AN AWARD-WINNING poet from the Isle of Wight has had a collection of her poems published under the title Heroines: On the Blue Peninsula.

Becky Varley-Winter, who now lives in London, has previously won the T. R. Henn and Brewer Hall prizes for her poetry, and been long-listed for the Foyle Young Poets of the Year and Eric Gregory Awards.

She said: “I was teaching a course on the history of fantasy literature when I wrote some of the poems, so there is a magical lilt, influenced by that.

“Several of the poems are set on the Isle of Wight, and the collection was influenced by growing up here, in this landscape — the sea runs through everything I do.

“I’ve been writing poems for a long time, and now I’m working on my first full-length poetry collection, which centres on themes of danger and risk.

“I’m lucky enough to be teaching a course on love poetry at the Poetry School in Docklands this autumn, and welcome people to come and write some poems with me.”

The recent book launch was attended by people dressed as a selection of heroines, including a Wonder Woman, Rainbow Dash and Louise from Bob’s Burgers, with Becky adorning her best Emily Dickinson garb, a homage to one of her favourite poets.

The collection sees a constant twinning between personal work and character-driven poems, with alter-egos such as The Lady of Shalott and Lilith triggering accelerated narratives.

Becky will next be reading at the launch of issue two of Finished Creatures magazine, in London at the end of October.

Heroines: On the Blue Peninsula is available to purchase online via the V. Press website or the Poetry Book Society.