New books are out!
Come to the first public launch!
Welcome to the first Flying Islands’ newsletter, hopefully the beginning of interesting, up-to-date news for, and from, the Flying Islands’ community.
Tuesday 20th January at 7:30 pm
32 Church St, Newcastle NSW
Join us for the first launch of our new books! The Grand Hotel is at 32 Church St, Newcastle NSW. This will be the first Poetry at the Pub event for 2026.
This evening will feature the launch of three recent Flying Islands Poetry books. New Ordinance for the Dead by Ron Atilano; Blimmin’ Wimmin by Dael Allison; and Food of Love – Concert Pieces by Kit Kelen.
See you at The Grand Hotel at 7:30pm!
New books are out!
100 Poets is the perfect gift!
Please consider purchasing this great book as a gift for your friends!
100 Poets – Flying Islands Pocket Poets
100 Poets celebrates more than one hundred books in the Pocket Poets’ series! It features one poem each from poets both obscure and well-known – established and up-and-coming – Australian and international – all of whom are part of the Flying Islands’ community. Each poet has been given one pocket-page to contribute work – and that makes for a brilliant, surprising, illuminating read! Get it for someone you love – or for yourself. Featuring a richly evocative cover by contributing poet Anna Couani, this is a book to treasure.
Some of Flying Islands’ Other Activities this year
A YEAR OF NON-STOP POETRY MAKING (2026 is now full – but think of it for 2027!)
The Flying Islands Yearlong Poetry Manuscript Workshop (led by Kit Kelen)
- running from January to December 2026
- minimum of six participants
- maximum of twelve participants
- $500 flat fee (GST free)
- certificate on successful completion and transcript available
The workshop is to be conducted:
- online group and individual communication (e-mail, ZOOM)
- on the phone
- with the possibility of a residential aspect (depending on the location of participants
This is a practical workshop that will include:
- regular writing stimuli/readings/exercises
- engagement with a range of forms and styles of poetry from a variety of periods and cultures
- feedback and other forms of response
- individual as well as group discussion
- regular guest poet sessions by ZOOM included throughout the year
- an invitation to daily practice, specifically to write poetry, in conversation with Kit, potentially every day throughout the workshop.
The focus of the workshop will be on the production of book-length collections of poetry by participants. The theme ‘A YEAR OF NON-STOP POETRY MAKING’ is not intended as in any way prescriptive or restrictive but rather as a means of suggesting a range of possible engagements with poetry.
For more information see – A YEAR OF NON-STOP POETRY MAKING – Flying Islands Pocket Poets
The Flying Islands 2026 Manuscript Poetry Competition
There are plans afoot to reprise this biannual competition after the first two successfully unearthed great new books in 2022 and 2024. Watch this space and social media for more details as they come to hand. And to review the earlier competition, see below:
2024 Poetry Manuscript Competition – Flying Islands Pocket Poets
