Professional Poet, Life Coach, Educator, Artist – Runs Workshops, Gives Reiki & Wellbeing Training

Tag: literature (Page 1 of 2)

Poet Patricia Foster McKenley, Reading from ‘Filigree: Contemporary Black British Poetry’, at Ilkley Literature Festival, 14th October 2018. 


‪I’m delighted to share that I will be reading poetry at Ilkley Literature Festival on Sunday 14 October 2018. I’ll be sharing the stage with Maya Chowdhry, Nick Makoha and Rishi Dastidar to promote the new anthology Filigree: Contemporary Black British Poetry, which we will all be published in. 

Edited by Nii Parkes and Inscribe Series/Peepal Tree. Editor Kadija Sesay.

Host on the day is Pete Kalu.

Reading at Ilkley Festival is something I have always wanted to do. Being included in this anthology, which includes a wealth of Black British writers, is a huge honour. I am indebted to Nii Parkes and Kadija Sesay for their brilliant editing, encouragement, nurturing and support. 

Featuring past and present writers from Malikas Poetry Kitchen.

Very excited!

Hope to see you there.
Venue: St Margaret’s Hall, Queens Road, Ilkley LS29 9QL

Date: Sunday 14th October 2018

Time: 4:45pm

Price: £7 / £5

Super Woman: Taking Everyday In Her Stride! Celebrating International Women’s Month. By Poet, Educator, Holistic Coach, Speaker & Vegan Patricia Foster McKenley 

“As a woman, today and hereafter, I choose to express myself at my highest potential! That is my divine purpose and mission on this Earth.”~ Patricia Foster McKenley, 8th March 2012

International performances at ‘Palabras The Reunion, Paradiso, Amsterdam

Performance at book launch of ‘Irki’ by Kadija George, at The Barbican. Photo: Rousha Browning / SABLE LitMag

Imagine how this world would be if as individual women, we decided to reach for our highest potential and operate from that place for as much of our lives as possible. Imagine if we tapped into our innate powers and energies daily. 

I wrote the above quote for International Women’s Day in March 2012. March is also renowned  for celebrating International Women’s Week and International Women’s Month. 

We also celebrated Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day in the UK on Sunday 11th March 2018. Additionally, two of my beautiful nieces celebrated Birthdays in March – one on International Women’s Day too, therefore lots of female energy to tap into and generate. Lots of magic and miracles to create.

Giving a lecture to ‘The Cloud’ spoken word collective, as part of the Mboka Festival 2017, Gambia. Photo: Clovis McKenley.

 

So as a woman, how will you choose to express yourself and your positive, female energy today, this month, in March and for the rest of the year? It is our divine gift to share with our loved ones and the world.

MANY BLESSINGS,

Patricia Foster McKenley.

Patricia will be running Poetry Workshops, Self-Esteem Workshops for Young Women and Writing/Personal Development Workshops for Women during International Women’s Month and throughout the year. She’ll also be performing at various Poetry Readings throughout March. 

For bookings, contact:

+447956 476 547
Or

[email protected]

Please feel free to follow Patricia on Twitter @Ms_P_Foster

and on Instagram 

@PatriciaFoster7000

‘At The Inkwell London’ Christmas Special! Thursday December 15th 2016. Doors 6:30pm. Show 7-9pm. CHANGE TO LINEUP! Featuring: Abby Ladbrooke, Cath Drake, Jude Cowan Montague and Jane Grell. Hosted by Poet Patricia Foster and writer/journalist Rachel Rigby. Counter Albion, 45 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch E2 7DJ.

‘At The Inkwell London’ Christmas Special!
Thursday December 15th 2016

Counter Albion Café, 45 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, London E2 7DJ.

Map

Doors: 6:30pm. Show 7-9pm
There has been a slight change to our lineup!

Featuring: Abby Ladbrooke, Cath Drake, Jude Cowan Montague and Jane Grell


FREE! Open mic too!

Literary feast of writers served up just for you.

Healthy delicious food and drink to purchase. 
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1274110802660527/

Original Design by Monique Lewis. Image by Patricia Foster.

I feel really honoured to be co-hosting the final ‘At The Inkwell London’ of 2016. What a year it has been. The US reading series, devised and founded by the brilliant and talented Monique Lewis, has really captured the imagination of writers and audiences in London since its July 2016 launch in the UK. 

