School of Night : Introducing HappenStance Press and Poet J.O.Morgan

The School of Night, our Year-Round Poetry Festival, celebrates the rich diversity of contemporary poetry – and this August we are showcasing some local talent.

HappenStance Press was set up by poet and critic Helena Nelson and began in 2005 with a debut pamphlet Tonguefire from Andrew Philip. Since then, there have been over 120 publications, including pamphlets and books of all shapes and sizes. Helena remains sole editor and joins us to introduce HappenStance and its latest publication J. O. Morgan’s poem-novella, In Casting Off – a love story with a difference.

J.O. Morgan writes book-length narrative poems. 2009’s Natural Mechanical won the Aldeburgh First Collection Prize; with its sequel, Long Cuts shortlisted for a Scottish Book Award. At Maldon, which re-tells the story of the thousand-year-old battle between Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, was shortlisted for the 2014 Saltire Award.  A gripping story (and In Casting Off is wonderfully gripping) needs a reader who can do it justice in delivery and J. O. Morgan is a stunning performer.

Join us for another evening of poetic exploration!