Taz Rahman Writer

I am delighted that judges Mona Arshi, Caroline Bird and Kwame Dawes have deemed ' East of the Sun, West of the Moon ' published by Seren Books in February this year to be in the longlist for the Laurel Prize 2024 . I am truly grateful to be among such a cherished group of poets and wishing the eventual winners all the best. I thank my writing mentor Zoe Bigley, everyone at my publisher Seren Books ( https://www.serenbooks.com/2024/09/taz-rahman-longlisted-for-the-laurel-prize-2024/ ) and organisations such as Literature Wales and the Books Council of Wales to have supported me in various guises to make this book possible.

I am delighted that Anthony Anaxagorou had selected my poem ' Teach Jackdaws Avionics ', published originally in Issue 2 of Propel Magazine edited by Jeremy Noel-Tod, for the first even print anthology of the poems that appeared in Propel from 2022 to 2024. This is such an honour as Propel published the best English language poets pre-first collection publication and without its support in 2022, it may have taken me much longer to get where I am today, a published poet with a first collection from Seren Books . Copies of the Propel Anthology can be pre-ordered from this link: https://www.propelmagazine.co.uk/shop

2015 Forward Prize winner Mona Arshi has praised 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' in an Instagram post.  When praise pours in from major poets I have looked up to from the earliest juncture of my poetry career, suddenly 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' feels a little unreal. I came to know of Mona Arshi when I first stared writing poetry in 2019. I made a list of all the contemporary poets of note from an Indian subcontinent heritage whom I needed to study. Our first encounter was online as part of Gillian Clarke's week-long poetry masterclass in the early summer of 2020, for which I had been selected as one of the seven poets. The masterclass was to celebrate Gillian's founding of Ty Newydd, the national writing centre now part of Literature Wales. In 2020 I was still searching for the words and often scared of using them in the order that would be the hallmark of the innovative poetry 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' wou

Truly honoured and grateful for the nomination of my poem 'Anda' for a 'Best of the Net' 2025 award by the wonderful Acropolis Journal. Anda can be read here: https://acropolisjournaluk.wixsite.com/archive23/taz-rahman-two-poems  

I was delighted to be read alongside Natalie Ann Holborows as part of the Neath Arts Festival on the 18th October.  LOCATION: Neath Town Hall, 2, Church Place, Neath, SA11 3LL    

I am delighted to been appointed a member of the Seren Books board. Details of the new board of directors: https://www.serenbooks.com/2024/07/introducing-our-new-directors/   

I am reading in Neath this Saturday 2 pm (6th July) with Natalie Ann Holborrow, Rae Howells and a number of other poets as part of the Poetry Party to raise funds for the WellChild charity. Tickets can be obtained from here:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/black-bough-poetry-party-fundraising-for-wellchild-in-neath-tickets-913757783127?aff=oddtdtcreator  

My first reading in London!!! I read from my first poetry collection 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' , published by Seren Books alongside the wonderful Jay Mitra and fellow Seren poet Lorcan Black at the amazing inclusive venue https://www.commonpress.co.uk/ on Wednesday, 26th June 2024

Delighted to be in conversation with my mentor and poetry editor Zoe Brigley at Tiger Bay poetry on Monday 24th June, 7.30 pm. We shall be reading poems an discussing poetry. Thank you Natasha Gauthier for your invite to be part of Cardiff's best monthly poetry reading.

I am absolutely delighted to be reading in the poetry showcase as part of the Penarth Literary Festival, organised by 'Independent Bookshop of the Year 2023' winner, Griffin Books. The showcase is hosted by Katherine Stansfield and the other poets in the lineup are Rhian Elizabeth and Clare Potter. Tickets available from:  Poetry Showcase Ticket link    

I am delighted that the Books Council of Wales has selected 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' as one of its Father's Day recommended books. The book is available from all good bookshops in Wales and can also be ordered online via my publisher Seren: https://www.serenbooks.com/book/east-of-the-sun-west-of-the-moon/

