Face to face

Jacqui Rowe was born in Birmingham where she still lives. Her poems have appeared extensively in anthologies and magazines, including Mslexia, Smiths Knoll, Tears in the Fence and Poetry Review. Her first collection, Blue, was published by Flarestack Publishing in 2007 and Apollinaire, a collection of her translations selected by Mario Petrucci, published by Perdika in 2009 www.perdikapress.com. Regarded in the West Midlands as a "poetry activist", Jacqui runs Poetry Bites, a regular event combining readings from leading poets with floor spots, and Making Poetry, a programme of workshops in Birmingham www.makingpoetry.co.uk. An acclaimed creative writing tutor, Jacqui succeeded David Hart to teach  the poetry evening course at MAC, Birmingham for two years. At the 2009 Ledbury Poetry Festival,  she led two sellout workshops. She is also a trustee of the Poetry Society. She is co-director of Flarestack Poets, an award-winning press, for which she edits and typesets pamphlets ww.flarestackpoets.co.uk.  A former Head of English in a Birmingham boys' school, she is committed to education,  and works extensively as a writer in schools. She is also an Associate Advisor for Birmingham LEA.  Jacqui has recently resumed her study jewellery making, metalwork and design. Proceeds from her jewellery  company Ideas in Things www.ideasinthings.com support her poetry activities. She is also working  n a rresidency at Wightwick Manor, a National Trust property, leading to an exhibition in which she will combine poetry and metalwork and a collection of poems Paint to be published by Flarestack  Poets in May  2011.