'Manatomy'
James's debut poetry collection 'Manatomy' is published by Burning Eye Books. Signed copies of 'Manatomy' can be purchased here.
Praise for 'Manatomy':
‘The language, wit, insights, power of expression… Magnificent. I am so impressed by this collection. You don’t have to have grown up gay to love and appreciate this poetry, but it will of course have a special charge, beauty and meaning for those of us who have’
Stephen Fry
"Bold, graphic and startling"
Julian Clary
“Utterly contemporary and impressively confessional. A book that was missing from the lives of many youths of my generation”
David McAlmont
"Hilarious and honest, Manatomy will help you understand gay life, love and sex better. It certainly helped me..."
Jonathan Harvey
“McDermott’s debut delivers us his heart, terrors and triumphs”
Luke Wright
“A funny, frank and filthy debut”
Molly Naylor
"Nigel Slater's 'Toast' for the Spice Girls generation"
Ian Giles
With filmmaker Mark Hannant, James is making a 'Manatomy' poetry film produced by Inn Crowd, Applause Rural Touring and Creative Arts East. In 2021 James will embark on a UK performance poetry tour of theatres, arts centres, pubs and gyms.
Other Poetry Work
James is currently writing two poetry pamphlets which will be released in 2021.
James is currently writing his second poetry collection with mentoring from Richard Scott ('Soho', Faber and Faber, 2018).
James's poetry has been widely published in literary magazines and journals including The Gay and Lesbian Review, The Cardiff Review, Popshot Quarterly, Ink Sweat and Tears, Dreich, Spelt, Confluence, Bitchin' Kitsch, Queerlings, Dawntreader, Tealight Press and The Daily Drunk.
James has written commissioned poems for The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, Stamford Arts Centre, The Seagull Theatre Lowestoft, Luton Arts & Culture and artist Ian Giles's queer walks Open Ramble East. To commission James to write a poem for you or your organisation, contact him here.
James has written several verse plays including 'Human Screens' and 'Reveal' (both commissioned and produced by Collusion) and 'Justice 39' (commissioned and produced by Revoluton Arts and Luton Arts & Culture).
James has performed his poetry at venues across the country including Southbank Centre, Arcola Theatre & Norwich Arts Centre and James regularly performs his work on BBC Radio Norfolk. To book James to perform his poetry, contact him here.
James was shortlisted for OutSpoken's Prize for Poetry 2020 in the Performance Category and longlisted for The Winchester Poetry Prize 2020 judged by Andrew McMillan. James's longlisted poem 'They Could Be Having Sex' was published in the Winchester Poetry Prize Anthology 2020 which can be purchased here.
Training
James has participated on several poetry writing workshops including Queering The Page with Joelle Taylor (Outspoken), Writing History Into Poetry with Anthony Anaxagorou (Outspoken), Queer Natures with Sean Hewitt (Nottingham Poetry Festival), Writing Ecopoetry with Caleb Parkin and Carrie Etter (Sheaf Poetry Festival) and poetry masterclasses with Hannah Lowe, Kim Moore and Phoebe Stuckes (Poetry Business). From May 2021, James has been selected to take part in a 10 week Advanced Poetry Workshop course with Anthony Anaxagorou (Poetry School).
James's debut poetry collection 'Manatomy' is published by Burning Eye Books. Signed copies of 'Manatomy' can be purchased here.
Praise for 'Manatomy':
‘The language, wit, insights, power of expression… Magnificent. I am so impressed by this collection. You don’t have to have grown up gay to love and appreciate this poetry, but it will of course have a special charge, beauty and meaning for those of us who have’
Stephen Fry
"Bold, graphic and startling"
Julian Clary
“Utterly contemporary and impressively confessional. A book that was missing from the lives of many youths of my generation”
David McAlmont
"Hilarious and honest, Manatomy will help you understand gay life, love and sex better. It certainly helped me..."
Jonathan Harvey
“McDermott’s debut delivers us his heart, terrors and triumphs”
Luke Wright
“A funny, frank and filthy debut”
Molly Naylor
"Nigel Slater's 'Toast' for the Spice Girls generation"
Ian Giles
With filmmaker Mark Hannant, James is making a 'Manatomy' poetry film produced by Inn Crowd, Applause Rural Touring and Creative Arts East. In 2021 James will embark on a UK performance poetry tour of theatres, arts centres, pubs and gyms.
Other Poetry Work
James is currently writing two poetry pamphlets which will be released in 2021.
James is currently writing his second poetry collection with mentoring from Richard Scott ('Soho', Faber and Faber, 2018).
James's poetry has been widely published in literary magazines and journals including The Gay and Lesbian Review, The Cardiff Review, Popshot Quarterly, Ink Sweat and Tears, Dreich, Spelt, Confluence, Bitchin' Kitsch, Queerlings, Dawntreader, Tealight Press and The Daily Drunk.
James has written commissioned poems for The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, Stamford Arts Centre, The Seagull Theatre Lowestoft, Luton Arts & Culture and artist Ian Giles's queer walks Open Ramble East. To commission James to write a poem for you or your organisation, contact him here.
James has written several verse plays including 'Human Screens' and 'Reveal' (both commissioned and produced by Collusion) and 'Justice 39' (commissioned and produced by Revoluton Arts and Luton Arts & Culture).
James has performed his poetry at venues across the country including Southbank Centre, Arcola Theatre & Norwich Arts Centre and James regularly performs his work on BBC Radio Norfolk. To book James to perform his poetry, contact him here.
James was shortlisted for OutSpoken's Prize for Poetry 2020 in the Performance Category and longlisted for The Winchester Poetry Prize 2020 judged by Andrew McMillan. James's longlisted poem 'They Could Be Having Sex' was published in the Winchester Poetry Prize Anthology 2020 which can be purchased here.
Training
James has participated on several poetry writing workshops including Queering The Page with Joelle Taylor (Outspoken), Writing History Into Poetry with Anthony Anaxagorou (Outspoken), Queer Natures with Sean Hewitt (Nottingham Poetry Festival), Writing Ecopoetry with Caleb Parkin and Carrie Etter (Sheaf Poetry Festival) and poetry masterclasses with Hannah Lowe, Kim Moore and Phoebe Stuckes (Poetry Business). From May 2021, James has been selected to take part in a 10 week Advanced Poetry Workshop course with Anthony Anaxagorou (Poetry School).
