Spoken Label

Latest up from Spoken Label is a regular at my co-run Literature Open Mic night Speak Easy, the wonderful Mike Booth.

Latest Spoken Label Podcast is from the lovely Libby Taylor.

Libby L. Taylor is described as is a globally published poet and writer. She is originally from Leicestershire, England, but has spent most of her life living in the north of England in Sheffield. 

She is currently an undergraduate student studying English Literature and Creative Writing at university.

Her work has featured in a wide range of literary journals across the world such as, Vaughan Street Doubles, Yellow Paint Magazine, Pendemic, Eris & Eros review and Flare Literary Journal

She works as a news journalist for the award-winning newspaper, The Linc, as well as working as a fiction editor for The Lincoln Review. 

Her first poetry chapbook is Ethereality.

Her website is: https://libbyltaylor.wixsite.com/libbyltaylor

Poems read out in this session include:

1. Ethereality

2. The Old man and his memories

3. A Ghost of Me 

Latest Spoken Label session features the lovely Lily Massey author of 'Work in Progress'.  

'Work in Progress' as can be seen on her Amazon page is the debut collection by former Staffordshire Young Poet Laureate from 2018 to 2019, 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.  

You can find Lily's book on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Work-Progress-Lily-Massey/dp/1916369510/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Lily+Massey+work+in+progress&qid=1607551284&quartzVehicle=4015-1880&replacementKeywords=lily+massey+in+progress&sr=8-1  

Poems read out in this session include:  

1. Mask 

2. The stars that try  

3. Addiction  

4. Empty Frames 

5. Seeing her

** Contains adult topics and language not suitable for all **

Sarah Jane is a female poet nurturing an intimate relationship with herself, expressing through a deep connection with the sacred feminine and guiding other female identities in the process. 

She is currently working on her debut poetry book on the themes of magick and myth, death and loss, healing, erotica, romance.

She is also the co-founder of  Creation:Poetry in Sheffield, an inclusive poetry community, featuring rising poets, 

and offering creative writing workshops.

2. Tinder Lessons

Latest from Spoken Label features the wonderful Rosie Wilby.

Todays Spoken Label feature is the wonderful Andrew Shanahan, author of Before and After.  

Before and After is "Ben Stone is terrified. He's terrified because he weighs 601 pounds and needs his right leg amputating. He's terrified because a crane will shortly lift him from his fourth-floor flat and lower him 44 feet to an ambulance waiting below. He's terrified because he hasn't been outside in nine years and he doesn't know who will look after his beautiful dog.  He needn't worry though, because the world is about to end.  

"If you’re looking for a lovable main character, an action-packed story and a load of humour and horror along the way, you should definitely grab a copy of Before and After. Gore, humour, suspense, heart – it has everything, with as many twists and turns as you could hope for." Dystopic.co.uk  

"Thought-provoking and inspiring, Before and After works on many levels." The British Fantasy Society  ★★★★★ "

This book is almost too well written, I had to stop reading to wince at some of the gory bits. I cried in parts and found myself just wanting MORE." Emma Jones  ★★★★★ 

"I love this book - it's like Shaun of the Dead with a weight loss twist." Yo  ★★★★★ 

"As good a debut novel as The Wasp Factory. A really stunning book and as horrible as Iain Banks' debut novel." Jeremy Smith  Before and After is a must-read for anyone who loves intelligent post-apocalyptic science fiction with a twist." 

More about Andrew can be found at:

Latest up for Spoken Label is the wonderful Paul Stevens.  

Originally from the swamps of Stockport, Paul Rev Porl Stevens has been performing as a poet since 1995. 

The main thrust of his work though has been to bring poetry to non-poetry audiences, usually by appearing as a compere or support act to bands playing at venues such as Night and Day, the Star and Garter, Retro Bar and the Roadhouse. He has supported veteran Punk bands the UK Subs, GBH and the Subhumans, has appeared with Attilla the Stockbroker and Nick Toczek and has performed throughout most of England  and Wales bearing sharp shades, a pint of something lethal and a big pink cross. Since 2003, he has also been involved in the Speakeasy project, bringing together the cream of Manchester Spoken Word artists with musicians from a variety of disciplines.  2012 saw the launch of Rise of Neon, his début novella, the first in a series of Superhero books set in Manchester.  

More about Paul can be seen at:  https://soundcloud.com/revporl/  

OR  https://revporl.bandcamp.com/  

Pieces read out in this session include:  

1.Ravens  

2.Man alive  

3.Doctor Thirsty  

4.Poets>Houdini>PeacetimeHarm>Poets

Latest Podcast from Spoken Label features the wonderful Michael Brian, author off "My Introvert Journey To Being Visible!"

Michael's book is described as "If you've spent any amount of time online, at events or watching the media you might be forgiven for thinking that everyone you see is an extrovert and as an introvert there's no place for you to be visible unless you're willing to be someone different. That's exactly what author Michael Brian McDonnell thought, after a difficult beginning in life, diagnosed with a life long health condition, bullied as a teenager and a total introvert Michael felt as if his dreams of making a difference, having a successful online business and speaking on stage wasn't meant for someone like him, he battled with feeling safe VS chasing his dreams. Inside this book Michael shares his journey as an introvert that takes him from hiding to being seen, interviewing celebrities, becoming a media personality himself and everything in between. Dive behind the scenes and discover how this introvert overcame all the odds and obstacles to quit hiding and have the bright shinning lights of a Sky TV studio set beaming down on him. This book is perfect for you if you're ready to be seen but dealing with the fears, doubts and worries about whether it's safe for you or how you even go about it."

Michael can be found at:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/VisibilityWithMike

https://linktr.ee/michael_mcdonnell1?fbclid=IwAR0dmg7b6MuxvZGw_7Z-IrzNDGVIwc-i0KDMHo8hRLUHkDxF1jcNaoQhX2k *(His Podcast show 'Ask Mike) 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Introvert-Journey-Being-Visible/dp/B08KH3T7XF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=My+Introvert+Journey+To+Being+Visible%21&qid=1603821007&sr=8-1

Latest up from Spoken Label is a chat with a old friend, Rosa Wright.

She describes herself as a poet, performer and professional weirdo as well as acting, singing, playing ukulele, writing, directing, compering  and creating immersive walkabout experiences. 

She is the author of 'All my Mothers' and also has done shows such as the Love Calculator. 

Poems read in this session include:

1. MA

2. Theory 2

3. Bay

4. Mothers Day

5. Don't blame us (BONUS)

More about Rosa can be found at: https://www.rosawright.co.uk/

Or on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/rosawrightperformer/

.New from Spoken Label today features a session with the wonderful Andi Talbot.

Andi can be found on intragram at: andichrist19

Poems read in this session include:

1.slough

2.don't let that be me

3.note to self

4. landlocked