Carmella de Keyser
News 2025
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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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​Twice pushcart nominated poet Sam Szanto, PHD, interviews Carmella about her Hedgehog Press pamphlet, 'The Liminal Light of the Night'.
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​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.​
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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.​
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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.​
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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.​
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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.
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The Book Bag: The Liminal Light Of The Night by Carmella de Keyser – Paul Writes Poems