I'm delighted to launch my debut full length poetry collection, Word Skin, from Salmon Poetry. The event will take place on Sunday, 03rd December at 2 pm in Antonia's Bookstore, Trim, Co. Meath. The collection will be introduced by Boyne Writer, Michael Farry. I will read some poems from the book and sign copies.
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Issue 10 has gone to print and will be available to view online next Sunday, 29th October. Really excited to share this issue with everyone. It contains the ten poems shortlisted for Hold Fast to Dreams Poetry Competition, and more. The print issue can be ordered online for a limited time here
https://drawntothelightpress.com/issues/
To celebrate the 3rd year anniversary of Drawn to the Light
Press this October, Hold Fast to Dreams Poetry Competition is
announced. Langston Hughes wrote
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
What dreams do you have? What do you aspire to? What colour
are your dreams? Do you vividly recall a dream? Do you daydream? What is it you
secretly wish you could have done? What do you intend to do? Will you act? What
is your passion?
The competition will be judged by editor Orla Fay. A top ten
poems will be included in issue 10 and the winning poet will receive a cash
prize. The competition closes on Friday, September 1st at midnight.
There is an entry fee of €5 per poem and poets may submit as
many poems as they wish.
Poems should be 40 lines or less and written on the theme of
‘Dreams’. Please attach the poem separately.
Poems will be judged anonymously and should not include the
poet’s name on the poem itself. A cover letter should include the poet’s name,
email address and title of entry.
Enter here
Issue 9 is now online and it can be read here
If you wish to order a print version, you can do so via PayPal on the website
https://drawntothelightpress.com/issues/
Submissions for issue 9 of Drawn to the Light Press, June 2023 are now invited. The window will close on Friday, 12th May at midnight.
Send up to 3 poems of 40 lines or less, using Times New Roman Font 12, single spacing. Poems should be previously unpublished. There is no set theme for the issue.
Submissions of artwork and photography are welcome.
Those submitting must be over 18 years of age.
Send all work to orla.a.fay@gmail.com
A Spring Night (in March)
What it is to be
alive,
to know this twinkling
ice of stars,
to know the burn
of untouched scars,
to riot with the
daffodil
when the light is
terrible,
and terrible
before the dark
the perfect time of
shudder-earth,
the birth of all there
is to care
in the vixen’s
stolen glare,
the rolling on of hours
when her warmth offers
flowering fruit,
and winter is, at
last, consumed?
Orla Fay
To honour St. Brigid’s Day and the inaugural Bank Holiday in Ireland celebrating Lá Fhéile Bríde, Drawn to the Light Press is pleased to announce a poetry competition. The competition opens on Sunday, 04th December and closes on Sunday, 08th January.
Send poems to orla.a.fay@gmail.com using the subject line Little Fires of Brigid Poetry Competition 2023. Poems should be 40 lines or less and previously unpublished. Poems should be on the theme of Brigid, Spring, Fire and Renewal.
Poem are judged anonymously and the poet’s name must not appear on the poems themselves. Details should be included on a separate page.
The overall guest judge is Siobhán Mc Laughlin, a poet and creative writing facilitator from Co. Donegal, Ireland. Her poems have appeared in Drawn to the Light Press, The Honest Ulsterman, The Waxed Lemon, Bealtaine magazine, The Ekphrastic Review, The Poetry Village and recently made the longlist for the Bangor Poetry Competition in September 2022. She has a MA in Creative Writing and works as a creative writing facilitator for adults, both online and in person, hosting writing classes and a series of writing for wellbeing workshops. She has previous editorial credits on the international literary magazine, Beyond Words and curates a collection of seasonal poetry on her blog www.a-poem-a-day-project.blogspot.com
The winning poet will receive €200 and be published in Issue 8 of Drawn to the Light Press. A runner-up will also have their poem published in the February Issue.
There is an entry fee of €5 for a single poem entry. Poets may submit as many poems as they wish. Please include your PayPal reference number in your entry email. Those who wish to enter by post may do so by contacting the email address above.
Winners will be announced on Monday, 6th February 2023.
Enter here https://drawntothelightpress.com/little-fires-of-brigid-poetry-competition/
