and the boom of a hundred mills. At the heart of its energies was John Rylands. ‘the greatest merchant prince the world has ever seen'. This is the story of an empire built by a true Manchester man, given meaning and worth by the extraordinary woman Enriqueta, who loved him and a partnership that left a huge mark on the city. Juliette can be found on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/longfordjr/ The book can be purchased from Chorlton Bookshop directly, and also on Amazon, Waterstones etc

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features making his debut the wonderful Mervin M. Francis. Mervin is the author of three poetry collections, the most recent being Life, Dreams and Challenges, a r a reflective and insightful exploration of life;s myriad hurdles and aspirations. Mervin asdvises he began his journey with Book of Dreams where he established himself as a whimsical poet. His second volume, Dreams of Life marked a significant evolutaton in his work as he embraced themes of positivity and inspiration. With his latest book, he advises he has devlved even deeper into the complexities of existence, reflecting on both the truimphs and trials that shape our dreams. Residing on the North Coast of Durban, Mervin continues to write he advises in his spare time, balancing his creative endearvours with a management company at Toyote South Africa. Through his poetry, he seeks the freedom to share his thoughts, emotions and reflections with the world, allowing his worss to reasonate far beyond the page. tiktok.com/@mervinmf Instagram: mervinmfrancis facebook: Mervin Mark Francis

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features making her debut, Rachel Wilton. Rachel Wilton is a artist from Liverpool and a member of the Giz a Word Collective also from Liverpool. Rachel can be found on Instagram :- https://www.instagram.com/anne.whatt.designs.0151/ Giz a Word can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/gizaword.collective/ OR https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562738441315

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features making her debut, the amazing Andrea Hailwood, author of The Friendly Show series. The Friendly Show series is a ongoing series of books where guided by the Stories of the Ancestors, the sceptical squirrels are on a fairy tale adventure to uncover truths, mysteries and secrets about themselves, their environment and their relationship with humans. Inspired by folklore, nature and real life squirrels, The Friendly Show! is a series full of twists and turns which all come full circle and is recommended for fans of Watership Dawn and Wind in the Willows to name but a few. More details and how to purchase the books can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLKVXSTR?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0Q5dKAzI2Pd4pNvPqlYJK0F-vFKjiizoi6tH6cCFvpKpqvA-n_3ZANalI_aem_W7k_YF70-8_MxNG55X2Jog

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry / Artist Podcast) features the return of our friend, Goodnighttheskye. Goodnighttheskye (they/them) is a Leeds-based poet and spoken word artist best known for wearing black and spending too much time in the woods. Permanently preoccupied with what we keep under the bed, their work explores themes of queerness, chronic illness and childhood with a healthy dose of the dark and the fantastical. In short, they write about mosh pits, monsters and the people who love them. Goodnighttheskye has headlined poetry nights around Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester and Huddersfield, and their work has been published in the Blue Heron Review, Greenteeth Press Anthology, and the Hive Young Poets competition. Their debut collection, New Fables For Transformation was released via Written Off Publishing in November of 2024. It has since been nominated for the Pushcart Prize Her book can For Transformation can be purchased from Written Off Publishing.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Artist / Writer Podcast) features Dr Orna Tsultem. Uranchimeg (Orna) Tsultem is a scholar of the art and culture of Mongolia. She has served as a curator of Mongolian art at the international level since 1997. Her curated exhibits have been shown at Kasumi Tsukuba Center in Tsukuba, Japan, Frauen Museum in Bonn, Germany, E&J Frankel Gallery in New York City, Worth Ryder Gallery and Institute of East Asian Studies at University of California Berkeley, Venice Beinnale, Shanghai Beinnale, the Modern Art Gallery in Ulaanbaatar, and the Sapar Contemporary in New York City. Uranchimeg is the author four books on Mongolia and is the recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship (2002–2005), John W. Kluge Fellowship (2013),the American Council of Learned Societies/Robert Ho Foundation Collaborative Research Award (2014–2016),and the Indiana University Presidential Arts and Humanities Fellowship in 2022. More informtion about Orna can be found at: https://www.artmongolia.org/curating

