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John Duffy was born in Glasgow and lives in Huddersfield. He works for Kirklees Libraries as a bibliotherapist, promoting reading as a mental health tool. He was a founding member of the Albert Poets, who perform alone, together and with musicians; run monthly readings in the Albert, the most venerable Huddersfield town centre pub; and run weekly workshops in the Albert and occasionally in other venues. He has run writing workshops for a wide range of community groups, including mental health service users, people with learning impairment and people affected by dementia. He has been published in Scotland and England,in Wide Skirt, West Coast, Scratch, New Writing Scotland, The North, Northlight, Northwords, Stand, Pennine Platform, Cencrastus, Radical Scotland, Lines Review, Envoi, Fatchance, Braquemard, Out From Beneath The Boot, Smiths Knoll and Verse among others and has three collections: Troika 1 (with Paul Donnelly and William Park) - Scratch 1994 Perpetual Light - Spout 1998 The Constancy of Stone - Nepotism Press 2002 The Constancy of Stone was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Writer's Digest 12th International Self-Published Book Awards. Review Comment: The Constancy of Stone is a retelling of the ancient Irish story of Derdriu of the Sorrows, the narrative broken up by shorter contemporary poems. "In Derdriu's story the landscape is dealt with in terms of a sweeping backdrop through which the warrior protagonists journey and battle, whereas in the poems it is more closely observed and personal: 'Though you were on the road / before me, it was hard to leave Scotland / I followed you, rehearsing / a little sadness, bringing / mountains and sea with me...' Duffy's language flows from one image to another, densely packed and full of emotional depth. Short lines move us quickly from one to another with no word wasted. The interweaving is achieved by clever use of design and typography, and a generous use of space, but it is Duffy's own poetry which in future deserves a greater visibility." Chris McKinnell, Textualities, online literary magazine www.scottishbookcollector.co.uk Copies of The Constancy of Stone and Perpetual Light are available (£5 each), direct from John: John Duffy, 3 Queens Rd, Edgerton, Huddersfield, HD2 2AG, West Yorkshire, England. e-mail
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... "The Constancy of Stone", Nepotism Press; "Perpetual Light", Spout |
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