Nia Broomhall readings
'Nia Broomhall’s poems have a distinctive musicality.' – Imtiaz Dharker, Judge for the 2023 Mslexia Women's Poetry Pamphlet Competition
Nia Broomhall's debut pamphlet Backalong was co-published by Bloodaxe Books and Mslexia on 19 September 2024 as the winner of the Mslexia Women's Poetry Pamphlet Competition 2023, which was judged by Imtiaz Dharker. The winner was revealed by Mslexia in their Summer 2024 issue.
Backalong, a dialect word from Nia Broomhall’s native Somerset, describes any point in the past – it could be this March, last March, or 1979. True to its title, her impressive debut pamphlet observes the distant past and recent past with the same eyes: the distant past through poems of place and origin; the recent through poems that track the process of grieving for someone who was right there, not so long ago. Through its musicality of language, Backalong searches for joy, finding what persists – and finding the words to pick out what shines, despite everything.
'The collection ranges from beautifully restrained grief poems to musically rich sonnets. With a number of her poems, I found I wanted to read aloud to feel the full effect. Always a good sign, I think.' – Imtiaz Dharker, Judge of the Mslexia Women's Poetry Pamphlet Competition, writing in Mslexia
An interview with Nia Broomhall and a poem from Backalong are featured on the Mslexia website here.
A longer interview with Nia Broomhall went online in The Publishing Post on 29 October 2024. Read here.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Friday 10 January 2025, 8pm
Reading Poets' Cafe
1 South Street, Reading, RG1 4QU
Nia will be reading from Backalong at this monthly poetry event in Reading, which also features an open mic.
Tickets: £5 or £4 for concessions / open mic readers. More details coming soon here.
PAST EVENTS
Tuesday 24 September 2024, 7pm
Online launch reading by Nia Broomhall, Niall Campbell, Sarah Holland-Batt and Laura Wittner, with translator Juana Adcock
Nia joined the authors of our other September titles to celebrate the publication of their books with readings and discussion. This free Bloodaxe launch event was streamed on YouTube Live, and is now available on this YouTube page: https://youtube.com/live/GIeiEhAvavQ
Nia read first in each set.
[26 November 2024]
