DIVA looks ahead to the launch of author Jill Gardiner’s new collection of poetry
Great news, book lovers! Jill Gardiner will be launching her new book With Some Wild Woman – Poems 1989-2019, with a reading on 28 November at Gay’s The Word.
With Some Wild Woman is a poetic journey through one woman’s life which casts an honest and amused eye on growing up gay in a straight world, sharing stories of romantic and erotic encounters, and of inspiring people met on the way.
“Starting with bosoms, bras and crushes, With Some Wild Woman explores all aspects of lesbian love… We move among a generous cast – from a French lover to Violette Leduc and a fearlessly naked aunt – and celebrate female experience, joyously.”
Jackie Wills
“Jill Gardiner’s poetry is tender and touching, dark and exciting. It disrupts the ordinary with new possibilities of love and longing.”
Clare Summerskill
Jill, best known as author of From The Closet To The Screen – Women At The Gateways Club 1945-85, has long had a passion for allowing experiences of love between women to be documented and shared, and feels poetry is a perfect way to do that.
With Some Wild Woman follows her own emotional autobiography: from her teenage crush on the Chemistry teacher “chronicled in unshared poetry, hidden underneath the carpet every night”, to her novel answer as an adult to that question, “What do lesbians do in bed?”
“Shall we play chess or go to bed?
We can’t make up our minds.
So you fetch the chess set,
I get the wine, and we both
slip out of our clothes….”
To hear more of this poem, and others, head down to Gay’s The Word, 66 Marchmont Street, WCIN 1AB on Thursday 28 November at 7pm. Free entry and drinks. All welcome.
With Some Wild Woman is on sale now
Enjoyed this article? Help us keep content like this free for all by purchasing the latest issue if you can. Your support is invaluable. On sale now at the links below.
