A SELECTION OF POETRY THEMED EVENTS
PERFORMANCES AT QUAY ARTS, WIGHT ROCK, VENTNOR EXCHANGE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT LITERARY FESTIVAL, 2015 |
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ISLAND POETRY
For those of you that remember the GENERATION GAME on tv I will try and remember the venues I have performed at, so here goes-
Chorderize and Wight Words, Quay Arts, - Cowes Speak, The Anchor, Cowes, - Vectis Tavern, Cowes, - Dimbola Lodge, Freshwater, - Brown's Cafe, Sandown,- Artisan Cafe, Sandown, - Ventnor Fringe, - The King Lud, Ryde, - Frequentease, Blacksheep Bar, Ryde, - Reading between the Lines, Wight Rock, Ryde, - High Tide, Quay Arts, - Vectis radio, - Moo Cow, Cowes- Literary Festival 2013, - Bestival Festival 2013, - Rhythm Tree Festival 2014, - Northwood House, Cowes- Literary Festival 2014. Pride Festival, Portsmouth 2015, Isle of Wight
Festival 2015, Rhythm Tree Festival 2015, Literary Festival 2015. Ventnor Exchange 2015.
CHARITIES
In support of the Ellen Macarthur charity for young people with cancer I designed and sold 2 unique pieces-
An anthology of my handwritten poems.
A pink coat of many poems.
WRITING
Some kept diaries. From the age of 11 I wrote poetry. It was safer than writing a diary- no prying eyes!
I have published 2 poetry books-
BLUE DEVILS- written when i was 20 years old it is both poetry and prose, and delves deep into my mother's mental illness of severe clinical depression, hospitalization, electric shock treatments, and her abusive childhood.
THE THICK AND THIN OF IT- consisting of poems from 2010 onwards this anthology explores 'the underbelly of the world'; domestic violence, mental illness, loneliness, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual trafficking, and life on the edge as well as being peppered with snippets of humour and 'daft days'.
'These are real, carefully wrought and unafraid poems that often tear away the poetic veil to reflect feelings and lives from troubled landscapes. From Skeg Vegas to Blackberries, Donna Jones sings the dark of tough times, and harrowing journeys, to find moments of sweet relief, tenderness and hope. fabulous and personal work. Read it. Matt Black, Derbyshire Poet Laureate.
Donna Jones takes us where many writers fear to tread. Professor Liz Cashden.
Donna Jones describes her writing as her 'comforter, diary, friend and punch bag' and this first collection of poems packs all of these into a smack to the senses that leaves its mark long after bruises heal. Donna writes without shame of her own pain and isolation and also her joy, alongside that of the broken, judged and overlooked. Brave, tough, funny and touching, within these pages we glimpse slices of the thick and thin of life, the agony, brutality and sheer wonder of what it is to be human. Vicky Morris.
Poetry means different things to different people- I love the quote by EZRA POUND- poetry should 'Make it new again'; as though we are seeing, feeling and experiencing things for the first time.
Philip Mahony states that poetry should be 'relevant, important and readable', that it 'aspires to matter, to confront and shine new light on the significant events and issues of our time.' 1998.
Since January 2010 I have written 198 poems - getting ready to publish a new selection.
PUBLICATIONS
Blue Devils 2011
The Miner - Now Then Magazine 2011
The Thick and Thin of It - Bow Wow Poetry- E magazine
Alfred Horace Jones- Cancer Charity Bool
Remnants- Dead Beats Poetry
Urobus- Off the Sheffield Festival 2012
Festival of the Mind- 2012
Sheffield Anthology 2012
The Thick and Thin of it- Anthology 2012
Sheffield Stories 2013, 2014
Singing in the Storm 2014
America and other Places 2016
Star and Crescent-Portsmouth e magazine 2016
Red Raw Anthology-2016
My new poetry anthology RED RAW 2016 consists of 47 poems, edited by VICKY MORRIS. They cover my themes of interest as an observational poet, a confessional poet, and humour/pathos. I want to say a special thanks to ROWAN BLAIR COLVER, JOAN ELLIS and BARBARA JANE MACKIE for their professional reviews.
ROWAN BLAIR COLVER-Donna Jones creates splendid emotive lines of dark sensations and flickering images of hope. A brave writer who plunges ever deeper into the dimensions of the lesser spoken side of humanity, always providing a haunting journey into another's story.
JOAN ELLIS-Donna Jones is a powerhouse of talent. Her work is at once funny, yet poignant, reaching deep inside hearts and minds. Each word is chosen with pinpoint accuracy to convey its razor sharp meaning. Unforgettable.
BARBARA JANE MACKIE-donna Jones writes from the heart with gut wrenching honesty and bravery that seizes you by the throat and doesn't let you go. There is no let up in what donna makes you face. Her poems are raw, visceral, profound, condensing the tragi-comedy of her life and all our lives into a deeply moving shared experience. A Poet Laureate in the making.
ROWAN BLAIR COLVER-Donna Jones creates splendid emotive lines of dark sensations and flickering images of hope. A brave writer who plunges ever deeper into the dimensions of the lesser spoken side of humanity, always providing a haunting journey into another's story.
JOAN ELLIS-Donna Jones is a powerhouse of talent. Her work is at once funny, yet poignant, reaching deep inside hearts and minds. Each word is chosen with pinpoint accuracy to convey its razor sharp meaning. Unforgettable.
BARBARA JANE MACKIE-donna Jones writes from the heart with gut wrenching honesty and bravery that seizes you by the throat and doesn't let you go. There is no let up in what donna makes you face. Her poems are raw, visceral, profound, condensing the tragi-comedy of her life and all our lives into a deeply moving shared experience. A Poet Laureate in the making.