A Pease Myers Pastoral is Published
A Pease Myers Pastoral is a collection of poems about a farm in the North Pennines. Published by The Caldew Press, A Pease Myers Pastoral offers an honest look at life on this hill farm combined with beautiful photographs and an insight into the uncanny goings on in this unique part of County Durham.
I began writing poetry when I was at Newcastle University doing a MA in Creative Writing. Initially I thought I would write children’s fiction (I had been a primary school teacher for many years) but when I came across a module called Finding Places I decided to take the plunge and begin to write poetry.
So now I can add poet to my list of job titles which includes farmer, landlord, holiday home host, laundry operative and cleaner (when my professional cleaners can’t make it!)
I have been on quite a rollercoaster ride marketing my first venture into the publishing world. The Weardale Wordfest is a wonderful annual book festival held in Stanhope (just over the fell from Hepple Hill). It was the perfect venue to launch my book and I was delighted to have been invited to take part. It usually takes place in October and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to any bookworms coming to the cottage next autumn. There is a wide variety of people talking about their books, workshops and a cafe with homemade refreshments. Relaxed after my presentation, I enjoyed a lovely bowl of soup!
In November, I pushed the boat out and held a launch party at The Pele Tower in Corbridge.
Liz at her book launch at the Pele Tower
The Pele Tower in Corbridge is an ancient monument but also a really cool ‘pub’. It is open to the public from Thursday to Sunday and available for private hire at other times. I hosted my launch party on a particularly grim Monday night in November and was delighted that around 40 people turned out to support me. The fire on the first floor of the tower was blazing and everyone was impressed my the venue and hopefully my book!
Since my launch I have been trying to get my book ‘out there’ – quite a challenge but I have had a few successes. The wonderful Anna Foster interviewed me on Radio Newcastle. When you are at the cottage you can listen on the Amazon Echo Show. Her show starts at 10am and is always worth a listen to get a flavour of the North East.
Press coverage of A Pease Myers Pastoral
Hexham is about 20-25 minutes away from Hepple Hill and is a great town to visit during your stay. It has everything: abbey, ancient gaol, lots of independent shops, a park, cinema, leisure centre and good restaurants and cafes. I particularly like The Beaumont Hotel, Bouchon and The Small World Cafe. I managed to get a mention for A Pease Myers Pastoral in the town’s local newspaper The Hexham Courant but my biggest success so far has been attracting the attention of the Daily Express. When the environment editor Steph Spyro interviewed me she asked if I had written a poem about the budget – um…no….but I certainly could! So I was thrilled to see my poem displayed so prominently at the front of the paper – slightly shocked to see my face so large – but glad to see one of my dogs Isaac was featured.
I shall put a copy of A Pease Myers Pastoral with the maps and books we leave for guests. I hope you enjoy it and it gives you an insight to our world. As I said, it is an honest look at farming on a hill farm and you might find the odd word or theme that is not suitable for young eyes!
If you wish to buy a copy – it really is a beautiful little book – just send me a message via the website, my mobile (you will have the number if you are a guest) or via my instagram @pease_myers_farm
