I am more than rather chuffed to be able to finally say ... HAPPY LAUNCH DAY!!! to the rather wonderful Alwyn Marriage on the Book Birth Day of her brilliant collection Travelling Light. You can ONLY order yourself a SIGNED FIRST RUN FIRST EDITION copy direct from the lady herself. Find out all about it HERE or if you are already convinced, order direct from Alwyn via her web site OVER THERE

Well, what can I say about this gorgeous book, filled with some of the finest poetry I've read in years? Not a lot that I haven't already gushed about, so suffice to say - PRE-ORDERS ARE OPEN! To treat yourself to a Signed, First Run, First Edition - contact Louise direct.. Find out more HERE

Well, I think this one could have been called 'What the World is waiting for' - probably - but I am pleased to say that Pre-orders are now open. There are (genuinely) a very limited number of the First Run First Edition available, and they will only be from here or the poets themselves. So don't delay, Click Here to find out more

Well, I keep saying that my little legs are going like the clappers under the water, but I am so pleased to say that there is finally some tangible proof as for the first time in a while,  PRE-ORDERS ARE OPEN BABY - and you can now order yourself a stunningly cool copy of Alwyn Marriage's collection, Travelling Light direct from the lady herself.

Well, I have to say that it is all go in Hogland, UK at the moment, and we are going to be enjoying a poetry flood over the next few months. I am rather chuffed that surfing the wavey crest will be a quite stunning collection from Louise Longson who is a poet that I have long admired from afar and was so pleased to be able to publish.

“The Crimson Spine Pocket Book” - A Poetry Pamphlet Competition Win the chance to see a  collection of your poems, published beautifully in one of our Crimson Spine Book Pamphlets Deadline: 31st December 2025 The Winning Pamphlet will be published in 2026

Over the course of the year, there will be Four Challenges that focus on people and families and the places that they live. There will be more details of how this fits together as we go, but the final challenge of the four looks at the local pub, The Red Lion. Kitchener Road and the adjoining Hobson Road are a development of post war streets built as part of the slum clearance / regeneration of the inner cities.

Well, I have to say that the Crimson Spines are truly the most gorgeous of things, and I am so pleased that the seventh competition has produced such stunning work. I am rather chuffed then to announce that the shortlisted poets are: Christine Marie Tokunaga Elizabeth Barton Margaret Royall (Commended) Will Kemp Carmella de Keyser Cath Kansara (Highly Commended) Eileen Phyall…

Well, I have to say that I am so please to be finally be able to say that Caroline Gill's immaculately beautiful wee collection, Polar Corona is finally (finally finally & finally) going to be real and available in time for Christmas. This is a stunning collection of poems and I know that you will enjoy it. Pre-order details will follow soon 🙂

Well, I keep saying that there is about to be a whole-lot-of-poetry-bobbins-going-on, which to be fair isn't as catchy a song as it should be, but despite the image of inertia, I am pleased to say that indeed, there is a lot about to happen and my wee legs have been going like the clappers under the surface. No, really.

Well, I know that this one is top of the eagerly awaited list and I am rather proud to say that it is imminent. Out in December, this is a selection of poems that concentrate on teenage (and older) fascination with the achingly cool, hot or <insert your own teenage crush or obsession> getting a poem all to themselves. I am pleased as a punchy Punch to be able to finally share the cover.

Well, I know that this one is top of the eagerly awaited list and I am rather proud to say that it is imminent. Out in December, this is a selection of poems that concentrate on teenage (and older) fascination with the achingly cool, hot or <insert your own teenage crush or obsession> getting a poem all to themselves. I am pleased as a punchy Punch to be able to finally share the cover.

Well, it is weird to be typing this, but we are down to the last handfilled of places in the (gulp) FINAL EVER CULT So it is now or never... #comeandjoinus and generally find out more HERE

“A Proper Poetry Pamphlet Competition” - A Poetry Pamphlet Competition  Win the chance to see a  collection of your poems, published beautifully in one of our rather lovely pamphlets Deadline: 30th November 2025 The Winning Pamphlet will be published during 2026

I know that we did Christmas last month, but I thought we'd gild that there lily one last time, as I wanted to produce our Christmas card this year and maybe even remember to send them for once. This challenge then is a bit different from the Annual, as it is just for a single poem. It is limited to a short form poem - Haiku, Tanka, …

Well, I have to say that it has been quite humbling, in the main, the nice things that people have been saying about Hedgehog - and I have already said to a few people, that I'm feeling as though I shot Bambi at the moment, but there we are. So just a thank you for the best wishes and all, but I'm happy now to just get my head down and get on with it and so that is the plan.

Well, what can I say - this week is already somewhat weird and I have a feeling that the next six months is only going to be more so. But today I am pleased to say that a truly special collection is the penultimate 'Proper Poetry Pamphlet' and will most definitely be published before the end of March 2026. But getting on with it, I am pleased to say that the Shortlisted Poets are, in no particular order:

In September 2017 Hedgehog began on a spreadsheet, developing into a plan based upon the idea that if I could find 100 like minded poetry lovers to join, what became, the Cult of the Spiny Hog, it would allow us to publish a lot of poetry collections and anthologies, without any kind of Arts Funding, or my developing the publisher’s twitch you see on the faces of all those sitting behind piles of unsold books at literary fayres across the land.

Last year we had our first Christmas Annual, and it went down so well that I thought it would be daft, even by my standards, not to make it an err, annual Annual. So this month's Challenge is to write a wee Christmas poem that has a hopefilled message for one and all in the form of a Christmas Wish.

Well, I have to say that I love the design of our wee Pocket Hedgehogs, and judging our third competition has been sooo verily tricky. Luckily, I got therein the end and I am proud to share that the Shortlisted Poets, are: Anthony Mooney Marion Horton (Commended) Alwyn Marriage Vanessa Horn Dawn Rhodes-Shaw Andrew Player Zain Azad Miranda Day (Highly Commended)

I am so verily chuffed to be able to announce the Shortlisted and Winning Entries of our Second Peacock Spine Debut Poetry Collection Competition, are now available... The Shortlist is: Catherine Long Tina Roper (Highly Commended) Sarah Targett Jermaine Rockford Samuel Parris L.P. Denning Emily Fox (Commended) Gwen Francis John Crick Lloyd Robinson This has proven to be a truly difficult decision, but in the end this time there can only be one, and I am proud to say that it is: Catherine Long for "Because" Congratulations to Catherine and many thanks to all who entered and those who were shortlisted 🙂