06/06/2025- I was a little tipsy on the dance

Welcome to the Poetry Pharmacy's newsletter! Here you will find upcoming events, new and featured books, poems, prescriptions, and panaceas. 
This week we've been thinking about the value of bookshops and how they are so good at making a space or place of welcome. The Poetry Pharmacy bookshops love to do that too, and we're unusual in that we grew directly out of years of arts and community practice- Deb Alma started working with people with dementia to assist communication through poetry, and then later drove her Emergency Poet ambulance offering poetry on prescription at festivals, schools, libraries and more. These projects were all about listening and offering a welcome.



The Poetry Pharmacy continues this welcome, proudly embracing its role as a “third space,” in the same spirit as defined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, who defined the third place as “a generic designation for a great variety of public places that host the regular, voluntary, informal, and happily anticipated gatherings of individuals beyond the realms of home and work.”

Third spaces are where communities gather informally, where connection, conversation, and a sense of belonging naturally flourish. In an increasingly fast-paced and isolating world, such spaces are crucial for mental well-being and social cohesion. The Poetry Pharmacy is one such refuge: a bookshop, a sanctuary, and a meeting place where the prescription is poetry, and where the welcome is warm and non-judgmental.

We like to think that there is a third space of sorts within the poem itself. A poem can be a quiet room one can step into, a pause in the noise of daily life, where you are invited into a shared intimate space with the poet. Like a café table shared with strangers or a favourite bench in a public garden, a poem offers a temporary but meaningful belonging—an interior space where reader and writer meet, and where the self can be both discovered and seen. In this way, both the bookshop and its poems offer spaces of restoration, imagination, and shared humanity.

Take a look at this article on The Importance of Book-Centered Spaces as Third Places 

Our subject line this week comes from the poem To the Fig Tree on 9th and Christian by Ross Gay, which describes a moment that is a third space: temporary, public, connective, and deeply human.

 
The Published Poet -with Anna Davidson
 
Anna Davidson is a poet, writer and editor. She has worked in book publishing for thirty  years. In 2024, after suffering and recovering from Long Covid, she self-published her debut collection Poetry for Life and Other Chronic Conditions. In July we're delighted to host Anna's workshop 'The Published Poet' in Bishop's Castle. We took an opportunity to ask Anna a few questions and for some recommended reading.  
 
How did you get started in publishing?
My first publishing job was in children’s books as an editorial assistant. I loved how passionate everybody was – bringing new books into the world is exciting! I became an editor and moved into working on books for adults, first for DK Books and then Faber, where I was head of editorial management before going freelance in 2020.
What have you learned along the way?
I’m fortunate to have worked with world-class publishers who make beautiful books.
Editorial excellence is what drives me: making sure a book delivers for its audience. I particularly love poetry because the tiniest decisions are important, from whether to use a capital letter to where to place white space. I love that level of detail when it’s appropriate.
Why is editing important?
Every author benefits from a good editor who will help them make their text the best it can be, ready to publish. Indie authors don’t always appreciate how much editorial work goes on in a publishing house. A writer’s ‘final’ draft is rarely that!
Why is this workshop so valuable for writers?
Having other people read your work is important. It’s the final stage in the creative process.
And thanks to advances in technology, talented writers can bypass traditional gatekeepers and take their poetry direct to readers. But knowing where to start can be daunting. In this workshop we’ll explore what you would like to do with your poems, and how to edit and publish well. That way, whether you’re considering being traditionally published, paying a publisher or doing the publishing work yourself, you can make sure you have a rewarding experience and end up with a book you’re proud to share.
What books might you recommend for curious readers and new poets?
Read Anna's recommendations on this bookshop.org list that Anna kindly put together for us.  
 
Events

Painting Poems Workshop
Sunday, 15 June
10:00am-4:00pm
Discover connecting with poems through painting with artist Clae Eastgate in this day long workshop. After the success of the last 'Painting Poems' workshop at Bishop's Castle Arts Festival in February, Clae is back with a summer session.

In this workshop, you will explore the dynamic connection between poetry and painting, using mixed media to unlock new creative pathways. Let inspiration guide you as you experiment with diverse materials and artistic techniques to expand your practice.

All materials are provided, and refreshments will be available throughout the day. Book here.


Afonydd - Poems for Welsh Rivers with Arachne Press
Sunday, June 8 -11am-12:30pm
Join an array of Arachne Press poets to raise a glass to celebrate their latest publication, Afonydd, with readings from Pat Edwards, Chris Kinsey, Gareth Writer-Davies, Lesley James, Martin Daws, Mat Troy, Meg Elis, Natasha Gauthier and more.
 Book here.

The Published Poet - with Anna Davidson
Sunday, 13 July 10:30am - 12:30pm

In this two-hour workshop we’ll explore the stages from draft to bookshelf, covering editing, typesetting, cover design and printing solutions. Whether you hope your work will be picked up by a publisher or you’d like to share it with the world yourself, come away understanding what the professionals do.

Refreshments are included in the ticket price. Book here

Oxford Street, London

Bespoke Poetry with Jen Feroze
Sunday, 15 June  12-4pm
Join Jen for a bespoke poem written just for you on her trusty vintage typewriter.
No need to book - just turn up on the day.

Launch of Boater - A Life on England’s Waterways
Friday June 20  6.30-8pm
After decades of calm aboard England’s historic canals, a turbulent relationship finds Jo Bell embarking on a year-long odyssey navigating the country’s canals. Exploring the past and present, Boater is both her story and the story of the living waterways – told with wit, wisdom, and deep insight into a culture found on the other side of the map.

The Poetry Pharmacy are delighted to host the launch of Jo's lyrical debut memoir journeying through the past and present of our historic canals.

Free event Book here. Refreshments courtesy of Harper North Publishers.



Elsewhere

Ledbury Poetry Festival
Community Hall - Saturday, 5 July -1-2pm 

Our founder and lead pharmacist Deb Alma will be appearing at Ledbury Poetry Festival alongside Mark Constantine, founder and CEO of Lush. Together, they’ll be discussing their new book, The Poetry Business School, and exploring how poetry can serve as an unexpected but powerful tool for thoughtful decision-making in business. Expect an interesting conversation about the creative role poetry can play in both life and leadership. Tickets are £14 and you can find them here.

Jersey Festival of Words
Jersey Art Centre -Sunday 28 September -4.30 - 5.30pm

The Poetry Prescription series is eight fun, clever and stylish books all giving poetic cures for life’s ailments. There is a book for every type of reader, providing whatever help they need, whether that’s encouragement, inspiration, or a quiet moment of reflection. Join Deborah Alma in conversation with local poet Juliette Hart, discussing her journey from the Emergency Poet to the Poetry Pharmacy, dispensing prescriptions of poetry. The event will also include a live poetry consultation and some readings from the anthologies. Tickets are £9 and you can find them here. 


Thanks for reading & have a wonderful weekend!