Wildfire Words is the public face of Frosted Fire an independent online and print publisher run by Marilyn & Howard Timms, who have a combined total of 60 years of editorial and design experience in print and multi-media publishing. Through online publishing with Wildfire Words and printed books, Frosted Fire shares new poetry from many parts of the world. The writers we publish range from fresh poetic voices to established poets and teachers of creative writing.
We aim to further the sharing of poetry throughout the world in writing, reading, listening.
Online, in Wildfire Words, we give hundreds of poets each year an opportunity to share some of their best poems with the world. Wildfire Words selects poetry for publication through competitions, submission windows, and features. To date, we have published poets from more than 30 different countries.
In book publishing, we specialize in publishing the first collection in print of up-and-coming poets, selecting authors particularly from competition winners but also from individuals invited to submit books for our consideration.
Submissions welcome. We aim to be inclusive of poets worldwide. We respect all other people and their well-being, beliefs, individuality, and free speech, and expect the same from all poets who submit. We’ll publish any poem that adds fresh creative spice to the poetry in Wildfire Words. We’ll evaluate your poetic jewel, whether it’s a cut and polished dazzler or a rough stone with some interesting lustre. So please don’t hesitate to submit. And we’d love to hear your gem, too, if you choose to send a recording. More.
Development. From 2018 to 2021, Frosted Fire was one of the largest financial supporters for Cheltenham Poetry Festival in difficult times for the arts. After contracting Covid-19 in 2020, we reduced our voluntary roles in the organization of Cheltenham Poetry Festival events to focus on Wildfire Words and Frosted Fire. The Festival team agreed in February 2022 that we should now focus our efforts and resources on our burgeoning publishing programme.
We have three annual competitions running in support of Wildfire Words and Frosted Fire, and rely on them and donations to cover the expenses of running a voluntary global poetry-sharing community.
Please click here if you wish to donate in support of our service.
Anna Saunders, CEO of the Festival, wrote: “We are more than grateful for your generosity. Your work and financial gifts to the Festival have been immensely appreciated and now we honour you as Life Patrons.”
Editorial team
Howard Timms is publisher and editor of Wildfire Words and Frosted Fire. A playwright and actor with production credits in the U.S. and Britain, on retirement he followed his wife, Marilyn, into writing poetry. After gaining an MA with merit in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, Howard focussed mainly on poetry. He has had many poems published in journals and anthologies.
Howard’s first book of poetry, Deciphering the Maze (Indigo Dreams, 2020) is a collaboration with Marilyn.
Howard was part of the Cheltenham Poetry Festival management team from 2014 to 2020 until cancer treatment and Covid led to his gradual withdrawal. Since then, he has focused on Frosted Fire and Wildfire Words, continuing as a financial supporter of the Festival. In recognition of that, the Festival made him a Life Patron in 2022, and encouraged him to develop Frosted Fire as an independent poetry publisher.
Marilyn Timms is co-publisher and co-editor, cover designer, and competitions judge for Wildfire Words and Frosted Fire. A much published author in journals, anthologies, and ezines, she has won many prizes, and appeared six times in the winners’ list of Gloucestershire Writers Network annual competition at the Cheltenham Literature Festival. Marilyn’s first published poetry collection was Poppy Juice (2018, Beechwood Press).
Marilyn’s second book, Deciphering the Maze (Indigo Dreams, 2020) was a collaboration with Howard. Two of her plays have reached the stage; the third lies mouldering alongside her novels.
Marilyn supported Howard in his Cheltenham Poetry Festival management roles, and became an equal partner in the development of Frosted Fire and Wildfire Words. In recognition of her support, the Festival made her a Life Patron in 2022.
Katherine Parsons is Associate Editor for wildfire words responsible for editing free submission windows and judging poetry and flash fiction competitions. A PhD candidate in contemporary literature, Katherine is also the founding editor of The Passionfruit Review. Her own poems have recently appeared (or are forthcoming) in Underwood Press, The Oakland Review, The High Window, Evocations Review, and wildfire words.
Katherine’s first poetry collection, Little Intimacy, was published as a pamphlet by Frosted Fire in September 2022. Details of Little Intimacy are here.
Annie Ellis is the Lead Sponsor of Wildfire Words and Frosted Fire, providing vital financial support for the basic running costs. She also sponsors two charity competitions each year for Wildfire Words, including an annual competition in memory of her daughter, Katrina, in aid of Cotswold Riding for the Disabled. As a volunteer, Annie judges the charity competitions, and acts as usability tester for Wildfire Words website and gatekeeper for online events. See also Crack a Joke competition.
Annie is also part of the team running Cheltenham Poetry Festival.
Annie started writing poetry seriously in January 2014. Her first book Nature at a Cost, was released in February 2021. She has had poems published in eight anthologies and in Dawntreader, Snakeskin, and Wildfire Words.
You can read all about Nature at a Cost here.
wildfire words judging teams
Ticking Clock, our 4th annual single-poem competition 2023
Angela France, the lead judge, has had poems published in many leading journals and a number of anthologies. Her publications include Occupation (Ragged Raven Press, 2009), and from Nine Arches Press: Lessons in Mallemaroking (2011), Hide (2013) and The Hill (2017) and Terminarchy (2021).
The Hill was developed into a live multi-media poetry show which Angela toured, funded by Arts Council England. Angela has an M.A. in creative and critical writing and a PhD from the University of Gloucestershire. Angela is senior lecturer in creative writing at the university and also teaches in various community settings.
‘Angela France’s language possesses and is possessed by a gloriously sheared weight and shared music.’ (David Morley) More at Angela’s Website.
Frosted Fire Firsts Judges 2023
C. I. Marshall won the 2022 Frosted Fire First Pamphlet Award, with her book The Locksmith Journeys to the Underworld. Full details of book and biography are here.
Helena Goddard won the 2022 Frosted Fire First Pamphlet Award, with her book How Bodies Are Changed. Full details of book and biography are here.
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