Teifi Valley writer Jackie Biggs is launching a new book of her poetry this Spring.

Her third collection, Before we Breathe is just released by Littoral Press. The poems are inspired by the beaches and coastline of west Wales and Jackie’s love of sea swimming. The front cover photo was taken at Penbryn.

This description is from the publisher’s cover text: “These poems carry voices that speak of both the magic and realism of nature. They are rooted in a particular place and time, yet come from everywhere and tell of shifting shapes through millennia, both material and imagined.

“From the sea, where all life originated, to soil and woodland and eventually to stone, these words weave through margins of time and space to tell stories of transformation.”

“In the last few years Jackie has had her poetry published in a range of publications and anthologies and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her second collection, Breakfast in Bed (Indigo Dreams Publishing) was shortlisted in the Wales Poetry Book Awards 2020.

In 2019 she was Highly Commended in the Wales International Poetry Competition and the RS Thomas Festival Poetry Competition. Her debut collection The Spaces in Between, was published in September 2015.

Originally from Hertfordshire, Jackie lived and worked in London as a news journalist and editor until she moved to west Wales in 1986. She started writing poetry in 2012.

As well as publishing in print and online, Jackie has performed her poetry at spoken word venues in Wales, England and Ireland. She is a member of The Rockhoppers (Coast to Coast Poets) performance group and actively supports other writers as co-organiser of the Cellar Bards spoken word event in Cardigan. She is a former chair of PENfro Book Festival.

Before we Breathe is published by Littoral Press, priced at £8. Copies are currently available by mail order direct from the author. Orders can be emailed to: jackienews@hotmail.co.uk

There will be an online reading event later in April and live reading events and book signings will be held at various outdoor venues on the coast when Covid rules allow. Announcements will be made about these later.