I had a fantastic time as Glastonbury Festival's poet in residence - read the poems that resulted here. Now I'm looking forward to the results of Bugged.... see below.

In August I'm having a rest from events, and concentrating on preparations for National Poetry Day on October 7th.

However, our summer project Bugged has been massive: have a look at our website or find us on Facebook and Twitter. The deadline was Sunday 15th August but keep an eye on our blog for postings of new work, and to hear about progress on our anthology, which will contain work from Stuart Maconie, Jenn Ashworth and others. See below for launch dates and an opportunity to buy the book!

If September looks quieter than usual - have a look at October, below, to see why....

9th September, Ashton Library, Manchester - Curses, Cures and Wills: a poetry writing workshop. I don't do many workshops so this is a chance to capture my words of wisdom on writing from historic documents. 6pm-8pm. Prices to be confirmed. Let me know if you're interested at belljar@hotmail.co.uk.

23rd September, Marple Library, Cheshire - a poetry writing workshop drawing on my former life as an archaeologist. We will use archaeology and historical sources. 7pm-9pm, prices to be confirmed. Let me know if you are interested at belljar@hotmail.co.uk. Part of the Marple Festival.

Friday 1st - Did I Mention the Free Wine? Raconteur, publisher and poet Felix Dennis comes to the Bluecoat Arts Centre, Liverpool to read his work. Jo Bell and Rebecca Goss provide poetic entertainment in the interval. 7pm. Ticket prices tbc but did I mention the free wine?

Thursday 7th - National Poetry Day across the UK. The theme this year is HOME so look at our website to find out what's happening near you, or plan an event yourself and let us know about it - belljar@hotmail.co.uk.

Thursday 14th - City Library, Manchester (NB change of venue - was formerly the Cornerhouse). The first of two launch events for the Bugged anthology. This summer, Bugged encouraged creative eavesdropping across the UK. The resultant book is stuffed with great new writing. Join us to celebrate it in this lovely venue. Hear readings from the book, meet the writers - and treat yourself to lunch in the splendid cafe! 1pm. FREE.

Saturday 16th - Whitby Hall Studio Theatre, Ellesmere Port - Four for the Port. Jo's short play First Person, about the explorer Gertrude Bell (left, with Lawrence of Arabia) is one of four 20-minute pieces commissioned by Action Transport Theatre. This is a premiere of all four plays in one show, performed by young people of 14-25. 2pm or 7pm. Prices and details to be confirmed. 

Sunday 17th - Whitby Hall Studio Theatre, Ellesmere Port - as above, a  Four for the Port performance of four new plays for young people. 2pm only. Prices and details to be confirmed.

Thursday 21st - Ikon Gallery, Birmingham. The second launch event for our Bugged anthology, whose core writers are drawn from the NW and West Midlands. Bugged built a creative community who had a good time and produced a lot of good writing. Read it, hear it, buy the book and meet the writers in this splendid central venue. 7pm. FREE.

Saturday 23rd - The Forum, Chester - final performances of Jo's short play First Person with the other Four for the Port productions (see 16th October). Performed by young actors of 14-25 under the direction of Kevin Dyer, as part of the Chester Literature Festival. 2pm and 7pm. Ticket prices to be confirmed.

Thursday 28th - Wivenhoe, Essex - Jo reads her own work as a guest of Poetry Wivenhoe. I do like to be beside the seaside, and Wivenhoe is the home of James Dodds, the artist whose painting adorns the cover of my collection Navigation. I don't know anyone down here so come along and support me. Venue to be confirmed. 7pm (ish)

Friday 29th - Whitby Studio Theatre, Ellesmere Port. A panel discussion with the Four for the Port writers and other playwrights associated with Action Transport Theatre. Find out how playwriting differs from poetry writing, what we learned in the process of staging our work, and what the team at ATT hope to achieve with their work.

Wednesday 3rd - Toxteth Library, Liverpool - a poetry writing workshop based on historic documents and objects. 7pm-9pm. More details soon.

Saturday 6th - Salford Library. Danger: Deep Excavations. A late morning poetry reading with Anji Topping of our own poems and others, inspired by archaeology and personal histories. 11am-12.30pm. And then....

Saturday 6th - Bury Library. A workshop to create new poetry based on historic documents and objects. 2pm-4pm.

Wednesday 10th - Neston Library, the Wirral - a reading of poems and prose on the theme of landscape and archaeology, to punctuate the discussion by historian Anthony Annikin-Smith. A really interesting mix of the thought-provoking, the wistful and the informative from two history professionals, as part of the Pages Ago initiative from NW libraries. More details soon. 7pm-9pm.

Sunday 12th - The Camden Eye, London - Jo performs as part of Rrrant's regular poetry cabaret evening. More details closer to the time.