wildfire words presents free international Zoom events to launch new books, celebrate our competition winners, and record audio for online anthologies we publish. Places can be booked in advance, and the link to each event will be emailed as soon as a ticket is ordered.
Next events
Saturday 4 May 2024
11 am, or 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Audio recording Open Mic for poets in Wildfire Words
especially Ukraine 1 & 2
You are invited to join other writers published in WW and read from your published text, which will be shown on screen. The resulting audios will be published in the week after being recorded.
The readings are opportunities for poets to share their work with people from other parts of the world. Audience tickets are also available.
Places are free of charge, though readers or audience may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 11 May 2024 7 pm
Alice Brooker launches her award-winning first collection, Men Made from Candles
Alice first poetry book, Men Made from Candles, won her the New Voices First Pamphlet Award in 2023
Audio recording Open Mic for poets in Wildfire Words
“Alice Brooker is a poet of great imagination, and immense talent. Here, in these exquisite poems, Brooker demonstrates that rare thing, a poet who understands the music of poetry in both love and grief.
Aaron Kent
‘A collection of spare and searing lyrics that entice with their imagery, playfulness and emotional intensity.’
Malachi McIntosh
More on Men Made from Candles | Buying a copy | Event tickets
Past Events
Saturday 27 April 2024
11 am, or 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Audio recording Open Mic for poets in Wildfire Words
especially Ukraine 1 & 2
You are invited to join other writers published in WW and read from your published text, which will be shown on screen. The resulting audios will be published in the week after being recorded.
The readings are opportunities for poets to share their work with people from other parts of the world. Audience tickets are also available.
Places are free of charge, though readers or audience may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 6 April 2024
11 am, or 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Audio recording Open Mic for poets in Wildfire Words
especially Open Submissions 5, Ukraine 1 & 2
You are invited to join other writers published in WW and read from your published text, which will be shown on screen. The resulting audios will be published in the week after being recorded.
The readings are opportunities for poets to share their work with people from other parts of the world. Audience tickets are also available.
Places are free of charge, though readers or audience may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 30 March 2024
11 am, or 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Audio recording Open Mic for poets in Wildfire Words
especially Crack a Joke, Open Submissions 5, Ukraine 1 & 2
You are invited to join other writers published in WW and read from your published text, which will be shown on screen. The resulting audios will be published in the week after being recorded.
The readings are opportunities for poets to share their work with people from other parts of the world. Audience tickets are also available.
Places are free of charge, though readers or audience may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 16 March 2024
11 am, or 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Audio recording Open Mic for poets in Wildfire Words
especially Crack a Joke and Open Submissions 5
You are invited to join other writers published in WW and read from your published text, which will be shown on screen. The resulting audios will be published in the week after being recorded.
The readings are opportunities for poets to share their work with people from other parts of the world. Audience tickets are also available.
Places are free of charge, though readers or audience may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 9 December 2023
11 am, or 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Audio recording Zoom for published poets especially Ticking Clock Anthology
All writers listed for publication, or already published, will be able to read from their published text, which will be shown on screen. The resulting audios will be published in the week after being recorded.
The readings are opportunities for poets to share their work with people from other parts of the world. Audience tickets are also available.
Places are free of charge, though readers or audience may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 2 December 2023
#7 pm London Time (GMT)
Heather Cook launches her award-winning first collection, Out of the Ordinary
Heather won the Frosted Fire First Pamphlet Award in 2023 will be reading from fascinating and moving book . Poets supporting her will be her fellow award winner Clare Starling and an open mic of Wildfire Words poets.
“The title ‘Out of the Ordinary’ perfectly encapsulates both the apparently ordinary themes and the extraordinary quality of the writing. Heather’s warm wit bathes the mundane in a dashing cloak of quirkiness.“
Sharron Green
Saturday 25 November 2023
#7 pm London Time (GMT)
Clare Starling launches her award-winning first collection, Magpie’s Nest
Clare won the Frosted Fire First Pamphlet Award in 2023 will be reading from fascinating and moving book . Poets supporting her will be her fellow award winner Heather Cook and an open mic of Wildfire Words poets.
