Bonus Episode today from recent Spoken Label guest Skylar J Wynter recorded live in Stockport.  Skylar J Wynter is the best-selling Author of poetry and flash fiction collection, Pieces of Humanity released on October 10th, 2020 to align with National Mental Health month.After an incident which changed the course of her life in 2014, Wynter turned to various art forms to process the trauma and make sense of her new self. She shares her poetry in the hopes it will help others find peace within their own realities and encourage humanity to reach out to each other with decency.Skylar resides in the Perth Hills of Western Australia, where she pens her creations overlooking national parkland and when she is not writing, she likes to create beautiful things with her limited jewellery making and sculpting skills, and serene spaces in her garden. She loves a great book, a sunny day and witnessing humans behaving decently. She hates cooking, and injustice, hopes Covid-19 disappears and online poetry events don't, and that someone finds a way to make celery taste like cheesecake. More about Skylar can be found here: linktr.ee/Skylarjwynter?fbclid=IwAR04baWqTg4rbHDbtPu143yilAerODi38QQ_CA42xod7euqA0v1oaM039Hw OR www.facebook.com/skylarjwynterauthor A few videos of this performance are here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S77HPDmGidw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zShjVs0DBos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K_P7N0J2go

Recorded live at Stockport's The Petersgate Tap on Wednesday 05 October, this special live Spoken Label (Poet / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful poet Skylar J Wynter and the equally wonderful artist, Neshka Turner talking about their joint book 'Shine' and also their UK and Europe tour 'Decent Beings' which is ongoing as we speak. Shine, their joint book is described as "In the wake of global pandemic, COVID-19, best-selling author, Skylar J Wynter and artist, Neshka Turner, bring us a captivating collaboration of art and poetry exploring humanity's quest for transformation from adversity. Turner's artwork, an unafraid combination of pieces morphing between stark to rich with symbology, provide the perfect textured landscape for Wynter's unapologetic exploration of modern-day challenges we face as individuals and collectives in a bid to be seen, heard, and accepted just as we are. SHINE, embodying the work of two women from very different cultural backgrounds and lived experiences, navigating their way towards love of self, is a visual and poetic invitation to all to embrace the abrasiveness of life. The unflinching images captured between its covers will crack you open, let in the light, and set your mind free with a humble truth: we don't know what we don't know, so the only way forward is with decency towards self and others." More about Skylar can be found here: https://linktr.ee/Skylarjwynter?fbclid=IwAR04baWqTg4rbHDbtPu143yilAerODi38QQ_CA42xod7euqA0v1oaM039Hw OR  https://www.facebook.com/skylarjwynterauthor and more about Neshka can be found here:  https://www.facebook.com/magicbyneshka Bios are: Skylar J Wynter is the best-selling Author of poetry and flash fiction collection, Pieces of Humanity released on October 10th, 2020 to align with National Mental Health month.After an incident which changed the course of her life in 2014, Wynter turned to various art forms to process the trauma and make sense of her new self. She shares her poetry in the hopes it will help others find peace within their own realities and encourage humanity to reach out to each other with decency.Skylar resides in the Perth Hills of Western Australia, where she pens her creations overlooking national parkland and when she is not writing, she likes to create beautiful things with her limited jewellery making and sculpting skills, and serene spaces in her garden. She loves a great book, a sunny day and witnessing humans behaving decently. She hates cooking, and injustice, hopes Covid-19 disappears and online poetry events don't, and that someone finds a way to make celery taste like cheesecake.  Neshka Turner is an emerging Australian artist, living in sunny Perth, Western Australia. She was born in Poland as Agnieszka Beata Chechlowska in the early 70s, from where she was ripped away and moved to Germany and then Australia. She changed her first name so you can pronounce it more easily and gained an easy surname through marriage.Neshka studied art under her mother's, also an artist, guidance since early childhood. Not that her mother ever wanted her to be an artist; you hardly ever succeed and don't make enough money. She graduated from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and went on to study Visual Art at the Sydney College of the Arts in the 90s. However, her career has taken her on a different path before rediscovering creativity again in the 2020s.She has worked in retail, Internet and Information Technology areas, training, HR, Vocational Education, and lately, working with special needs children as an Educational Assistant. Now she illustrates poems and more. Neshka works in most media, including pencil and coloured pencil, charcoal, hard, soft and oil pastels, acrylic and oils. Her subjects are all and many. You can view and purchase her art through her website,

Latest Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Artist / Author Podcast) features the fantastic Heidi Hinda Chadwick. Heidi Hinda Chadwick is a Creative Life Coach, Writer, and Creative Director, based in Manchester, UK. She has been writing for over 15 years, about life, love, sex, relationships, soul, creativity, and arts & culture, and has been published in various online and paper publications.  Heidi would describe herself as a storyteller, and she is curious about the world and what it means to be human. This year she has been writing a series for Elephant Journal called ‘An A to Z Guide To Being Human’. Alongside personal essays, Heidi writes short stories, novels and spoken word.  She has been creating and writing courses for teaching, facilitation, and coaching for over 20 years, and offers her services as a writing coach and mentor, a content and course creator, copy editor, and creative consultant.  The foundations of Heidi’s Creative Life Coaching are about understanding what is vital to us, what makes us feel alive, what we value, and why. It’s all about how to live a juicy and full life, and the potency of living from a deep sense of wellbeing.  Heidi brings a deep playfulness and humour to her work, such as, reframing limiting beliefs as superpowers, and allowing ourselves to be vividly and wildly imperfect. Having a clear voice and telling our stories is the crucial underpinning to what she offers, empowering us and deepening our place of responsibility and accountability in the world. Heidi also offers Creative Coaching Toolkits for writers, artists, entrepreneurs and creative businesses.  For more info: www.heidihindachadwick.com

