Scottish Poetry Library Podcast

A few months ago we travelled to Glasgow to interview The Dark Horse magazine editor and poet Gerry Cambridge. In an interview that focuses more on Gerry's role as editor rather than as poet, Ryan and Gerry talk about how the magazine got started, whether it is possible to say what an editor is looking for in a magazine and muse the general state of literary magazine culture in the UK and the US. Presented by Ryan Van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Music by Ewen Maclean. Twitter: @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: [email protected]

This week our producer Colin Fraser comes from behind the microphone and takes the podcast reigns to introduce the SPL poet of month, Kei Miller, who appeared at last week's West Port Book Festival. We took a recording of his special event in Edinburgh Books where a captive audience was dazzled by Kei's breathtaking performance of his work. Kei is reading from his astounding new book "A Light Song of Light" which will be available to buy sometime later this month. Produced and presented by Colin Fraser. Special Guest Star: Ryan Van Winkle. Music by Ewen Maclean. Twitter: @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: [email protected]

As Ryan is away in Italy at the moment, our very own Peggy Hughes takes over the podcast reins for this week. She selects her poetry picks from last year's West Port Book Festival - Jack Underwood, Robert Alan Jamieson and Mike Stocks - and previews this year's poetry line-up at the West Port, which features some top quality free events from 24th - 27th June. More info at http://www.westportbookfestival.org Presented by Peggy Hughes. Special Guest Star: Ryan Van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Music by Ewen Maclean. Twitter: @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: [email protected]

Ryan chats with American poet and publisher Chase Twichell during her recent visit to the SPL. They discuss her ecological views, the intricacies of the poetry publishing world in the US and what it's like to release a collected works. We also get a chance to hear Chase read a few of her poems. Look out for a special telephoned-in easter egg from Paris with living legend Jim Haynes. Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Music by Ewen Maclean. Twitter: @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: [email protected]

Ryan chats with Scots poet Rab Wilson. They discuss mining, Pablo Neruda, Scots poetry, Arabic translation and we get to hear a few poems from Rab himself. Presented by Ryan Van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Music by Ewen Maclean. Twitter @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: [email protected]

In a slight change to our usual programme, we include a simulcast from WSPL Radio: Real Poetry Radio featuring their presenter Ryan "the Wolf" van Winkle interviewing Scottish folk music sensation Jed Milroy. Jed has recently become involved with creating memorable tracks from classic and modern poetry and we include three of his excellent poetry tracks - "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death", inspired by the Yeats' poem, "Love Never Dies" inspired by the poem by Portobello poet Don Huggins and "The Storm Cone" from the poem by Rudyard Kipling. Presented by Ryan "the Wolf" van Winkle. Produced by Colin "Copter" Fraser. Twitter: @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: [email protected]

Ryan chats to poet, editor, publisher and beekeeper Sally Evans about her work with magazine Poetry Scotland, the exciting poetry festival in Callander which Sally organises and we get a chance to hear a few poems from Sally herself. Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Music by Ewen Maclean. Twitter: @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: [email protected]

In a special podcast from the Ullapool Book Festival, we have the great pleasure to include a reading from celebrated Guatemalan Maya Indian poet Humberto Ak’abal together with his Scots translator James Robertson and English translator Rosemary Burnett. Their new book "Drum of Stone" is now out from Kettillonia. Website for this remarkable trilingual book is: http://www.drumofstone.co.uk/ Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Music by Ewen Maclean. Twitter: @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: [email protected]

In an eclectic episode, we talk to exciting new poet William Letford, recent winner of the Edwin Morgan Travel Bursary, about memorising your work and the art of roofing. We also catch up with SPL podcast favourite Jim Carruth, who tells us about his 1959 jazz project. And we speak to My Kappa Roots and discuss poetry and music, as well as get the chance to listen to his track "Fleeting Like Etain". Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Music by Ewen Maclean. Twitter: @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: [email protected]

Scotland's Poet Laureate, Edwin Morgan, turned 90 this week and we headed over to Glasgow's Mitchell Library to celebrate his birthday with friends in the poetry world, as well as launch his latest collection of poems "Dreams and Other Nightmares". We include a few poems from this collection and chat to Alasdair Gray, Gerry Cambridge, Hamish Whyte, James McGonigal, Valerie Thornton, Gerda Stevenson, Aonghas MacNeacail, Donnie O'Rourke, JL Williams, David Kinloch and Robyn Marsack. Presented by Ryan van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser. Music by Ewen Maclean. Twitter: @byleaveswelive & @anonpoetry. Mail: [email protected]