Friday, February 15, 2013

Valentine’s Day, a short reflection

NNOROM AZUONYE

nnorom and amaka azuonyeValentine's Day was marked yesterday. For some people, it is a waste of time, for others it was just another day for indulgent sex, but for many it was a day that to show and express love for their partners and humanity in general.

Many have questioned this. Why not love all year round? Why have a special day set aside for love?

My brother, Chris Enwerem thought aloud on Facebook yesterday about that, as have others including my other brother Okey Ndibe and my sister Chinyere Isiocha. This was my message posted to Chris' wall on Valentine's Day:

"Chris, nobody needs a special day to remind his wife of his love, just like nobody needs a special day to celebrate the birth of the saviour or indeed the resurrection. However, what a day like this does is make us all stop to take stock so to say. Today, my wife said 'this is our 7th Val together.' I said yes, 7th Val as a married couple, but we had 1 Val before that, so 8 in total. Then it hit me, we've been together for just over 8 years, our love continues to thrive, we have two lovely children and a third one on the way. We have much to thank God for. Make the time, brother, take stock and praise God for all the things He has done in your lives." NOA

How many times have we had people lament, 'I lost this person and never ever told her how much I loved her.'?

You buy things for your child everyday, but do you notice how much a birthday present or a Christmas present means?

On the Children's Day we stop to reflect on the welfare of all children across the world. This should not mean we don't care for children throughout the year.

On Mother's Day we shower love and presents on all mothers. This does not mean we don't love our mothers throughout the year.

On Father's Day we appreciate all fathers. I feel honoured to be given a special appreciation on Father's Day even though my children tell me every single day that I am the best Dad in the world.

We have days set aside for poetry, for AIDS, etc, why can't we have a day set aside for the greatest thing of all? Without love nothing else we celebrate will mean anything at all.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Have you registered to attend the SPM London Book Launch?

 

BOOKLAUNCH MARCH 2013 FLYER

On the 9th of March, 2013 SPM Publications, the publishing division and primary imprint of Sentinel Poetry Movement will hold a presentation and launch of some books we published in 2012. The books are:

1.       Marking Time by Roger Elkin

2.       The Bridge Selection by Nnorom Azuonye

3.       Letter Home & Biafran Nights by Afam Akeh

4.       All the Invisibles by Mandy Pannett

5.       Sentinel Annual Literature Anthology 2012

 

The event will be held at the Waterloo Action Centre, 14 Baylis Road, London SE1 7AA. The venue is just 3 minutes’ walk from Waterloo Station. There is also ample metered parking around the venue.

 

Admittance is completely FREE of charge, however pre-registration is required due to the limited spaces available.

 

ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY?

How would you like to win 1, 2, 3, 4 or all 5 books to be launched on the 9th of March? We have a raffle to be drawn on that day. It is just £2.50 per raffle ticket. By buying a raffle ticket, you not only give yourself a chance to win these books, but you also support the work of Sentinel Poetry Movement.

 

Please note: You may buy a raffle ticket even if you cannot attend the event. If you win, we will send you the signed books free of charge to any address in the world.

 

FREE event tickets and the raffle tickets are available at: http://spmbooklaunch0313.eventbrite.co.uk/#

 

SPM BOOK OF THE MONTH – FEBRUARY 2013

 

The SPM Book of the Month (February 2013) is Mandy Pannett’s ‘All the Invisibles’. This seminal poetry collection has received excellent reviews and has excited poetry lovers in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Nigeria where those who have bought it are recommending it to their friends.

 

Throughout February All the Invisibles will be delivered to United Kingdom addresses without any delivery charges whatsoever. International orders will receive £1.50 off delivery charges and all buyers will receive FREE pdf versions of Sentinel Literary Quarterly magazine issues Jul-Sept 2012 and Oct-Dec. 2012 (2 issues).

 

To learn more and to buy All the Invisibles today visit http://www.sentinelpoetry.org.uk/publications/alltheinvisibles/index.html

 

 

SENTINEL COMPETITIONS


Closing March 31, 2013

Sentinel Literary Quarterly Poetry Competition

(March 2013)

Judge: Oz Hardwick

Prizes: £150, £75, £50, and 3 x £10

Publication: In Sentinel Literary Quarterly Magazine.

Fees: £4 per poem, £7/2, £9/3, £11/4, £12/5, £16/7 £22/10

Enter Competition Here


Closing March 31, 2013

Sentinel Literary Quarterly Short Story Competition

(March 2013)

Judge: Kate Horsley

Prizes: £150, £75, £50, and 3 x £10

Publication: In Sentinel Literary Quarterly Magazine.

Fees: £5 per story, £8/2, £10/3, £12/4

Enter Competition Here


Sentinel Nigeria All-Africa Poetry Competition 2013

Closing Date: 28-Feb-2013

Theme: Open

Length: 50 lines maximum (Excluding title)

Prizes: N35,000 (1st), N20,000 (2nd), N10,000 (3rd), N4000 x 3 (High Commendation).

Fees: N450 / £2.50 per poem

Publication: Yes. In Sentinel Nigeria Magazine

Judge: Chiedu Ezeanah

Enter online or by post here.