Following on from a bonus mini episode recently. new from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Spoken Word) Podcast features with a full session is the wonderful Liz Gibson. A bio about Liz is (in her own words):  “Hello! I'm Liz.   I am a writer, performer and tutor based in Manchester. I write poetry and fiction, reviews, essays, and opinion pieces. I am inspired by themes of community, city life, queerness, body image, and mental health, as well as by travel, the natural world, and folklore. I was awarded a DYCP grant by Arts Council England in Spring 2021, to develop my poetry and performance.  In early 2021, I was chosen by Dibby Theatre for the competitive First Dibs programme for LGBTQ+ theatre-makers, and am working on my spoken-word show about walking in an empty city, and finding comfort in the places, nature, and animals around me.  In 2020, my poem "Arrival" was selected by Manchester City of Literature to be part of the Tartu Bus Poetry Project in Estonia, and it currently appears on bus windows in Tartu, representing Manchester.   I am a graduate of The Writing Squad and Young Identity (who I represented at One Mic Stand in 2019), and a member of Out on the Page. More about Liz can be found at: http://elizabethgibsonwriter.blogspot.com/

Latest episode from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Spoken Word) Podcast features Peter Humphreys, author off "Hong Kong Rocks" and Podcast host off "First Impressions". Hong Kong Rocks is described as "Nick Powell, arriving in Hong Kong with his soon-to-be-ex-wife Lennox, finds himself drawn into the political machinations affecting the city as the Occupy movement takes root. A fatal accident exposes the factions vying for control of the SAR and gives Nick the second chance desired by many Hong Kong expats, but will he make the most of the opportunity, or find himself on the wrong side of history? Shifting between a variety of unique voices, HONG KONG ROCKS (a Proverse Prize 2018 finalist) is part thriller, part meditation on the challenges facing a special autonomous region punching above its weight. "'Hong Kong Rocks' is a story set in an alternative present; it is in part a whodunit, with the who and the it constantly in doubt. At the centre is a group of dissolute, middle-aged, expatriates, who are held more or less upright, or let fall by surer, stronger women. Dissolution, however, has its consequences, in conflict with either the newly introduced Deportation Act, or two cross-border goons, or both. And, as the tale reaches its finale, we cannot but agree with the narrator that Hong Kong is 'hotting up'."—Philip Chatting, author of "The Snow Bridge and Other Stories", Winner of the Proverse Prize 2014. "Funny and twisted, in Humphreys’ spirited novel Nick and a garrulous band of expats are caught in the shifting societal landscape of Hong Kong. Nights drinking at the Brolly, missing friends, the Occupy movement, fear of deportation and the threat of discovery by Chinese agents, all loom large. As his freedom hangs on the edge of a precipice, Nick seizes on the absurdities, secrets and joys of a life lived with regret."—Maria Roberts, author of "Single Mother on the Verge", Penguin." Peter can be spoke to via https://www.instagram.com/theworddiver/ His Podcast 'First Impressions' can be found on all of the usual places. Hong Kong Rocks is available on amazon and all the usual places. 

Latest Spoken Label Session features Elisabeth Horan from Animal Heart Press as a additional guest explaining a little bit about the collection "L(EYE)GHT" in discussion features the wonderful Jessica Kim.   Jessica Kim  (she/her) is a Korean-American high school junior and poet who has lived in Korea, Singapore, and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She identifies as visually-impaired and advocates for the disabled community.  Recently, she has been named the 2021-22 Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate and runner-up for the 2022 United States National Youth Poet Laureate.  She is the author of L(EYE)GHT, runner-up for Animal Heart Press' Chapbook Contest, which has been published in April 2022. You can read all my interviews and press releases under EXPERIENCE.  Jessica's poems appear in POETRY Magazine, The Adroit Journal, Frontier Poetry, The Journal, and Waxwing Magazine among others. A Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize Nominee, she is also a YoungArts Finalist in Writing (Poetry), 1st Place Winner of Columbia College Chicago's Young Authors Contest, Commended Foyle Young Poet, 2nd Place Winner of the Bennington Young Writers Awards (Poetry), Gregory Djanikian Scholar Finalist, and more.   More about Jessica can be found at: https://jessicakimwrites.weebly.com/  Her collection can be bought from all major websites but in particularly from https://animalheartpress.net/

Latest Spoken Label features our returning friend, the wonderful Matt Nicholson.  Matt is described as "Hi, I’m Matt Nicholson – I’m a poet, writer and performer from East Yorkshire (near to the poetic hotspot of Hull). I began writing as a kid, that kind of who am I and what’s it all about? stuff that a lot of people need as they begin to find their place in the world. I only really began to write with any purpose though when I found myself out of work when I was around 40…I have a heart condition and hated the work I had been doing, so I was seeking something new. I was lucky enough to do a creative writing course with The Open University and haven’t really stopped since then."   The session is primarily talking about Matt's new book 'Untanglement' which has had praise such as:  "Proof that poetry can break your heart and mend it again” – Helen Mort  “A collection by a poet who knows their voice and the world is a richer place because of it”  – Wendy Pratt  “A body of work both beautifully intricate and thrillingly unsettling” – Russ Litten   More about Matt can be found at: https://mattpoet.com/  #MattNicholson #SpokenLabel #SpokenwordPodcast #PoetryPodcast #Podcast #Poetry

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podast series) features Professional Tarot Reader, writer for the witch magazine and author of the forthcoming poetry collection - "The Inner Shore" from Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, the wonderful Kelly Buchan More about Kelly can be found at: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_witchcrafter https://www.instagram.com/the_witchcrafter/ https://www.facebook.com/kelly.buchan.7792