Fresh up today on Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features an exclusive chat with Sheila Seal from the recently reformed 'The Man from Delmonte'. The Man from Delmonte are an independent band from Manchester, England, formed in the mid-1980s. Band members included Mike West (vocals and acoustic guitar), Sheila Seal (bass), Martin Vincent (guitar and harmonica), and Howard Goody (drums). They took their name from a series of 1980s television advertisements for Del Monte fruit juices, featuring the "man from Del Monte". In these, the man would visit villages to sample their fruit juices, to see if they were good enough to be included in his company's drinks. The tagline, shouted jubilantly by a villager on approval was, "The man from Del Monte, he say 'Yes!'" and at one point they were managed by the journalist Jon Ronson. In September 2024 in a Facebook post it was announced that they were reforming to do a gig in Manchester, this was with the help of Iain Lee a former TV show host and comedian. The gig, to be held at the 500 capacity Band on the Wall in Manchester, sold out within 20 minutes. More details about the band can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/44800212324/posts/10158613686167325/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Podcast) features the return of our friend tea buff, weird fiction aficionado and abstracted songwriter, Eric Loveland Heath, professionally known as E.L. Heath. In this return on Spoken Label, we review Eric's releases on Plenty Wenlock Records and Wayside and Woodland Records over this year, and also his venturing into publishing with his first book "A Guide to the lore of Plenty Wenlock' and also Landnotes #1, which is published by Wayside and Woodland Recordings. Some links include: https://www.facebook.com/ELHeathuk/ https://plentywenlockrecords.bandcamp.com/ https://www.normanrecords.com/artist/19090-el-heath https://x.com/PlentyWenlock https://www.instagram.com/plentywenlock/ https://plentywenlockrecords.bigcartel.com/ https://plentywenlockpress.bigcartel.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/plentywenlock.bsky.social

Latest Spoken Label (Author Chat Podcast) is perhaps our strangest to date features Kateryna Kei talking about a real life mystery of a book behind Casey Adams and a journal he left behind at the Hague Hotel. The book is described as " Imagine stumbling upon someone's stolen diary while traveling in a foreign country. Imagine reading it and falling in love with the story within – a deeply moving story that someone lived through and wrote down to never forget. Imagine spending months looking for the author of that diary, retracing his steps and meeting people he met on the way… If you have ever stayed in a hostel, making connections with many different people only to never speak with them again, Casey Adams's story will resonate with you. It will make you reappraise these brief encounters that always transform us in some way. Let this hand-written diary take you on a unique immersive experience… Kateryna herself is the Author of the books "Raven Boy" and "Two Parts of a Soul" and her bio advises "I love stories. Real or imaginary, sad or happy, containing life lessons or simply entertaining, stories make our whole life, we are stories." The Hague Hostel is available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BGSYR7WC Kateryna's website is: http://www.katerynakei.com/ More additional behind the Hague Hostel can be found here - http://www.katerynakei.com/hh/hh.html Kateryna also has set up this special page with a bonus exclusively for Spoken Label listeners http://www.katerynakei.com/spokenlabel.html

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast) features the return of our friend, Lily Massey. Lily Massey began writing poetry at the age of fourteen as a hobby, and has loved it ever since achieving the Young Laureate position for Staffordshire enabled her to really develop her craft and become a part of the poetry scene and community that spans across the county and further afield. Her poems are of many forms, genres, and lengths, but Lily lets her emotion diffuse into her words, and performing is when she feels they come alive. This Podcast is primarily talking about Lily' recently released second full length poetry book 'My Fire' which is described as More about Lily can be found at her substack page: https://lilymassey.substack.com/ My Fire can be purchased from: https://www.amazon.co.uk/my-fire-Lily-Massey/dp/B0DK7MSNBH?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features making her debut, the amazing Emma Smith. Emma is an autistic and bipolar poet and writer from Bath, UK. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and has published work in Canary Collective, Lunate Journal, The Occult Digest, Vellichor Lit and many more. Her work is often confessional in nature, exploring themes of trauma, rebirth, neurodivergence and occasionally ghosts. You can read more of her poetry on Instagram @emzmariepoems

