Raef Boylan

I'm deffo a writer born into the wrong era, lol. Professional headshots? On-camera interviews? Live in-person performances? Social media presence? What is all this... What happened to the days of fat alcoholics hiding out in dive bars with pen and paper? I could have shined!😂

Great to see 'The Book of Coventry' on the shelves of our local @Waterstones. Everyone in Cov who's been asking me can they buy it from the shops in town - yeah, you can now! 👍 (Or online: commapress.co.uk/books/the-book…) Cheers, Waterstones. @commapress

@tony_malone @commapress Very cool - not only your own story, but that you've gone back for a second read of the stories in the anthology. I'm chuffed for the 11 writers, it's a great mix of voices. I like dogs, but definitely remember some vicious ones roaming the streets back in the day!

Inspired by a reread of 'The Book of Coventry' (edited by @RaefWrites, published by @commapress), I knocked up my Christmas present to you all, 'Duffy's Dog', a story of fear, loathing and mutts on the mean streets of Stoke Aldermoor in the 1980s ;) tonysreadinglist.wordpress.com/2025/12/25/duf…

On Nov 6th from 12–1pm, Cass chats live with Cork poets Bernadette Gallagher & Phil Spillane as part of the Coventry / Cork Poetry Exchange! Learn more about the poets: hillzfm.co.uk/latest-news/an… #Poetry #CoventryCork @RaefWrites #HillzFM

@IanCaseyArts Thanks for writing this. It resonated with me where you said the vanity of being bothered bothered you as much as the balding. I'm only early stage but it's a weird development to deal with and have to act totally unbothered about. 👍

I've written an article for #BBCNews about losing my hair. At first I felt I would be perceived as vain for wanting to do something about it. Then, a stranger's comment in a night club sent me on a bit of a journey - read what happened next👇🏻 #Hairloss bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Come to COVENTRY The Book of Coventry (A City In Short Fiction) Editor: Raef Boylan tripfiction.com/the-book-of-co… Published by @commapress "..these stories underline the (oftentimes, wry) affection the writers have for the city.."

Aaaand a more recent issue of 'Peeping Tom' zine from @popasart 👍 With high praise for @CovMusicM. Always try to support your local grassroots arts projects - something special's happening. #Coventry #zines #CovWriters #CovArtists #CovMusic

An older issue of 'Peeping Tom' zine from @popasart, forgot to post it before. Always an exciting thing to receive in the post! #Coventry #zines #CovWriters #CovArtists

Tomorrow evening - Fire&Dust #poetry open mic at Priory Visitor Centre @CovCityCentre! 🔥 #Coventry #SpokenWord

@RaefWrites @covlibraries @commapress Recommended by…….

@olgadermott @NineArchesPress Awesome poster, Ó Bhéal go Béal! #Poetry #SpokenWord #TwinCities

Excited for Coventry / Cork poetry exchange!💚#poetry #ireland #cork #coventry ⁦@NineArchesPress⁩ ⁦⁩ ⁦@RaefWrites⁩

Great to see 'The Book of Coventry' featured in Book Picks of the Week in the @covlibraries newsletter. 👍content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKCOV… Published by @commapress (Sept 2024). Cov writers, Cov characters, Cov stories. Check it out! #Coventry

Are you ready for Fire&Dust (virtual) on Thursday? Come and support the headliner - #Coventry poet Sharan Cheema - and why not share some poems of your own in the international open mic! #Poetry #SpokenWord Tickets and more info here: buff.ly/umaevOg

Theres been a poem ruminating within my subconscious for months, yet i feel nothing i create does it justice, I think a massive part of being an artist is yielding; to the blind belief that it shall come. And when it comes, you shall know.

Thinking of entering PRIMERS 8? What is our selecting editor and mentor Laurie Bolger looking for? Read her blog post for encouragement, top tips and motivation: ninearchespress.blogspot.com/2025/06/prim... Full PRIMERS 8 submission criteria: ninearchespress.com/primers

📅 Thursday 10th July, 7.30PM (UK time) Fire&Dust #poetry open mic (virtual edition). International #SpokenWord event with headliner SHARAN CHEEMA! Free/Pay As You Feel. Open mic slots available. Register on Eventbrite as either performer or audience: buff.ly/umaevOg

Rooting for YouTuber Jamie Gaunt on his journey towards solid health, paid-off debts and creative success. 👍 #FitnessGoals youtu.be/QoFYEDDZClU?si…

L I V I N G W I T H B U I L D I N G S – VIII – SUBMISSIONS OPEN – WE ARE LOOKING FOR FILMS THAT EXPLORE THEMES OF PEOPLE / POETRY / PLACE filmfreeway.com/LivingWithBuil… DEADLINE - 15/6/2025 #peoplepoetryplace #livingwithbuildings #disappearhere #poetryfilm #experimentalfilm

Looking for #poetry/ #spokenword in #Coventry? Join us tonight for Fire&Dust at the Priory Visitor Centre! Headliner: STANLEY NOTTE (from Cork, Ireland). Open mic slots available. No ticket needed but more details here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/fire-dust-at…