Sentinel Nigeria All-Africa Short Story Competition 2013

Closing Date: 28-Feb-2013

Theme: Open

Length: 1500 words maximum (Excluding title)

Prizes: N35,000 (1st), N20,000 (2nd), N10,000 (3rd), N4000 x 3 (High Commendation).

Fees: N450 / £2.50 per story

Publication: Yes. In Sentinel Nigeria Magazine

Judge: Judge Dibia

Enter online or by post here.

 

Friday, February 08, 2013

AFRICAN PRISONS PROJECT POETRY AND SHORT STORY COMPETITIONS 2013

Closing Date: 20th March 2013
Entries are now being accepted for the maiden African Prisons Project Poetry and Short Story Competitions. These are Excel for Charity competitions administered by Eastern Light EPM International in support of African Prisons Project, a national charity working to bring justice, dignity and hope to men, women and children in prisons across Africa. For original, previously unpublished poems up to 50 lines long and short stories up to 1500 words long, on any subject and in any style. Poets and writers of all nationalities living anywhere in the world are eligible to enter. Judges: Bob Beagrie (Poems), Alison Lock (Short Stories).

PRIZES IN EACH CATEGORY: £100 (first), £50 (second), £30 (third) and 2 x £10 (high commendation) plus first publication in the Excel for Charity News Blog.
ENTRY FEES (POEMS): £3 per poem, £12 for 5, £16 for 7 or £22 for 10.
ENTRY FEES (STORIES): £5 for 1 story, £8 for 2, £10 for 3 or £12 for 4. (A third of net entry fees will be donated to African Prisons Project).
HOW TO ENTER: You may enter online and pay securely by paypal and submit your poems or stories by e-mail, or download and Entry Form for postal entries at www.excelforcharity.com
Send cheques or postal orders payable to EASTERN LIGHT EPM INTERNATIONAL together with your poems or stories, and Entry Forms/Cover Notes to: Excel for Charity, Eastern Light EPM International, Unit 136, 113-115 George Lane, South Woodford, London E18 1AB, United Kingdom

Sentinel Literary Quarterly Short Story Competition (March 2013)

Closing Date: 31-March-2013

For original, previously unpublished short stories in English Language on any subject, in any style, up to 1500 lines long (excluding title). Stories entered should also not be entered into another competition running at the same time. Writers of all nationalities living in any part of the world are eligible to enter.

Prizes: £150 (First), £75 (Second), £50 (Third), £10 x 3 (High Commendation).

Publication: The winners and commended stories will receive first publication in Sentinel Literary Quarterly magazine.

Fees: £5/1 story, £8/2 stories, £10/3 stories, £12/4 stories.

Judge: Kate Horsley

Enter online and pay securely by PayPal or download an Entry Form for postal entry at:

http://www.sentinelquarterly.com/competitions/short-stories/

Send Cheques/Postal orders payable to SENTINEL POETRY MOVEMENT with stories, Entry Form or Cover Note to Sentinel Poetry Movement, Unit 136, 113-115 George Lane, South Woodford, London E18 1AB, United Kingdom.

Sentinel Literary Quarterly Poetry Competition (March 2013)

Oz HardwickClosing Date: 31-March-2013

For original, previously unpublished poems in English Language on any subject, in any style, up to 50 lines long (excluding title). Poems entered should also not be entered into another competition running at the same time. Poets of all nationalities living in any part of the world are eligible to enter.

Prizes: £150 (First), £75 (Second), £50 (Third), £10 x 3 (High Commendation).

Publication: The winners and commended poems will receive first publication in Sentinel Literary Quarterly magazine.

Fees: £4/1 poem, £7/2 poems, £9/3 poems, £11/4 poems, £12/5 poems, £16/7 poems, £22/10 poems.

Judge: Oz Hardwick

Enter online and pay securely by PayPal or download an Entry Form for postal entry at:

http://sentinelquarterly.com/competitions/poetry/

Send Cheques/Postal orders payable to SENTINEL POETRY MOVEMENT with poems, Entry Form or Cover Note to Sentinel Poetry Movement, Unit 136, 113-115 George Lane, South Woodford, London E18 1AB, United Kingdom.

Friday, February 01, 2013

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE SPM PRESENTATION & LAUNCH OF 5 BOOKS

BOOKLAUNCH MARCH 2013 FLYER

ONLY 32 PLACES LEFT. REGISTER TODAY FOR THE SPM PRESENTATION & LAUNCH OF 5 BOOKS
Nnorom Azuonye's The Bridge Selection - Poems for the Road (Second Edition)
Afam Akeh's Letter Home & Biafran Nights.
Roger Elkin's Marking Time.
Mandy Pannett's All the Invisibles
and the Sentinel Annual Literature Anthology 2012 edited by Nnorom Azuonye, Unoma Azuah and Amanda Sington-Williams.

Come and be a part of this event and experience reading from the books and interact with the authors.

Gate: FREE
Date: Saturday, 9th March 2013
Venue: Waterloo Action Centre, 14 Baylis Road, SE1 7AA. (across the road from the Old Vic)
Time: 3pm to 6pm

The venue is very easy to access - just 2 minutes from Waterloo Station. There is ample metered parking on The Cut and neighbouring streets.

Need help on the way, call 07812 755 751
http://spmbooklaunch0313.eventbrite.co.uk/#