A Nantwich poet is enjoying national recognition after her debut collection was shortlisted for a prestigious award, writes Jonathan White.
When Helen Kay won The Dithering Chaps Pamphlet Competition – part of the 2024 Bournemouth Writing Festival – she never imagined how far it would take her.
Originally set to publish a small pamphlet as part of the prize, Helen’s poems impressed the editors so much the project expanded into a full debut collection.
Her book, It Was Never About the Kingfisher, was released in January 2025 and launched at Nantwich Museum, a place Helen remembers fondly from childhood.
David Herring, lead editor at Dithering Chaps, was so taken with the collection he nominated it for both the Forward Prize and the Rubery Award for independently published books.
The Rubery panel has since shortlisted the collection, with judges praising its “wry sense of humour that makes the common peculiar and fresh. Very impressive writing”.
While the book explores deeply personal themes – including the loss of Helen’s brother Joe in 2023 – it also carries a hopeful message, ending on a note of wonder that “new things still happen.”
Poet Mark Pajak described the poems as “small swift moments of iridescence”.
As of July, It Was Never About the Kingfisher is available at Nantwich Bookshop on High Street.
Helen said: “We’re so lucky to have an independent bookshop in our town supporting local authors.
“They’ve always been welcoming to poets – hosting launches and monthly Speakeasy sessions for writers to share and connect.”
Helen remains active in the local literary scene.
She’s a member of Poetry Whitchurch and runs the Nantwich Poetry Page on Facebook, where she helps promote fellow poets and keep the local poetry community thriving.
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