A year has now passed since my book, Grenade Genie, was published by the fab Fly on the Wall Press, and following on from my two previous blog posts – ‘Grenade Genie – one month on’ and ‘Grenade Genie – six months on’ – this latest blog post of mine collects together all the reviews and publicity my book’s received since the end of last year. They’re all listed below – under six headings – just click on the highlighted links to see/read/hear more.
Radio
East London Radio – Talking Stories 49, 27th March 2021 (me reading ‘The Phoney War’, 49m 40s in).
And that’s it for now. If you did want to buy my book, it continues to be available from my publisher, Fly on the Wall Press, both as a printed copy, at £8.99, here, and in digital format, at £3.99, here. It’s also available from Amazon, in both formats, here, or from Bookshop UK, here, and signed copies can also now be obtained direct from me, via my Big Cartel online shop, here.
Many thanks for reading, and for your continued support, and all the best, as ever, through these strange and unpredictable times.
Following on from my previous blog post, from back in June, ‘Grenade Genie – one month on’, this latest blog post of mine collects together all the reviews and publicity my book’s received since May. They’re all listed below, under six headings (Radio, Reviews, Interviews, Performances, Features and Poems) – just click on the highlighted links to see/read/hear more.
Radio
Soho Radio – The Soho Hour with Clare Lynch, 22nd July 2020 (me reading ‘No Longer Quite So Sure’, 32m 30s in). Brum Radio – Brum Radio Poets, 26th July 2020 (Fly on the Wall Press showcase, interview and readings). BBC Radio WM – Henry Liston show, 3rd September 2020 (me reading ‘Nightclubbing in Brum, 1988’). North Manchester FM – Hannah’s Bookshelf (Not Quite Live) Poetry Special, 19th September 2020 (interview and reading, 1hr 6m in). East London Radio – Talking Stories 43, 22nd September 2020 (me reading ‘The Greatest Poem’, 49m 50s in).
Reviews
The Dead Pixels – ‘That’s what the finest poetry can do, offer us an insight into the human condition.’ Paul Robert Mullen – ‘a strange mixture of very entertaining, thought-provoking, wildly unsettling, and somewhat prophetic.’ The High Window – ‘In these poems McColl shows he is a real poet writing honestly and perceptively, exploring what it means to be alive in these unsettling times.’ Twickenham Tribune – ‘McColl is ruthless with his words: truly relentless but far from unwelcome, and very compulsive.’ Nicola Heaney – ‘McColl’s language is at times furious, at times mischievous – but always earnest.’ Confluence magazine – ‘This book is very much a voice for these times, an oracle proclaiming the digital takeover, consumerism and the cognitive dissonance this brings.’
Poetry London – Lockdown Listings Fly on the Wall Press blog – The People Who Shaped My Writing: Tom McColl Chris Rice Cooper blog – Backstory of the Poem # 205: Thomas McColl’s ‘Statement by the Pedestrian Liberation Organisation’ The Word Bin – Episode 80 (Tom McColl ‘bins’ the word ‘Police’) Sunday Tribune – Writers Influences series, No.5: Tom McColl on Stevie Smith
And that’s it for now. If you did want to buy my book, it continues to be available from my publisher, Fly on the Wall Press, both as a printed copy, at £8.99, here, and in digital format, at £3.99, here. It’s also available from Amazon, in both formats, here, or from Bookshop UK, here, and signed copies can also now be obtained direct from me, via my Big Cartel online shop, here.
Many thanks for reading, and for your continued support, and all the best, as ever, through these strange and unpredictable times.
I’ve set up a new storefront, via Big Cartel, from which signed copies of my books can be ordered and, as a special introductory offer, it’s 15% off any purchase for the whole of November – so, if you’re looking for something new and different to read, or are just looking for an unusual, quirky gift to buy for someone at Christmas, then look no further: simply click on the link below!
My latest collection of poetry, Grenade Genie, was released just over a month ago, slap-bang in the middle of lockdown, but despite all gigs and feature slots that were booked right through to the summer being cancelled, I’ve tried my best to get the book out there, one way or another.
In any event, my book, which continues to be available from my publisher, Fly on the Wall Press, as a printed copy, at £8.99, here, has now become available in digital format, at £3.99, here – and has, just this week, become available via Amazon, here. Copies can also now be obtained direct from me, so if you wanted a signed copy, please feel free to get in touch.
