I am in the process of organsing Polyverse Poetry Festival, which is now a confirmed event, and will take place in the English & Drama department at Loughborough University in the summer of 2009. The exact date should be confirmed any day now.

I am contacting you for two reasons; partly because there is the need to drum up interest in the festival from an early date, and to keep the momentum going. Of course, the formal promotion will begin in earnest in the autumn. A number of excellent published poets have already been confirmed to read/perform and provide workshops, and I am expecting to confirm more imminently. those booked up to now include Sam Smith (author of 12 novels and 7 poetry books), Nigel McLoughlin (author of four poetry books), Angela France, Rosie Lugosi, Bob Mee, and David Bircumshaw, amongst others. Which brings me to the other reason I am contacting you: I am looking for more published poets to perform, and/or offer workshops. The bad news is that the budget is too tight already to offer appearance fees or expenses. However, this is going to be a high-profile event at a major venue, and there will be the opportunity for poets to sell their wares and network, in addition to bringing their work to a wider audience and raising their profile. So there are still plenty of incentives to attend, and/or perform.

Is there any chance this could get a mention on your group, and/or anything else you’re involved with? Please could all of you share this with any and all relelant contact, poets, and poetry lovers, and encourage good poets to volunteer their services?

If you want to know more, and/or keep up to date with the festival, and/or me, please either e-mail me at Radcliff.freeradical@googlemail.com, and/or check out my dedicated Facebook groups Poetry and literary Festival summer 2009 (open group) and Polyverse Poets (closed group, for published/professional poets/performers only). The general public will not be able to access any of your details on Polyverse poets, and I am the sole administrator. If you’re not a member of Facebook, and want to access either or both groups, please e-mail me for an invitation.

Many thanks, and best wishes,

Radcliff