Most of us, I suspect, share a feeling that poets are a different breed, that they inhabit a distant land – perhaps that they are loftier or more intellectual or more bohemian than us. For these reasons, I had always been drawn to prose and, for the first decade of my career, I worked on… Continue reading Poetry and Foreign Lands
The Memoir Garden poets have been spreading the word about our collection of poems from the words and experiences of adults with learning disabilities. The collection proved such a success locally that Waterstones in Berkhamsted restocked for the third time, we ordered a second print run, and held a London launch, kindly hosted by New York University in London. A… Continue reading The Memoir Garden locally and nationally
“This book demonstrates beautifully that people with learning disabilities have rich and textured emotions and experiences. I love this book. It made me cry, laugh and wish. Read it, and then think about how surprised you are.” – Keely Charlick, the Chief Executive of Sunnyside Rural Trust The launch of The Memoir Garden was a wonderfully celebratory occasion. We all… Continue reading Launch of The Memoir Garden
My Arts Council writing residency at Sunnyside Rural Trust has culminated in The Memoir Garden – a poetry collection that will be launched in Berkhamsted on 22nd May. I held monthly workshops and interviews over the course of a year, collaborating with participants to create and edit poems from their own words and reminiscences. The Memoir… Continue reading The Memoir Garden
EMMA CLAIRE SWEENEY 