Dr Karen Downs-Barton SoA

Soho Poly Poetry

I'm delighted to share that I'll be appearing at Soho Poly Poetry on Thursday 12th March alongside Erica Hesketh, Nick Makoha, and Wayne Holloway-Smith. I'll be reading from Minx and I've popped an overview of this stellar lineup below. Tickets available through Eventbrite don't…

Minx in the Guardian I'm super excited to announce that Minx has made it into the pages of the Guardian newspaper as one of Rishi Dastidar's 'Best Poetry of 2025'. Here's what Rishi had to say about her... ‘Karen Downs‑Barton’s debut /Minx/ (Chatto & Windus) was similarly eye-catching, unsparingly detailing both the poet’s time in the care system, and the wider discrimination she experienced coming from an Anglo-Romany background.

Minx in the Guardian

I'm super excited to announce that Minx has made it into the pages of the Guardian newspaper as one of Rishi Dastidar's 'Best Poetry of 2025'. Here's what Rishi had to say about her... ‘Karen Downs‑Barton’s debut /Minx/ (Chatto & Windus) was similarly eye-catching, unsparingly…

i Newspaper Article Did you know that November is National Care Leavers month? It wasn't well publicised but as an in-and-out resident of state childcare I was delighted to contribute this article to the i newspaper. I hope it goes some way to raising awareness of the changes taking place for young people in care and how simple innovations like Memory Boxes can provide a sense of belonging and ownership of their pasts.

i Newspaper Article

This is going to be the best blether on belonging, language and poetry @edbookfest.bsky.social. So excited to be chairing Karen on her beautiful collection - Minx @karendownsbarton.bsky.social. See you next week #EdBookFest #poetry

Minx at Edinburgh International Book Festival 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.

Minx at Edinburgh International Book Festival

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…

Friday at Ledbury Poetry Festival 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.

Friday at Ledbury Poetry Festival

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…

Yola and I were the first through the door of Bert’s Books this morning because my order of Rhian Elizabeth’s book ‘maybe I’ll call Gillian anderson’ had arrived. Yay and Woo-Hoo! @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social @bertsbooks.bsky.social

Appearing at Edinburgh International Book Festival

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…

Spotted today in Bert’s Books, Minx was snuggling between E.E. Cummings and T.S.Elliot. She couldn’t have been in better company. Of course, I signed her. @bertsbooks.bsky.social @penguinukbooks.bsky.social #Chatto&Windus #writingfromthemargins #poetsagram #poetsandwriters

BBC Radio 4 - The Verb, Poetry and performance with Ian McMillan Barnsley Bard Ian McMillan is joined by guests for poetry performance and discussion.

Poetry and performance with Ian McMillan
@R4TheVerb
Sun 17:10
BBC Radio 4
Faroese writer Carl Jóhan Jensen, Anglo-Romani poet @karendownsbarton.bsky.social‬, Cristóbal Bianchi, cofounder of the Casagrande Collective, and Luton Town FC poet-in-residence Naz Knight.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Minx on The Verb

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…

Foyles New Romani Writing: Damian Le Bas, Karen Downs-Barton, Madeline Potter, Chaired by Bidisha

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 /…

Ledbury Festival with Ruth Padel

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…

Minx featured on Louise Wilford’s Showcase

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…

I’m still buzzing from my book launch last week at the @lrb.co.uk Sending a huge ‘thank you’ to all my guests, Sarah Howe for chairing the event, my lovely agent Elise, and the wonderful staff at the London Review Bookshop. #minx

Launch Day

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.

Thank you @lkiew.bsky.social it was lovely to see you there and be able to have a chat and hug afterwards. XXX

Minx a Dainty Dish at Foyles

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…

Minx Launch Day

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.

Canal Life

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?

Bookish Serendipity

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.

Local

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,…

Step Lightly Between the Wild Flowers 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.

Step Lightly Between the Wild Flowers

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…

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

Navigating Unexpected Places

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

Minx in the Guardian 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.

Minx in the Guardian

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…

The Planets Aligning

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,…

📢 We have had one place open up on our sold out online workshop with @pascalepetit.bsky.social this Saturday 22 Feb, 1-4pm UK.

If you missed out and would like to take this up please email 📧press[at]outspokenldn[dot]com

Minx with Blackbird Feathers

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…

An excellent analysis of why we should rejoin from @yorkshirebylines.co.uk

I’m delighted to share these lovely words about my forthcoming book, Minx, by Lemn Sissay. @penguinbooks.bsky.social #PoetsOfBluesky #workingclasspoets #poets #booklaunch