Latest Spoken Label Podcast is from the wonderful Adam C Fleming. Adam G. Fleming is a novelist and leadership coach from Goshen, IN. Married with four kids, Adam brings his unique blend of cross-cultural humor to his work as a writer, speaker, and professional executive coach. Raised in the Midwest, Adam is a world traveler and has spent significant amounts of time in Zaire/ DRC, France, Ivory Coast, and a dozen or more other countries. Adam's primary current international project is in Egypt. Adam blogs on a diverse variety of topics from fiction writing, poetry and leadership at www.adamgfleming.com

Latest episode from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Artist Podcast) features a dear friend making her debut, Polly Anna Rose. Polly Anna Rose "teaches yoga, manages projects, and likes to run, meditate, talk, think and make art about reframing  (dis)ability and justice issues. She has recently launched a Podcast - Well-Healed, on just these topics, and is taking submissions. Polly writes as a means for survival. She performs from a place of compassionate rage. Her narratives interrogate the endemic corruption within our global political and economic systems. Sometimes an incantation, but more often a call for action, such as Matka Země (mother earth), her work draws on a range of influences from Mary Oliver to Saul Williams, Kae Tempest to Ted Hughes.  Born in Oxford, hailing from Welsh and Czech lineage, Polly’s work walks the line between protest poetry and autobiographical sojourning.   Living in the South of England she always felt a profound and melancholic hiraeth. Polly moved to Salford in her twenties to complete her studies in Visual Arts, and was adopted as an honorary Northerner. Her voice is worth a listen, whether you hear it spoken, or written. Her recent poetry collection - Severní Někde (North Somewhere) - will be published later this year. Alongside this release, is a second installment of an artist collective zine, produced by international collaborations with poets, visual artists, writers and photographers. As mentioned, she is also is in the process of producing a series of Podcasts under the moniker- Well Healed.   So//Journ 2 is out for print in September 2022. Email: pollyannasteiner@gmail for submissions or follow @hiclamour and @yogawithpollyanna for updates." NB. The band / project I was referring during this session with Polly now has a name "Polly Ocean" (decided on after this session) and our debut EP will be following in September all being well and will be available from oceaninabottle.bandcamp.com

Latest Spoken Label (Author / Writer / Artist) session features from Stockport, Jan Foster.   Jan lives in the North West of England, where it rains too much for her liking. However, despite a busy household filled with children, dogs, several businesses and books, she retreats into her writing world as much as possible. Time permitting!   As a volunteer reader within a local school, Jan realised that some children have a great fear about trying something new – especially if they are not ‘sporty’ kids. This led her to write a humorous introduction to different activities, the Mitch and Mooch Try Series. Dyslexia friendly font and dialogue in speech bubbles, the books aim to be as inclusive as possible and cater also for children on the autistic spectrum.   History has always fascinated Jan, and she revels in being left alone in ruins to ponder the ‘What If’s.’ Her passion is the Tudor Age, a rich tapestry of events and people which formed the foundations of modern British society. She also loves the idea that there may be something as yet undiscovered about the world as we know it – what if there was a parallel world where magic happens? How would it impact the lives of ordinary people? And extraordinary people… Find out more in the Naturae Series where fantasy and reality collide with surprising consequences.   You can find more out about Jan at https://escapeintoatale.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author/Poet Podcast) is the wonderful Jo Somerset. Jo Somerset is a Manchester-based writer.  She has lived in Manchester for over 40 years, during which time she has been a student, feminist, peace activist, skilled tradeswoman, housing officer, local government officer, mother, equality consultant and company director.   Now that her children are grown up Jo is going backwards, revisiting the powerful feminist and lesbian movements of the 1980s and looking for untold stories.  Her aim is to make sense of the twentieth century, so we can understand it for today’s world. Her writing found a voice through the Northern Gay Writers group at Commonword, Manchester’s community writing organisation, and honed her craft with the help of Arvon Foundation courses and groups led by writers Charlotte Keatley and Heather Leach.  In 2020 she completed a MA in Creative Writing at Salford University, where she received the inaugural Leanne Bridgewater Award for Innovation and Experiment. In a former life, Jo was a founding director, alongside her partner Liz Clarke, of Manchester-based cycle training company BikeRight!    Under their leadership  BikeRight! became the leading UK company in its sector, winning four awards for women in business / business growth in 2009, 2014 and 2018.  She was also a non-executive director of Central Manchester Hospitals NHS Trust, and a Governor for Manchester Health Academy. Previously she won the Prince’s Trust Quality Award (2000) and a British Diversity Award on behalf of Manchester City Council (1998). Having jointly brought up five children, Jo is passionate about lifelong learning. In 2016 she gained a distinction for her Graduate Certificate in History from Birkbeck College, London, and made it a double when she graduated with distinction from Salford University MA in Creative Writing: Innovation and Experiment in 2020. As a keen cyclist, Jo commutes by bike, and is a member of Team Glow Women’s Road Cycling Network.  She has undertaken several bike tours, triathlons and 100-mile cycling sportives, and led a Team Glow women’s charity ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats. You can speak to Jo at: https://josomersetwriter.wordpress.com/

Another Bonus Mini Episode today from Spoken Label features the wonderful Liz Gibson talking about work she will be showing shortly on 10th August 2022 at Islington Mill, Salford, UK on the theme of Worker’s rights with assistance of several actors.    A bio about Liz is (in her own words):  “Hello! I'm Liz.   I am a writer, performer and tutor based in Manchester. I write poetry and fiction, reviews, essays, and opinion pieces. I am inspired by themes of community, city life, queerness, body image, and mental health, as well as by travel, the natural world, and folklore. I was awarded a DYCP grant by Arts Council England in Spring 2021, to develop my poetry and performance.  In early 2021, I was chosen by Dibby Theatre for the competitive First Dibs programme for LGBTQ+ theatre-makers, and am working on my spoken-word show about walking in an empty city, and finding comfort in the places, nature, and animals around me.  In 2020, my poem "Arrival" was selected by Manchester City of Literature to be part of the Tartu Bus Poetry Project in Estonia, and it currently appears on bus windows in Tartu, representing Manchester.   I am a graduate of The Writing Squad and Young Identity (who I represented at One Mic Stand in 2019), and a member of Out on the Page.   More about Liz can be found at: http://elizabethgibsonwriter.blogspot.com/  More details about the event is here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workers-rights-tickets-393166239807?fbclid=IwAR0e0xYeWV4aMrssfh3yXyoVH5tk2twtM5rUtmm_yfpGgJoMnkC0kmLXcMw The event starts at 6.30pm. 

