Emma Purshouse
@emmapurshouse.bsky.social
Freelance writer, novelist, performance poet and lover of all things Black Country. Editor of The Blackcountryman magazine. One third of Poets, Prattlers, and Pandemonialists.
That was a fantastic evening. Great work in progress from the middle ten performer Ceri. And then wonderful storytelling and song from Maya Catherine Foster.
This evening! Come along and enjoy brilliant work by local creatives!!
Tomorrow evening, Arena Nights returns to Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre. It's a game of three halves, which finishes with a full Fringe show. This month, it's "Lullabies and Love Stories" by Maya Cathering Foster. A PAYF event with all money going to the artist. /1
February 10, 2026 at 10:10 PM
That was a fantastic evening. Great work in progress from the middle ten performer Ceri. And then wonderful storytelling and song from Maya Catherine Foster.
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
This was good!
Psst, Wolverhampton! I’ll be performing my show in the Arena Theatre in half an hour. A PAYF event. See you there!
Our second show, at 1.45pm, sees pandemonialist @bigstevepoet.bsky.social step up from the subs bench to deliver his show 'Sweat & Mugs & Rock and Roll', one man's adventures in the music industry. This replaces the advertised show. wlv.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
February 7, 2026 at 3:25 PM
This was good!
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Still a few tickets left for Wolverhampton talk on Sunday
wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
Ticketbooth
wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Still a few tickets left for Wolverhampton talk on Sunday
wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Looking forward to returning to Wolverhampton on Sunday - tickets here
wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
Ticketbooth
wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Looking forward to returning to Wolverhampton on Sunday - tickets here
wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
wolvesliteraturefestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Bumping this back up your timeline... 😎
Time for a little promo about tomorrow's Fringe Room events, all part of #WolvesLitFest, which gets better and better with each passing year.
We're putting on five Fringe shows in Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre, starting at 12.30pm. They're all PAYF, and the money goes direct to the artist. /1
We're putting on five Fringe shows in Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre, starting at 12.30pm. They're all PAYF, and the money goes direct to the artist. /1
February 6, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Bumping this back up your timeline... 😎
Wolverhampton Literature Festival's publishers' event today (6th February). I'll be there from 11 til 4.00ish representing Ignite Books, Offa's Press and The Blackcountryman magazine. We'll be in the room towards the back of Glaze cafe I believe. Pop in and say hello.
February 6, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Wolverhampton Literature Festival's publishers' event today (6th February). I'll be there from 11 til 4.00ish representing Ignite Books, Offa's Press and The Blackcountryman magazine. We'll be in the room towards the back of Glaze cafe I believe. Pop in and say hello.
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Another pandemonialist performing at this weekend's #WolvesLitFest! @emmapurshouse.bsky.social will also be reading from her latest collection 'Unsung' on Sunday. 😊
Due to illness (get well soon, Rob!) I'm stepping up from the subs bench to take part in #WolvesLitFest Fringe Room this Saturday. I'll be sharing my show 'Sweat & Mugs & Rock'n'Roll' in the Arena Theatre at 1.45pm. 😊 /1
February 4, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Another pandemonialist performing at this weekend's #WolvesLitFest! @emmapurshouse.bsky.social will also be reading from her latest collection 'Unsung' on Sunday. 😊
Just watched a DVD of 'Everything is Illuminated'. Why has no one told me of this film before!? I loved it. Particularly the dog.
February 4, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Just watched a DVD of 'Everything is Illuminated'. Why has no one told me of this film before!? I loved it. Particularly the dog.
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Oooh, look!!
February 2, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Oooh, look!!
I enjoyed this very much...
I had a lot of fun writing this… give it a read!
BBC Sport
When Toby from News joins Ian in Sport he finds they do things a little differently there…
By Steve Pottinger
@bigstevepoet.bsky.social
When Toby from News joins Ian in Sport he finds they do things a little differently there…
By Steve Pottinger
@bigstevepoet.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 2:59 PM
I enjoyed this very much...
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
I've been writing again. You'll see why... stevepottinger.substack.com/p/poetry-and...
February 2, 2026 at 6:50 PM
I've been writing again. You'll see why... stevepottinger.substack.com/p/poetry-and...
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Stormzy calls reading a ‘superpower’ as he backs accessible books campaign
Stormzy calls reading a ‘superpower’ as he backs accessible books campaign
The musician is championing the annual Quick Reads initiative, which will release six short, digestible titles for ‘nonreaders and lapsed readers’ in April for £1 each
Stormzy called reading a “superpower” as he backed an initiative aimed at encouraging people who don’t see themselves as readers to pick up a book.
