Rachael Boast
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rachaelboast.bsky.social
Rachael Boast
@rachaelboast.bsky.social
810 followers 290 following 150 posts
Disability advocate, editor and Picador author | Editor of VERSUS VERSUS: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets (Bloodaxe Books, 2025).
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Rachael Boast @rachaelboast.bsky.social · 5d
Coming up! Elspeth Wilson hosts a gorgeous line up of poets from the @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social anthology, Versus Versus: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets, on November 22nd - featuring Polly Atkin, Nuala Watt and Pascale Petit. Link: pushtheboatout.org/events/versu...
Flyer for the Versus Versus event at Push the Boat Out festival, with event details and author photographs displayed against a pink and orange backdrop.
rachaelboast.bsky.social
Coming up! Elspeth Wilson hosts a gorgeous line up of poets from the @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social anthology, Versus Versus: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets, on November 22nd - featuring Polly Atkin, Nuala Watt and Pascale Petit. Link: pushtheboatout.org/events/versu...
Flyer for the Versus Versus event at Push the Boat Out festival, with event details and author photographs displayed against a pink and orange backdrop.
November 7, 2025 at 2:10 PM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
The Barbellion Prize relaunches today. Such good news.

barbellionprize.org
The Barbellion Prize | A prize recognising literary representation of chronically disabled lives.
barbellionprize.org
November 1, 2025 at 10:07 PM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
This is going to be such a significant publication, covering themes such as the atypical body, love, displacement, history & the body politic, & no doubt will provide a reassessment of how we shape legacy. A magnificent debut from Chisom Okafor. Due 1.12.25
www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/978...
Winged Witnesses - Nebraska Press
The voices in these poems have witnessed the microhistories of the atypical body, the unusual body, the enjambed body, the chronically ill body trying to nav...
www.nebraskapress.unl.edu
November 1, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
badlilies.bsky.social
OUT NOW. Issue Twenty-Two: 'Ghost Ship'. badlilies.uk/issue-twenty-two
Issue twenty-two — Bad Lilies
badlilies.uk
October 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
If you missed the Versus Versus celebration at the Southbank last Saturday, it can be viewed on YouTube until Friday. Great to see it's had over 200 views. Warm thanks again to all our wonderful poets. Enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek9B...
Rachael Boast: Versus Versus – Live Stream
YouTube video by Southbank Centre
www.youtube.com
October 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
clairerwade.bsky.social
Understanding #Access Forms and Riders - Tools for #Disabled, #ChronicallyIll & #Neurodivergent Authors

13th November 2PM

Hear from #publishing director Hannah Knowles, #LiteraryAgent Caro Clarke, #author Polly Atkin & #editor Ama Badu about their experiences & hopes for the form.

bit.ly/48Bmxxb
A graphic of a computer screen with accessibility icons around it. Beside it are photos of the five participants. White text on an orange background reads “Understanding Access Forms and Riders: Tools for Disabled, Chronically Ill and Neurodivergent Authors with Claire Wade, Hannah Knowles, Caro Clarke, Polly Atkin and Ama Badu Industry Insider - Understanding Access Forms and Riders - Tools for Disabled, Chronically Ill and Neurodivergent Authors Thursday 13 November 2025 14.00-15.00 We'll hear from publishing director Hannah Knowles, literary agent Caro Clarke, author Polly Atkin and editor Ama Badu about their experiences and hopes for how the form can be implemented. This event will be chaired by ADCI founder Claire Wade.”
October 28, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
bloodaxebooks.bsky.social
Saturday 25 October, 2pm at @southbankcentre.bsky.social:
Global Crip Poetry Celebration
Rachael Boast, Lisa Kelly, Karthika Naïr and Daniel Sluman introduce Versus Versus, a new anthology by 100 deaf, disabled and neurodivergent poets from across the globe.
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/glo...
October 21, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
bloodaxebooks.bsky.social
Great edition of BBC Radio 4's The Verb on Sunday. Host Ian McMillan was joined by poet Daniel Sluman to discuss @rachaelboast.bsky.social's landmark anthology Versus Versus: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets (from 34:53).
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
October 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
VERSUS VERSUS SOUTHBANK CENTRE EVENT: VENUE CHANGE AND COVID AWARENESS

