Tuesday 18 November 2008

Kaleidoscope Magazine

A review of The Fast Heat of Beauty will appear in the first issue of a new magazine for the arts, Kaleidoscope, published by students at Royal Holloway, University of London. There is a Facebook group for those who would like to follow the progress of the magazine.

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Updates

Here's a nice well done from Carole Baldock at Orbis Poetry Quarterly, congratulating me for my entry in the Forward Prize Anthology 2009: http://kudoswriting.wordpress.com/

My reading at the Durham Book Festival seemed to go well, and I had the pleasure of reading with Peter Bennet, whose book The Glass Swarm I would highly recommend. I'm not sure what the Durham crowd made of The Fast Heat of Beauty's blatant sex themes, it may have been a bit racy for them, but never mind.....

Deciding what to read at the Small Press Book Fair this weekend and I think it will be a combination of my treatment of Sacheverell Sitwell's Lily Poems - Polly Sime, as I have been looking at book arts today in the creative writing class I teach in Guildford, and a reading from my final MA project. That should do it.

Friday 26 September 2008

Small Press Book Fair 25th October 2008

I will also be reading from some of my MA work at the excellent Small Press Book Fair at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL on the 25th October at 1.30pm with one of my incredibly talented poetic colleagues, Becky Cremin. The fair itself is on both days and is well worth a visit, lots of artist's books, graphic novels, cool concrete poetry etc.

Details:

“The book as art form….”
the international event in London celebrating books by contemporary artists, poets, writers, composers, book designers, and their publishers

This year the Fair will be featuring more publishers than ever before –over fifty - with a truly international field -, two publishers from New York – Cuneiform Press and Vanitas and Libellum books; Chax press from Tucson, Arizona; Perro Verlag from Vancouver; Antic-Ham of Korea; and with publishers and presses from France, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Belgium, and throughout the UK.

The Small Publishers Fair has announced this year's readings and events programme which takes place alongside the Fair. In a varied schedule, highlights include readings from Vincent Katz and Kyle Schlesinger, both poets, editors and publishers from New York, and the launch of the much acclaimed Reality Street Editions’ Book of Sonnets, to be introduced by its editor Jeff Hilson. Bill Griffiths’ The Lion Man and Others will be launched by readers from Veer Books, and for West House books, David Annwn will launch his largest collection to date, Bela Fawr's Cabaret.

The Fair brings together international artists, poets, writers, composers , book designers and publishers to celebrate contemporary artist publishing. Now in its 7th year, the Fair has attracted widespread interest, and praise for the quality of the events, and the immense variety of work on display.


More than 50 publishers are showing work , and all the books and editions are for sale, - an opportunity to buy work at an affordable price. With free admission, there's something for everyone – from top class writing, beautifully printed artists’ editions, multiples, and zines, to inexpensive pamphlets and artists cards. Several young artists’ collectives will be showing their work for the first time.


Organiser Martin Rogers of RGAP said
'The Fair has established itself as the national forum for the many small presses and
independent publishers actively promoting contemporary work. A number of the books and editions on display are special; and may not find their way into conventional bookshops, or sit on regular bookshelves.'

Tuesday 9 September 2008

Forward Prize Anthology 2008 and more...

As a numerological 8 person, 2008 has been very fortunate for me so far. I am happy to say that this continues with the news that my poem Occasional Lover will be included in the Forward Book of Poetry 2008.

Also, the poem R E D E S I G N E D: A Lexical Love Triangle, written especially for Re:think, a creative project by Wardour Publishing & Design as part of the London Design Festival 2008, is due to be produced as part of a limited edition book. I'm really excited to see how it turns out!

And with very, very late notice, I will be reading at Agnes Meadows' Loose Muse at the Poetry Cafe tomorrow night, Wednesday 10th September. Tomorrow will only be as part of readings from the floor, and it will hopefully be followed by a featured slot in the early new year.

Monday 1 September 2008

Reading at Durham Book Festival

The fringe programme has now been published for the Durham Book Festival, and I will be reading and doing a Q&A on Monday 20 October 2008, more details here

Monday 14 July 2008

Review in The London Magazine







Here it is - a very nice review by Agnes Meadows, if slightly over-focused on the emotional relationship pieces in the book. However, I guess they are what might stand out more than the rest - although, because I am so familiar with it, I feel like the other poems are just as relevant. But great, great review - "razor sharp", "chutzpah" and "McKerrow's clear ability to write with extraordinary perception about all elements of the emotional spectrum".






