Carmella de Keyser
News, Reviews, Events
News
Competition Winner
Carmella wins Hedgehog Poetry Press international pamphlet competition.
A Hog Blogs: AND THE WINNER IS: “Little Black Book 03” – A Poetry Pamphlet Competition – The Hedgehog Poetry Press
Live Performance
Poems Not Bombs - 24/04/2025
On the 28th of August 2024, Carmella was announced as a winner of an international Poetry Competition run by the 'Hedgehog Poetry Press'. The Editor is Mark Davidson. She won alongside Karen Pierce Gonzalez and Marcelle Newbold. Her winning pamphlet 'The Liminal Light of the Night' is currently available and was fully released on February the 14th 2025!
Carmella read three poems in London, together with Harlow Stanza at 'Poems Not bombs', a beautiful and inspiring event hosted by the excellent poet and Forest Poets stanza lead Paul McGrane.
Competition Judge
Harlow Poetry Open Official Judge
Carmella was honoured to have been asked to be an official judge for the inaugural Harlow Poetry Competition 2025. She was thrilled to realise her dream of having more poetry community events in Harlow.
Longlisting for the Emma Press
Carmella's book 'The Amygdala Safari' was longlisted for the top 30 out of 467 manuscripts on the 27th August 2025.
Carmella was delighted to have her book longlisted by the prestigious Emma Press among the top 30 out of all 467 proposals.
Press Mention
Your Harlow newspaper feature on Carmella's debut pamphlet, which is released on Valentine's Day 2025.
Harlow poet has book published on Valentine’s Day
Review from Poet
Carmella's book 'The Liminal Light of the Night' is reviewed by brilliant poet Victoria Spires.
Award-winning poet and contributing editor to the Winged Moon, Victoria Spires reviewed Carmella's micro-chapbook in the Spring of 2025.
Press Mention
Carmella was interviewed by award winning writer Sam Szanto for her poet's interview series.
Twice pushcart nominated poet Sam Szanto, PHD, interviews Carmella about her Hedgehog Press pamphlet, 'The Liminal Light of the Night'.
Click on the link below to read the full interview.
Carmella de Keyser: 'I let the words go and they belong with the reader'
Press Mention
Oloriel Moonshadow Review
Oloriel Moonshadow Review
‘Liminal Light of the Night’, poetry by Carmella De Keyser – a review – Color me in Cyanide and Cherry
Carmella was delighted and honoured to have had her Hedgehog Press chapbook reviewed on the Oloriel Moonshadow website. The review was insightful and contemplative, and provided fresh perspectives on Carmella's pamphlet on liminality.
Live Performance
The Harlow Circle of Poetry to perform a live acoustic set on 18th October.
Carmella founded the Harlow Circle of Poetry with an aim to provide a safe space for local poets to share their work, and engage with their community.
The Harlow Circle of Poetry is now a registered poetry society stanza for the National Poetry Society. Harlow Stanza are proud to support Harlow Pride for the second year running.
Live Reading
Last Saturday Poets -Hosted by Louise Longson.
Carmella was invited to read three poems exploring heritage, and inter-generational relationships, live at 'Last Saturday Poets', This poetry event is hosted monthly by the wonderful poet Louise Longson, who has created a vibrant new poetic space for contemporary voices.
Live Performance
Harlow Pride Live Outdoor Set 18th October, 2025
The Harlow Circle of Poetry were invited to read at Harlow Pride Festival 2025. Each poet performed two poems. Carmella read two poems inspired by the 1960's counterculture movement.
Competition Winner
Carmella wins the Hedgehog Poetry Press, Crimson Spine Competition
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On October the 21st 2025, Carmella was announced as the winner of the Crimson Spine Pamphlet Competition, by the editor of Hedgehog Poetry Press, Mark Davidson, for her poetry collection Heart Muscle. This collection is a journey into selfhood, the family memories that shape us, love in all its forms, aloneness, nature, death, and the cyclicity of time.
Review from Paul Short in 'The Book Bag'
Wonderful poet and reviewer Paul Short reviews 'The Liminal Light of the Night' within his regular poetry feature 'The Book Bag'.
The Book Bag is a poetic space created by multi-talented writer Paul Short. It showcases the finest emerging and established contemporary poets. On the 9th of November, Carmella's book 'The Liminal Light of the Night' published by Hedgehog Poetry Press, was chosen as the featured work to be reviewed. To read Paul Short's full review, click on the below link.
The Book Bag: The Liminal Light Of The Night by Carmella de Keyser – Paul Writes Poems
'The Liminal Light of the Night' makes the cut for 'The Book Bag Christmas Gift Guide 2025'
The Book Bag Christmas List 2025
'Paul Writes Poems'
Carmella was thrilled to learn that her debut pamphlet from the Hedgehog Press has been included within the prestigious 'Book Bag Christmas Gift Guide 2025'.
Sincere thanks to the editor Paul Short for including it within his top reading recommendations for the year.
Click on the link below to see his entire list.
The Book Bag Christmas Gift List 2025 – Paul Writes Poems
The Winged Moon Biophilia Launch
Carmella was a featured reader for the online launch of The Winged Moon's Biophilia Substack where she performed a live reading of her poem 'Discordancy.'
Carmella's poem was chosen to be featured within 'The Winged Moon's' 'Biophilia' themed Substack, published on 31/01/26.