The musician’s publishing imprint #Merky Books, which is part of Penguin, is publishing one of this year’s six Quick Reads – short, accessible books created “specifically for nonreaders, lapsed readers, people with short attention spans, and neurodivergent readers”, according to The Reading Agency, which has run the Quick Reads initiative for 20 years. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Stormzy calls reading a ‘superpower’ as he backs accessible books campaign
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Our train services are now so bad in Yorkshire that we have to factor in huge delays and begin our journeys as fish so we will have evolved into human beings by the time we get to Manchester
February 3, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Our train services are now so bad in Yorkshire that we have to factor in huge delays and begin our journeys as fish so we will have evolved into human beings by the time we get to Manchester
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Tonight, in Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre, it's time for another helping of PASTA. A welcoming, friendly, and ever-so-slightly wonderful open-mic night. See you there! 😊
February 3, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Tonight, in Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre, it's time for another helping of PASTA. A welcoming, friendly, and ever-so-slightly wonderful open-mic night. See you there! 😊
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Tomorrow night, one of the friendliest open-mic nights you could wish to find returns to Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre. Come and join us!
PASTA is back! And it's two weeks earlier than we'd originally expected. You lucky, lucky people!! 😊
February 2, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Tomorrow night, one of the friendliest open-mic nights you could wish to find returns to Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre. Come and join us!
Love a good poetry slam? You're in luck...
We'll be lifting the lid on #WolvesLitFest2026 this Saturday evening in Wolverhampton's Arena Theatre, with the incredible Wolves Lit Fest poetry slam. Tickets are flying out the door – get yours here: wlv.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...
January 28, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Love a good poetry slam? You're in luck...
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Our sincerest thanks to everyone who throws money in the hat at our events. You make this possible, and you're stars, every last one of you. 🙏
January 26, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Our sincerest thanks to everyone who throws money in the hat at our events. You make this possible, and you're stars, every last one of you. 🙏
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Interested in the Black Country and it’s history? Here you go…
In case you missed it, you can catch up on the latest Virtual History Group meeting here:
youtu.be/nv1tAlmUMz0?...
youtu.be/nv1tAlmUMz0?...
Zoar, Gornal Wood by Ward Jones
Black Country Society Virtual Heritage Group January 19th at 7.30. The discovery of a cornucopia of archive material concerning Zoar Methodist Church (something rare among Methodist and other…
youtu.be
January 26, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Interested in the Black Country and it’s history? Here you go…
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Chuffed to be Commended by Patrick Cotter in the @munsterlitcentre.bsky.social Southword Editor's Poetry Award for my poem "Figurine and Candle", which will be published this summer in Southword issue 50 with the other winners and Commendeds. munsterlit.ie/southword-ed...
Southword Editor’s Poetry Award Result – Munster Literature Centre
munsterlit.ie
January 25, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Chuffed to be Commended by Patrick Cotter in the @munsterlitcentre.bsky.social Southword Editor's Poetry Award for my poem "Figurine and Candle", which will be published this summer in Southword issue 50 with the other winners and Commendeds. munsterlit.ie/southword-ed...
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
Well, that was just brilliant. An entertaining hour on Zoom with @emmapurshouse.bsky.social in conversation with poet and publisher Simon Fletcher, Fascinating, warm, and funny. The next Unsung is on March 12th, when Emma will be chatting with poet Ann Grant. Put it in your diary!
January 22, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Well, that was just brilliant. An entertaining hour on Zoom with @emmapurshouse.bsky.social in conversation with poet and publisher Simon Fletcher, Fascinating, warm, and funny. The next Unsung is on March 12th, when Emma will be chatting with poet Ann Grant. Put it in your diary!
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
...but first, a cuppa. And a break from the laptop. For those of you who can't wait, or worry the events *you* want to see might sell out, the whole festival programme is here: www.wolvesliteraturefestival.co.uk We'll be back in a bit. 😊
January 22, 2026 at 1:42 PM
...but first, a cuppa. And a break from the laptop. For those of you who can't wait, or worry the events *you* want to see might sell out, the whole festival programme is here: www.wolvesliteraturefestival.co.uk We'll be back in a bit. 😊
Reposted by Emma Purshouse
We're looking forward to absolutely all of this. #WolvesLitFest is a great example of what a small, committed team of people can put together, and we're very thankful for all their hard work. Coming up next, we'll do another thread about all the great poetry events they're putting on....
January 22, 2026 at 1:42 PM
We're looking forward to absolutely all of this. #WolvesLitFest is a great example of what a small, committed team of people can put together, and we're very thankful for all their hard work. Coming up next, we'll do another thread about all the great poetry events they're putting on....
A thread about some of things happening as part of Wolverhampton Literature Festival. It's going to be fabulous...
OK. It's Thursday lunchtime, and it's time for a thread 🧵about all the things we're doing at #WolvesLitFest this year. Make yourself a cup of tea, settle down, get your diary, and do your level best to get along to some or all of these, OK? 😊
January 22, 2026 at 3:36 PM
A thread about some of things happening as part of Wolverhampton Literature Festival. It's going to be fabulous...
Get in touch if you'd like to be in the Zoom room this evening...
This evening, on Zoom, it's the first in a series of events hosted by @emmapurshouse.bsky.social. 'Unsung' will point the spotlight on people who do so much hard work behind the scenes to keep poetry thriving. Worth an hour of your time, I reckon. 😊
January 22, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Get in touch if you'd like to be in the Zoom room this evening...