richard evans

Recently, I had the chance to meet up with writer and publisher, Ken Edwards, to talk about his writing and his press, Reality Street.

I became a fan of Reality Street after following some of the treacherous, dimly-lit poetic backroads suggested in Iain Sinclair's 'Conductors of Chaos'.

I was impressed to find that many of my favourite poets from that anthology, such as Douglas Oliver, Caroline Bergvall and Denise Riley, had all been published at one time or another, by this small, independent press.

But I had no idea that Ken Edwards had relocated, and was living in the same small coastal town as myself. When I found out, I took the rather terrifying step of popping round to his address, and giving a shy knock.

I'd just been writing a dissertation piece on Denise Riley, and was full of quotes and coffee jangling. He was gentle and humorous and quite happy to natter away about his work for a while. I left with a handful of books and my promises of future projects ringing in my ears.

Fortunately, I did have occasion to meet him again, this time to do an interview for Dr.Fulminare's 'Irregular Features'.

I am a poet and teacher, living in East Sussex. My first book, released when I was twenty one, by the ground-breaking publisher Egg Box, was highly commended by The Forward Prize Judges, and received praise from poets and journalists across the country.

It was described by one as, 'poetry as it should be, red in tooth and claw.' Martin Newell, George Szirtes and Roger Garfitt were among the poets calling attention to what they called the collection's 'imaginative zest and wry humour'.

I would say my second collection, 'Orbiting' lacks none of the bite of my first book. It begins with the body of a girl washed up on a beach, before descending into deeper waters. You can read poems from both, and a few unpublished pieceson this website.

I studied Literature at the University of East Anglia and took a Masters at Goldsmiths Colllege, London.

As a teacher of Creative Writing and poetry, I have received national recognition, especially for my part in innovative projects for The Excellence Cluster and Creative Partnerships.