Finland!

I’ve been invited by the wonderful poet and novelist, Mike Horwood, to spend most of next week giving readings and school workshops in Finland along with another favourite poet and novelist, Noel Duffy.
FinnBrit, aka The Finnish British Society, are hosting a series of literary events throughout Finland, and Noel and I will be among their lead acts. I’m really honoured to have been asked. Noel and I will fly to Helsinki, where we will give a reading in the evening and then a workshop at a local High School the following afternoon. Then it’s on to Tampere, where there will be two more readings and another school workshop. Between the two of us, we’ll be talking about object poems, science, travel, love, loss and all the big themes. Although this is predominantly a poetry festival and we will be reading from our poetry collections, I’ll also slip in an excerpt or two from my latest novel, Out of the Ruins.  Looks like I’ll be traveling with a case full of books! 
One of the perks of being published by an organisation like Ward Wood Publishing is that the writers get to know each other. We often do readings together. Mike and I flew up to Dublin a few years ago to read there along with Noel and the other Irish Ward Wood writer, Shauna Gilligan.  For me, friendships like these between writers is one of the things that keeps me going when times look bleak which, as a writer, they sometimes do.
I’ve never been to Finland and it’s supposed to be absolutely beautiful. I’ll take photos and report back.