Latest up from Spoken Label making her debut is the wonderful Connie Rigby. Connie Rigby was born in Delph, Oldham and is currently studying MA Creative Writing, BA Modern Foreign Languages and Cultures in Manchester. She can be contacted via email : connielouiserigbypoetry@gmail.com

Bonus Episode from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poetry Podcast) featuring the return of our friend Peter Topping talking about a new fund raising campaign for the visually-impaired in South Manchester (UK) with a new poetry book. More details about this can be seen: JustGiving https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/free-books?utm_term=Z7KAJn87y Link to YouTube video of sample page in book https://youtu.be/fKg2crEJbis Facebook page Peter Topping https://www.facebook.com/peter.thetoppings.net/

Latest up from Spoken Label features the return of our friend, the wonderful Quigley CB (Also known as Quigley Cryan Brockbank) As of typing, Quigley is a Manchester-based writer, whose work typically combines horror and elements from folk tales with an absurdist sense of humour. She has had work published in the likes of Spellbinder and has been featured on All FM and the BBC. Her first play, Exiles, was shortlisted for the Shelagh Delaney New Writing Award. Her debut short story collection, God Leaks out of your Armpit – a collection of queer body horror – was recently published by Written Off Publishing. More about Quigley can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/quigley_cb/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features the return of our friend, Charlotte Faulconbridge. Charlotte Faulconbridge is an autistic and chronically ill prize-winning poet, published author, musician and TEDx performer. Her book, Too High to Function, which tells the story of her life on the autistic spectrum has sold in over 20 countries, on every continent, and reached number one in the Amazon bestseller charts. She became an ambassador for the mental health charity MIND earlier this year and was recently a finalist in the BBC Make A Difference awards. Her brand new book, The Warring Twenties, is her debut poetry collection themed around mental health. Charlotte can be contacted on: https://www.instagram.com/charlotterobynf/https://www.inclusivecreatives.co.uk/ Jawbone who publishes The Warring Twenties can be found at: https://www.wessex.media/

* Bonus Episode * Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word Podcast / Poetry) features the return of our friend, Kate Jenkinson. Dr Kate Jenkinson is scientist and poet reconciled and is one of a handful of LinkedIN Business Poets. She likes hats, writes about the many ones she wears (Mother, Daughter, Friend, Coach, entrepreneur) and she enjoys performing at open mics and slams since the pandemic made the poetry community more accessible. In 2022 she performed her TEDx talk Poetry Never Abandons Us and she enjoys attending and headlining events internationally. Her work can be found in EyeFlash, Good DadHood, Steel Jackdaw, Flight of the Dragonfly and Feral (their first Mother/Daughter poetry and art collaboration). Kate recently realised she was neurodivergent so this and her aphantasia is a feature of her recent work. This bonus episode talks directly about Kate's debut poetry book 'Unbroken'. 'Unbroken' is described as "Kate Jenkinson's debut collection is a tale of self-discovery. Delving into her past to analyse and embrace her neurodivergencies. Sometimes heart-wrenching and difficult, sometimes glorious and life-affirming, always about acceptance. As an aphantasic poet, it is about much more than creating a visual image for Kate. Her poetry lies in the sounds, tastes and touch that she experiences; the emotions that come from all senses. With sublime natural lyricism, and joy in wordplay, rhyme and alliteration, her slam poetry comes to life on the page. Sitting alongside beautiful form and free verse poetry, it is a marriage of the soul. Kate's poetry will have you looking inward, while she holds your hand, showing you how to accept yourself to ultimately become Un/Broken" Kate can be found on both facebook and Linkedin: https://www.facebook.com/kjenkinson1 https://uk.linkedin.com/in/katejenkinsonnextstephr Her book is available either through Kate directly or https://www.amazon.co.uk/Broken-Kate-Jenkinson/dp/1917408005 Prickly Pear is on facebook and eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ashley-edge-66407590783?fbclid=IwY2xjawGUr4hleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYtGgSJuHYzV_QAB2KHj-ZU95MoHGPj9F8sDXP9K0cHlMPwVgE1LICyZcA_aem_r8ORXCbezw7NzhkrYD7FZw

