Released on July 17th 2020
Printed on FSC certified paper - eco friendly and sustainable.
"In these delicately observed poems, Louise McStravick explores the landscape of her heritage and identity; painting an incisive and affectionate portrait of the people she has encountered along the way. These poems are vivid, sensual and rich in imagery and they pull no punches. Whilst each poem is a delicious treat in its own right, collectively they constitute a brave and important story, beautifully and boldly told. This is a recipe book for the soul and the senses and the poems will linger with you long after the book has been returned to the shelf." -Mary Dickins, Author of Happiness FM, Burning Eye Books
Extract:
How to make curry goat
Take around 7 quid’s worth of goat
Or mutton dem di same ting
A spring of thyme, two large onions, three if you’re that way inclined
Not di Spanish h’onion di British h’onion.
A bulb of garlic. All-purpose seasoning and Caribbean Curry Powder
It nah matter which curry powder you fi use.
Using eyes to measure, one-part All Purpose to two-part curry powder
Be careful with the All Purpose. You nah want too much salt.
Sprinkle it over the meat in a zig-zag motion get your hands in until you
have an even coating. Be sure to have washed the meat first.
British people nah wash dem meat, it nasty, that’s how dem get mad cow disease.
"Louise McStravick invites us into her world as a daughter of the Windrush generation, with a sharp observation and a dry sense of humour. We meet family, friends and errant lovers in poems of wit and sensuality, and in McStravick’s vivid imagery and often surprising language we learn to smell, taste and enjoy this Goat Stew as she explores the feelings of belonging and alienation that beset her. A wonderful first collection." - Janice Dempsey from Dempsey & Windle Publishing
"How to Make Curry Goat is a lively and warm-hearted exploration of identity, appetite, love and loss. These poems are frank, funny and richly sensory; Louise McStravick is an acute observer of the world around her."
- Dr Megan Hayes, Lecturer in Creative Writing, Teeside University
Author Biography
Louise McStravick is a writer, teacher, and proud Brummie. She is a slam winning poet and performerwho has headlined at events in London, Birmingham, and Amsterdam including London Literature Festivalwith Heaux Noire, Beans Rhymes & Life, Streetfest and Words at the Warehouse. She was also part of thevery first Apples and Snakes Platform Poets writer development programme, 2020.She was commissioned to write poems for the Words on Windrush anthology in 2019 with Empoword Slough. This project involved writing poetry based on oral history interviews. As a part of this she was asked read her poetry on BBC Berkshire.
Louise has been published in various places on and offline including, Dear Damsels, Porridge magazine,
Tommyrot Zine, Lacuna Lit, Murmaration anthology and an exciting project with Trope publishing that
incorporates poetry and photography from London, due to be released in Autumn 2020.
She uses writing to explore the nuances of her mixed-heritage, working-class identity.
