Description

Dean Atta's debut poetry collection, I Am Nobody's Nigger, was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize. The title poem was written in response to the use of the racial slur by the murderers of Stephen Lawrence. It is, he said, a reaction to the injustice of Stephen's death and the loose usage of the N-word.

His poems deal with themes of race, gender, identity and growing up, and have appeared on BBC One's The One Show and several times on BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service and Channel 4. Dean was named as one of the most influential LGBT people in the UK by the Independent on Sunday. He regularly performs across the UK and internationally and served as a judge of the 2018 BBC Young Writers' Award.

Fiercely told, The Black Flamingo is a powerful coming-of-age story told in verse. A boy comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen - then at university he finds his wings as a drag artist the flamingo of the title. This is a bold story of the power of embracing your uniqueness. Sometimes, we need to take charge, to stand up wearing pink feathers - to show ourselves to the world in bold colour.

Jason N Smith was the decisive winner of SFL's Poetry Slam in 2018.

After spending the best part of 18 years within the justice system caught within a revolving door, Jason finally gained his freedom in a prison cell and was then released. Jason lives in Stoke on Trent and helps young adults prepare for independence after leaving the care system. He is a facilitator of workshops for Staffordshire Probation Services and Younger Mindusing poetry and writing for positive outworking in young adults' futures. Jason also delivers workshops using creative expression to develop confidence, self-belief and identity in schools, colleges and Young Offender institutions, and shares his experiences and learning when speaking at conferences. Beyond Words is Jason's debut collection of poems from before, during and after time within the justice system.

Description

English Bridge Campus,

Abbey Foregate,

Shrewsbury,

Shropshire,

England,

SY2 6AA.