While the sun has been shining, April has been a busy month for poetry. Last weekend saw a Calderwood Press triple launch at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh on Saturday evening – new publications from Geoff Cooper, Eddie Gibbons and Lyn Moir. Then on Sunday evening at Rob Mackenzie’s regular Poetry at the Store event, Matthew Stewart was over from Spain to launch his first chapbook collection from HappenStance.

Meantime the shortlists have been announced for the Kei Miller  for his book A Light Song of Light, as well as Eddie Gibbons  who also took part at StAnza last year and Stewart Conn , who was a participant at StAnza 2011.  Along with Robin Robinson they are in the running for the Poetry Book of the Year, as well as for the £5,000 Book of the Year award.  Good luck to them.

Finally, there’s also poetry in the First Book category this year, Maggie Rabatski’s first pamphlet, Down from the Dance.