Latest up from Spoken Label features making his debut, the wonderful Edward Little. Edward Little is a writer based in Liverpool who publishes fiction as well as performs spoken word poetry. His creative vent, Giz a Word: Creative Collective, runs once a month in the city. More about Edward can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/edward.little.184

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features making her debut, the amazing Lesedi Letsoalo. Lesedi Letsoalo is a 20-year-old South African writer, currently studying Accounting Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. My Grief - Booked is her first solo book and was written after her grandmother, who had been her primary caregiver/guardian since she was an infant, passed away very suddenly in 2021 due to COVID-19. The loss opened her eyes to how much stigma, shame and negativity surrounds the inevitable emotions that come with grief and loss, thus she not only wrote the book, but published it. She aims to raise more awareness to the impact of grief and loss on individuals, to educate society on how to be kinder to people going through it. Another goal of hers is to create a safe space for grievers to sit with and in their true and authentic emotions, however heavy they may be, and know that it's normal and okay to feel the way that they're feeling during whatever their time of their grief.Her debut full length collection "My Grief ~ Booked" can be found on Amazon.Her email address to contact for more details is lesediletsoalo02@gmail.com

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry Podcast) features making her debut, the amazing Linda Cosgriff. Linda advises her poems have appeared in magazines, anthologies, textbooks, shops, galleries, ezines, and on BBC Radio. They have been set to music, turned into art, and sent to Mars and for several years, she edited a small church magazine. She advises writes occasional articles for one website and once had a one-act play staged at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre. She is a founder member and former chair of Stockport Writers, a not-for-profit group which aims to encourage newbies to writing. She is an active member of Write Out Loud, the UK's largest poetry organisation, which encourages poets to read their poems aloud to others and delivers readings and workshops to various community groups and charities in Stockport. She is a writer-in-residence for two community groups and one charity. To date she has published three collections, Wholly Man and Hormoanal and Tales from the Rainbow Nation (of which this Podcast covers). More about Linda can be found at her website: https://poetryfluff.wordpress.com/ Seven Arches Publishing who publish the book can be found here: https://www.sevenarchespublishing.co.uk/Book_Details/Tales_From_The%20Rainbow_Nation.html

Next up from Spoken Label (Poetry Podcast) making his debut features the wonderful Chris Platt. Chris Platt advises he has been writing stories ever since he can remember and has written hundreds of stories and two novels. Alongside this, he has been writing poetry since 2023. He lives in Manchester with his wife and his black Labrador. His stories can be found on the following websites, Storystar, under the name CPlatt, Writers Club / Grey Thoughts, as Chris Platt. His poems can be found on My Poetic Side, under the pen name Tom Dylan.  

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist Chat Podcast) making her debut is Hannah Parry. Hannah Parry trained as a paediatric nurse in the UK.Her first novel Winter's Bite, won first prize in the 12+ section at the Winchester Writers' Festival in June 2012. Fever Quest, the sequel, won the Write Historical Fiction Monthly Masterpiece and was longlisted for the MSLexia Children's Novel prize in 2016.The Mechanics' Institute Review, Halfway Down the Stairs, The Doubleback Review and The Junction published her short fiction. In 2021 she was longlisted for the BBC Short Story Award.Her latest book is an adult thriller, Breathing for Both of Us, published in September 2023.The Baby Exchange, a book club fiction novel for adults will be published in the summer of 2024.The third in the Isabella Rockwell trilogy will be published in 2025.Her website can be found at https://www.hannahparry.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poetry Podcast) features the amazing Peter Topping. Peter is a local artist in the Chorlton Area and has worked on several books with historian Andrew Simpson. He has also written his own book entitled “Smile Dammit Smile!!! – Chorlton”. He has created many “History Walls” and art installations around Chorlton together with Manchester historian Andrew Simpson. Together with Andrew he has created 14 books on the history of Chorlton and Manchester He was The Chorlton Arts Festival Director for 4 years. At the present, he is working as Virtual Arts Festival Director for Chorlton Arts and also is putting together artwork by local artists to be displayed on hoardings around Chorlton-cum-Hardy. In 2023, at the age of 74, he started collating the poems he had already written and started to write new poems reflecting on his life so far. He then worked on a project with Lindy Newns, which came about while he was working on The Virtual Chorlton Arts Festival for 2024. Peter was curating the Literary Arts section and was creating the exhibition panel that carried Lindy's entry. As he read the poem, he began to think that perhaps he could enliven the panel by painting a picture of the scene. He then decided that it would be fun to have a collection of Lindy's poems illustrated in the same way, mixing the two arts together, literary and visual, in what would be an exciting book to read, and to view. The rest is revealed in this feature length podcast More about Peter can be found at: https://pubbooks.co.uk/ #poetrypodcast #art #artpodcast #poetry #chorlton The video for this is here - https://youtu.be/mAELVAmq0fo

