International Poetry Book Awards 2025 - Call For Submissions

PONTYPRIDD, Wales - Jan. 2, 2025 - PRLog -- The Poetry Book Awards is an annual, international book award given to the best poetry books produced by indie writers, self-published authors or books published by small, truly independent presses.

"We offer true equality," says organizer Dave Lewis. "In a time when corporate greed and influence seem to infect every aspect of our lives and ruin the opportunity for the little guy to succeed the international Poetry Book Awards are a rare beacon of hope," he continues.

The competition organizer, Dave Lewis, is resolutely untrendy. A well-respected poet himself he shuns the limelight and continues to self-publish his often avant-garde work rather than seek acceptance from the mainstream just so he can continue to push the boundaries of his art. He also runs the International Welsh Poetry Competition.

This year's judge, John Evans, is one of Wales' most respected creative artists. He began his career as a frontman and songwriter for Wales' first punk rock band. He has worked as a full-time writer, film-maker and lecturer for Cardiff University and Literature Wales. He has been described as 'the leading figure in the New Wave of Welsh writing'. He is also well known for campaigning with 'Save The Badger' alongside Queen legend Brian May.

John has had a number of books published, including The Acid Real, Giants, G.B.H., Industria, How Real Is My Valley?, The Red Kite in Wales, and has been editor of a number of books and magazines including, Black Harvest, Out of the Coalhouse, Mogg Williams – Selected Works, and Kulture Vulture.

His latest book, Goshawk, is a collection of poetry on the life and habitat of the Goshawk, with illustrations by Marita Forss. Inspired by the landscape of south Wales and the many years of making films of these wonderful birds.

He is seen as a tough and controversial figure, either for his outspoken views on the Arts Council in Wales, for campaigns on social, cultural and environmental issues or for the confrontational nature of his work. In 2003, a poll to find the 'greatest Welsh men and women of all time' placed John Evans at 27 among the 100 names on the list, joining the likes of Dylan Thomas, Anthony Hopkins, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

In 2011, when Swiss airline company Helvetic Airways were looking for artists to represent the various European countries on their flight routes, they chose John to be the 'public face' of Wales. They also asked him to write a guidebook to Wales that is given to all passengers visiting the country, and his text appeared alongside images by Magnum photographer David Hurn.

https://www.poetrybookawards.co.uk