WELCOME TO THE
LATEST NEWS
A Sky of Bubbles
The copies have arrived and the launch event booked in. Click here for details.
A Sky of Bubbles
After many months of editing and proof-reading, copies of 'A Sky of Bubbles' have now been ordered and should be with me within the next couple of weeks. This book, my third, contains more than 90 poems covering various themes from conflict to humour and fantasy. There are even some in Scots.
News
2023
I have been asked to take part in the museum's Annual Military Show on 19th and 20th August. I will be 'in the trenches' and reading some of my poems. Come along, have a great day out at this award-winning museum, hear some of my poetry and get your own signed copy of "Of Sadness And Of Joy".
Of​ Sadness And Of Joy - July 2023
Due to the sales from the Discovery Award Presentation (below), I have had to order a small reprint of my second book. These copies have now arrived and are ready for sale. If you would like one, please use the Contact Me page and I will get it to you.
I am busy compiling the third book and hope to have it available later this year.
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Discovery Award Presentations - 25th April
Invited by the Rosslyn Discovery Group - based in Roslin, Midlothian - to provide them with an evening's entertainment, I rolled out some 14 poems covering Conflict, Humour, Reflection and even some Scots. All were so well received that another five books were bought! I am now down to my last two copies and may well have to order a small reprint.
While there, I was also (as Regional Coordinator for The Discovery Award) asked to present two Bronze Awards to their respective achievers.
General chat about my poetry ensued while enjoying tea, coffee and biscuits and one member of the group said how "A Moment Please" was personally very poignant due to their own experience. There were tears of both sadness and joy, a lot of laughter and some poems gave them something to think about.
All in all, a very enjoyable evening and so good to get back into entertaining people. Thank you to those who came along and made the evening the success I had hoped it would be.
Cover of book 2
UPDATE
12th January 2022
Well, it's been nearly two years since I updated this page. Many apologies for the lack of content. So much has happened and yet so little (by way of things being cancelled). Although meetings for poetry reading have stopped altogether again, there was a brief window in November last year.
And what a relatively busy month it turned out to be. On 14th a fellow author was having a book launch and I was invited to read some of my poetry and sell more copies of "Of Sadness And Of Joy". Again, the poetry was warmly received and, through the copies sold, more funds raised for the RNLI.
The evening before this event I was also invited to read 'Driftwood' to The Federation Of Writers (Scotland) in Edinburgh. That poem was one of only 32 to make it into "Sea Change" - their anthology of poems and short stories. A proud moment for me. Now that the anthology's been launched, I can include 'Driftwood' in my next book, hopefully coming out this year.
The following week I was able to return to Seafield Primary School (where I'm 'Poet in Residence') to read some of my children's poetry and the chosen book "Arlo The Lion" to the P1 and P2 pupils. It was also Children In Need day so they were all dressed up with spots and Pudsey outfits.
Since then, Covid returned with a new variant and meeting face to face was discouraged. Maybe this year...
2.6 Challenge 2020 - 26th April-3rd May 2020
Unable (or unfit) to do the London Marathon, I joined all those who decided to raise money for charities by taking this challenge. The aim was to do 2.6 (or multiples of) things. Being a poet, I thought I'd challenge myself to write 26 poems about nature and raise funds for the RSPB. Someone kindly pointed out to me that there are also 26 letters in the English alphabet so what better than to do a poem for each one? That was the challenge and, now that it's completed, I'll attempt to post them on the new POEMS page.. Thank you
28th November 2019
Another good night at the Saltire Open Mic with a very receptive audience. Two more books sold and one calendar (a new addition to my stock).
8th November 2019
At the Craigshill Good Neighbour Network's Remembrance Event, the wonderful Susan Broadfoot opened her set with a song I wrote specially for Remembrance Day. Although written two years ago, this was its first public performance.
Check out the Videos page for this and other videos.
28th October 2019
CHARITY FUNDRAISING
Due to the fabulous generosity of those who have attended the events I've held over the last four months, I have been able to give over £600 to charity from the profits of this book. Military Museum Scotland had already received £100 via cash and books to sell so that cheque is for £100 whereas the other two are for £200 each. More photos in the Gallery page. Sales have slowed a little but I still have a couple of events I'm scheduled to attend and hoping that maybe some of the other Rotary Clubs represented at the Livingston branch event will get in touch with a view to inviting me to speak at their meetings.
Rotary Club of Livingston - the Anniversary Dinner (below) was attended by over 60 people representing 11 different clubs and almost £300 raised with the biggest single purchase being six copies!
Rotary Club of Livingston
I've been invited to be a guest speaker at their 45th Anniversary dinner with approx 70 people attending on 16th October. Although I've presented an evening of poetry to them before, there were only about 20 people there. A new audience, a new challenge. Best take some books along with me...
Saughtonhall URC event - really well attended with over 60 people there. Peter asked blocks of six questions (24 in total) and I followed each with a few poems. With an interval of 20 minutes, the whole evening ran from 7.00 till 9.00. 14 poems covering most of the sections in the book and this led to people actually queuing to buy copies of 'Of Sadness And Of Joy' thus raising funds for the three charities. Almost £300 raised on the night!
