I am delighted to announce the upcoming publication of THREE new books:

Toccata & Fugue + Harp – a new collection from Hedgehog Poetry Press

In many ways a follow on from my successful memoir of childhood this addresses the question of what exerts the greatest influence on us as we grow from child to adult, posing the rhetorical question, is it nature or nurture. Poems and short fiction look back on the post-war childhood joys and constraints of growing up in the 1940s, 50s and 60s in a loving but strictly religious family on the chilly Lincolnshire East coast.

Part One – Toccata deals with post war childhood memories, some stressful, some hilarious, unflinchingly criticising the negative side of religious indoctrination and parental expectations.

Part Two – Intermezzo deals with the effects of this upbringing, the struggle to break free from it and seeks to explain how my view of life and society was affected and changed.

Part Three – Fugue gives a glimpse into present life, showcasing my love of nature,  music and exploring art, each poem or sequence being linked to a favourite piece of music and an artist’s colour. 

Finally the conclusion is reached that both nature and nurture influenced my path into adulthood equally.

Owl Fetish – a slim chapbook from Dreich, shortlisted in the Chapbook Slims competition 2023.

This is something totally different from me, a fantasy about becoming an owl and encountering life in the wild, hunting and observing the creatures living around me: fox, squirrel, badger, butterfly and even watching  the rituals of a white witch! The poetry is highly imagistic, fanciful, referencing also myth and legend associated with woodland creatures. Hopefully a fun read, something that departs from my previous writing.

Hemlock and Honey – a poetry pamphlet from Impspired

As I approach my three score years and ten I have been thinking back over the past decades and analysing the memorable events that stand out for me most, reflecting on those that have exerted the greatest influence on my life. Indeed, there have been traumatic times, when life was turned upside down and huge changes were forced upon me. On the other hand I now understand, with the benefit of hindsight, that these have encouraged positive changes and led to hobbies, interests and new friendships that have greatly enriched my life. Without the trauma there could not be the rapture!  In these poems I have therefore tried to explore both facets of life. Part One details the negatives and Part Two the positives, thus aiming to provide a balanced overview. I do not seek the sympathy card or see myself as a victim, nor do I want to suggest that life now is totally perfect. It’s a case of moderation in all things.

I have chosen the sonnet form in many poems, having always enjoyed writing in form and particularly using sonnets. Recently I took a course with distinguished poet Anna Saunders on writing sonnets for contemporary times, which I greatly enjoyed. This then naturally followed through into my latest work. It has been a huge challenge to write in this concise poetic form that uses rhyme, but to do it in a non-intrusive way; it is never easy to compose sonnets that flow effortlessly and naturally with rhyme that does not sound contrived. I hope that in some small way I have succeeded and brought the reader with me on my journey. My wish is to demonstrate that despite life throwing us curve balls, with patient determination we can find solutions, coping strategies that enable us to emerge stronger, more hopeful and better human-beings. 

Margaret Jean Royall

N.B Updates on publication dates and pre-orders will be posted here as this information becomes available. All three books are due out summer 2024.