For some odd reason I can't fathom out
my mailer doesn't seem to want to send this.
It sends all the rest of my outgoing mail
but has left this behind four times.
So I'm trying sending it as a forwarded message this time!
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> From: Gerald England <[log in to unmask]>
> To: British Poets <[log in to unmask]>
> Cc: Jane Mathieson <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Manchester Poetry Market
> Date: 17 November 1998 12:05
>
>
> Jim Bennett asked for a report on the
> Manchester Poetry Market.
>
> Mine can only be a partial report based on what I saw.
> The event was held at Manchester Central Library
> which is a huge building.
>
> Most of the presses who had tables booked
> were in a room on the 2nd floor -
> about a dozen or so of us from around Manchester
> but also from Preston, Huddersfield, Leeds, the West Midlands.
>
> We were made very welcome by the library staff
> with comfortable accommodation and space.
>
> About four or five presses had their tables in a room
> on the 4th floor where the readings took place.
> This room is actually a wide circular corridor comprising
> the Language and Literature Section of the Library.
> The readings were held within the poetry section!
>
> There was really only room for an audience of about two dozen people.
>
> The toilets and the cafe are situated in the basement
> There are several sets of stairs but only one lift that holds about six people at a time.
>
> Although I had an assistant with me I had to spend most of my time
> at my stall on the 2nd floor so I saw hardly anything of the readings.
>
> Despite the relative isolation, there was steady trickle of people through
> and we sold a few books - enough to cover lunch and travel expenses.
>
> More important than sales though, we met several old friends,
> made new friends and handed out quite a lot of flyers.
>
> My own reading was scheduled for 2pm
> after the launch of a Women's Writers Book.
> As I had a very bad cough, I cajoled John Francis Haines
> into reading my poems for me.
>
> At the start we only had an audience of 5,
> the Women Writers audience having left,
> but it soon filled up and we had a full audience of about 25.
>
> It was very good listening to another poet reading one's own work.
> John enjoyed it too and we said afterwards
> that if we get thrown together at a reading somewhere
> he'll read my poems, and I'll read his.
>
> I saw nothing of Adrian Henri or his workshop.
>
> All in all, I think the organisers did the best they could.
> It isn't ideal to have the readings and bookstalls so far apart
> and I'm sure a lot of people who went to the readings on the 4th floor
> never found us down on the 2nd floor.
>
> Despite this I enjoyed the day
> and I think it is great that Manchester Library
> is organising events such as this
> where small presses in particular
> can get publicity.
> There was no charge for the stalls
> so if sales are small, it is no big deal.
>
> As a social event it was marvellous.
>
> Yours
> Gerald England
>
> Gerald England's Home page - http://www.nhi.clara.net/gehome.htm
> Christine's Lace Page - http://members.tripod.com/~lacemaker/index.htm
> Aabye's Baby - http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Cafe/9091
> NHI Review - http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1735
> Haiku Talk - http://www.nhi.clara.net/hktalk.htm
>
>
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