Mother Murphy's- a cosy evening in a tearoom with a seating capacity of approx 16. 12 of us there that night and, from feedback received, everyone seemed to have a great time. The evening included some introduction as to who I was and my background and smattered throughout all this were 14 poems covering various topics. After the interval, which of course involved some of Debra's wonderful cakes and various teas and coffees, the audience was invited to participate in a short poetry workshop with the aim of producing a poem of their own. Everyone joined in and they have asked me to pull all the discussions into one poem for them. With all the various bits and pieces, this could be quite a task. I'll get it finished soon and post it here as well as sending it to Debra. I really enjoyed myself and am looking forward to being invited back. I may, of course, have to visit a couple of times beforehand to sample the cakes on offer.
If you're ever in Falkirk, you really should pay Mother Murphy's Tearoom a visit at 62 Ladysmill, Falkirk, FK2 9AU or check out www.mothermurphys.co.uk - you will not be disappointed.
Other events
Regular appearances at the Saltire Open Mic events in Livingston have led to some excellent feedback and a few sales. It's held on the last Thursday of the month so, if you're in the Carmondean area and feel like going along - music, spoken word, poetry and book snippets make for an entertaining evening.
Livingston Players Showstoppers - this is a group of wonderful singers who entertain audiences throughout West Lothian. My offering is my poetry which gives audiences a break from the music for a minute or two. The most recent was at Braid House in Livingston where we were responsible for helping them raise over £700. The poems I read were Dereliction (not yet published), An Operation and Share And Share Alike. They went down a storm! and I even managed to sell a book - well, a writer shouldn't leave home without some copies, just in case.
Requests
I was invited to read some of my poetry at Erskine Edinburgh - an afternoon tea to say farewell to a member of staff - and quite a few residents and relatives turned up to hear me. They all enjoyed the session and it was good to be able to entertain them.
I have also been invited to speak at Livingston Rotary Club as part of their 45th Anniversary dinner on 16th October. The last time I spoke there, I had quite a few sales of my first book so here's hoping I get to raise more funds for charity. There has been a request for me to read again one of the poems I read last time!
NEXT EVENT
Where: Saughtonhall URC, 85/87 Saughtonhall Drive, EDINBURGH, EH12 5TR
When: Friday 20th September 2019 from 7.00pm
Tickets: Free but please contact either me or visit www.saughtonhall.com 'What's On' page
An interview styled evening with Peter Ranscombe, giving an insight to my work and the charities for which I'm raising funds through the sales of my second book 'Of Sadness And Of Joy'. You will hear a mix of poems covering many aspects of life; some sad, some reflective and some humorous.
Comments from the last event I held (below) have been extremely positive - even from people who "don't do poetry".
"I have been enlightened!"
"A great night with Colin Mitchell, local poet, at the Scottish Military Museum. Tears of laughter and tears of sorrow, indeed. Well done, Colin. Proud to know you!"
" Yes love the poems. I’m not usually a poem person, however on hearing some of them recited, I just had to purchase and can say, I’m not disappointed with it, some very poignant."
FOLLOWING THIS EVENT:
I've been asked to do the same at Mother Murphy's in Falkirk on 27th September. More news to follow re this event but please contact debra@mothermurphys.co.uk direct in the meantime...
Thanks
EVENT
Friday 23rd August - Military Museum Scotland - Free entry - 7.00pm to 9.30pm
Legion Hall, Linburn, Wilkieston, Kirknewton, EH27 8DU, West Lothian
An evening of poetry to raise funds for this Award-winning museum!
Come and hear some of the poems from my new book and some which have been written since. All sales of the book (£9.99 each) will benefit Military Museum Scotland and two other charities.
A blend of serious, reflective and humorous poetry - something for everyone so bring along a friend.
Spaces are limited so please RSVP by email here
or by using the Contact Me page on this website
Well, that seemed to go rather well! A small but select audience of approx 25-30 people just about filled the cafeteria area of the museum. Some had never been to the museum before this event and some were regulars. I was interviewed by Callum Carson of the West Lothian Courier, read some 15 or so poems and took questions from the audience. The poems included humour, nature, conflict and even Scots and the audience seemed to enjoy them all. My wife Chris read My Husband Is Gone to give a woman's voice to it and add to the realism of the poem and was well applauded.
During the interval people got a chance to mingle and chat with each other and the whole evening ran smoothly. The end result - copies of the book sold - some to those who already had a one and wanted to buy more!
Thank you to all who managed to come along and make this a successful event.
The names of those who bought a copy were placed into a draw for a Family Ticket to Military Museum Scotland and a bottle of wine.
AND THE WINNER IS:
Mr & Mrs Messer of East Calder - CONGRATULATIONS you two. Hope you enjoy the prize. Thank you to all the others who were unlucky on this occasion.
Now available on eBay:
search for Of Sadness And Of Joy
or
use the 'Buy the book' button below the image at the top left of this page.
Money from the sale of this book will raise much-needed funds for three different charities:
Military Museum Scotland - based at Wilkieston, West Lothian
Erskine House, Edinburgh - a care home for Armed Forces veterans and/or their spouses
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution
These charities need all the help they can get for those who have given and continue to give of their best.
Thank you for your support
Colin
Tune in to Regal Radio on Wednesday 24th July at 9.00am - I am being interviewed to raise awareness of this project and hope to be able to read some examples of my poetry to give you an idea of what to expect in the book.