I'm excited to share that next week I'll be at #EdBookFest, in conversation with the lovely Shasta Hanif Ali about what it means to belong, and how exploring belonging is at the core of Minx. Expect the unexpected in this conversation that looks at the quirks of language, mining archives for rootedness, and creating new spaces on the page for untold stories.

It's just four days until Ruth Padel and I take to the stage at the Burgage Hall in Ledbury. We'll be reading from our books, discussing female mythologies and how poetry creates a unique space for reconfiguring ideas of what it is to be female. Join us online or in person... and if you can make it in person come over to say 'Hi' after the event.

I'm excited to announce that I'll be appearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Thursday August 14th. The theme this year is 'Repair' and as ever I'll be coming at this thought provoking title in a minxy way, through concepts of belonging. This will be the first time I've taken Minx on a road trip to Scotland so do come along and say 'hi' if you're visiting the festival.

Barnsley Bard Ian McMillan is joined by guests for poetry performance and discussion.

Yesterday I was at Media City to record a session for BBC Radio 4's much loved The Verb hosted by Ian McMillan. It was fantastic to read three poems from Minx, explore a neon line from Faroese poetry, hear about activism through 'poetry bombs,' and meet Naz, poet in residence at Luton FC. The program is due to be aired on the 8th of June.

Join poets, travel writers and academics at Foyles for a discussion chaired by Bidisha on Romani culture and contemporary Romani writing. Wednesday 28th May, 7-8.30pm. Tickets: £10 General Admission / £8 Foyalty Member Venue: The Auditorium (Level 6) at Foyles, 107 Charing Cross Road* doors open 6.45.

I'm excited to announce that I'll be at Ledbury Literature Festival on Friday July 4th with the wonderful Ruth Padel. We'll be at Burgage Hall from 4pm and if you can't be with us in person the event is being live streamed on Vimeo. Fabulous! The festival literature says: In Girl, Ruth Padel offers a fresh and questioning look at girlhood and its icons.

I was honoured to be invited to be interviewed by Louise Wilford for her literary blog recently. There were questions that took us to some wonderfully diverse areas including portable writing spaces, cocktail alchemy, plus of course sharing poems from Minx and how they came into being. The interview is now live. Do check it out.

I’m sending out a massive ‘Thank You’ to all the lovely people who came to @lrbbookshop on Tuesday evening to celebrate #Minx and launch her into the world.

I was having a day out in London and popped into Foyles for some essential browsing and bookish sustenance in their cafe and who should I see cheekily sitting on a table in the poetry department? Minx! She was in great company next to Anthony Joseph, Lemn Sissay and a bevvy of other poetic wanderers. Was I happy? You bet.

I woke up this morning full of the joys of Collection Launch Day. Yes, Minx is finds herself moving out into the wide world as of this morning. I hope she finds a home on your hands, hearts, and shelves.

A day by the canal at Dundas, talking to inspiring strangers, collecting wild garlic, came home and read a great review of Minx by Shash Trevett in the Poetry Book Society spring bulletin. Who could ask for more?

Today I was lured into @bertsbooks by the thought that I needed another book to swell my already bulging shelves. What a delight to find something enticing inside plus find my spring @poetrybooksociety bulletin waiting on the doorstep. Doubly book blessed.

Imagine my joy when I searched the website of my local independent bookshop for poetry and found my own little Minx available for pre-order. Thank you Bert's Books. I had an extra skip in my step all morning. Other local news this morning includes the blooming of the violets and primula's, and the cormorant was displaying it's impressive wingspan beside the canal. @bertsbooks

Just 10 days until my little Minx steps past the early ransoms, crocuses and last of the snowdrops, pushes open the doors of bookshops and finds new homes with poetry lovers. I've enjoyed hearing where her imminent arrival is being spoken about. I have been sent a copy of a books roundup by Tina Gaisford-Waller recommending Minx in her travel history, art and culture section.

Minx is just 15 days from publication. Here is an endorsement from the lovely Romalyn Ante.

I'm excited to share news that Minx has featured in The best recent poetry – review roundup by Philip Terry in the Guardian. Philip says of: MinxThis assured debut takes us into the heart of a precarious Anglo-Romany childhood on the edge of urban society, where casual bar work easily slips into casual sex work, and on to explore the perils of state care in the ominously named Home for Crying Children.

I was honoured and moved by the words about Minx by Joelle Taylor when I read them on the books fly cover. ‘Minx is a splinter of a book, something that interrupts the body. It's a beautiful violence, each page a shock of poetry that renders an underclass family vivid. Rich, delicate, and brutal. Minx is essential reading, a constant companion.

I’m posting my weekly update about Minx and her travels a little early as I’ll be on some travels myself midweek. I wanted to share Pascale Petit’s generous words about her with you. ‘Every poem in Minx is an enthralling read. Karen Downs-Barton’s gifts are a combination of compelling subjects from a brutal childhood and exquisite formal invention. Add to this powerful mix the linguistic riches of the Roma language and the result is a thrilling new arrival’ Pascale Petit…