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poet / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Lauren Temple. LAUREN TEMPLE is an emerging poet and writer from Manchester, she is part of the poetry collective Young Identity; published in their anthology Ecosystems of Fury. Her work often explores mental health, emotional inheritance, domestic abuse, neurodiversity, and dementia. When she isn’t writing poetry, Lauren works as an Activities Co-ordinator in a care home, teaching poetry to the residents. Her website is: https://laurentemplepoet.wordpress.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurentemplepoet/

Top of the Label is a new semi regular poetry / spoken word Podcast series within the umbrella off Spoken Label hosted by Andy N and Amanda Nicholson featuring a mixture of new and returning friends all returning a piece each (on occasion two). Part 2 features the following guests: Polly Anna Rose, Andy N, Sarah James (Sarah Leavsley), Elisabeth Horan, Katy Konrad, Jessica Kim, Amanda Nicholson, Clive Oseman, Jenny Berry and Steve Mingle.

Top of the Label is a new semi regular poetry / spoken word Podcast series within the umbrella off Spoken Label hosted by Andy N and Amanda Nicholson featuring a mixture of new and returning friends all returning to read out a piece (sometimes two) each.  Part 1 features the following guests: Skylar J Wynter (reading two pieces), Nick Lurvell, Kealan Coady, Lauren Temple (reading two pieces), Mike Booth, Quigley C B, Rich Davenport, Peter Humphreys.

Latest Spoken Label (Author / Writer Podcast) session features from Platt Bridge, Gareth Ellis.  Gareth is from Platt Bridge, Wigan and his bio says "Gareth started writing a few years ago. Initially, it was a means to get a story that was in his head down on paper, but quickly found that he enjoyed the process of writing and creating a world. It also helped him cope with some of the ups and downs involved in his bipolar.  He is a multi-genre author so far releasing books relating to horror and sci-fi.  When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, gaming and Lego."  His Website is - https://garethellis.co.uk/

Latesty from Spoken Label (Author/Artist/Poet Podcast series) features the return of our wonderful friend, Leila Ziari talking about her second poetry book "Seaside Serenades: The Ocean in Haiku" The book is described as "Seaside Serenades: The Ocean in Haiku" is the poetic chronicle of an intense love affair with the ocean, the secret lover and source of inspiration for many artists.  Leila Ziari’s collection of haikus will transfer you through the rivers of time, love, and passion while you bear witness to the ocean’s ever-changing, awe-inspiring nature. With her soothing, resonating poems, Ziari will remind you of your own memories of the ocean and make you long to reunite with it. Do you remember how far the ripples of the water extend? What’s beneath lies the surface of such immaculate depths? " More about Leila can be found at: https://leilaziari.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) features the wonderful Rebecca Phythian. Rebecca is a actor, singer, poet and co-founder of Blue Balloon Theatre among other things. She also has a collection of poetry due out from Bent Key Publishing 'Perfect Mess' at the start of 2023. More about Rebecca can be found at the following links among other things: linktr.ee/RebeccaPhythian?fbclid=IwAR2M7yJf59kok6T_v1OHPPTAq-QKMxrVlEL_ur3P8fse8z3PETZiU5HTWs4 www.spotlight.com/9813-5643-0220 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfz3l_K3VH2KorpnqYsfRJsSpHuKhu3nfKG8JCeN9wC_EBokg/viewform www.blueballoontheatre.com www.facebook.com/RebeccaPhythian16/ www.instagram.com/rebeccaphythian/ www.instagram.com/blueballoonmcr/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Our Poet/Artist/Writer Podcast) features our returning friend, Sarah James also known as Sarah Leavesley to talk about her latest poetry collection from Verve Poetry Press "Blood Sugar, Sex, Magic" The book is described as "Blood Sugar, Sex, Magic is award-winning poet Sarah James’s exploration of 40 years living with type one diabetes, a life-threatening autoimmune condition that is now treatable, but remains incurable. The collection tracks her personal journey from diagnosis, age six, to adulthood, including the high and the low points, as well as the further long-term health risks lurking in the background. These are poems of pain, but also of love and beauty, taking in motherhood, aging and establishing self-identity in a constantly updating world. The route to some kind of acceptance and belonging may be troubled by ‘trying to escape’ but it also ‘holds | more light than your eye | will ever know’ ‘Sarah James’ Blood Sugar, Sex, Magic compellingly conveys the journey of a life pervaded by type one diabetes and the myriad struggles of that hidden disability. It’s a world of sunlit fields and night sweats, “doorstep birdsong” and pricked fingertips, at once arduous and munificent. Always engaging and often moving, James’ poems deftly immerse as well as inform, urging a deep appreciation of life’s plenty, “breath[ing] in the sky.’ – Carrie Etter “These poems speak with such urgency and humanity that we take the deeply researched science (and magic) in our stride, then get pulled up short by its failure to ‘make sense of unfairness’. It’s an exhilarating, poignant collection combining raw honesty with impressive craft. The way ‘the world shrinks’ in personal hardship and the sheer and constant work it takes to open it up again. I feel more awake and alive for reading it.” – Luke Kennard “Sarah James’s fine poems are wonderfully abundant in experiment, energy, and expression. She has a remarkable sense for how the self-discipline of illness—like art—can release and shape the language of wonder, wisdom, and love.” – David Morley" More about Sarah can be found at: https://www.sarah-james.co.uk/ NB. As a P.S. and recorded after the poetry session of the Podcast - there is a bonus poem recorded - "How to become your own worst friend".

