I’m thrilled to announce the paperback of my poetry collection Lockdown Innit Poems About Absurdity has released and is available to buy on Amazon. I’ve been a bit slow of the mark in notifying my blog viewers about this as I’ve been busy editing my second YA Fantasy novel: The Curse of Time #2 Golden Healer.

More about that soon!

I’m particularly thrilled about the paperback release as I created the cover myself. The back cover also features ‘my face with pink hair,” designed by the multi-talented Sarah Northwood. I loved her image so much that I wrote a poem about it.

Here’s an excerpt of the poem from the book which gives you an idea of the quirky nature of the poems within…

This Face 

Here’s my face, I’m in the pink,

A shade lighter here and there,

Black glasses, hint of eyebrows,

Smile of lipstick, small detail of nose,

Black border for my chin and hair.

Sweet perfection, not a hair out of place!

***

Sweet perfection, without any disgrace!

Could that really be me in there?

I didn’t even brush my hair!

Or wipe the gunk off my specs,

Those eyebrows, freshly tweeked,

My hair bobbed, cut to perfection.

Which angel darling created this?

Copyright © 2021 M J Mallon

Also, the reviews have been coming in! The latest which I’ve shared below is from author D.L. Finn, many thanks for the kind review. <3

Reviews mean so much!

“Lockdown Innit” is a glimpse into the pandemic through poetry. There were various subjects and types of poetry, including going to the supermarket, driving, cancer, and books. I laughed when reading “SuperMarket Bozos,” it reminded me of my feisty grandmother. “ROAD RAGE DURING COVID-19” is an all too often occurrence, even during the last year. While “Little Library” offered a picture of something one could do during the stay-at-home orders, read. The collection ended with “THIS author longs for Pets,” and I admit jumping into a cat’s dream might be that perfect escape from the heaviness of the epidemic. This is a book I’d like to go back and read ten years from now as a reminder of this time in history because it gives a unique perspective into strange times. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56949934-lockdown-innit

It’s a short book of poetry, I hope you might enjoy!

I’ve also produced an anthology/compilation during the pandemic:

This Is Lockdown with many international authors contributing their thoughts on the early stages of the pandemic:

Jackie Carreira (Author), Ritu Bhathal (Author), Tracie Barton-Barrett (Author), Sharon Marchisello (Author), Anne Goodwin (Author), Marian Wood (Author), Willow Willers (Author), Sally Cronin (Author), D G Kaye  (Author), Frank Prem (Author), Sherri Matthews (Author), Fi Phillips (Author), Chantelle Atkins (Author), Adele Park (Author), Richard Dee (Author), Katie Hutton (Author), Catherine Fearns (Author), Miriam Owen (Author), Lynn Fraser (Author), Jeannie Wycherley (Author), Peter Taylor-Gooby (Author), Alice May (Author), Ceri Williams (Author), Drew Neary (Author), Samantha Murdoch (Author), Beaton Mabaso (Author), Jane Horwood (Author), Melissa Santiago-Val (Author)  

“A Piece of Living History!”

This anthology and compilation is for everyone, wherever you live in the world. We are all experiencing the impact of COVID19 and lockdown. As writers, bloggers and creatives we express our thoughts and opinions in writing: in heartfelt poetry, pieces on isolation and the impact of COVID19 and the ‘new normal.’ There are twenty eight talented contributors, including the creative NHS Mask Making Fundraising Team of Jane Horwood and Melissa Santiago Val. The contributors come from as far afield as Australia, Canada, USA and Zimbabwe, or closer to my current home in England – in Ireland, Scotland and Italy.

It is as Willow Willers, a contributor said, ‘A piece of living history.’

This extraordinary and unexpected time period will be shared with future generations one day.

Compiling and editing this anthology has given me a purpose over the period of Lockdown and for that I am grateful.

It is an anthology and compilation of diaries, short stories, poetry and flash fiction set during extraordinary times. This Is Lockdown is written from many perspectives, including a writer’s perspective highlighting the day-to-day life and struggles experienced during such an uncertain and frightening time. It also gives a glimpse into the blogging, writing world. The book showcases several authors and their thoughts on what it is like to experience ‘isolation’ as a writer. I discuss the handling of the pandemic and my opinion about what might happen next. In the final part of the book I share my latest short story: a YA romance set post lockdown along with poetry, and flash fiction inspired by the pandemic.

It has also received excellent reviews. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54431566-this-is-lockdown/

Sending love to you all this Saturday.