The Lie of the Land /Jan Fortune (ed)
Extract ()
Self assured, unapologetic, innovative, new, encompassing. But with a sense of history and culture still there, the resolute core. …This terrific and enormously various collection of new verse is published not simply as a literary endeavour but to benefit those in need. What is poetry for, what does it do? Auden suggested that this might be nothing. Jan Fortune-Wood disagrees. All profits from The Lie of the Land will go directly to The Meningitis Trust in Wales.
Peter Finch
The Lie of the Land is a poetry anthology conceived with two goals in mind – firstly to raise money and profile for The Meningitis Trust in Wales and secondly to showcase the diversity and richness of poetry writing in English from Wales. …The generosity of Welsh poets in donating their work to this eclectic and unique anthology demonstrates that poetry is not some obscure indulgence, but a vital and engaged medium. Now we need the generosity of readers to achieve the first goal.
Jan Fortune-Wood
Jan Fortune studied theology at Selwyn College, Cambridge and did a PhD in feminist theology. She has worked as a teacher, parish priest and charity director and moved to North Wales in 2001, where she runs Cinnamon Press with her son, Rowan, and continues to try to learn Welsh. Jan has tutored creative writing courses for the Arvon Foundation, Open College of Arts, Women on Tour, Gardoussel Retreat and NAWE as well as running writing courses for Cinnamon Press.
Her publications include many articles, chapters and five non fiction books on alternative education and parenting, inspired by home educating her four (now adult) children, the most recent being Winning Parent, Winning Child; novels, including Dear Ceridwen, a forthcoming novel, Coming Home, and a novel for teenagers, The Standing Ground, which is also popular with adults; a poetry collection and a prose poetry collection, Stale Bread & Miracles. She is currently working on a new novel and a long poetry sequence focussing on an abandoned slate mine and valley, Cwmorthin, near her home.