Returning to Spoken Label after a long break are two dear friends (off) ours the wonderful Chelsea Tadeyeske and Edie Roberts who we met in Manchester years back (speaking to us from the Gamli Skoli Residency on Hrisey Island) in Iceland Chelsea Tadeyeske is a poet, performer, and bookmaker from and currently based in Milwaukee, WI. She is the founding editor of pitymilk press where she publishes short-run chapbooks and edits both online and print journals.  Edie Roberts is a multi-disciplinary genderqueer performer and curator living in Detroit, MI. More about both can be found at: https://edieroberts.wordpress.com/ https://chelseatadeyeske.wordpress.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label features a special Podcast with Kimberley Goldie aka The Lancashire Wellness Witch. In this very special Podcast we talk to Kimberley about her work in the NHS and how it has now led to her work as the Lancashire Wellness Witch where in her own words about the services she offers "to help people be happier, healthier and take charge of their own wellbeing. And I aim to do this as naturally as possible, with just a little sprinkle of Lancashire magic!" More about the Lancashire Wellness Witch can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/lancashirewellnesswitch/ She also has a website at: https://the-lancashire-wellness-witch.sumup.link/ and a instragram page at: https://www.instagram.com/the_lancashire_wellness_witch/

Latest Spoken Label session (Spoken Word / Poetry / Author) session features the wonderful Nick Toczek.  Born in Yorkshire in 1950, Nick has been writing since he was a child, began getting his poetry published in his mid-teens, did his first public readings when he was nineteen, and had his first collection of poetry published when he was twenty-one.  Since then, he’s done more than fifty thousand performances and presentations, has worked in more than forty countries, has published more than forty books, and has never had a ‘proper job’.   More about Nick can be found at: https://www.nicktoczek.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label features newcomer to the spoken word scene, previously from Stafford but now based Manchester, flash fiction writer Scott Hall. More about Scott Hill can be found at:  https://www.instagram.com/hozart_heron/

Latest Episode from Spoken Label (Author/Poet/Storyteller Podcast) features the storyteller Mark Jackson. Mark's bio says "In 2010 Mark started writing. After the initial euphoria of finding an outlet for that creative fire burning within since childhood, he  soon realised that the world wasn't quite ready for his tales of Ian Brown drinking piss, cocaine induced paranoia, The Stockholm Monsters, the inner workings of a massage parlor, of pretending to be Norman Whiteside in Las Vegas,  selling snide football programs outside the Nou Camp, of being arrested wearing someone else's jeans and one about an auntie who looks a bit like Clint Boon. He’s written non-fiction pieces for Vice website (which were really fiction - but they don't know that), a regular contributor to United We Stand Fanzine and occasionallyy reads at spoken word events around Manchester and Liverpool" His website is: https://www.keithsbrother.com/ His Pod Play 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' can be accessed via his website or found on Spotify, Itunes/Apple or Google Podcast. 

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry / Author / Artist) Podcast features Melissa Sussens (she/her). Melissa is a queer South African veterinarian and poet. Her work has appeared in Capsule Stories, Horse Egg Literary, Kissing Dynamite, SFWP Quarterly and Anti-Heroin Chic, among others. She was runner up for the New Contrast National Poetry Prize. By day she works as a small animal veterinarian and whenever she’s not doctoring animals, she assists in teaching Megan Falley’s Poems That Don’t Suck international online writing course. Melissa lives in Cape Town with her wife and their two dogs. Find her on Instagram @melissasussens and on Twitter @girlstillwrites.

Latest up from Spoken Label (Our Author / Poet / Artist Podcast) is a kinda bonus episode you could say before we bring her on for a full session in the Autumn is the wonderful Christina Alagaratnam. Christina describes herself as "I'm a writer, author, playwright and podcaster. I've published my work on Amazon and work on the London theatre scene. Now, I run my own podcast called The Night Writer, creating content for the insomniacs." In this episode we talk about the forthcoming production and performance of Christina's play for Peckham Fringe the 2nd and 3rd June 2022 called 'Playfight'.  'Playfight' is a play where "Fifteen year old best friends Kai, TJ & Zara have been tight since, well, forever. Always together. Inseperable. But as they've grown older things have begun to change. Why did life start to get so complicated? When did the world stop seeing them as children and start demanding that they behave according to some script written in stone and carved decades before their birth? And when did the weight of that stone start to crush them - slowly and imperceptibly at first, until they could hardly breathe?  Based on an idea by Shereener Browne and written by Christina Alagaratnam, PlayFight examines the corrosive way in which racism determines the direction young Black lives take. " Tickets for the play can be purchased from: https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/show/playfight/ More about Christina can be found at:  https://chrissysnotebook.com/ https://twitter.com/ChrissyA_92 https://www.instagram.com/xchristina.writer/