The venue change and covid guidance is now up on the Southbank Centre website (see comments below for more details)

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/glo...
Global Crip Poetry Celebration | Southbank Centre
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
October 21, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
johnpring.bsky.social
Home Office ‘uses false claims’ about disabled campaigner to dodge disability hate crime meeting
#HateCrime #DisabilityHateCrime #JusticeForDisabledVictims
@inclusionlondon.bsky.social
www.disabilitynewsservice.com/home-office-...
Home Office ‘uses false claims’ about disabled campaigner to dodge disability hate crime meeting
The government has been accused of “hiding behind false claims” and failing disabled people who are being targeted by disability hate, while dodging a meeting with a leading disabled people’s organ…
www.disabilitynewsservice.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:41 PM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
More anthology news! A lovely review of VERSUS VERSUS for Write Out Loud, by Kathy Owston, retired Teacher of the Deaf and volunteer trainer of the national Down Syndrome Table Tennis squad. VERSUS VERSUS is available to purchase from bloodaxebooks.bsky.social.

www.writeoutloud.net/public/bloge...
Versus Versus: ed. Rachael Boast, Bloodaxe | Write Out Loud
Versus Versus: ed. Rachael Boast, Bloodaxe
www.writeoutloud.net
October 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
bloodaxebooks.bsky.social
Coming up on The Verb: poet Daniel Sluman will be talking to host Ian McMillan about @rachaelboast.bsky.social's anthology Versus Versus: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets.

Tune in to BBC Radio 4 at 5.10pm today, 19 October, or listen later.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
The image is a colour cover photo of Rachael Boast's anthology Versus Versus. The book's cover features a square-shaped artwork by Polish artist, Julian Stanczak, entitled 'Concurrent Colors'. The painting creates an optical illusion of vertical moving curved lines in red and blue, giving the impression of moving waves or sand dunes. At the edges of the painting the lines thin out so that they resemble a comb effect. The painting has a darker blue framing band around it, filling the extent of the cover. The title of the anthology 'VERSUS VERSUS' is in a large red font at the top of the cover, and the subtitle, '100 POEMS BY DEAF, DISABLED & NEURODIVERGENT POETS', is in a large blue font underneath the square painting. The editor's name, Rachael Boast, is in a smaller red font beneath the subtitle.
October 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
Tune in to BBC Radio 4's The Verb at 5.10pm today to catch Daniel Sluman, along with fellow contributors from the anthology Versus Versus: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets (bloodaxebooks.bsky.social)
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - The Verb, Poetry by Tony Harrison, US Poet Laureate Arthur Sze, Sinéad Morrissey, David Morley, and Daniel Sluman
Ian McMillan's guests are Sinéad Morrissey, David Morley, Arthur Sze and Daniel Sluman.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 19, 2025 at 1:07 PM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
If you've not booked yet, grab your tickets! One week to go until this beautiful line up of poets for our Global Crip Poetry Celebration at the Southbank Centre, London.
rachaelboast.bsky.social Rachael Boast @rachaelboast.bsky.social · Oct 8
Not long to go! Global Crip Poetry Celebration: Poets from VERSUS VERSUS, published by @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social | Sat 25 Oct 2025, 2pm, at the Southbank Centre. A Relaxed Performance and British Sign Language interpreted (BSL) and Speech-to-Text transcribed. More details in comments.
October 17, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
disabilityarts.bsky.social
Poets Rachael Boast, Lisa Kelly, Karthika Naïr and Daniel Sluman introduce Versus Versus, an anthology by 100 deaf, disabled and neurodivergent poets from across the globe.