Below is a list all of the reviews and publicity the book’s received in the past month – just click on the highlighted links to read/see/hear more.
Radio
BBC Radio Kent – The Leo Ulph show, 20th May 2020 (me reading ‘The Greatest Poem’) Soho Radio – Celine’s Salon (interview with Celine Hispiche, 30 minutes into the show)
Reviews
Bunny’s Pause – ‘These poems couldn’t have arrived at a better time. More than ever outspoken voices need to be heard over the corrupted. These poems are engaging and challenging, you will find yourself looking at the world filter free.’
Emma Lee’s Blog – ‘“Grenade Genie” is a wryly humoured look at life, subverting normal expectations and asks readers to take a new look at the commonplace.’
Juliette Writes – ‘This collection layers heat until it is undeniably explosive…This is unflinching poetry with a heavy backdraft. It is not a light read and it is all the better for it.’
Mark Aspen Review Blog – ‘…McColl is ruthless with his words: truly relentless but far from unwelcome, and very compulsive.’
Never Imitate – ‘Contemporary subjects, wry humour…The poems entertain whilst also provoking thought on a wide range of issues pertinent to a resident of a city.’
Poetry in the Basket – ‘These poems travel flawlessly from the witty to the terrifying. Well worth the bus fare! Can I go round again please?’
Write Out Loud – ‘McColl’s quirky brand of poetry is often political, but with a smile on its face. That’s a rare and welcome combination.’
Arts Richmond – ‘No Longer Quite So Sure’, the first poem in my book, featured as ‘Poem for Today’, 29th May 2020 Blue Nib Magazine – my reading of ‘Literal Library’, the last poem in the book, featured in Blue Nib’s Ink Pods podcast.
And that’s it for now. There are a few more interviews and reviews due, and the Leamington Poetry Festival, at which I was going to feature with a 1 hour show on 4th July, has now been postponed to the weekend of 13-15th November 2020.
Anyway, thanks for reading and for all your support, and all the best through these strange and unpredictable times.
Four years after my last collection was published, I finally have a new collection, Grenade Genie, coming out with Fly on the Wall Press on 17th April.
The book is an 80 page collection that’s split into four sections – Cursed, Coerced, Combative and Corrupted – with poems on subjects as diverse as Grenfell, the Iranian revolution, the refugee crisis, the curse of genius, the revenge of the environment, security passes, the NHS, gorgons on Oxford Street, and not being able to remember anyone’s name!
There will be a London launch and, though nothing has been confirmed yet, that should be some time in May.
I will be touring the book, with the following dates already confirmed:
20th May Whisky & Words, Birmingham (Joint headline poet with Louise McStravick) 17th June Spineless Authors Night, London (Headline poet) 20th June Confluence Sessions, Rochester (Headline poet) 26th June Paper Tiger Poetry, London (Featured poet)
4th July Leamington Poetry Festival (Feature – 60-minute performance slot)
26th July Torriano Poetry, London (Joint headline poet with Harry Gallagher and p.a. morbid)
15th August Book Corner bookshop, Saltburn Folk Festival (Reading/book signing)
My first full collection of poetry and flash fiction, published by Listen Softly London Press, is out now and available direct from the publisher here & from Amazon here.
Entitled Being With Me Will Help You Learn, the book contains 56 pieces originally published in magazines such as Envoi, Iota, the Alarmist, Rising, Push, Paper & Ink, Belleville Park Pages and Ink, Sweat and Tears.
Below is a poem featured in the collection:
PERVERT
I’ve only been living here for five weeks
and already I’ve got a pervert climbing into my garden at night
and hanging women’s underwear on my washing line.
I’ve no idea who’s doing this,
but all the villagers think the underwear is mine,
and seem to see it as some kind of sign,
a convenient excuse
to make me
the subject of intimidation and abuse.
Once again,
the postman has delivered his phlegm
through the letter box.
I’ve been left a black body bag
by the waste disposal men.
The council has granted my neighbours
the exceptional right
to play their music loud at night.
In the street, as they pass,
men make threats underneath their breath,
and children flee,
while women look at me with contempt and disgust.
Kids shout “Pervert! Pervert!”
as they push used condoms through my letter box.
The word “PERVERT”, in red paint,
has been daubed across my front door.
At night,
I can see the silhouette of the hooded pervert,
accompanied now by a large gang,
all of them helping to place women’s underwear on my washing line,
and now it’s me
who’s beginning to see
it as some kind of sign…
