This spring, US poet Tawnya Selene Renelle debuts her first collection of poetry on Calenture Press.
TAWNYA Renelle brings her new offering this exquisite corpse to Brighton on June 22, 2019.
She will be reading from her book and asking you to participate in an interactive second half of the evening with a writing and open mic component called “poetic sexploration.” Poems about sex, drugs, and swear words will abound, at an event for those interested in the racier side of poetry.
“’this exquisite corpse’ is a book-length collection of poems that are passionate, visceral, full-throated, fearless and sexy. Based in autobiography, the poems tell stories of a friend who dies of an overdose, a beloved grandmother, lovers (both female and male) who struggle for connection, women who live in their bodies, people who love fiercely.” – Rebecca Brown, Not Heaven, Somewhere Else
“A book of deviance. A book of delight. An embodied book. A personal book. A book of family. A book of fetish. A book of memories and memorialising. A book, above all, of pleasure.”– Colin Herd, Swamp Kiss, Click and Collect
When asked to describe her collection Tawnya says: “I wrote this collection of poetry after a particularly trying period in my life when I lost my best friend to heroin and another friend to suicide. The poems began to form themselves in my mind and would not relent until I wrote them down. I have always enjoyed writing poetry that is real and straightforward expressing my own experiences in the hope that readers can connect to them. In this collection I wanted to really focus in on the experiences of my body and the ways I could translate my embodied experiences of grief, sex, love, and chronic pain onto the page.”
“Tawnya Renelle’s keenly observed collection evokes shades of Nan Goldin. These poems lay down challenges to the reader. Takes them up!”– Louise Welsh, No Dominion, Death is a Welcome Guest
“Renelle cares deeply for her beloveds–the lost, chosen and blood family–and scoops up the poems in her arms, a form of self-possession – tangled, colourful, strong in a wild array of discovery, trust in her word.” – Beatrix Gates, Dos
After launching the collection in Glasgow and Edinburgh Tawnya will be heading on a tour through England and Ireland arriving in Brighton on June 22.
The tour hopes to bring her poems and unique open mic event based on her poem “poetic sexploration” to several cities between June 12 and July 4.
When asked about the tour Tawnya said: “I decided to set out on this tour in part to get word out about my book and in part because I realised in reading my poems around Glasgow how much people are wanting to hear honest poetry. I am thrilled to be going on this book tour. It is giving me the chance to see new places and I am excited to connect with local poets and artists”
Tawnya’s collection may be too racy for some but for others she hopes: “that if people come to listen to my reading or purchase the book that they will find a voice that is part theirs. I have always wanted to write poetry that impacts people, poetry that lets people know they aren’t alone.”
this exquisite corpse is available from all good bookshops, priced £10
Event: this exquisite corpse
Where: The Victory Inn, 6 Duke St, Brighton BN1 1AH
When: Saturday, June 22
Time: 8pm
Cost: Free entry
Brighton Bear Weekend (BBW) continues today with a Garden Party on Dorset Gardens starting at noon.
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