Latest Spoken Label session (Spoken Word / Poetry / Author / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Charles Haffner. Charles is from Florida. He describes himself as "I have a few passions, one being my love to express myself through Tanka and various other poetic forms. This passion started in my late teens when I read Edgar Allan Poe and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. After a 30 year hiatus I decided to actually write poetry to cope with taking care of my terminally ill mother. That is when I really discovered my passion for Japanese poetry. I have published 3 full paperbacks, "Orchids under the stars, Four colors of my life in Cinquain and If love was a Rose", a beautiful gift to leave behind for my children, to let them understand a little more about myself." More about Charles can be found at:  https://www.facebook.com/Fayjai1970 https://www.instagram.com/angryhobiepoetry/ https://charlesrhaffner.my.canva.site/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Author / Artist Podcast) is a interview with the wonderful Elisabeth Horan. Elisabeth  is a poet, mother, and small press publisher living in the wilds of Vermont. She is the author of numerous poetry chapbooks and collections, and the Editor-In-Chief of Animal Heart Press. Elisabeth is passionate about discovering new voices and mentoring emerging poets. She is also a fierce advocate for those impacted by mental illness. More about Elisabeth can be found at:  https://www.amazon.com/Elisabeth-Horan/e/B07QDPPMPZ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share  OR https://ehoranpoet.net/

Latest Spoken Label session features the wonderful Leonie Rowland. Leonie Rowland is a writer living in Manchester, UK. She is currently doing her PhD with the Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she researches commodity animism in the Japanese Gothic. Leonie is Editor-in-Chief of The Hungry Ghost Project and Assistant Reviews Editor at The British Society for Literature and Science. Her writing has been published widely, and she won Third Prize in the June 2021 Bath Flash Fiction Award. Her debut chapbook, In Bed with Melon Bread, is available from Dreich. More about Leonie can be found at her website: www.leonierowland.com credits license all rights reserved

* Contains Pieces of a adult nature *  New from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Author / Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Rosie Rayworth, originally from Sheffield, now Manchester poet and drummer for the country / folk band Millie Milner and The Deadnames. Pieces read out in this session include: 1. Barbies  2. The Tree 3. Wandering Hands

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry) Podcast features newcomer the storyteller / short story writer Quigley CB. More about Quigley can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/quigley_cb/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poetry/Spoken Word Podcast) is our returning friend who we first chatted all the way just after we first got going back in 2016, Ushiku Crisafulli Ushiku is a chef, poet, playwright, actor, performance artist, comedian, musician, writer, spoken word and hip hop artist, and founder of the OpenMind Collective which curates community focused cross-genre creative collaborations through live events with a multi-disciplinary focus. He runs the various Bards projects throughout the UK on behalf of Local Gems Poetry Press, and is currently honing his writing, directing, music and comedy skills as a recipient of an Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice grant. He’s currently working on his second solo show, Unmasked, which challenges language around autistic authenticity through comedy, hip hop, and theatrical monologues and an accompanying exhibition that uses visual arts and soundscapes to challenge the language around autistic enjoyment and environmentalism in collaboration with Filipino Artist Miel Timtiman and Nigerian artist Akilo Joseph. It will be previewing in a free and accessible event at The Peer Hat on Wednesday 13th April from 7pm. Ushiku advises as a footnote the comedy night he couldn't remember the name off during the session is Comedy for Hot People. His website is: https://ushikucrisafulli.com/about/

Latest episode from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Writer / Poet Podcast) heads over to South Africa to speak to our returning friend Alta H Mabin. Alta is a South African writer, poet and publisher. She has published many e-books and over 20 full paperbacks. She is also the editor and publisher of Poets Unlimited & Haiku for your soul - both international poetry magazines. She advises she writes in all poetic genres but lean fully and wholeheartedly towards haiku.  She also hosts a poetry podcast on Spotify and Anchor. Alta H Mabin. Email: [email protected] Instagram: alta.h.mabin

Latest Spoken Label (Poetry / Author Podcast) features the wonderful Culain Wood from Salford.  Culain Wood is also the host off 'Rhyming Words' which is a new spoken word night at the Globe, Glossop. More details of which (1st event) is at: https://www.facebook.com/events/488963932948540/ Poems read out in this session include: 1. Stop watching the news 2. I was watching the news 3. There's a dog barking 4. Just on what on Earth

Latest up from Spoken Label features the wonderful Moshe Mikanovsky. Moshe is the author The Resurrector (New Degree Press). The book is described as "Can someone be brought back from the dead? Could it change the life of the living? The Levi family is in their darkest hour. The sudden death of Nir, the middle child, launches a dark journey filled with moments of light and hope. An estranged father and son, a loving older brother, and a religiously devout but sad younger sister, are threaded together by family ties, in a religious enclave in Israel and the greater unknown. The traditions of Judaism, grief, loss, and mysticism come to life through their eyes. At the Jewish week-long mourning period—the shiva, a mysterious stranger arrives and sets into motion a series of events that are both tangible and otherworldly. It is a journey to discover the bonds that have both broken and healed this family. It is up to the reader to decide what power the Resurrector has, but one thing is certain—it is important to heal relationships with loved ones before it is too late. His website is: https://author.mikanovsky.com/

Latest up from Spoken Label (Poet/Artist Podcast) features Andrea Carter Brown, author of 'September 12'. Poet and editor Andrea Carter Brown is the author of three previous poetry collections: The Disheveled Bed (CavanKerry Press, 2006) and two chapbooks, Brook & Rainbow (winner of the 2001 Sow's Ear Poetry Review chapbook contest) and Domestic Karma, (Finishing Line Press, 2018). This session talks about her new collection 'September 12'. This book has being described as "“A more haunting memorial to 9/11 than this book will be hard to find," writes Martha Collins. "Reading September 12 is a wrenching but restorative experience you won't soon forget". In the words of New York State Poet Laureate Alicia Ostriker, "In Andrea Carter Brown's September 12, detail by detail, we watch the process of innocence captured by absolutely unpredicted trauma, and how the experience lives on and on, through shock and terror, through the kindness of strangers, through the heart of a beloved, through grief and elegy, through normality that will never again be normal." And Cynthia Hogue writes, "This brave book documents great loss, but also hard-won psychic resilience in poems of astonishing beauty and wisdom. September 12 is necessary poetry." More about Andrea can be found at: https://www.andreacarterbrown.com/