When - 25 Oct
Where - London
££ - From £15

disabilityarts.online/events/globa...
Rachael Boast wearing a grey hat and scarf whilst facing and looking left off camera.
October 10, 2025 at 11:30 AM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
Not long to go! Global Crip Poetry Celebration: Poets from VERSUS VERSUS, published by @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social | Sat 25 Oct 2025, 2pm, at the Southbank Centre. A Relaxed Performance and British Sign Language interpreted (BSL) and Speech-to-Text transcribed. More details in comments.
October 8, 2025 at 11:23 AM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
@tapsalteerie.bsky.social are hosting an exciting launch for the publication of Weathershaker by Stewart Sanderson and Dwell Time by Taylor Strickland in Glasgow: 28th October at 7pm at The Alchemy Experiment. Here's the link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poetry-boo...
Tapsalteerie's poster for the launch of new publications from Stewart Sanderson and Taylor Strickland showing light beams emerging from dark cloud meeting mountain silhouettes below
October 4, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
bloodaxebooks.bsky.social
Versus Versus: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets (ed. @rachaelboast.bsky.social) is a @poetrydayuk.bsky.social Book Group recommendation for #NationalPoetryDay this year.
forwardartsfoundation.org/national-poe...
This National Poetry Day panel shows the cover of Rachael Boast's anthology Versus Versus surrounded by a pink circle and set on a cream background. The text reads 'Profoud, Urgent, and incredibly timely', and 'A celebration of diversity - from poetic forms to experiences'.
October 2, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
extantltd.bsky.social
Coming up at @southbankcentre.bsky.social Global Crip Poetry Celebration on 25th October, 2pm. Poets Rachael Boast, Lisa Kelly, Karthika Naïr and Daniel Sluman introduce a new anthology by 100 deaf, disabled and neurodivergent poets from across the globe.
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/glo...
Global Crip Poetry Celebration | Southbank Centre
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
September 22, 2025 at 9:08 AM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
Coming soon, a celebration of Versus Versus, published by @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social, at the Southbank Centre. Visit the SBC website for in person and livestream ticket options:

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/glo...

www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/glo...
August 21, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
bloodaxebooks.bsky.social
Many thanks to @rebeccatamas.bsky.social for this wonderful review of @rachaelboast.bsky.social's Versus Versus anthology in The Guardian's Saturday magazine poetry books of the month feature.
The photograph shows a copy of Rachael Boast's Versus Versus anthology pictured next to a review of the book in Rebecca Tamás's poetry books of the month feature in The Guardian's Saturday magazine of 2 August 2025. The book's cover features a square-shaped artwork by Polish artist, Julian Stanczak, entitled 'Concurrent Colors'. The painting creates an optical illusion of vertical moving curved lines in red and blue, giving the impression of moving waves or sand dunes. At the edges of the painting the lines thin out so that they resemble a comb effect. The painting has a darker blue framing band around it, filling the extent of the cover. The title of the anthology 'VERSUS VERSUS' is in a large red font at the top of the cover, and the subtitle, '100 POEMS BY DEAF, DISABLED & NEURODIVERGENT POETS', is in a large blue font underneath the square painting. The editor's name, Rachael Boast, is in a smaller red font beneath the subtitle.
August 2, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
badlilies.bsky.social
📣 Our submission window is now OPEN for the month of August. Get your blooms to us while the sun is shining! badlilies.uk/submit
Submission FAQ — Bad Lilies
Guidelines to submit to Bad Lilies
badlilies.uk
August 1, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
phillipcrymble.bsky.social
This important anthology's available here in Canada as of today, folks. Received confirmation this morning that my copy has just shipped.
August 1, 2025 at 12:40 PM
rachaelboast.bsky.social
Delighted that VERSUS VERSUS: 100 Poems by Deaf, Disabled & Neurodivergent Poets, published by @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social & supported by the Royal Society of Literature, has made it into the Guardian. A short and sweet review from
@rebeccatamas.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...
The best recent poetry – review roundup
Passion by David Morley; Versus Versus edited by Rachael Boast; So What by Frederick Seidel; In the Hollow of the Wave by Nina Mingya Powles; Transfigurations by Jay Wright
www.theguardian.com
August 1, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Rachael Boast
mailbykite.bsky.social
23 of us poets in VERSUS VERSUS: 100 POEMS BY DEAF, DISABLED & NEURODIVERGENT POETS, edited by @rachaelboast.bsky.social, perform:

vimeo.com/1102502312

Click Subtitles button for Closed Captioning. #CripLit
Poets from Versus Versus
23 of the poets included in Versus Versus share their poems from the anthology in this compilation of readings from around the world. Poets featured in the video…
vimeo.com
July 25, 2025 at 10:56 AM