Marsden Write Out Loud regular Alan Prout has gone from open-micer to published poet in under two years, winning Half Moon Books’ anthology competition along the way. And on Saturday 8 June Half Moon Books will be launching his pamphlet Then Become alongside fellow competition winners Zoe Sîobhan Howarth-Lowe and Linda Goulden in Leeds. 

Alan retired as a Leeds University professor around 24 months ago and then became (see what Alan did there?) a poet. Since retiring he has focused on his writing, drawing inspiration both from his native Pennines and Spain’s Alpujarras mountains where he regularly spends time developing his craft.

He is also a mainstay of the Marsden the Poetry Village group that engages local people and visitors in the village’s poetry heritage and activities, his academic specialism of Childhood Studies contributing to the volunteer group’s work inspiring local schoolchildren to read and perform their own poetry.

They are joined by special guest Boldini, another of Half Moon’s stable of writers, and perhaps you too, as there are slots available in the open-mic section of the session, which takes place at the Victoria Hotel, 28 Great George St, Leeds LS1 3DL, from 14.00 – 17.00.

And it’s all free of charge, except you pay for your own drinks. Well, it is Yorkshire.

More details and how to find it, here.