Droitwich writer to make a festival splash (From Worcester News)

Droitwich writer to make a festival splash

WOULD-be writers are in for a real treat with two family-friendly workshops designed to inspire a ‘splash’ of creativity.

Sarah James and Jenny Hope will be at the literary festival.

When Daddy Fell Into the Pond and In the Family Tree are two Worcestershire Literary Festival workshops being lead by published Worcestershire poets Sarah James and Jenny Hope.

The workshops on Sunday, June 12 and Saturday, June 18 will give both individual adults and families the chance to explore their creativity. Youngsters can also play with words to create and illustrate a special poetry Father’s Day present.

Sarah James, from Vernon Grove, Droitwich, is one of the finalists in the Worcesterhire poet laureate contest, was recently a winner in the international Jawdance Audio Poetry contest and is to have a poem installed on the Polesworth Poetry Trail in Warwickshire in July.

The 36 year old has been a poet in residence and leads creative writing workshops at St Peter’s First School, Droitwich, where her sons James and Daniel Leavesley are pupils. Her first full-length poetry collection Into the Yell was published by Circaidy Gregory Press last July.

Jenny Hope, 43, from Martley, has previously acted as visiting poet for National Poetry Day 2010 at the University of Worcester, and has been Poet in Residence for The Worcester Branch of Oxfam Book and Music Shop.

Jenny’s poetry has been published in many small-press magazines and literary journals and her first poetry collection, Petrolhead, was published by Oversteps Books in January 2010.

The two poets will also be taking part in a Worcestershire Literary Festival evening of poetry and music event at the Bishops Wood Centre, Stourport, on Thursday, June 23.

‘When Daddy Fell Into the Pond’ takes place on Sunday, June 12 from 10 to 11.30am at the Worcester Arts Workshop, in Sansome Street, Worcester. Tickets are £3 and £2 for concessions and can be bought from worcslitfest.com/when-daddy-fell-into-the-pond or on the door.

‘In the Family Tree’ is on Saturday, June 18 from 2 to 3.30pm at the same venue. Tickets are the same price and are available on the door or at worcslitfest.com/in-the-family-tree