The launch celebration for 'Biophilia' took place on the 11th of January and included many wonderful poets including Miranda Barnes, Paul Short, Vanessa Napolitano, Miles Hovey amongst others.
The Winged Moon Editor - Jai Michelle Louissen
Press Mention by Peter Thabit Jones
Peter Thabit Jones, Editor of The Seventh Quarry Press and Magazine, wonderful poet and dramatist, kindly read and mentioned Carmella's collection on social media. She was thrilled to have her work read by someone she admires so much. Carmella is very much looking forward to being a featured poet for his wonderful press in April 2026!
Press mention, 'The Ditty Bag' literary podcast
Carmella was thrilled to have her poem selected by talented radio host and podcast creator Rebecca Leek, to be featured on her popular 'The Ditty Bag' show. Carmella's poem was featured alongside poems by T.S Eliot, Gayle Brandeis and Timothy Thomas Fortune.
The episode was broadcast on the 7/01/26 for the opening show of the year.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/56gNLJ9yoH6j16d1lq6843?si=fLbPw7A9R2-URfeoG6w-cA
Chasms Chapbook Launch
CHASMS, Carmella's second chapbook, published by The United States publisher, 'The Alien Buddha Press', launched on 02/02/2026. The launch included the following fantastic featured poets - John Kenny, Julie Stevens, Paul Connolly, Paul Ings, Peter Devonald, Peter Thabit Jones, and Sam Szanto.
'This is the second chapbook from award winning British poet Carmella de Keyser known for her explorations of identity, heritage and the liminal spaces of human experience. The collection is a bold, courageous, striking and colourful journey into intersections, an exploration of dual identities, conflicts, justice, and memories of visiting the Balkans juxtaposed with London life in the 90's'.
You can watch Carmella's unboxing video reveal here.⬇️
https://youtu.be/bJcN4UVXdDY?si=Ekie2tUNoFGZDIBV
Chasms Chapbook, Alien Buddha Press
Chasms is available to order on Amazon with the Alien Buddha Press and you may order it here.
Chasms
An editorial review by
The Madrid review
The Madrid Review, edited by the extremely talented writer James Hartley, is a highly respected international arts magazine based in Madrid, publishing poetry, fiction, and interviews with artists. It is bilingual and acts as a bridge between the English speaking and Spanish speaking world. Carmella was delighted to have a review of Chasms within the Madrid Review published on 18/03/26.
You may read the full commentary here.
Carmella de Keyser’s Chasms: A Quietly Compelling Second Chapbook
Harlow Circle of Poetry Anthology
Over the course of 2025, Carmella was delighted to curate and edit Harlow Stanza's first ever anthology, containing some excellent poetry gathered from local poets - it has been sent to the National Poetry Society for their archives.
New Publisher Signing!
Carmella signs with Parlyaree Press
Carmella was ecstatic to sign with United States based publisher Parlyaree Press.
She will be publishing her Young Adult collection 'The Amygdala Safari' with them soon! Watch this space for further news on this exciting new project...
Live Reading
Last Saturday Poets -Hosted by Louise Longson.
Carmella was honoured to have been invited back for a second appearance at excellent poet Louise Longson's literary salon. Carmella was a featured reader, and she shared three poems alongside five other poets on the 28th of February 2026.
Chasms
'Chasms originates from the Greek word 'khasma' meaning yawning hollow or gulf. It is also, a profound divide, rift, or impassable rupture in the earth between entities, peoples, feelings or ideas. While writing Chasms, I felt hopeful in bridging all the internal intersections I was considering, into a unified whole.' Carmella de Keyser
Chasms Media Mentions
A few 'Chasms mentions' spotted across social media in February...
Since its release in February, Chasms has already received lots of positive media mentions, and has been steadily selling since its release, often within the 500 band in Amazon poetry! Carmella has felt so grateful for all the support from the writing community since Chasms began its journey...
Live Reading at The Book Bag
The Book Bag is an excellent new safe space for poets to read and perform their work. It is the newest brainchild of the very talented poet and editor Paul Short. Carmella was delighted to read poems from 'Chasms' live on 08/03/2026, alongside some other fantastic poets and spoken word artists including Paul Short, S.Reeson, Kate Vanhinsbergh, Paul Connolly, John Adlam, Merril Smith, Jeff Cottrill, Elizabeth Fevyer, Sarah Raybould, Dorian Nightingale, Leia Butler, and Rachel Woodgate. Themes included, war, domestic violence, species extinction, social anxiety and an offbeat take on marriage.
Judging the Harlow Poetry Open 2026
It was a huge honour for Carmella to serve as a final judge for the Harlow Open 2026 together with Imogen Wade. She read each entry several times and worked collaboratively to a construct a Judges' Report containing detailed analysis of each poem.
The celebratory event took place on World Poetry Day 21/03/26 at the Harlow Playhouse and was a great success with entries increasing since last year.
You can hear her read out excerpts of the report and see the prizegiving ceremony here in this Your Harlow film.
https://youtu.be/khP2XBLxTrc?si=iqL7EckQzTQS909N
New Open Mic offering for Harlow
Carmella has created a new poetic offering for Harlow- The Sunday Slowdown, these new Open Mic afternoons, will take place in the private function room of a pub, and are held on the second Sunday of each month. Please email the Harlow Circle of Poetry if you would like to attend.