Absolutely thrilled to bits with this. I’ve had a few rough weeks and this has been a welcome tonic 🙏 Congrats to my fellow nominees 🙌 @rachelturney.bsky.social this means the world to me
Paul
@paulwritespoems.bsky.social
Poet, Husband, Northumbrian, Sax novice. Forward/Pushcart/BOTN nominated Work in FH Lit, Dust, IS&T, The Winged Moon, Black Bough and more https://paulwritespoems.com/unwhispered-legacy/ https://linktr.ee/paulwritespoems
The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – August 2026 Welcome to August's Poetic Voice, a poet who I have had the pleasure of meeting in Wales, once upon a time in Neath. They are somebody whose work is always full of soul and energy, often associated with deep time, and I have been lucky to write a small…
The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – August 2026
Welcome to August's Poetic Voice, a poet who I have had the pleasure of meeting in Wales, once upon a time in Neath. They are somebody whose work is always full of soul and energy, often associated with deep time, and I have been lucky to write a small blurb for their recently released book with Black Bough Poetry. They are an exceptional writer and an even more exceptional person.
paulwritespoems.com
With a brand new issue coming out tomorrow, now is the perfect chance to shout out all the amazing Featured Creators we last published earlier this year! Names and tags linked in the thread below! You can find the Featured Creator section here: www.fullhouseliterary.com/featured-cre...
Featured Creators — Full House Literary
fullhouseliterary.com
Announcing the Best Of athe Net nominees from the Unwhispered Legacy anthology @moleculesunlimited.bsky.social @victoriaspires.bsky.social @merrildsmith.bsky.social @johnadlam.bsky.social @leiabutler.bsky.social & Kate Vanhinsbergh 👏👏👏
Just a little update on Me and The Book Bag. There will be a delay for new reviews and Poetic Voices as I am dealing with recovering from a medical issue. Thanks for your patience/support in this matter. Paul
This week we spend time with Carson Wolfe's Coin Laundry at Midnight, published by Button Poetry. Prepare to be fascinated by this book. Also, the recap, opportunities, shoutouts, the playlist and other bits and bobs. Take 5 today.
The Book Bag: Coin Laundry At Midnight by Carson Wolfe
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week. What a busy week and what for the most part sunny week. Good weather can make the worst days a bit brighter. However, when it’s humid and muggy, I am not a fan. Most other countries are set up to deal with that but sadly new builds in Northern England are not!
paulwritespoems.com
Fest starts today! My panel is tomorrow. Register for all events at fictionfest.ca/events/ (or watch the YouTube livestreams)
Event Schedule | Canada Fiction Fest
fictionfest.ca
Canada Fiction Fest@canadafictionfest.bsky.social · 2mo agoTODAY IS THE DAY! 🎉🙌 #FictionFest Day 1 has FIVE live events that you can enjoy for FREE from anywhere in the world. I'll be updating our "What's On Today?" #YouTube playlist every morning for the next 2 weeks so you can easily find the day's livestreams: ⏰📚 youtube.com/playlist?lis...
This week in The Book Bag, we slip into The Lives We Had Before by Vanessa Napolitano published by Stanchion. '...readers who want a genuine emotional connection will feel right at home in the pages of this book.' Take 5 to relax and catch all the news, opps and the playlist here.
The Book Bag: The Lives We Had Before by Vanessa Napolitano
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week. Well I’ve been mega busy since I last caught up up with you. I had an interview at work for a permanent position in another team. And guess what… I got it. The competition was tough and I thought I was nerve free - then the nerves hit at a minute before the interview started.
paulwritespoems.com
Great evening at Write Here, Right Now. Excellent perspectives and came away with an almost finished poem. My mind feels a little less chaotic now 🙌
Another super evening of poetry at The Book Bag Open Mic Session 5. Always humbled at the poems shared and appreciate that readers feel comfortable to take risks and experiment 🙏
Who's going along (as a reader or as an audience member) to @paulwritespoems.bsky.social's The Book Bag Open Mic Session 5 this evening? I've picked out the pair I plan to read – one of these published in @subruria.com, the other not. See you there? #poetry #openmic bit.ly/3PXa8wA
The Book Bag Open Mic Session 5
Join Paul for an online open mic in an inclusive, encouraging and supportive space. Share roughcut coals or polished gems.
