Helen Pletts has two collections of poetry, Bottle bank (2008) and For the chiding dove(2009), containing a total of 45 poems, published by YouWriteOn.com.
The title poem ‘Bottle bank’ was longlisted for The Bridport Poetry Prize in 2006, under Helen’s maiden name of Bannister. The poem was first published by Charles Christian on www.ink-sweat-and-tears.com, the poetry and prose webzine, 20th June and again as a podcast 14th December 2008. Helen is a regular contributor to this webzine.
The title poem ‘For the chiding dove’ was translated into Italian by Gabriel Griffin and first published in ‘Poetry on the Lake Journal two’ (2009).
Helen’s sonnet ‘Medusa’ was published in Aesthetica Magazine Issue 20 and again in the Bottle bank collection.
She also has fiction published in Czech and English, ‘Phiddipides’ – Now and then, A celebration of the Prague International Marathon, (Tempo Team Prague, 2007).
Helen’s most inspiring influence - the words of W.S.Graham, ‘The Nightfishing’ being one of her favourites. Sylvia Plath’s ‘Tulips’ another.
The purring sound of much loved Abyssinian cat, Bobby, accompanies her on keyboard with a flip of the tail now and then !
Her much neglected blog site exists at www.stem-of-quietly-disarrayed-fertility.com which you are more than welcome to explore. Without the unerring support of Helen’s family and dearest friends there would be nothing but blank pages ! She teaches creative writing, currently in Prague, and from this autumn she will be running creative writing workshops in Cambridge.