“A profoundly beautiful collection – original, full of love, warmth, wisdom and understanding of difference.”
Chrys Salt
More on Magpie’s Nest | Buying a copy | Reserve event tickets
Saturday 18 November 2023, 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Showcase event for Ticking Clock competition
This event showcases and records all the outstanding poets in the competition who will have work published in the online Ticking Clock Anthology. Each poet will read sample poems from their entry, and audio of their reading will appear alongside their poems in the anthology.
Friends and family of the readers are welcome to book a free audience place. We aim to publish the online anthology of these poets’ work by the middle of October.
Saturday 11 November 2023
11 am, or 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Audio recording events on Zoom for Ticking Clock Anthology poets
All writers listed for publication, or already published, will be able to read from their published text, which will be shown on screen. The resulting audios will be published in the week after being recorded.
The readings are opportunities for poets to share their work with people from other parts of the world. Audience tickets are also available.
Places to read are free of charge, though readers or audience may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 28 October 2023
11 am, 6 pm or 7 pm London Time (BST)
Audio recording events on Zoom for Wildfire Words published poets
These recording events are for the writer of any text already published on Wildfire Words without audio of the words. Each writer will be able to read from their published text, which will be shown on screen.
These readings are social events in which writers have a chance to share their work with people from other parts of the world. Audience tickets also available.
Places to read are free of charge, though readers or audience may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 21 October 2023
7 pm London Time (BST)
Audio recording event on Zoom for Wildfire Words published poets
These recording events are for the writer of any text already published on Wildfire Words without audio of the words. You will be able to read from your published text, which will be shown on screen.
These readings are social events in which writers have a chance to share their work with people from other parts of the world.
Places to read are free of charge, though readers or audience may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 7 October 2023
7 pm London Time (BST)
Audio recording events on Zoom for poets published in Wildfire Words
These recording events are provided mainly for poets who submitted successfully, and are published, in Wildfire Words current submission window or Anthology. However, any poet who has a poem already published on Wildfire Words may record its audio by booking a place.
Choosing one of these events gives a poet in almost any time zone a convenient way of recording their work and hearing other poets in the global Wildfire Words community share their poetry. Places to read are free of charge, though poets may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 30 September 2023, 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Showcase event for New Voices 2023 competition
This event showcases and records all the outstanding poets in the competition who will have work published in the New Voices 2023 Anthology. Each poet will read sample poems from their entry, and audio of their reading will appear alongside their poems in the anthology.
Friends and family of the readers are welcome to book a free audience place. We aim to publish the text and audio for these poets’ work by the middle of October.
Saturday 26 August 2023, 7 pm London Time (BST)
Limericks recording session for Katrina Ellis Prize Competition
This event is for poems commended or awarded prizes by the judges and published in the online Limericks Anthology. Our apologies to all concerned that health issues at Wildfire Words forced the postponement of this event until 26 August.
Saturday 19 August 2023, 11 am or
7 pm London Time (BST)
Two audio recording events on Zoom for poets published in Wildfire Words
These recording events are provided mainly for poets who submitted successfully, and are published, in Wildfire Words current submission window or Anthology. However, any poet who has a poem already published on Wildfire Words may record its audio by booking a place.
Choosing one of these events gives a poet in almost any time zone a convenient way of recording their work and hearing other poets in the global Wildfire Words community share their poetry. Places to read are free of charge, though poets may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 24 June 2023, 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Showcase event for outstanding writers in Flash Fiction 150 competition
This event showcases and records all 20 longlisted writers reading from their successful entries in the flash fiction competition held during April and May. Each entry will appear in the forthcoming anthology of successful competition entrants.
Friends and family of the readers are welcome to book a free audience place. We aim to publish the text and audio for these poets’ work online by the end of June.