Latest Spoken Label session features the amazing Rebecca Kenny talking about her debut poetry collection 'Crash and Burn'. 'Crash and Burn' covers the events off "At 7.21am on October 1st 2021, Rebecca Kenny was driving to work when she lost control of her car. Skidding on oil and into the path of an oncoming vehicle, she was directly hit, breaking her back, neck, pelvis and sternum - a grand and somewhat impressive total of eleven bones. Following a week in a Major Trauma Centre and extensive physiotherapy, she was able to return home to recover. It was here she decided to document her journey. Crash & Learn is a collection of poetry written between October 1st and New Year's Day 2022, as Rebecca recovered from her injuries and learned to live with the massive changes the accident had made to her life. It explores the complex process of recovery, both physical and mental, and how a person learns to adjust to a new normal following a traumatic and life-changing event. Rebecca also runs the publishing house 'Bent Key Publishing' and more details about that and her book can be found at:  https://www.bentkeypublishing.co.uk/ Pieces read out in this session include:  1. String Theory 2. The body I used to have 3. Elephant Juice  4. Lads

Latest Spoken Label session is from Dean Rhetoric. His collection Cancer [+Pop Punk] is described as a "meditation on teenage angst, loss and alienation, backdropped by the music of Rhetoric’s formative years. Cancer [+Pop Punk] is full of poignant, often devastating poetry, told through forms which cleverly navigate the overlap between words and music, where ‘black octaves’ are ‘blooming under the skin’. Rhetoric is a poet with a big heart, proud to pin it to his shirtsleeve, in these beautiful, sad and deeply moving poems." PRAISE for Cancer [+Pop Punk]: 'Dean Rhetoric’s Cancer [+ Pop Punk] is a deeply poignant pamphlet exploring illness and the subsequent grief of losing a loved one. The author uses music to signpost the poems with personal and lyrical significance, intelligently connecting the reader to the struggles contain within. Rhetoric explains that “there are times when the words we don’t use hum a chorus too loud to ignore” In doing so, Cancer [+ Pop Punk] builds to an emotional crescendo, one that cannot fail to reach the heart. A luminous debut.' — Stuart McPherson, Waterbearer Poems read out in the second half of this session include: 1. Love letter to your animal e composition 2. The nation bogs 3. Fighting styles of Cancer

Latest up from Spoken Label features the wonderful Carla Mellor, author of Scraps. Carla's work is described as: “Carla reminds us to love our rough edges and embrace the imperfect. A candid and crucial first collection from a bright new voice.” – Toria Garbutt “Common but not commonplace, lyrical and luminescent. If you like early Armitage, karaoke, Cooper Clarke, cans of Carling, Garry and Garbutt, and growing up working class, you’ll love this book of bitter-sweet poetry from an up-and-coming Northern star.” – Louise Fazackerley “Microscopic reflections. Half answered questions, half answered.” – Mike Garry More about Carla can be found at: https://www.carlamellor.co.uk/ Poems read out in this session include: 1. Neurodiversity 2. Karaoke Grandad 3. Scraps 4. Seats #Poetry #PoetryPodcast #Podcast 

Latest Podcast from Spoken Label features the wonderful Laura Formentini. Laura in her own words is "I am an author, photographer, and activist. I share how a stranger has helped me to heal from tragic loss thanks to an act of kindness." She is the author of Twentyone Olive Trees which is "is my personal spiritual pilgrimage from uncontrollable pain to acceptance and healing that I gift to the world to help those going through their own grief and dark moments. I chose the title Twentyone Olive Trees because my son was twenty-one when he passed away and I also intend to plant twenty-one olive trees in his honor at a healing sanctuary that I am currently creating." 1) Intro (Extract) 2) The Weaver by Grant Coldfax 3) Camel and spider (Fable) 4) One thing   5) What difference does it make?  More about Laura can be found out at his website:  https://lauraformentini.com/ Praise for Laura's book include: Alexa Bigwarfe Author, Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother “Truly, 21 Olive Trees is a beautiful expression of a mother’s aching love and will resonate with those who have experienced grief.” Mea Smith Author, Grief Like a River: Poems and Illustrations “Turning the love that grief leaves behind into a piece of beauty that lifts up others, Laura Formeninti shares the life lessons that loving and losing her son has taught her in 21 Olive Trees. These tender and touching fables offer a message of hope to the grieving – that love never dies.” Lindsey M. Henke, MSW, LICSW Founder of Pregnancy After Loss Support “The thread that runs through Twentyone Olive Trees is her eternal love for her son. As a grief counselor to parents who lose babies, I have witnessed countless times how the pain of the loss continues to transform over time and how much solace parents find when they eventually create an “intuitive bridge” between themselves and their child, as the author did. The poignant poems beautifully express the varied experiences of bereaved parents, and the beautifully illustrated fables will teach children and adults alike important lessons in coping with grief and moving toward hope, acceptance and growth. The author’s wish to “lift up as many people as possible” will most certainly be realized as they use their own inner wisdom and imagination to connect with their child after death.”