Myself and my wonderful co-hosts Rachel Rigby and Gemma Weekes look forward to bringing you more from ‘At The Inkwell London’ in 2017.
Have a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic 2017!
Meet our features below:

 

Jude Cowan Montague


Jude Cowan Montague is an artist, writer and composer whose work may be playful, truthful, mysterious and subversive. She explores story, song, and visual ideas. The worlds she creates are often inspired by her professional life in broadcast media. Her most recent collection of poems ‘The Wires:2012’ (2016) is published by Wisdom’s Bottom Press.

http://www.judecowanmontague.com/

Jane Grell

Jane Ulysses Grell is a storyteller, writer, teacher, poet and singer. She was born and grew up on the Caribbean island of Dominica. Her poetry and storytelling are imbued with the love of the music of words in the spirit of the vibrant African-Caribbean Oral Tradition.
Jane has worked extensively with children, young people and adults in most London boroughs and beyond. She has presented stories and poetry for BBC Radio Schools’ Programmes.

Her poetry collections – Praise Songs and White River Blues conjure up a vivid landscape which embraces both the traditional and the modern and explore journeys, memories and loss through poems both tender and exuberant. 

“Jane, it would seem that some of Ananse’s stories went to you. You tell them so well. – Sarah Woodham (Leytonstone Festival 2013)

www.janegrellstoryteller.com

Cath Drake

An Australian from Perth lured to London in 2001, Cath Drake has been published in anthologies and literary magazines in UK, Australia and US. She has performed in many cafes, bookshops, theatres, festivals and for unsuspecting passers by. She runs writing workshops to recharge creativity and is passionate about taking poetry and creative writing to new spaces. In 2012, she was short-listed for the Venture Poetry Award, awarded an Arts Council England grant and was writer in residence at the Albany Arts Centre café. Cath won the 2013 Mslexia/Seren poetry pamphlet prize and her pamphlet ‘Sleeping with Rivers’ was published in 2014 by Seren Books. It was the Poetry Book Society’s summer choice. Cath’s poetry was included in Best Austrailan Poetry 2014 (Black Inc books) and she was short-listed for the 2015 Manchester Poetry Prize. She is also a copywriter and non-fiction writer and her work includes award-winning journalism, writing for radio, oral history and life stories. 

Cath Drake Communications: http://cathdrakecomms.com/

Poetry and creative work: http://cathdrake.com/

Abby Ladbrooke

ABBY LADBROOKE is an active member of the London Bridge Writers’ group, finds writing thrilling and feels most herself when writing, reading and talking about writing. Abby has attended several short, creative writing courses, with tutors Maggie Hammond, Howard Cunnell, Naomi Wood and Christie Watson. She is co-founder of a boutique recruitment and training company, which has published a pocket book which she co-authored and edited. Abby is part way through her first novel which explores the missed love between two people through the soul of their child never born.

At The Inkwell (London) Celebrates Black History Month | Thursday 20 October 2016. 7-9pm. Doors 6:30pm. Venue: Counter Albion, Shoreditch. FREE! Ft Millie Murray & Racheal Joseph. Hosted by Poets Gemma Weekes, Patricia Foster and Journalist Rachel Rigby.

Good Day To You All,
I hope you are enjoying the sunny, autumnal afternoon (if in London).
Thank you to ALL who read, came down and supported At The Inkwell London last month.
Just over a week to go now, until our next At The Inkwell London on Thursday 20th October, where we’ll celebrate and acknowledge Black History Month; the rich and varied accounts of migration, belonging, culture and family.
Our featured writers will be

Millie Murray and Racheal Joseph.
Please find below a weblink to our official website for this month’s event. 
http://attheinkwell.com/readings/black-history-month-london/

The Facebook Event Page is: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/188808594893206/
The Eventbrite link is: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/at-the-inkwell-london-celebrates-black-history-month-ft-millie-murray-racheal-joseph-tickets-28574841119
Please also find attached a flyer/graphic for the event. 
Your hosts will be writers Gemma Weekes, Patricia Foster and Rachel Rigby.

Designed by Patricia Foster

Please share this with all your contacts, friends, family and lovers of poetry and fiction that you know. We also have an open mic for anyone who would love to share their work.
At The Inkwell has been created to be a warm, welcoming, encouraging and engaging environment for writers to share and promote their work. I hope this event will provide a positive space for you to hear great work, as well as participate!