bit.ly
Tomorrow night. Tickets still available 🎟️ Join the audience or share your words. See link in OP
Paul@paulwritespoems.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe Book Bag Open Mic: Session 5. Wednesday. 7pm. Roughcut Coals or Polished Gems. Share your work in an encouraging and supportive environment. Tickets: shorturl.at/Z7pCn
Thank you Paul for you support and kind comments - it is much appreciated 🙏
Paul Connolly@thepaulconnolly.bsky.social · 2mo agoIf you are a writer, poet or a lover of poetry, @paulwritespoems.bsky.social’s site The Book Bag is a treasure trove. He showcases poets and publishes insightful reviews of new poetry collections. I’ve taken up many of his recommendations on new books to explore and have never been disappointed
This month in The Book Bag: Poetic Voices I am sharing echoes from the past year. Thank you to the exceptional poets who have allowed the opportunity to spotlight them and share their work. Let's see what the next year brings... Stay Poetic and Be Kind Paul
The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – Echoes From The Past Year
Welcome to The Book Bag Poetic Voices. As this month marks the first year anniversary of the Poetic Voices feature, I thought I'd do a small retrospective and share of one poem per poet from the past year. Echoes if you will. To say I am delighted how the first year has gone would be an understatement. Reading, sharing and nominating poems to be recognised has been a massive highlight for me.
paulwritespoems.com
The Book Bag Open Mic: Session 5. Wednesday. 7pm. Roughcut Coals or Polished Gems. Share your work in an encouraging and supportive environment. Tickets: shorturl.at/Z7pCn
This week in The Book Bag we take it easel with Drawn by Peter Hughes, published by Broken Sleep Books. Plus the usual news, recap, shoutouts and an international playlist. Take 5 and read my thoughts here.
The Book Bag: Drawn by Peter Hughes
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week. Well, it has certainly been a week. I don’t think I’ve stopped at work, and I am looking forward to my break coming up. My writing has suffered this week. I wrote in response to two prompts, one of which was a late entry to Fragments Friday and the other was an allotment poem influenced by William Carlos Williams.
paulwritespoems.com
This week in The Book Bag, one of the most profoundly striking books I've read and one of my favourites... The Way The Water Held Me by Catherine Redford, published by The Emma Press. Plus all the usual news, recap, opportunities and of course the playlist. Take 5 and read here.
The Book Bag: The Way The Water Held Me by Catherine Redford
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week. The week started wonderfully as I was in the audience for the launch of Hatchery by Elizabeth Osmond. Such a variety of voices sharing their work and support to Elizabeth. It was excellent. I shared Part 3 of Rachel Turney’s Poetic Voice feature. I feel genuinely honoured to have after poems based on my work.
paulwritespoems.com
Want to read your poetry in a supportive environment? 2poems / upto 5 mins to share your roughcut coals or polished gems. The Book Bag Open Mics… www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-book-b...
I bought this after hearing Elizabeth read at @paulwritespoems.bsky.social’s Open Mic event and it both meticulously and beautiful and is absolutely worth your time, plus the support lineup is stellar. I am already booked elsewhere but if you’re not, you’ll have a treat :D
Elizabeth Osmond@bethosmond.bsky.social · 3mo agoIt’s my book launch tonight! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hatchery-l...
This week in The Book Bag, we traverse the spaces between past and present, dark and light with Carmella de Keyser in 'Chasms'. Plus a recap, news, opps and of course the playlist. Fans of emotionally resonant poetry will love this book. Take 5 and jump in here...
The Book Bag: Chasms by Carmella de Keyser
Welcome back to The Book Bag. I hope you’ve had a poetic week. It’s been a quieter week but I’ve still been working on lots of exciting projects with more information being shared soon. I was delighted to add the second part to Rachel Turney’s feature which included poems from her latest book and a banging dance music playlist to accompany Retired Wannabe Club Kid.
paulwritespoems.com
Slightly Increase a band Clementine Bucks Fizz
Sarah O@palimpsest22.bsky.social · 3mo agoSlightly increase a band Cocteau Triplets
Slightly increase a band Wizzards
Rishi Dastidar@betarish.bsky.social · 3mo agoSlightly increase a band The Boomtown Stoats
Have you caught up with part 2 of @rachelturney.bsky.social Poetic Voice feature yet? Two new poems and a Book Bag playlist that comes with a warning!!! 🪩🪩🪩 Catch up here… 🔗 shorturl.at/8jpNJ #poets #poets_community #poetry
The Book Bag: Poetic Voices – May 2026
If you can believe it, it’s May. How did that happen? I can’t be the only person who feels like time is running at full sprint? Anyway enough digressing, it’s the first day of the…
shorturl.at