Well done to Candyce and the other merit winners - some of whom will be reading their at the presentation (sadly Martin and the other prize-winners are probably based too far away to make it - in terms of poetry competitions, Wivenhoe is like Manchester United! :-)).

I was frankly amazed and gobsmacked to get a merit from the worthy people of poetrywivenhoe... my previous attempts at poetry having been rude limericks about teachers when I was a kid. Thank you chaps.

Does anyone know when the Bookshop is publishing the poetry Wivenhoe book of poems this December? I hope to be able to pick up a few before last xmas posting dates.

Thanks - hadn't had a reply from the bookshop - will try & find Chris's email.

Joan Taylor's in charge of the new collection!  (see "contact" page on www.poetrywivenhoe.org)  But I believe the publication will be pretty soon. I'll try to get further details for the Forum ASAP.

Fingers crossed it's in time for last posting day!

May have to post my pressies and then send this for New Year's as the Wiv Book's website says "in the week before". Lovely design!

The new collection "poetrywivenhoe 2011" is now definitely on sale at the Wivenhoe Bookshop.  It features all the winning poems from the 2011 Prize, and also a number of poems specially selected for this collection from the large number of entries that were received for the competition .

The most excellent cover design, by Catherine Dodds, features Helen Lee's painting of Wivenhoe's skyline, as you can see from Jason's earlier posting above.

News of the official launch of the poetrywivenhoe prize book, via the Bookshop:

Wivenbooks, the Wivenhoe Bookshop press, have just published an anthology of work in partnership with poetrywivenhoe, featuring a selection of the most outstanding entries and winners from the 2011 Wivenhoe  Poetry Prize. The book will be launched at the bookshop:

poetrywivenhoe 2011

Book Launch Evening

6.30pm

Thursday 2nd February

Wivenhoe Bookshop, 23 High Street, Wivenhoe

There'll be some readings from the anthology, and wine and nibbles will be served – all are welcome.

The Wivenhoe Poetry Prize 2011

The competition, jointly organised by poetrywivenhoe and the Wivenhoe Bookshop, was judged by award-winning poet Andre Mangeot, and a selection of entries and winning poems was chosen by the book editors (Pam Job, Peter Kennedy, Joan Taylor) for inclusion in the ‘poetrywivenhoe 2011′ anthology.

The book is beautifully designed by Catherine Dodds, and the jacket features an extraordinary Wivenhoe skyline by artist Helen Lee.