Please contact us on [email protected] if you would like further information, to sign up for the open mic, or read at future events.
Warmest regards,

Patricia Foster
— 

Best,

Patricia Foster, Gemma Weekes & Rachel Rigby

At The Inkwell London Co-hosts

[email protected]

www.attheinkwell.com

Happy International Women’s Month, 1st March 2014

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Photo: Giorgismedia.com

Happy, sunny (yes it’s sunny here in south London) greetings on the first day of International Women’s Month. For women, and everyone else who loves the Goddess-laden paths that each individual one of us walks, it is a fantastic time for celebration. A great opportunity to revere women. A month for acknowledging the beautiful, graceful power of women. A time to remember the historical struggles women have endured to gain equality, freedom and respect.

Daily, I am enriched by the positive, female energy that surrounds me: from my mother, sisters, nieces, aunties, cousins and sister-friends to clients and colleagues. Through collaborating with other, positive women, we gift each other.
Positive Women collaborating and working together create miracles.

I have a fairly busy month ahead and thought I’d share the women-centred events I will be involved in, some which I have been recommended for through collaboration:

?Poetry Reading, Sunday 2nd March 2014, 4:30pm
At Calabash of Culture, 21 Sydenham Rd, SE6 5EX

I’ll be performing Poetry at the launch of The Calabash of Culture Boutique – NATBIANA

?Presentation and Speech, Sunday 9th March 2014, 2pm
At Calabash of Culture, 21 Sydenham Rd, SE6 5EX

I’ll be giving a Presentation and talk at a Cultural Cafe launch, in celebration of International Women’s Day.

?Performing Poetry at ‘Divas of Colour 2014’, Saturday, 22 March 2014 from 10:00 to 19:00 (GMT), Hilton Hotel Tower Bridge, London.
I will be a featured poet at ‘Diva’s of Colour’ “largest gathering of world’s most powerful women of colour in the UK in celebration of the many talents of women of colour.” It promises to be a grand affair – Dress code Evening gown / red carpet glam, with a touch of purple Men – tuxedo, black tie and smart.
Tickets/Bookings http://www.fauntee.com/blog/tickets/

?Facilitating Poetry Workshop. Sunday 16 March 2014, 7:30pm. At ‘Open Space’ Perry Rise Baptist Church, Perry Rise, London SE23 2QL
I will be co-facilitating a workshop with poet Lucreta La Pierre, looking at poetry as an alternative form of worship.

With the work that I do in the community and abroad, I am committed to empowering women and young females through poetry, creativity, literature, multi media, workshops and talks.

Remember ladies, we are a gift to the world and our communities.

Have a wonderful, blessed month, filled with positive, female energy.

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Facilitating My Workshop and Performing Poetry at ‘Every Woman Inspired’ Expo, Kingston Jamaica. 22-24 November, 2013!

Delivering my workshop 'Return to Princess, Wonder Woman & Goddess' In Kingston, Jamaica, November 2013. Photo: Denise Henry

Delivering my workshop ‘Return to Princess, Wonder Woman & Goddess’ In Kingston, Jamaica, November 2013. Photo: Denise Henry

The Every Woman Inspired (EWI) Expo was an opportunity I felt I couldn’t ignore. EWI 2013 allowed me to work alongside and spend quality time with some remarkable women: Rasheda ‘Ginger’ Malcolm, Patricia McKenzie-Thomas and Marcia ‘Culture’ Gordon. These generous, humble, beautiful yet incredibly powerful women created an event that provided me with a life changing experience; the type that is etched in your memory for the rest of your life!

Marcia 'Culture' Gordon, Patricia McKenzie-Thomas and Rasheda 'Ginger' Malcolm, at the opening of 'Every Woman Inspired' Expo

Marcia ‘Culture’ Gordon, Patricia McKenzie-Thomas and Rasheda ‘Ginger’ Malcolm, at the opening of ‘Every Woman Inspired’ Expo

I had the opportunity to deliver my workshop entitled ‘The Return To Princess, Wonder Woman & Goddess
~ Exploring The Powerful Female Within Us’
. This was a writing and personal development workshop which produced phenomenal results. I also recited some of my published poetry at the launch/opening event of ‘Every Woman Inspired’.

Photo: Denise Henry

Photo: Denise Henry

Photo: Patricia Foster

Photo: Patricia Foster

Reading poetry at the 'Every Woman Inspired' launched reception. Photo: Denise Henry

Reading poetry at the ‘Every Woman Inspired’ launched reception. Photo: Denise Henry

Additionally I, alongside other facilitators and attendees, was interviewed live on Power 106 FM Radio.

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Photo: Rasheda Malcolm

Photo: Rasheda Malcolm

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I also performed to a receptive audience at the EWI Gala Dinner and Dance, alongside the likes of international reggae singer Sharon Tucker. There were also powerful performances of poetry.

