Noel is a fine poet in his own right, having a long-awaited debut collection published in 2010 by Salmon press: Prophesying the Past. So he knows his poetry onions and it's easy to trust his instincts when editing, because he's usually right!
We had the lovely job of having to lose poems: some because they were not quite right for the book, others simply because we didn't have enough room in the end - and that's not a bad complaint to have!
The book now has a shape, and I feel I can now start calling it a book, not a ms anymore. It feels stronger than the first one: I hope that is true, I can't say for certain myself, because I'm far too close to it at present. You know, wood for trees syndrome and the like. Sometimes I think it's bloody marvellous; at others I'm just not sure. Tell me other people doubt like that too?
The title will be The Angels' Share. It begins with whiskey and ends with arses. And there is a pair of boobs in there as well... some mountaineering poems, a fair few sonnets, even some chips. I hope there's something for everyone!
