FSP 2021 competition certificates

The Friendly Street Poets reading for September saw the awarding of certificates to writers who had been successful in the 2021 competitions for publication of their collections, due soon.

Left to right here, we have Nigel Ford (Highly Commended twice, New Poets 22 ), Susan O’Brien and Veronica Cookson (both Winners, New Poets 22), Michèle Saint-Yves (Winner, Single Poet), and Shaine Melrose (Highly Commended, Single Poet).

Unable to attend were: Rob Ferris (Winner, New Poets 22), Claire-Louise Watson (Highly Commended, New Poets 22), and Gaetano Aiello (Highly Commended, Single Poet).

Congratulations to all of you – and we look forward to the launch of both titles on 25th October: more details to come.… Click for more

New Poets 22 and Single Poet 2021 winners!

Besides its annual anthologies, Friendly Street Poets has a long (and, yes, proud) history of bringing the work of emerging poets to a keen readership. 

Independent and blind judging has given the results for the books that will appear in 2021 in the New Poets 22 (featuring three poets, as usual) and Single Poet volumes. The Winning and Highly Commended entries are: 

New Poets 22

Winning
Legacy – Veronica Cookson 
The Butterfly Defects – Rob Ferris 
Valley Fleurieu – Susan O’Brien 

Highly Commended
A Hapless Romantic – Nigel Ford  
Life Poet – Nigel Ford
A Glimpse of Light – Claire-Louise Watson  

Single Poet 2021

Winning
Lament  – Michele M.… Click for more

FSP August City Meeting, Open Mic & announcement of FSP New Poets 22 & Single Poet 2021 winners CANCELLED

Monday, 2nd August, 2021
from 6:00pm

The Box Factory
59 Regent St, Adelaide, SA 5000

We regret to tell you that the August reading (2nd August) in the Box Factory has to be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

We would have to abide by limits required by the Adelaide City Council that are even lower than those indicated by the State Government, and which make the reading unworkable.

In addition to the Open Mic, we will announce the winners of the New Poets 22 and Single Poet 2021 competitions

For the Open Mic, there is a 3 minutes maximum time per reader.Click for more

New FSP Committee and Convenor

Following the FSP AGM on 12th April, we are pleased to announce the new Management Committee:

  • Steve Evans (Convenor)
  • Kristy Willett (Treasurer)
  • Margaret Clark (Secretary and Membership)
  • Nigel Ford (Regional Activities Coordinator)
  • Sue O’Brien

Special thanks to the outgoing committee members, David Harris, Roger Higgins and Emelia Haskey.

Incoming Convenor, Steve Evans, thanked preceding Convenor, Nigel Ford, for all his hard work on behalf of FSP.

“Nigel Ford stepped down as Convenor of Friendly Street Poets at the AGM this month. He has contributed a great deal to the live poetry scene in South Australia and to Friendly Street as a key publisher of poetry there, including reviving the New Poets series of books that give emerging poets a chance to share space in a full-sized title.… Click for more

Submissions for New Poets 22 now open

Friendly Street Poets is pleased to announce that submissions for New Poets 22 are now open.

Each volume in the New Poets series publishes short collections of poems from three poets who have not yet published a collection of poetry.

Please read carefully the following information regarding eligibility, presentation format, and the selection process. Any entries which fail to comply with these submission guidelines will be disqualified.

When you are ready, submit your manuscript via the form below. Submissions will only be accepted via this form.

Submissions close at midnight, Monday, 14th June, 2021.
Late submissions will not be accepted.… Click for more

Book Launch: Marking Time. A Chronicle of Cancer by Valerie Volk

Thursday, 12 November, 2020
7:30pm to 8:30pm

Burnside Library
401 Greenhill Road, Tusmore 5065

Please join us at Burnside Library for Writing from the Shadows with FSP poet Valerie Volk. Valerie will talk about the ways writing can help in difficult times and discuss her tenth book, Marking Time, written during her partner’s cancer journey. Out of the time came a book described by one reviewer as “beautiful, brave and achingly personal” and endorsed by the Cancer Council as “a poignant collection of poems that will help an individual who is currently living with, or supporting someone through, a cancer diagnosis.” … Click for more