Stephanie Bolster

Montreal, QC, October ‘07
“Reading for Poetry London was a wonderful experience. The reading itself provided the dual pleasure of hearing other poets and of being listened to by an engaged audience, fresh from their pre-reading workshop – one of the distinctive and very worthy features of Poetry London. The library venue offered art on the walls and exquisite stained glass poems in the upstairs windows for pre-reading contemplation. There’s very much a family feeling about the series – I have rarely been so well cared for and would happily return. I would recommend the series wholeheartedly to both prospective audience members and prospective guest writers.”

Susan McCaslin

Fort Langley, BC, November ‘07
“I have never before been part of such a well-organized tour as that of Poetry London. The connections from city to city were smooth, the hosts congenial, and the audiences responsive. This series grounds that notion that we have a vital arts community in Canada.”





Don Gutteridge

London, ON, November ‘07
“The event was professionally organized and professionally run. The audience was full and very appreciative. We sold a number of books afterwards. All in all, a fine evening.”

Alison Pick

St. John’s NF, November ‘05
“My southern Ontario poetry tour, which included venues in London, Hamilton, and Toronto, was wonderfully organized and very well-attended. It was a treat to engage with such an enthusiastic audience, not to mention the other very gifted writers with whom I shared the stage.”

Russell Thornton

Vancouver BC, January ‘06
“I can't say enough good things about the Poetry London series. The people involved on the organizational level set high standards and are superb hosts. The London audience is marvelous; visiting poets meet enthusiastic listeners. For me, the series and multiple venue partnership is the class act of Canadian poetry reading tours.”

Patrick Lane

Vancouver Island BC, March ‘06
“Poetry London is among the finest reading venue circuits in the country. Their care and consideration of writers along with the enthusiastic audiences they provide go far to enhance literature in this country. I have nothing but praise for their endeavours.”

Mary Ann Mulhern

Windsor ON, April ‘06
“As a poet, I greatly benefited from my poetry reading with Poetry London! The people who listened to my reading in London were extremely receptive and wanted my books. I would gladly return to this venue! I think it allows people who ordinarily would not be open to poetry to experience the clarity and beauty of narrative poetry.”

Tim Bowling

Edmonton AB, October ‘06
“I had a wonderful experience on my first-ever trip to London . The hosts were most gracious and generous and the audience at the well-attended reading was attentive, engaged, and perceptive. I firmly believe that the Toronto-London-Hamilton reading tour is the best-organized and most rewarding (for the poets, and hopefully for the audiences too) in the country. I would be delighted to participate again.”

Mary Dalton

St. John’s NF, January ‘07
“The four-reading tour organized by literary institutions in the cities of Toronto, London and Hamilton is one of the best in the country. As someone who has organized reading series myself, I was impressed by the care taken with details large and small, and by the many gestures which went beyond what might be considered usual practice. As well, my particular tour gave me the chance to meet and travel with a Saskatchewan poet whose work I admire, Hilary Clark. This series provides valuable opportunities for Canadian writers; its organizers are to be commended and supported in their work on behalf of writers and readers in this country.”

Barry Dempster

Holland Landing ON, February ‘07
"Being part of Poetry London for an evening was an opportunity to see how
much a love of poetry can make a difference to a community. There was such focused attention in the room, such obvious pleasure. I came away with a renewed sense of poetry mattering."

 

David Zieroth

Vancouver BC, March ‘07
“Poetry London was the highlight of the tour for me: I felt it in my bones: a generous, receptive, attentive audience that has been developed over the years, I'm sure, full of craving for poetry. Plus a pleasant venue at the library, all run by well-organized folks. I'm certainly telling everyone here that Poetry London is the standard to beat.”

Anne Compton

Rothesay NB, April ‘07
“Poetry London is an extremely well run series. The organizers are hospitable, taking very good care of their guest authors. The audience is enthusiastic, sophisticated in their questions, and book-buying.”