David J Costello
Books & Poetry
Human Engineering
Please note this book has now sold out.
No Need For Candles
Please note this book has now sold out
This is a pro-forma place holder and does NOT represent the final cover of the book
Heft
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Due March 2020
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​​​​​Red Squirrel Press
What they say!
Horseshoe Bat
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‘It must have been a keen blade / That eased you from night’s heart…’
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The exquisite precision of these opening lines perfectly conveys an almost surgical procedure, and while the poem’s economy extends into a more mellow, introspective tone, I remained skewered to this small mammal’s journey where there is no excess baggage, no self-indulgent clutter. I hadn’t heard of the Horseshoe bat, so I learnt something too. This is a magical and memorable work. A worthy winner.
Sally Spedding,
Judge: 2011 Welsh International Poetry Competition
No Need For Candles
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Costello has a strong feel for the terse emotive phrase: for a dying man he writes, @a nurse arrives to usher in December". Ranging from moths, the moon, Welsh folklore to the recall of departed family members, these poems are tender and precise
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Gill McEvoy,
Winner of the 2015 Michael Marks Award for her pamphlet The Firast Telling
Candlelight
"Candlelight" especially is heart-rending and evocative, and resonates long past reading the poem. It haunts, as a fine piece of literature should.
The Editors,
Provo Canyon Review
No Need For Candles
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The opening poems of illness and loss are stark, plain and moving. A later poem mentions "the flung shape that always returns" - these poems explore their own limits and always return to the human.
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Andrew McMillan,
Winner Guardian First Book Award, Somerset Maugham Award and Eric Gregory Award for Physical
Heft
From this beautiful poem’s simple title and the first no-frills first line, I was immediately drawn into the fascinating and probably little-known world where lambs of certain breeds of sheep, despite repeated upheavals and displacement, are tugged back by ‘their internal compass’ into
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… their heritage of rock.
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the heather’s cackle
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and the milky-white cartography of snow.
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I learnt something new from each of this poem’s twelve very visual yet deceptively simple lines, empathising with these doomed, young creatures who share with us that universal condition of homesickness. When that perfect last line came, I felt close to tears
This poet clearly does realise that less is often more and significantly, amongst the many entries coming close to the competition’s 50-word limit, has delivered a gem.
A worthy 2ndprize winner!
Sally Spedding,
Judge: 2018 Welsh International Poetry Competition
Bio
David J. Costello lives in Wallasey, England. He has been widely published and anthologised. David has won prizes in a number of competitions including both the Welsh International Poetry Competition and the
Troubadour International Poetry Competition. His latest pamphlet, No Need For Candles, is published by Red Squirrel Press. You can order a signed copy directly from this site using the PayPal button above. David's first full collection is due from Red Squirrel Press in 2020.
Events & Readings
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19th March
2020
Launch reading from 'Heft'
Wallasey Central Library
Earlston Road
Wallasey
Merseyside
CH45 5DX (18:00 to 20:00 provisional)
TBC Mar 2020
World Poetry Day Open Mic
Wallasey Central Library
Earlston Road
Wallasey
Merseyside
CH45 5DX (18:00 to 20:00 provisional)
1st April 2020
Poetry & Prose at Petersgate
Petersgate Tap
19, petersgate
Stockport
SK1 1EB
(Evening event, times TBC)
2nd April 2020
First Thursday
Linghams Bookshop
11, Croft Drive West
Merseyside
CH48 2JQ
19:00 for 19:30. Finish by 22:00
16th April 2020
Chester Launch of Heft
Corner House Bar
4-8, City Road
Chester
CH1 3AE
19:00 for 19:30. Finish by 20:30
21st April 2020
Poetry Upstairs at The Trading Post
27, Nevill Street
Abergavenny
NP7 5AA
Wales
19:00 for 19:15 Start. £5 entry on the door. Guest poet, reading from 'Heft'.
22nd April 2020
Ye Olde Murenger House
Murenger House
52-53, High Street
Newport
NP20 1GA
Wales
19:30 Start. Guest poet, reading from 'Heft'.
23rd April 2020
Poems & Pints
Imperial Hotel
High Street
Myrther Tydfil
CF47 8UH
Wales
20:00 Start. Guest poet, reading from 'Heft'.
27th May 2020
Verbatim
The Poetry Pharmacy
36, High Street
Bishop's Castle
Shropshire
SY9 5BQ
19:30 start. £3.00 on the door. Joint reading with Kemal Houghton.
TBC
Red Squirrel Press Launch 'Heft'
Date to be advised - Edinburgh venue
TBC
Date to be advised - Glasgow venue
Red Squirrel Press Launch 'Heft'
23rd Sept 2020
The Journey of Making a Poem
(Workshop on behalf of the Poet in Residence)
Chester Cathedral
12, Abbey Square
Chester. CH1 2HU
10:30 to 12:30
1st Oct 2020
National Poetry Day Open Mic
Wallasey Central Library
Earlston Road
Wallasey
Merseyside
CH45 5DX (18:00 to 20:00 provisional)
Contact
For any media inquiries, please contact me at:
Tel: +44(0)151 639 1850 | Mob: +44(0)7747 632 922 | EMail:
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2nd Oct 2020
Wirral Poetry Festival
Tranmere Rovers Football Club
Prenton Road West
Birkenhead
Merseyside
CH42 9PY
18:00 Start