Bit nearer home today - well very near is a chat with the most excellent Amanda Nicholson (Formerly Amanda Steel), where she pops by to talk about to read about her recently finished 12 projects in 12 months where over the space of 12 months she has produced all kinds of creative writing projects from poetry, flash fiction, non fiction, spoof click bait, audio versions of some of her books and so, so much more. More about Amanda can be found at: https://amandasteelwriter.wordpress.com/

Latest from Spoken Label (Author/Artist/Poetry Podcast) sees us heading over to the Isle of Man where we meet the excellent Jackie Morrey Grace. Jackie describes herself as "I am a musician, wild swimming, kayaking, stomping, and story obsessed anti-realist, mother to 3 teenagers,  4 cats, and wife to the awesomely talented bespoke furniture designer and maker (and annoyingly good drummer), Ed. Likes: Cats, kind hearts, kids and camomile tea. Dislikes: D*ckheads. Ticks. I am also a professional copywriter and published author of On Ravensdale Hill and Asila's Song, my two  IOM Arts Council funded, self-illustrated poetic stories. I have two YA fantasy fiction novels in the pipeline too - The Boy Without Wings & The Call of the Birds." More about Jackie can be found at: https://jackiemorreygrace.weebly.com/ or https://www.instagram.com/jackieswickedrhymes/ Pieces read out in this session include: 1. Vesparum (Wasp)  2. Stardust 3. Blackbird 4. (Untitled) 5. Extract from "On Ravensdale Hill"

Latest Spoken Label (Writer/Artist Podcast) features the wonderful Tom Melsen. Tom is a "a dutch artist, born in Rotterdam. Melsen is best known for his artwork, for which he has been nominated for numerous awards and winning the abstract art contest in 2016 by International Gallery Of The Arts in Canada. His paintings have been published in magazines worldwide and Melsen published a collection of art books. His work has been widely exhibited in group and solo exhibitions around the world. After releasing several albums with various bands and film/art-project soundtracks, Melsen released three experimental, electronic solo albums. His latest album titled “Dadaism” (2019) was recorded in Berlin and features soundscapes of the German capital; a city forever in construction. ‘Dadaism’ is an all instrumental album and tells the story of the dada art movement in sound. Melsen self-published a book of little rhymes in 2020. The book, titled Quack, is full of rebellious and humorous short rhymes. In Quack, Melsen revisits experiences from his early years up until his thirties. Aftermath is Melsen’s first worldwide published poetry book." More about Tom can be found at:  https://linktr.ee/melsenpoetry https://tommelsen.com/ https://www.instagram.com/melsenpoetry/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aftermath-Tom-Melsen/dp/B09GZH3QVW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=tom+melsen+aftermath&qid=1632936513&sr=8-1 Pieces read out in this session include: 1. The Search 2. Ireland  3. Widower 4. 

New from Spoken Label (Author / Poetry Podcast) features from Marple, the excellent Phillip Carter.   Phillip is  "a science-fiction novelist, humourist and poet. His debut book, WHO BUILT THE HUMANS? is a hybrid of these three forms. Whilst the main body of the text is science-fiction, fleeting interjections of comedy and lengthy 'space-slam' poetry cut up an otherwise huge multiverse into manageable slices. "   More about Phillip can be found at:    https://pod.link/1536513851 https://www.whobuiltthehumans.com/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Who-Built-Humans-Phillip-Carter/product-reviews/1838112154/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews https://www.wattpad.com/1060546029-the-stephanie-glitch-ya-science-fiction-novel-part https://www.mixcloud.com/Hannahs_Bookshelf/hannahs-bookshelf-with-special-guest-phillip-carter-27112021/ https://paisleyprintauthor.substack.com/ https://linktr.ee/Phillipcarter https://twitter.com/hologrammatical https://www.instagram.com/paisleyprintauthor/ Pieces read out in this session include:  1) False Vacuum 2) Blood Sell 3) Jeodesics not free  4) Universal Slam Poem

* Contains language and topics not suitable for all *  Latest Spoken Label session features the wonderful Loll Perkin. More about Loll can be found out at: https://www.instagram.com/loll_1989/ or https://www.instagram.com/loll_barber89/ Pieces read out in this session include: 1. Depression  2. Funny Insults  3.

Latest Spoken Label (Author/Artist/Poet) Podcast from Spoken Label features the wonderful Ray Douglas. All of Ray's books can be bought on Amazon ("The Silly Sausage Saga,  Lucy the Tooth Fairy’s Last Chance and Some Pretty, Witty Ditties) and you can contact him via facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ray.douglas.750) or instragram (https://www.instagram.com/mrraydouglas/) Poems recorded  1.  Global trotting 2.  Homework 3.  Bubbles  4.  Farts  5.  Greatest 6.  If aliens played football 7.  The Silly Sausage Saga Part 2 (Take 1) 8.  The Silly Sausage Saga Part 2 (Take 2) 9.  Salad time 10. Untitled 11. The tooth fairy's last chance 12. Families 13. Pants

Latest Spoken Label, features our returning friend Susan Darlington talking about her new collection "traumatropic heart". This wonderful collection has being described by: "In taut, precise language, Susan Darlington finds both gothic horror and lusciousness in the world around her. Crammed into display cases and confined in doll's houses, the poet's persona conveys the same brave emancipation of Ibsen's Nora, and - like her - will leave you looking at the world with fresh eyes." Hannah Stone, author of Reflections: A Poet-Theologian in Lockdown Leeds (Maytree Press) and "Like a doll’s house, this neat, playful chapbook gives us the world in miniature. Only the wall is off. These poems expose the reader to the elements of Susan Darlington’s lucid imagination, vining the body of the speaker to the non-human world and illuminating what natural cycles can transform. Traumatropic Heart is a bewitching read.” Becky Cherriman, author of Empires of Clay (Cinnamon Press). Pieces read out in this session include: 1. Traumatropic heart 2. After the storm has passed 3. It's said 4. The Doll's House 5. Stone babies The collection can be bought at: www.selcouthstation.com/product-page/traumatropic-heart-by-susan-darlington Susan can be found on twitter at: twitter.com/S_sanDarlington Her 1st session for Spoken Label can be found on all the usual networks including: spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/album/susan-darlington-spoken-label-march-2021