Live drawing & book signing at Stafford Wynnstay store this Saturday 6th October

Another chance to have an on-the-spot cartoon of your horse/pet and to obtain a signed copy of my recently released  book of humorous animal poems.
There will be a free prize draw where you can win 2 of my signed prints.

Approx 10am until 5pm.

Wynnstay store, Unit 10, Brindley close, Stafford. ST16 3SU.
Phone 01785 250595
stafford@wynnstay.co.uk

AUGUST BOOK SIGNING & CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP TOUR

Mark Bardsley’s Crazy Animal Tour
AUGUST LIBRARY WORKSHOP
& BOOK SIGNING SCHEDULE

Thursday 2nd         Wem, 11am-12.30pm
Monday 6th            Much Wenlock, 10.30am-12.00pm
Wednesday 8th      Shifnal, 10.30am-12pm
Thurday 9th            Shrewsbury, 10.30am-12pm
Friday 10th             Cleobury Mortimer 11am-12pm
Sunday 12th           Gregynog Hall, Powys, 1pm-4pm Book signing & Pet Caricaturing
Monday 13th          Market Drayton,10.30am-12pm
Tueday 14th           Church Stretton,11am-12.30pm
Wednesday 22nd   Bayston hill, 10.30am-12pm
Friday 24th             Bridgenorth, 10.30am-12pm
Saturday 25th         Berriew Show All day (book signing & pet caricaturing)

Monday 27th          Welshpool, Coed y Dinas, 10am-4pm (book signing & pet caricaturing)

Wednesday 29th    Ludlow, 10am-12pm
Thursday 30th        Shrewsbury 10am-12pm
                               Oswestry, 2pm-4pm
Friday 31st             Harlescott, 10.30am-12pm
Friday 31st             Shifnal  2.30pm- 4pm

Ludlow bells are calling!

Well, yesterday was a fine day for a poet; a trip to the beautiful Shropshire jewel, Ludlow and a recital by previous poet laureate and national treasure, Andrew Motion!

Andrew is currently reading his latest work 'Essex Clay' which I found of considerable interest as I was born in Essex and attended Braintree college when I was eighteen. I have only spent three years of my life there in total but I know parts of rural Essex and it's coast.

Essex Clay is a biographical long poem about about life, love and loss, an intimate narrative and such a privileged to hear it from the author himself.

I also got to take a selfie with Alfred Housman (well, kind of.)

Mark Bardsley's Crazy ANIMAL POEMS out now!

Yes folks, after grafting away in my burrow all winter I am now able to release my book of crazy animal poems. It is a full colour larger format (6"x"9) paperback containing 55 humorous poems about animals and their antics. It has a small back section with a few poetry hints and tips and 6 blank but illustrated pages for aspiring poets to use (hopefully the page footer illustrations might provide some inspiration). The price is £12.99 and it is only available from Amazon or me if you can catch me at a live drawing or book signing event.
If you would like to host a book signing event, do contact me at bardsleyart@gmail.com

My next Book signing event will be on Saturday, May 26th and Monday May 28th (bank hol)
at Coed y Dinas Country Store, Welshpool, SY21 8RP. 10.am till 5pm.

Hope you enjoy it and I am always grateful for a written review if you purchase it from Amazon. The next book is already in the planning stage!

Mrs Flossy Cotton Bottom

I'm rapidly approaching launch time for my new paperback 'Mark Bardsley's Crazy Animal Poems'
so here is a taster. This one is a bit Beatrix but a bit Bardsley as well (the bit that's Bardsley is usually the nutty bit, but you probably already know that!)

The new book will be a soft-back in full colour containing 55 illustrated poems and some secret  writing pages for budding poets at the back.

MRS FLOSSY COTTON BOTTOM

Mrs Flossy Cotton Bottom

Asked me round for tea

But dandelions and thistle down

Are not the food for me.

‘Oh do partake of toadstool pie

And have some teasel tart.’

Dear Mrs Flossy Cotton Bottom

I must now depart.

‘But blue bell batch and cicely greens

You surely can’t refuse?’

Oh Mrs Flossy Cotton

I would rather eat my shoes!

My colon cannot cope with food

That rabbits can digest.

So Mrs Flossy Cotton Bottom,

                     Fare thee well, ‘tis best.