November 23rd, 2020

💐I'm happy to say that The Ministry of Flowers is now arriving in mailboxes (and through letterboxes) in homes around the world. It brings me joy to think of it sitting on kitchen tables, bedside tables and, yes, in loos too--a place of honour surely for any poetry book. :) 

💐The launch and celebration of the book on Nov 12th was a warm and happy occasion thanks to the creative beauty and organisational skills of Sally Anglesea ​and the incredible curator and host Fiona L Bennett. We had an audience of over 100 (age 17 months to 90 years) tuned in from at least 8 countries and 9 time zones. 

💐A lot of people asked about the phenomenal readers and organisers of the event so I wanted to share all their names here, too, as they are all incredibly talented people in their own right. I encourage you to look up each and every one of them. Their readings were certainly a potent reminder that poetry is meant to be heard!   

💐 I will soon be sharing the recordings of these readings among other Ministry of Flowers whatnots. I’m hoping you’ll follow this blog and/or sign for my newsletter here: https://www.andreawitzkeslot.com. I promise both will be brief and joyful—just some poems, some music, some news, some flowers. 

💐Finally, a huge thanks to Valley Press for creating this book with such patience and care and to The Poetry Exchange for all their support in the celebration too. If you love poetry, you will want to get to know both right away. I promise you will not be disappointed. 

💐If you'd like to buy a copy of the book (for yourself or anyone who needs more flowers in his or her life!) just go here:  The Ministry of Flowers.
​
May you continue to scatter flowers far and wide.
​
With warmest wishes and kindest regards 
Andrea x

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The Ministry of Flowers 
by 
Andrea Witzke Slot
​ 
published
by
Valley Press

on-line launch event
November 12th 2020 
created with the support
of The Poetry Exchange

Poetry by Andrea Witzke Slot 

Curated by Fiona L Bennett and Andrea Witzke Slot

 Producer and Event Co-Ordinator: Sally Anglesea

Introduction: Jo Brandon, Valley Press
  
Readers
Sally Anglesea
Hafsah Aneela Bashir
Fiona L Bennett 
Vanessa Gebbie 
 Faisal Mohyuddin
John Prebble 
Michael Shaeffer
 Valerie Wallace
 Andrea Witzke Slot
  
Host
 Fiona L Bennett

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A few comments from the event:

I don't know if you saw my name among the 70+ names (!), but I was there, and it was fabulous. That poem in which you showed us why you want to die like the dog should be nominated for a Pushcart; and the fellow who read it, for an Oscar.   I have so many different images of people and encounters with people in my head right now.  Your book is a beautiful reminder to us of the importance of seeing ourselves as communal beings.  I can't wait to read and re-read these.  

What a wonderful treat to see you and hear the amazing and uplifting collection of poems read so well by you and the other readers! It was so interesting to hear you describe the genesis of the book and illustrations, which made the gathering seem quite intimate. I'm looking forward to reading the collection in its entirety as soon as I get my hands on it.  

It's actually the best-attended poetry book launch I've ever been at. So the pandemic brings us some gifts too...

What an incredible evening with your words. I loved hearing your work read by others, that made it really special. Ordered the book, can’t wait to receive it. 

Beautiful words - smiled, cried and can’t wait to read them again and share them

Never been to a launch like it, even in real life. So well organised. our instructions were lengthy and precise, the words, music and art flowed seamlessly, I felt. Huge audience! Thank you Andrea!

Utterly magnificent.  - Thank you Andrea - and thank you readers! What a rich nourishing bone tingling treat. 

Andrea, this was absolutely beautiful!  Cannot wait to get my hands on the book.  Thank you to Valley Press for bringing us such life!

An incredibly special evening. What wonderful words - so moving. THANK YOU thank you xxxx

Thank-you for this wonderful gift Andrea. So moving, so inspiring, so beautiful and so full of love

I am enjoying hearing your poems in so many beautiful voices. What a lovely idea!

So lovely just to spend an evening immersed in these words. Thank-you to you Andrea and all the readers

I love hearing your playing too, Andrea. Somehow I hadn't know you were a musician too!

Lovely pics and music! And what a crowd!!! Congratulations! 

I’m am moved to tears...beauty and compassion are in your poems.

Thank you, beautiful poems and reading xxx

A fine and moving collection Andrea. 

Andrea, your new work is so powerful & humane & moving.

I am SO moved, Andrea and all the readers!

Such perfect readings!

Such a lovely reading.  I may have cried a bit at these moving poems.

Congratulations  - this was a wonderful reading! I can't wait to receive the book!
I loved the lettuce and slug one, it reminded me of a memory as a child, gardening with my mum in the rain. Beautiful readings.

Yes to scattering flowers everywhere in the world!

A lovely evening! Such beautiful readings in the final half. I love the idea of hearing Andrea’s poems in all those voices. Congratulations on the book!

Speechless... HOW wonderful...

Good night all and thank you Andrea for giving us the beauty of life in poetry. 

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I’ve come to sprig your country’s paths with
forget-me-not blues, all hues
of hyacinth tolls and gentian dues..

‘From Between my Country and the Others—as Ministry’
The Ministry of Flowers