Saturday 14 June 2008

The Reading Agency

Apparently I am going to be doing a project with Croydon libraries as part of the Reading Agency's campaign this year to link readers and writers. I am not sure of the details yet but will keep you posted...

http://www.readingagency.org.uk/adults/reading-partners/

Friday 6 June 2008

Updates

Just a few updates and things to look out for. I believe that reviews of the book are upcoming in The London Magazine and Spirit and Destiny, as well as Kaleidoscope, a new magazine for student writing at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Wednesday 7 May 2008

Reading at Witchfest UK

A late notice announcement, but I will be reading from The Fast Heat of Beauty at Witchfest UK this Saturday 10th May at 1.45pm at Fairfield Halls in Croydon. Witchfest is the world's largest pagan-oriented event and features two days of seminars, workshops, music, food and shopping for all things mystical!

I am excited to be doing a reading, especially as I consider myself pagan, and also as the book has a strong spiritual emphasis that I hope would feel relevant to Witchfest attendees......

Launch photos











The Fast Heat of Beauty was officially launched at Central School of Speech and Drama on Thursday 10th April 2008. It was a super evening and many books were signed, and much wine drunk!








Friday 4 April 2008

Wednesday 19 March 2008

Feedback about the book

I am very, very priveliged to have the following feedback from Andrew Motion recently about The Fast Heat of Beauty:

"They have the strange ability to create a kind of ring round experience, where we see you concentrating, delighting in what you're seeing and feeling and thinking, a part of your subject but separate and discerning. It's very appealing, mainly because it creates a mood of urgency which guarantees that you hold our attention."

Tuesday 18 March 2008

Book Launch

The official launch for The Fast Heat of Beauty has now been decided and will be at Central School of Speech and Drama on Thursday 10th April, 6.30 to 8.30pm.

Monday 3 March 2008

Sea Mysteries

http://community.livejournal.com/goddess_art

A poem from the book that was published a few months ago on an online Goddess hournal seems to be proving popular, and has the great honour to share a website on this link with a wealth of wonderful artwork.

Now available on Zavvi

Just another update... I have now found the book available for sale on www.zavvi.co.uk should you want to purchase it there:

http://www.zavvi.co.uk/books-5+to+9.99-Fiction-General-Authors,+M-Fast-Heat-of-Beauty-Anna-McKerrow/9781873226964/cr33ccc.r10.1/p.jsf

Wednesday 27 February 2008

Johanna Ward


Johanna Ward is the very gifted photographer that took the cover photo for the book and my headshot. Here's a little plug for the book and her photography skills in "quickie", Wardour Publishing's design newsletter.


Tuesday 26 February 2008

Amazon delivers!

Hello! I have been reliably informed that Amazon is despatching my book to those who have pre-ordered today, so if you have ordered through them you should be receiving it soon! Go Amazon! Although - for the sake of parity and to support small presses, please do also look at the book on http://www.inpressbooks.co.uk/i019510.aspx.

Saturday 16 February 2008

Angela Carter; a true inspiration


Angela Carter is one of my favourite writers - outstandingly creative, a powerful writer and completely unafraid of subversion. I have always been interested in her work with mythic themes and the way she reappropriated them with a feminist slant. The world is the poorer for having lost her, already 16 years ago. I wonder what she would have made of the state of things now.
My favourite Carter novel is The Passion of New Eve, a blistering journey into the construction of gender and sexuality. In terms of body modification it also makes me think in some way of the work of "Carnal Artist" Orlan (www.orlan.net) , who I recently heard giving a talk at Central School of Speech and Drama. I've also been reading about Marina Abramovic who I find fascinating... more on her another time.

Saturday 9 February 2008

First contact

I got my first sight of the book yesterday in all its glory as my review copies arrived in the post. I kind of wanted to involve the postman in the exciting moment of opening the box and jumping up and down shouting "it's here! it's here!" but he probably has enough trauma in his life without sudden shocks from overexcited poets.

The book looks amazing. The cover photo that covers back and front, taken by my very good friend and excellent photographer Johanna Ward, has come out beautifully. It's strange and wonderful to see your work as an entity of its own, in a cover of its own and with a price and ISBN of its own too.

I celebrated with champagne and loved ones.

Wednesday 6 February 2008

First publicity for the book


Hello and welcome to The Fast Heat of Beauty blog! Very happy to see you. I thought I'd start off proceedings with a very nice interview and photo of me in The Croydon Advertiser last week, though I do have to stress that the babies are absolutely nothing to do with me. Because someone did ask.