Latest up from Spoken Label, features the return of our friend, Jo Somerset. Jo Somerset is based in Manchester. She completed a MA in Creative Writing in May 2020 at the University of Salford, where she received the Leanne Bridgewater Award for Innovation and Experiment. Like Isla, Jo grew up in Birmingham with an unspoken Celtic heritage. A love of the Hebrides and her experience with a blended family underlie Isla's heartfelt journey towards finding her origins and a new self-belief. In this Podcast, we primarily talk about Jo's new book "Mission: Find Mum" This book is described as "Isla and Lac's mum is missing, but has left clues, and an emergency credit card. The children travel from Birmingham to Mora, a Scottish island, camping and tracking their mum. Hampered by challenges and unsure of who to trust, can Isla and Lac succeed in their mission? What else will they find... and lose? For ages 10 and up." The book can be bought directly from Stairwell books: https://www.stairwellbooks.co.uk/product/mission-find-mum/ Jo Somerset can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/jo.somerset https://x.com/josomerset https://www.instagram.com/jo.somerset/

Latest up from Spoken Label features Toki Ward from the band Onion Mash. Onion Mash are a 4 piece female-fronted melodic (mainly) hard-rock band formed in 2021, but as the name suggests, their music is a mash up- a little bit hard-rock, heavy metal elements off melodic, even a little punk with raw emotional vocals, big personalities and plenty of hooky riffs. More details: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081500374600 (Toki's guitar page) https://www.facebook.com/OnionMashofficial (Onion Mash facebook) https://www.instagram.com/onionmashband/ (Onion Mash Instagram)

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Latest up from Spoken Label features making her debut, the amazing Hayley Lyn Gordon. Hayley is a mother of 2 and a spoken word artist, known as, Twisted Tales and was born and raised in Anfield, Liverpool. She writes about motherhood, love, heartache, co-parenting, grief, addiction, mental health and random stuff e.g. about her cat eating ham! She started a project in 2023 that involves incorporating music with spoken word and is on the look out for musicians to collaborate with in the future. Her poetry journey began in July 2021, when she saw a post from "A Lovely Word" advertising an open mic night. She finally found the courage to stand up in St James' Gardens and read "Lemonade Grenade" for the first time, to far more people than she expected. Since then, Hayley's life has been a rollercoaster and she's found writing helps her navigate through lifes ups and downs. Music is a big passion and she has been inspired by many artists, such as Stevie Nicks, Taylor Swift, Paramore, The Cure, Prince, Marilyn Monroe many more. Hayley is also one of the many women platformed by Claire Berry's popular "Fem De La Femme Comedy and Spoken Word" events at The Everyman, Liverpool. This amazing comedy night also raises money for various women's organisations within the Merseyside area every 3 months and is so proud to be apart of an organisation that empowers women and also gives back to the comminity. Hayley mainly performs her poetry with "A Lovely Word" at "The Everyman" and "Word Vomit" at "Round The Corner". She performed during the poetry festival hosted by "A Lovely Word" and "Unusual Art Sourcing Company" in Liverpool for the launch of their poetry zine during June and July 2024, whilst also competing at "A Lovely Word Slam Competition" at the Shakespeare North Playhouse (2023) and The Everyman (2024). Hayley also recently hosted an intimate poetry reading with the local community in Dovecot MAC and had a ball whilst being interviewed by Andy NPoet for his podcast "Spoken Label" (release date 2nd September 2024, on most streaming site e.g. YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music etc). Hayley Gordon/Twisted Tales Bio Instagram: @twistedtales.hlg19 Tik Tok: @h.l.gtwistestales

