Recognition for Plymouth poet of longstanding

FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENT, LOSS AND RECOVERY

PLYMOUTH poet Lesley Curwen has two books out after winning competitions to find new talent.

Lesley triumphed in contests held by Hedgehog Poetry Press and publishers Dreich Poetry Press.

She said: "I've been writing poetry for many years but only started submitting it in the last two years. I'm thrilled to bits and feel very lucky."

Lesley also won the Molecules Unlimited Poetry Prize, and was a finalist in the Wales Poetry Award.

She has been nominated for the prestigious US Pushcart Prize and for a Best of the Net award, and is widely published in anthologies and magazines.

In her collection Sticky with Miles, from Scottish publisher Dreich, Lesley draws on former experience as a BBC business reporter to look at the damage that globalised trade does to the environment.