VERVE POETRY BOOKSHOP Log In VERVE HOME About The Press Our Books Submissions News Meet The Editor Contact More About us Verve Poetry Press is a prize-winning Birmingham based publisher dedicated to promoting and showcasing unnoticed and overlooked poetic talent in colourful and exciting ways. (Just what you’d expect from a press that had grown out of the giddy and flamboyant annual four days of poetry and spoken word that is Verve Poetry Festival.) Co-founded by Stuart Bartholomew and Amerah Saleh, the press works hard to publish poets from all corners of the UK and beyond – poets that chime with our city’s varied and energetic qualities. While our horizons have expanded beyond our original focus on Birmingham, there will always be a place for excellent poets from our home city at Verve! As we continue to grow so we are beginning to get noticed. We've been voted Most Innovative Publisher at the Sabotage Awards, and have won the Publishers’ Prize at the Michael Marks Pamphlets Awards. One of our first books, the wonderful Besharam by Birmingham poet Nafeesa Hamid, was highly commended for the Forward Prize 2020. This has been followed by further commendations for Qudsai Akhtar and Sarah James, while Golnoosh Nour’s ROCKSONG was short-listed for the Polari Prize. Andrew McMillan called us ‘the always exciting Verve Poetry Press.’ With poets such as Luke Kennard, Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, Carrie Etter and exciting debutants such as Betty Doyle, Roshni Gallagher, Ellora Sutton & Sean Wai Keung on our list, you really can’t afford to take your eyes off of us! ABOUT VERVE Poetry Festival: Birmingham’s own VERVE Festival of Poetry and Spoken Word is based at Birmingham Hippodrome and online! Over the years, VERVE has become synonymous with a lively and celebratory approach to programming poetry of every different kind, whether it be raucous performance poetry events, quiet reading events, studious workshops, mind-blowing dramatic poetry, collaborative work and open mic. We encourage our audience to see their favourite poets and try something new, to join in and create or listen and learn. Most importantly, ALL are welcome at our poetry party of national standing. Whether new to poetry or an old hand, there will be something for everyone to enjoy at VERVE! VERVE Poetry Bookshop 07713236205 info@vervepoetrybookshop.com Join our mailer to keep in touch Sign Up © 2025 by VERVE Poetry Bookshop

VERVE POETRY BOOKSHOP Log In VERVE HOME About The Press Our Books Submissions News Meet The Editor Contact More Meet the editor Need some feedback on a small group of poems? (Do they work individually? Do they work together? How should I focus my work?) Don’t know what to do for the best to move your poetry forwards and increase your visibility? (Magazines? Competitions? Groups? Workshops? Mentoring? Funding?) Not sure where you have got to and what your priorities should be? We are offering Zoom based one-to-ones with our editor to help you to answer these questions and more! Before the meeting, they will spend some quality time with up to six of your poems, look at your poetry biography to understand what help you have sourced previously and where you are on your journey, ask you to elaborate on the precise help you require and what your current priority for focus is. The session itself will last an hour at a time that is convenient to both you and them. Discussion will be wide ranging, but will focus on coming up with actions and next steps for you to follow. These sessions will be limited in number to four each quarter and will take place in March, June, August and November. They will fill up quickly. The cost of a session is £59.99 . You can book your place by following this link to the sessions page of our shop. We look forward to hearing from you. “Meet the Editor offers a rare opportunity to speak candidly and in depth about both craft and career development. Stuart’s extensive experience as an editor, bookseller and festival director makes for valuable insights and practical, achievable advice. I found my session unexpectedly moving. I came out of it with freshly focused intentions that felt more coherent and realistic.” – Kirsten Luckins BOOK YOUR SPOT VERVE Poetry Bookshop 07713236205 info@vervepoetrybookshop.com Join our mailer to keep in touch Sign Up © 2025 by VERVE Poetry Bookshop

Log In Home About The Press Our Books Meet The Editor Submissions News Contact More VERVE POETRY BOOKSHOP Contact Us We want to be able to connect you with all your poetry favourites. If you don't find the title you want on our site, please contact us below with your request and we will do our best to get it for you. And we will consider making it part of our regular range. We will aim to be back in touch within 24 hours of receiving your request. Thankyou! Submit We'll be back in touch soon! VERVE Poetry Bookshop 07713236205 info@vervepoetrybookshop.com Join our mailer to keep in touch Sign Up © 2025 by VERVE Poetry Bookshop