Latest Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry Podcast) features making her debut, Lynne Thompson. Lynne Thompson was Los Angeles' 2021-22 Poet Laureate and received a Poet Laureate Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets. She is the author of three previous collections of poetry: Beg NoPardon, Start With A Small Guitar, and Fretwork, winner of the 2019 Marsh Hawk Poetry Prize. Thompson is the recipient of multiple awards including an Individual Artist Fellowship from the City of Los Angeles, the Tucson Literary Festival Poetry Prize, the Steven Dunn Poetry Prize, the George Drury Prize, as well as fellowships from the Summer Literary Series, Kenya, and the Vermont Studio Center. An attorney by training with a J.D. from Southwestern Law School.Thompson sits on the Boards of Cave Canem, The Poetry Foundation, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. In June 2022, she completed her four-year service as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Scripps College, her alma mater. Thompson's recent work can be found or is forthcoming in the literary journals Best American Poetry, Kenyon Review, The Common, Pleiades, The Massachusetts Review, and Copper Nickel, among others. Her Website is the following: https://www.lynnethompson.us/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Artist / Writer / Poetry Podcast) features the return of our friend, Christine Stoddard. Christine is a writer, filmmaker, and artist named one of MSN's Top 10 Inspirational Women to Look Out for In 2024, one of Brooklyn Magazine's Top 50 Most Fascinating People, and a Ms. Magazine "Ms. Muse." Her critically-acclaimed work includes the stage play "Mi Abuela, Queen of Nightmares," the feature films "Sirena's Gallery" and “Her Garden,” the TV show "Badass Lady-Folk," the books Desert Fox by the Sea and Belladonna Magic, the documentary “The Persistence of Poe,” short films such as "Uncontested," "Bottled," and "De Colores (Chorus of Melancholy)," and the publication Quail Bell Magazine. She is also the co-host of “Don't Mind If I Don't,” a comedy TV show with Aaron Gold. Her painting, photography, and performance/video art have appeared at the Queens Botanical Garden, Irondale Theatre, The Elisabet Ney Museum, The Old Stone House, Howard County Art Center, and elsewhere. She was the inaugural artist-in-residence at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, as well as part of landmark AIR cohorts at the Brooklyn Public Library-Eastern Parkway Branch and Woodlawn Estate. She has studied documentary film and oral history at Columbia University, interdisciplinary art at The City College of New York, and libretto writing at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. Born to a Salvadoran mother and Anglo-American father, she grew up in Virginia as the eldest of three.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry / Spoken Word Podcast) features making her debut is the amazing Courtney Ward. Courtney is a neurodivergent and chronically ill writer, writing group facilitator, artist and photographer. With mixed heritage and also having mental health difficulties, she faces the odds of having to deal with silent battles and expresses them, so truthfully, turning heartache into heartmake. She has been published in 7 anthologies including “our time and space” by Writing East Midlands, “Speak Out” by The Word Association, and Sisterhood anthology for Sisterhood Festival in Bradford , been a feature artist at Prickly Pear in January 2024, Speak your Mind in April 2024 and August 2024, and also, talked at and collaborated with local charities and also performed at festivals, such as Kettfest, and recently claimed the opportunity to perform at Corby Pride. Plus, Courtney advises she continues to work with our younger generation to make our future better, and also has experience as a shadow writer for Writing East Midlands Beyond The Spectrum young writers group. More about Courtney can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10... OR https://www.instagram.com/courts_ward/