Stroud's DIY Book Fair

Helena went to try to sell two of her collections of poetry, Writer by night and Not blessing, but pissing - the piddling postman papers, at the Stroud DIY Book Fair.

Our friend Jeff Cloves, one of the Riff-Raff poets, had organised a venue at the Star Anise cafe, where about 25 local poets and writers could present and sell their personally made and published work.

I joined her at lunchtime and was pleased to meet up with old friends and some new ones. I am not a writer, but was very impressed with the variety, range and imaginations displayed here in this small community. Posters, pamphlets, hard-back books, hand-sewn and bound booklets. Pensioners, students, mums and sons. Photographers, artists, teachers all united in their love of self-publishing. No-one expected to make money, but all were pleased to be meeting their readers. Many of them appear regularly at poetry readings here.

Philip Rush introduced himself to me. He had heard of CleanSteve via Helena's online presence and apparently enjoys an occasional visit here. In fact, I believe he may be joining us, which we all should look forward to. Sooner, not later, please, Philip!

I also met Hannah Davis and bought her Tears and sprout peelings, a collection of her poems, photos and illustrations. I was immediately impressed with her cover illustration and she let me choose the colour (blue-ish) of the thread which binds the 32-page booklet. She is working now in Stroud for a local publisher, before heading back to South America where the inspiration for this book came.

My picture is of an unknown man's tiny hand-made, in every way, book of poems. Helena showed them to me. (There is a picture of him, a bearded man with glasses, wearing an Insect badge, in the link below). I know that she would love to make similar gems, and she is slowly learning techniques to help her get there. Keep going, Helena!

In fact, she mentioned her Pissing Postman on her Facebook page and she has sold five copies in the last twenty-four hours (proceeds to charity).

We are so lucky to have this wealth of talent, minds and company here. On our way home we went to the Prince Albert on Rodborough Hill, where each Sunday lunchtime they are singing traditional English Christmas carols in the bar. We walked in and it felt like being in a pub in Hardy country and his times, as Helena described it.

I have put a range of todays pictures HERE if you are at ail interested, as there was so much to see.