My book 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon', published by Seren Books was sold out at the Hay Festival bookshop 24 hours before I was due to read on the Saturday. I am truly grateful. Those who missed out, here is the link to buy copies: https://www.serenbooks.com/book/east-of-the-sun-west-of-the-moon/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once again I am delighted to be reading at Hay Festival on the 1st June at the 'Writers at Work' tent. The event is sold out as I write, however, tickets may be added to wish list: https://www.hayfestival.com/p-21801-writers-at-workawduron-wrth-eu-gwaith.aspx It was a huge honour to have been chosen to be the one of the ten 'Writers at Work' in 2023 and the experience of being immersed in so much writing and book related events changed me as a writer. So once again it is lovely to be invited back as an alumni this year to perform in front of

 Many thanks to CJ Wagstaff for writing such a detailed and generous review of 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' for Nation Cymru:  https://nation.cymru/culture/poetry-review-east-of-the-sun-west-of-the-moon-by-taz-rahman/

Many thanks to Mab Jones for reviewing my poetry collection 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon' published by Seren Books:  https://www.buzzmag.co.uk/new-poetry-april-2024-david-harsent-elizabeth-parker-taz-rahman-review/

I am delighted to be reading at the Aberystwyth Poetry Fesrival on Saturday 4th May, 11 am. The reading follows a question and answer session about writing about climate change and preserving local habiats. Many thanks to the Bookshop by the Sea in Aberystwyth for organising the festival and for inviting me.   Tickets and the full line up of events can be seen on the festival website:  https://thebookshopbythesea.co.uk/aberystwyth-poetry-festival

I was delighted to be the creative keynote speaker for 'The Association of Welsh Writing in English' at its annual conference on Saturday 11th May. I read from my debut poetry collection ' East of the Sun, West of the Moon ', published by Seren Books, and talked about some of the exciting trends and voices emerging in the Welsh poetry scene of late.    https://www.awwe.org/conference.html

I was delighted to have read at Cheltenham Poetry Festival 2024 on 25th April. Such a warm welcome and appreciative audience.  ---------------------------    

 Wales' major independent digital newspaper Nation Cymru has featured an article by me that delves into the development of my poetry language, the impact of my mentor Zoe Brigley on my writing, and how important the two rivers Taff and Ely are to my poetry: https://nation.cymru/culture/on-being-a-poet-in-wales-taz-rahman/ My poem 'Bread of Heaven' about life around the river Taff is also in this article. My grateful thanks to Books Editor Jon Gower. 

 Delighted to have read poems at the Poetry Wales spring issue showcase at Waterstones, Cardiff last Tuesday! Also, the bookshop sold out of my books at the end of the evening! --- I am reading poems at the Poetry Wales spring issue launch showcase at Waterstones bookshop on Tuesday 26th March, 7 pm. Details of the event and tickets at this link: https://www.waterstones.com/events/poetry-wales-showcase-and-open-mic/cardiff The full line-up of featured poets is:   Zoë Brigley Taylor Edmonds Jeremy Dixon Natasha Gauthier Hilary Watson Bethany Handley Taz Rahman Des Mannay 

I am quoted in this writing advice article by Tim Relf: https://poetrywales.co.uk/writing-advice-from-cheltenham-poetry-festival/ All four poets featured are reading at the 2024 Cheltenham Poetry Festival on various dates.  I am personally appearing on the 24th April in Cheltenham and ticket details are on this link: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/uk/cheltenham-friends-meeting-house/taz-rahman-matthew-stewart-ardith-brown-chris-hemingway/e-vqpgdr

.  Here are some photos from my book launch at g39 in Cardiff, I am incredibly grateful for the full house turnout, my guest reader Abigail Parry and Nasia Sarwar-Skuse, and Jon Gower for a generous introduction, Rhian Edwards and Sarah Johnson from Seren Books for supporting this launch, and to my friend Helen McSherry for playing her beautiful cello: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join us at g39 for the launch of Taz Rahman's debut poetry collection East of the Sun, West of the Moon . Reading alongside Taz are T.S. Eliot shortlisted poet Abigail Parry and 2023 Wasafiri Prize-winner Nasia Sarwar-Skuse. About the poets: Taz Rahman is a Cardiff based poet, writer and literary content creator. He has been published in Poetry Wales, Bad Lilies, South Bank Poetry, Anthropocene, Honest Ulsterman, Nation Cymru, Culture Matters and various anthologies. He has been selected to be the Chairperson of Poetry Wales Magazine’s Rea