Sharon Tucker

Sharon Tucker

Poet Abena Bedeau

Poet Abena Bedeau

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The expo also attracted the likes of the current Miss Jamaica UK Gemma Feare, a remarkable, talented and very inspirational young woman who delivered a powerful keynote speech.

Miss Jamaica UK 2013 Gemma Feare

Miss Jamaica UK 2013 Gemma Feare

Miss Jamaica UK 2013 Gemma Feare

Miss Jamaica UK 2013 Gemma Feare

The attendees and participants were also treated to exceptional workshops:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), by phenomenal Specialist Midwife and Perineal Health expert Denise Henry

Denise Henry

Denise Henry

‘Thriving at Twenty! Transformed at Thirty! Fabulous at Forty! Fulfilled at Fifty! Still Sexy at Sixty’ Workshop, by Marcia ‘Culture’ Gordon. Amazing and Inspirational.

Marcia 'Culture' Gordon delivering her workshop

Marcia ‘Culture’ Gordon delivering her workshop

Career and CV Workshop by Nadine Chambers-Goss. Career specialist and coach extraordinaire!

Nadine Chambers-Goss

Nadine Chambers-Goss

Lips – New Poetry Film Release by Award-Winning Poet & Educator Patricia Foster McKenley. A Poet’s View on Teenage Bullying!

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Photo ©️Mellow 9 Productions


I am really pleased to share with you that the film version of my poem ‘Lips’, which tackles the theme of teenage bullying, has been released. It is uncanny how it has been released at a time when bullying and in particular cyber bullying, has been in the news of late; not just here in the UK but world wide.

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Photo ©️Mellow 9 Productions


It has been quite emotional for me to see my poem brought to life on film, by the amazingly talented Mellow 9 Productions http://www.mellow9productions.co.uk/. The journey from poem idea – first developed in a Malika’s Poetry Kitchen Friday session – to film has been eleven years. The topic of bullying and identity being relevant then as it is now.

This film also couldn’t have been brought to life in such a magnificent way, without the superb young female actors – who were so serendipitously cast – provided by The Girls Friendly Society of England and Wales (GFS Platform Islington Project). https://girlsfriendlysociety.org.uk/group-finder/islington/ Located in the London borough of Islington, this wonderful project delivers a wide range of exciting activities, workshops and events for young women aged 11 to 19, to widen their horizons, encourage debates and boost confidence and aspirations. Learn more about The Girls Friendly Society of England and Wales (GFS) and the wonderful they do nationwide, by visiting https://girlsfriendlysociety.org.uk

It was an absolute pleasure to work with such a brilliant cast and crew.

I currently use my film ‘Lips’ within self esteem, personal development and anti-bullying Workshops and so far have used in Workshops in Jamaica, The Netherlands and universities, youth centres and community organisations in the UK. 

Click on the link below to view the film

http://youtu.be/DuzFlvl25qg

Lips © Text Copyright Patricia Foster McKenley 2002


To book a Workshop, contact Patricia Foster McKenley on [email protected] or call +447956476547


Poet, Writer, Performer & Educator Patricia Foster – LIVE on Croydon Radio, Monday 12th August 2013, 12 – 1pm GMT

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If you are free Monday 12th August, afternoon, 12 noon – 1pm GMT, tune in to Croydon Radio online on www.croydonradio.com, where you’ll be able to hear me live, talking to Sonia Thomas about my poetry, writing, workshops, education and training work and other projects I have coming up. I’m really excited!

Feel free to shout out and leave messages by logging in to Croydon Radio Shout Box: http://www.croydonradio.com/shoutbox

You can also follow the show on Twitter on @croydonradio

More updates soon!

Patricia Foster

My Next Poetry Performance at CRYSTAL PALACE FESTIVAL Sunday 30 June 2013 – by Patricia Foster

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I am really pleased to have been asked by ‘Beyond Words’ to be a featured poet in their programme of poets and performers for the ‘Crystal Palace Overground Festival’. The event details are below:

BEYOND WORDS is delighted to offer a programme of local poets, artists and musicians at this year’s CRYSTAL PALACE FESTIVAL.

“BEYOND WORDS”
at
CRYSTAL PALACE
FESTIVAL
Sunday 30 June 2013
celebrates
local poets, musicians, story-tellers
AND MORE!

Upstairs 4pm at
MEDITERRANEA
21 Westow Street SE19 3RY.

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