North-west poet and Write Out Loud regular Darren Thomas is author of a debut collection, a sequence of poems mainly but not exclusively about gaining, enjoying and losing love. Rise is published as an e-book by Achuka Books and is available here. Darren has previously had poems included in the Best of Manchester Poets anthologies, vols one and two, and featured in various e-zines, magazines, local newspaper media, and written commissioned poetry for Wigan Leisure and Cultural Trust.

A new series of poetry programmes presented by Paul Farley began last week on Radio 4. Last week’s edition of The Echo Chamber was billed as The Body: adventures in strong language and the best of new poetry, and included new poems from Alice Oswald, Don Paterson and Jo Shapcott. The programme is repeated this Saturday, 2 March, at 11.30pm, with the second in the series on the following evening, Sunday, 3 March, at 4.30pm.

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Write Out Loud’s news editor Greg Freeman will be reading a poem that he has dedicated to Write Out Loud’s Gig Guide editor, David Andrew, at the launch of a poetry and prose anthology, Connections, at the Poetry Cafe in London on Friday 8 March. Greg said: “The poem, Backroom Boys, is about London and friendship, and the title is taken from a remark by David that is included in the poem.” Connections is produced by Paragram, a group of Surrey writers who made the anthology open to all. Other poets in the anthology include Sally Blackmore, Cathy Bryant, Rose Drew, Thomas Thurman, and Geoffrey Heptonstall. David Andrew has poems soon to be published in the influential international magazine Poetry Salzburg Review, as well as THE SHOp, Brittle Star and Under the Radar, while Greg Freeman will be reading some of his railway poems at the fast-growing Cheltenham poetry festival in April, and aiming to produce a daily blog for Write Out Loud from Cheltenham as well.