A THREE Towns poet is about to see the first full collection of his work published.

Kevin Reid's book Held is set to be released by Yaffle Press within the next few weeks.

He revealed: "I'm just waiting for the book to come back from the printers. I'm planning to head off on the road to give readings from it, including some in Ayrshire.

"My publisher is based in Leeds and they will be having events there too, open mic nights etc.

" I have been involved in the poetry scene for about 10 years and published two pamphlets of my work before, but on this occasion, it was the publisher who approached me and asked me to put together a collection."

Born in the Three Towns, Kevin studied English Literature at the University of Dundee. He has worked as a full-time librarian and taught English in Spain and Greece.

He is the founding creator of the online multimedia collaborations >erasure, >erasure ii and Wordless, an image and text collaboration with George Szirtes published by Knives, Forks and Spoons Press.

He was also editor of Nutshells and Nuggets, a blogzine for short poems and his poetry has been widely published in various online and printed journals.

Burdlife; a sequence of nine unusual wee poems inspired by Scottish birdsong and Ivor Cutler, was published by Tapsalteerie in June 2017.

His first UK poetry pamphlet Androgyny was published by 4word in 2018. His most recent pamphlet Suitcase was published by 4word in September 2020. 

Keven added: "Some of the poems in this book go back to more than 10 years ago, with the more recent work being completed last year.

"There are confessional things in the work. Things based on my personal experience. Others are telling a lie in order to tell the truth. And the voice isn't always the voice of the poet."

On the back cover of the book, fellow poet Martin Figura writes: "Kevin Reid is a nomad who speaks to Gods and ghosts in Scottish vernacular. 

"These assured poems shine like the jewels lost loved ones are preserved as; defiance in their confessions, disapproval worn as a badge of honour."

To find out more about Kevin's work, visit here.