SanRoo Publishing

Hearing Your Call To Write

Sandra Pollock

Glasses

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De odder day I loas my glasses

I couldn’t fine dem anywhere.

Dem not in de bathroom, de kitchen, de bedroom.

No matter where I look,

I couldn’t fine dem.

It mek me tink bout mobile phones.

At least when I can’t fine my phone

I can call it.

When I hear it ring, I know jus where it is.

But I caan do dat wid a pair of specs.

Dem does sit round,

Quietly waiting to be discovered

Dem can’t shout, raise an arm and wave at me.

Even if daay could,

It might be a little hard to see.

Somebody could mek nuff money,

Creating someting dat could fine my glasses fu me.

But in de meantime,

I off to try and put my hands on glasses pair, number three.

Leicester Women’s Poetry Competition 2024 – Black History Month 2024

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Leicester Women’s Poetry Competition in celebration of the poetic voice of Black women.

You’re invited to take part in the annual Leicester Women’s Poetry competition in celebration of the poetic voice of Black Women. This year is ‘Reclaiming the Black Female Narrative’.

Submissions are invited for the competition. Here are the conditions.

Poem should be:

  • Focused on the theme – ‘Reclaiming the Black Female Narrative’.
  • 30 lines or less.
  • Include the title, the Author’s name, and contact details at the end.
  • Submissions must be in English. In the case of translated work, it is the translator’s responsibility to obtain permission from the copyright holder of the original work.
  •  If submitting a poem or short fiction that has been previously published, please give details of where it has appeared and confirm that you are the copyright holder.
  • Each author may submit only one poem.
  • The closing date for submission is Saturday 5th October 2025 at midnight. No submissions will be accepted for this competition after this date and time.
  • Shortlisted Authors will be invited to join and read their poems on Saturday 26th October 2024 at the event.
  • Attendance and reading of your poem are part of the competition.
  • Time:  1pm – 3pm. 
  • Venue for reading and celebration: Highfields Library,  98 Melbourne Rd, Leicester LE2 0DS
  • Submissions must submitted by email to editor.sanroopublishing@gmail.com
  • Submission must be typed and submitted as a Word document. Submission in pdf or written in the email will not be accepted. 
  • We welcome submissions from writers of all ages, based anywhere in the world, however, it should be noted that attendance at the event and the reading of the poem by the author is the second part of the competition.

At this event, we hear readings of shortlisted submissions to the completion by the authors and celebrate the voices of black female poets. The Judges will announce the Winner, present the winner’s trophy, and other prizes shared. There will be an opportunity for discussion and Q&A.

This event is open to the public, so bring your family.

Who is your favourite Black Female Poet?
She could be a local, national, or internationally known poet.
Come along and tell us about her. Share her name and work with us.

Creative Writing To Improve Wellbeing

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It was joy for to have run a workshop looking at the use of ‘Creative Writing to Improve Wellbeing’.

Many people come to writing as a means of dealing with overwhelm, stress, depression, and other mental or emotional struggles.

Writing can be cathartic, helping us to make use of the experiences we’re having and to transfer them from our minds and bodies onto paper.

A huge thanks to Sarfraz Ahmed, Careers Adviser, Leicester College, and Unison Learning Rep who invited us in to run the workshop.

Do look out for information on our next writing programme coming up soon.

Completing an amazing programme

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It was wonderful to come together at the end of the latest creative writing programme for women from the African-Caribbean communities.
The nine-month programme looked at further developing the writing skills of our authors and focused on novels.

We looking forward to reading the finished works in the future.

Women’s Poetry Competition

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Our now annual Women’s Poetry Competition is running again this year. We’re giving you much earlier notice this year so that you can start writing now. As we continue our ‘Celebration of Black Female Voices, this year’s theme is ‘I Am Somebody‘.

How to make your submission:

Submissions should be emailed to:

editor.sanroopublishing@gmail.com or
africancaribbeancentre@leicester.gov.uk
Or handed in at the:
African Caribbean Centre, Maidstone Road, Leicester LE2 0UA
For more details contact 0116 2211 793

Please note the terms and conditions of the competition below:

  • The competition is open to women and girls from the age of 11 years upwards.
  • Poems should be 30 lines or less (with the title of the poem, the author’s name, and contact details at the bottom).
  • One poem only per person.
  • The competition is open for submissions from 26th June 2023 to 14th October 2023.
  • It is free to submit a poem.
  • Shortlisted contributors will be invited to join us and to read their poems at an event on Saturday 28th October 2023, 1pm to 3pm at The African Caribbean Centre, Maidstone Rd, Leicester LE2 0UA. This event is free to attend.
  • Winners will be announced on the day and prizes presented.
  • Please feel free to bring your family and friends along with you to the presentation event.
  • Please be sure to keep a copy of your work as we are unable to return any submissions sent to us.
  • All poems will remain the property of the author. However, by contributing your work to this competition you hereby give permission for the organisers and SanRoo Publishing to use your work in any subsequent promotion or publication. All references and ownership of any work used in this way will be given to the author.

Book Launch

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We are delighted to announce the date for the book launch hosted by author Alphonso Hunter.
You can meet Alphonsa and purchase a signed copy of ‘Pharella The Jamaican Wonder Kid’.