We are delighted to announce the launch of CREATING STANLEY by poet/novelist, J.J.R. Lay. Hosted by Black Eyes Publishing UK, we will be joined by poet/novelist, Claire Dyer, novelist, Debbie Young & poet/novelist, Emma Purshouse. So, look forward to some poetry & extracts from novels. Tuesday 21st June 2022, from 7.00pm until 8.30pm, via Zoom (Technical stuff by Jason Conway).

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CREATING STANLEY is available to pre-order from the Black Eyes Shop, https://www.blackeyespublishinguk.co.uk/shop

and from all Amazon sites or your usual bookseller.

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To enter the event, just scan the event link, on your ticket, into your browser...

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When a fat man appears unexpectedly in her bathroom, the un-named writer feels compelled to create his story. Trapped in an unhappy relationship, she invents Stanley and falls in love with him.

     When Stanley loses his job, he has to dig deep to find his talents. Two women friends suggest an unlikely business.

     This contemporary novel uses elements of magical realism to create an unusual and poignant story which touches on challenging issues (mental health, emotional abuse, social inequality and even male prostitution) but these elements in the story are spread seamlessly, and with some humour, through this warm and sensitive portrayal of life, love and sensual experience.

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J.J.R. Lay is a writer and poet living on the edge of the City of Gloucester.

     She has a BA (hons) in Creative Studies in English & English Literature & an MA in Creative Writing for Young People (both from Bath Spa University).

     In 2015, she wrote her first adult novel. That novel has been adapted, re-written, and is now entitled, Creating Stanley (2022).

     She has also published a volume of short stories, entitled Saffron Tones (2017) and three collections of poetry:  Inside Reality (2018), Unravelling (2019) and A Quietus (2021) all written under the name of Josephine Lay.

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Claire Dyer’s poetry collections are published by Two Rivers Press, her novels by Quercus and The Dome Press. Her novel, 'The Significant Others of Odie May' was published by Matador in 2021, and she has a further poetry collection with Two Rivers Press forthcoming in 2024. She curated Reading's Poets’ Café from 2016 to 2021, teaches creative writing and runs Fresh Eyes, an editorial and critiquing service.
     She is represented by Broo Doherty at DHH Literary Agency, has an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, University of London and is a regular contributor on BBC Radio Berkshire.
Her website is: www.clairedyer.com
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Debbie Young is the author of nine village mystery novels and a romantic comedy novella, all set in the Cotswolds, where she lives and writes. She has just signed a 13-book contract with Boldwood Books, and is also self-published.
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Emma Purshouse, former Poet Laureate for the City of Wolverhampton.
     She is a poetry slam champion and has performed at spoken word nights and festivals across the UK, often using her native Black Country dialect in her work. Appearances include, The Cheltenham Literature Festival, Ledbury Poetry Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, Solfest, Latitude, Shambala and WOMAD.
     In 2017 Emma won the ‘Making Waves’ international spoken word competition which was judged by Luke Wright.
     Her most recent poetry publication is ‘Close’ (Offa’s Press, 2018). This was shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award in 2019. Her children’s poetry collection ‘I Once Knew a Poem Who Wore a Hat’ won the poetry section of the same award in 2016.  Emma’s debut novel ‘Dogged’ (Ignite Books) was published in 2021.