Welcome to ANGELA LOCKE’s web site.

New poetry collection -
Whale Language : Songs of Iona

SkyArts/Words by the Water - videos

Angela's appearance on BBC2's Review Show with Kirsty Walk last year, performing her poem See Me in the Waning Moon.

'The World is Imagination set Free'

Angela's new book 'On Juniper Mountain - A Journey in the Himalayas' (www.o-books.com) has now been published in the UK, Australasia and USA. It has attracted good comments and reviews.

Foreword:
'For every journey there has to be a first step. When, in 1992, Angela Locke travelled to Nepal for the first time, she had never been anywhere in the Developing World. This first journey would be a life-changing experience which would culminate in the founding of the charity Juniper Trust, of which I am the Patron, which now works across the developing world to provide basic facilities for the poorest and most disadvantaged communities. This is a book about an inner journey, not an adventure in a conventional sense, but a journey of discovery nonetheless. No mountains were summitted, but there is real adventure, told against a background of the sublime beauty of the Himalayas and of the gentle people who inhabit the foothills of Nepal.'

Sir Chris Bonington CBE

'Everyone who goes to Nepal is changed by the experience. This is the story of Angela Locke's journey and her inevitable transformation. The result was the wonderful work of the Juniper Trust.'

Doug Scott CBE, Himalayan climber and founder of Community Action Nepal.

This year's Iona was fantastic, full of laughter, inspiring creativity,and unforgettable writing. Thank you to everyone who came. You were brilliant! Next year's dates are 29th April- 4th May at the Argyll Hotel, Iona, and we already have bookings. See the Courses page for detail.

Once again Angela is helping to organise what will be the third annual Maryport LitFest at the Senhouse Roman Museum from 26th-28th November. The theme this year, once again based on a Roman stone in the Museum is Venus at the Gate: interpretations of Love, and we have writers talking about everything from 'French and Latin love'- Chris Pilling, the scandalous life of Katherine Mansfield – Kathleen Jones, 'Lines of Desire'- Grevel Lindop, to great passions for the land – Eric Robson and Michael Baron. Once again, it promises to be a lively and intimate occasion with a real buzz between authors and readers. A poetry competition on the subject of a Love Poem will be judged by Kathleen Jones.

More details of that and a full programme can be downloaded from the Museum's website at www.senhousemuseum.co.uk

Angela is a writer, poet and Creative Writing tutor, living and working in the beautiful lakes and mountains of the English Lake District, where she tutors a Creative Writing Group in Mungrisdale (www.mungrisdalewriters.org.uk) and works with adult groups and in schools across the county. She also runs an annual Writing Retreat on the island of Iona (see Iona page). Angela has also been a tutor for the Senhouse Writers group in Maryport, www.senhousemuseum.co.uk. The museum has sponsored a book of poetry by Angela called 'Walls of the Worlds End' which was made up of her poems commissioned by the 'Writing on the Wall Project', during which Angela was a Writer-in-Residence on Hadrian's Wall. Detail about the Writing on the Wall project and the major book which has just been published with the work of all the poets involved, can be found on www.writingonthewall.co.uk

Angela's books and poetry are mainly inspired by the wonderful areas where she lives and works, and her heart is also in the Himalayas, where she has spent much time working for the charity The Juniper Trust, which she founded in 1994. Her second poetry collection, Into the Lotus, was first published in Nepal, is inspired by the Himalayas, and is sold in aid of Juniper Trust.

Angela has been doing Writing Residencies at numerous primary schools including Beaconside Infants in Penrith, a project sponsored by the Book Trust, and is about to work with a group of Gifted and Talented children in West Cumbria.

Recently, Angela Locke had the great honour to be commissioned to write a poem for HRH The Prince of Wales to launch the start of the Herdwick season at Booths supermarket in Keswick, part of the support Booths gives to the local farming community. She performed the poem in front of HRH Prince Charles on February 5th 2007 in Keswick. The poem 'Ode to a Herdwick' can be found on the Books and Poems page, and is on HRH The Prince of Wales's website at www.princeofwales.gov.uk for his visit to Cumbria for that date. Angela Locke used to breed Herdwick sheep and retains a great love for the breed, so she was delighted to be asked to write a poem about this unique Cumbrian sheep.

Angela is hoping to run a five-day course next year in France in the magical departement of Finisterre, in the heart of Brittany’s ancient forest, full of Celtic tradition and Arthurian legends. Two days in the lovely little port of Roscoff, and then on to Huelgoat, beside a beautiful lake... Please apply directly to Angela by e-mail if you're interested in this course.

Angela will be running a special course in the ancient Finisterre Forest in Brittany in September 2012, from 20th to the 27th, for a small number of writers. The course will begin in the ancient port of Roscoff, and consider Travel Writing, and will then move to Huelgoat, beside a magical lake and at the centre of the Finisterre Forest, based during the day at a house and art studio with its own 6 m high standing Stone. We will explore the ancient history and culture of the Celts and the Breton language, the Arthurian legends which are woven around this area, and the music and traditions of the Breton people through our writing. Beginners and experienced writers are welcome. Contact Angela on angelic@globalnet.co.uk for more information.

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