Laura Helyer wins GAMA award to publish 'Paper Cairns'

Talented young Dumfries writer, Laura Helyer, who is a graduate of St Andrews University, has won the GAMA (Gatliff/Angus McLeod Archive) award for 2009. This is funded by The Gatliff Trust and The Islands Book Trust to allow students to spend time in the Western Isles in order to carry out their research, which is then published. Laura was inspired by the life and work of Angus ‘Ease’ McLeod (1916-2002) of Calbost, South Lochs, Lewis.

This booklet, Paper Cairns, contains a range of poems and a short essay based on her visits to Lewis in the summer of 2009.
Paper Cairns will be launched in Lewis on 27 February at the Angus McLeod Archive, with readings by Laura.

Laura has taken part in DGAA’s renowned Poetry Doubles series, reading in 2007 with George Szirtes and in 2009 with David Constantine. She is a very talented poet, runner up in the 2006 Academi Cardiff International Poetry Competition, winner of the George Crabbe Memorial Poetry Competition in 2007, and winner of the Kirkpatrick Dobie Poetry Competition in 2008.
We wish her all the best, and hope she’ll be in The Midsteeple shortly for the Dumfries launch of Paper Cairns.

Carolyn's first blog post!

Hi everyone - this is Carolyn saying hello! I'm hard at work, trying to get in touch with all the writers' and readers' groups to update DGAA's contacts lists. But here's what I call a result! Only in post for a week and here's a D&G writer winning a competition -

Well done Jean Atkin, who has just heard she's won the Ravenglass Poetry Press competition, judged by John Burnside. Ravenglass Poetry Press will publish a small collection of her poetry, complete with a title page making it clear that hers was the winning entry, selected by John Burnside. www.ravenglasspoetrypress.co.uk/

I look forward to your book launch in The Midsteeple Jean!

Carolyn (still using Jean's login to this blog!) but you can email me at
carolyn@dgaa.net

Opportunity to attend a subsidised Arvon course

Grant for volunteer to attend an Arvon writing course
deadline: 1 March 2010
An anonymous writer, who has benefitted from several Arvon courses, would like to enable others to have the same experience. The donor will provide a yearly amount which will enable one person working in the voluntary sector to attend an Arvon writing course for a greatly reduced fee. To apply you must currently volunteer either full or part-time within a charity or voluntary organisation.

Send a one-page letter explaining why you want to attend an Arvon course in 2010 - along with written proof of your voluntary work - to Emma Johnson, The Arvon Foundation, Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3GA. Or email: emma.johnson@arvonfoundation.org

(NB Arvon strongly advises applicants to provisionally book a place on a course as soon as they apply, as places fill up quickly. You should inform the centre when booking that you are awaiting the outcome of this grant decision. If you are not awarded this grant, you can still apply for the general Arvon grant. More info at www.arvonfoundation.org )

Reminder! Open Stage relaunches at So You Cafe on Wed 24 Feb

Come along to lovely So You Cafe on the 24th for DGAA's Open Stage event.  Performances by poets and singer songwriters start at 7.30pm and it'll be a great night!  £3 on the door.

Be there at 7 if you want to book your slot to perform... and if you want to talk to someone about it, just give Jean or Carolyn a ring on 01387 253383.

How To Get Published - a writers network event for Dumfries and Galloway

This is a free event for those with a professional interest in the literature sector to share their experiences and knowledge of getting published. Author and Publisher Keith Charters and Poet, Writer and Editor John Hudson will speak about their individual experiences of the literature sector.
This will also be an opportunity to meet our new Literature Development Officer, Carolyn Yates.

How To Get Published is at The Midsteeple, Dumfries on Tuesday 23 February 6pm to 8pm.

Book your place on this free event at events@culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk or call 0844 544 9990

Wigtown Poetry Competition - one week left to enter!

The 2010 Wigtown Poetry Competition is now nearing its closing date of February 12th.

Please click here to view full details, download an application form or enter online.

The Wigtown Poetry Competition is the largest in Scotland with a first prize of £2,500, runner up prize of £750, eight additional prizes of £50 each and a Gaelic prize of £500. The winning poem and runner up will also be published in the Scotsman, or its sister paper Scotland on Sunday and the winner will be invited to appear at the Stena Line Wigtown Book Festival 2010.

To download an application form click here, or alternatively email poetry@wigtownbookfestival.com or send an SAE to:

Wigtown Poetry Competition
County Buildings,
Wigtown,
DG8 9HL.

If you know anyone who would like to be added to this mailing list please send their full email and address to mail@wigtownbookfestival.com.

Listen to Andy Forster's poetry!

Delighted to let you all know that Andy Forster, lately Literature Development Officer for DGAA, and now working for The Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere, can be heard reading one of his fine poems online at http://thepoetrychannel.org.uk/poems/radnotis-notebook/

Andy's reading his poem 'Radnoti's Notebook', which was highly commended in the Bridport Poetry Comp, no less, a few years back. He's been invited to read it on The Poetry Channel.org.uk which is a very cool site in its own right.

'Radnoti's Notebook' comes from Andy's first collection, 'Fear of Thunder', which was shortlisted for the Forward Prize last year. His second collection, 'Territory' is out this spring - watch this space!