I am delighted to announce the launch of ‘As In Judy’ – my new poetry collection with Flapjack Press. It’s my first solo poetry publication since ‘Everything Must Go’ (Holland Park Press 2012). I’m really excited.

I wish to express heartfelt gratitude to Char March for her generous editorial input, without which this collection would be far weaker.

And to Ruth Fainlight, for her inspiring suggestion that ‘As In Judy’ would make a great title.

Both John Hyatt and David Hoyle have made blushingly complimentary comments about the poems.

“The reason I love Rosie’s work so much is that she provides food for thought. She addresses issues that need addressing, and imagines the inner and outer landscapes we all inhabit with eloquence and grace. Shed your light, Rosie.” David Hoyle 2016

“You spend all that time trying to understand the world, its family relationships,
friendships, social systems through a serial adventure of episodes mundane and
or memorable. You spend all that time trying to fit into the human. Then, you are
propelled into realisation through a life-threatening disease. Travelling not
outward into the world but inward to the beating heart of the matter, you dive
deep into the DNA. You are the resplendent there. You are the clicking queen of
the insects. When you dress again in flesh and skin, you go amongst the sleeping
humans and new and glittering worlds are left in your wake. Welcome to Rosie!”

John Hyatt 2016

Now available!
Rosie Garland’s new collection of poems, ‘As In Judy’.

Flapjack Press, 2016

I wish to express heartfelt gratitude to Char March for her generous editorial input, without which this collection would be far weaker.
And to Ruth Fainlight, for her inspiring suggestion that ‘As In Judy’ would make a great title.

‘The reason I love Rosie’s work so much is that she provides food for thought. She addresses issues that need addressing, and imagines the inner and outer landscapes we all inhabit with eloquence and grace. Shed your light, Rosie.’ David Hoyle 2016

  A poem from the collection:

When You Grow Up

At night, she leaps and does not land. Spreads her arms and soars
above the fenced and neatly weeded garden. Her dreams
are practice sessions where she lifts cars, sees through walls, fights

dragons. She is a pirate captain, a queen, a horse. She is neither girl
nor boy: the distinctions are irrelevant when her small body encompasses
male and female; human, beast. A turbulent child figure-heading

the prow of her beaked ship, she buckles on armour, rescues
princesses from charming princes and spinning wheels,
fearless of the shapes beneath the bed. Too soon

she hears the summons: Breakfast! Now!
Blinks this world into focus. Hushes battle cries,
sheathes her sword between the pages of her book.

Every bedtime her mother tucks in
the sheet of marriage, husband, children: tucks it in tight.

© Rosie Garland 2016

‘As In Judy’ book launch

7th December, 6-8pm (doors 5.30)

Manchester Central Library,Media Lounge
St Peter’s Square
Manchester
M2 5 PD

Free event

With special guests Lisa Matthews & Genevieve Walsh!

‘As In Judy’
It’s how I introduce myself when meeting people for the first time: ‘Hi, I’m Rosie Garland. As in Judy’.

My next novel isn’t out until June 2017, but in December 2016 I have this new poetry collection with Flapjack Press. It’s my first solo poetry publication since 2012. I’m really excited: I’ve had wonderful editing from Char March, and both John Hyatt and David Hoyle have said made blushingly complimentary comments about the poems.

http://www.flapjackpress.co.uk/page9.htm