Squash: WowFest: Leechcraft with David Ward

WoW are delighted to host the launch of Dave Ward’s Leechcraft, a haunting new poetry collection teeming with folkloric power.  

This mesmerising work dips into ancient mythology, weaving spells that will surely echo in the minds of readers for years to come. Leechcraft is a sharing of wisdom and healing, dreams and desires, rooted in myth and ancient folklore. Transformations and dark murmurings, warnings and incantations, rough-woven charms and travellers’ tales – an intoxicating brew to be spoken, chanted, whispered and sung. These are poems that will stay with you – gather them carefully and guard them safe as potent spells. 

With guest readings from poets Colin Watts, Eleanor Rees, Freda Davis and Judy Mazonowicz, and music from Peter Davis. 

“These poems are for these times – and as surely will have long lives.” – Kevin Crossley Holland 

“Mesmerising… deeply felt, singing poems.” – Natalie Linh Bolderston (The Protection of Ghosts) 

“Wraiths in the mist… pinned to the page by acute observations.” Freda Davis (Write Out Loud) 

“Haunting images… alive with sensory detail and evocative imagery.” Tamiko Dooley (Seasons of Love around the Rising Sun) 

This is a free event, and tea and refreshments will be provided.  

David Ward, originally from Northampton, co-founded Merseyside organisation The Windows Project in 1976, which has been supporting writers across the region ever since. David’s poems appear in over 200 publications, including Poetry Review, Abridged, Ambit and Poetry Wales. His work has also been broadcast on BBC2, Radio 4, Radio 1 and BBC Schools Radio. He is Visiting Writer-in-Residence at Nanyang University, Singapore, and an Honorary Fellow in Creative Writing at Liverpool Hope University. He is widely revered for his community and charity work in various projects and schools in Liverpool.  

David’s writing journey begun during his school days where he would create his own picture and comic books. Around 1965, he started publishing his work in small poetry magazines, before running poetry nights in a Northampton pub at only 17 years old. Since then, he has helped establish and edit Liverpool’s Smoke magazine, and his first published novel, Brunt Boggart, was nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. He has several successful books, suitable for a variety of ages, including Jambo, Tracts and Candy and Jazzz, which encompass his “thought-provoking, satirical and imaginative” approach.  

Sunday 19th May, 1.30pm

Squash, 112-114 Windsor Street 

Free, booking required

*These are difficult times. We know some people may struggle to afford full price tickets. If you would like to attend this event but can’t afford to, please contact info@writingonthewall.org.uk. All queries will be treated in confidence.   

If you would like to purchase a gifted ticket for someone who can’t afford it, please buy directly from the event page and we will offer your ticket out.