Saturday 3 June 2023, 11 am or 7 pm London Time (BST)
Two audio recording events on Zoom for poets published in Wildfire Words
These recording events are provided mainly for poets who submitted successfully, and are published, in Wildfire Words current submission window or Anthology. However, any poet who has a poem already published on Wildfire Words may record its audio by booking a place.
Choosing one of these events gives a poet in almost any time zone a convenient way of recording their work and hearing other poets in the global Wildfire Words community share their work. Places to read are free of charge, though poets may choose to donate to the sustainability of the Wildfire Words community if they wish.
Saturday 20 May 2023, 11 am or
7 pm London Time (BST)
Two audio recording events on Zoom for poets published in Wildfire Words
These recording events are provided mainly for poets who submitted successfully, and are published, in wildfire words current submission window or Anthology. However, any poet who has a poem already published on wildfire words may record its audio by booking a place.
Choosing one of these events gives a poet in any time zone a reasonable chance of conveniently recording their work and hearing other poets in the global wildfire words community share their work. Places to read are free of charge, though poets may choose to donate to the sustainability of the wildfire words community if they wish.
Saturday 13 May 2023,
7 pm London Time (GMT)
Showcase event for shortlisted poets in Frosted Fire First 2023
This event showcases and records shortlisted poets reading from their entries in the 5th Frosted Fire First Pamphlet Award competition. Each will read from the forthcoming anthology of successful competition entrants.
Friends and family of the readers are welcome to book a free audience place. The text and audio for these poets’ work will be published online by the end of May. Click to reserve a place at this event
Tuesday 28 March 2023,
7 pm London Time (GMT)
Cheltenham Poetry Festival online event
Saili Katebe, Sarah Mnatzaganian and open mic
The Festival is delighted to welcome two hugely talented poets to its poetry lounge. Saile Katebe makes a welcome return to the Festival and award-winning Sarah Mnatzaganian makes her debut.
Saili Katebe is a Zambian-born writer and performer based in South West England. He often writes under the pen name The Blissful Nomad. Saili’s debut book Katabasis was published by Frosted Fire in 2022. Read more on Saili Katebe and his book.
Sarah Mnatzaganian is an Anglo Armenian poet based in Ely. Her debut book, Lemonade in the Armenian Quarter (Against the Grain Poetry Press) won the Saboteur Best Poetry Pamphlet Award 2022.
Two audio recording events for published poets on Zoom
These recording events are provided mainly for poets who submitted successfully, and are published, in our current submission window or the one before it. However, any poet who has a poem published on wildfire words, but without audio, may also book a place.
Choosing one of these events gives a poet in any time zone a reasonable chance of conveniently recording their work and hearing other poets in the global wildfire words community share their work. Places to read are free of charge, though poets may choose to donate to the sustainability of the wildfire words community if they wish.
Saturday 11 February, 11 am or 7 pm London Time (GMT)
Two audio recording events for published poets on Zoom
These recording events are provided mainly for poets who submitted successfully, and are published, in our current submission window or the one before it. However, any poet who has a poem published on wildfire words, but without audio, may also book a place.
Choosing one of these events gives a poet in any time zone a reasonable chance of conveniently recording their work and hearing other poets in the global wildfire words community share their work. Places to read are free of charge, though poets may choose to donate to the sustainability of the wildfire words community if they wish.
Saturday 28 January 2023, 7 pm London Time (GMT)
C.I. Marshall launches The Locksmith Journeys Into The Afterlife free on Zoom
“By turns invitingly conversational and transportingly inventive, C. I. Marshall has the keenest powers of inner and outer observation . . . The beloved dead speak, a dog tells of its genealogy, a busker transports us to another continent or metaphysical realm; incandescently imaginative. . . An intensely musical, narrative joy from poem to poem.” Luke Kennard
Samples of C.I.’s poetry
wildfire-words.com 