Carrickfergus actor’s poetry collection is published
Added: (Thu Apr 22 2021)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Retired actor Norman Turkington has returned to print with another collection of poetry – this time on his own terms.
The Northern Ireland-based grandfather, who appeared in television shows such as Maybury and Jemima Shore Investigates during a 20-year stage and screen career in the 1970s, and 80s, was surprised to be presented with his first published anthology on his 70th birthday.
Now, four years later, Norman has released a further volume of his verse, entitled Nearly Man 2 Almost There.
The 74-year-old grandfather from Carrickfergus explained: “I have written poetry for many years with no thought of publishing.
“My wife, Ruth, privately and sneakily collected, curated and edited my poems into what became the first book, Nearly Man, as a surprise for my 70th birthday.
“The onset of lockdown last year encouraged me to curate and edit more poems, written over a number of years to become Nearly Man 2 Almost There.
“I continue to write and who knows where we will go from here.”
Norman’s command of language is evident throughout Nearly Man 2 Almost There.
Separated into five sections - Memories, Wordplay, Lockdown, Fragments and Reflections – Nearly Man 2 Almost There allows the one-time retailer and legal worker to masterfully demonstrate an array of forms, styles and techniques.
And as with the first collection from 2016, his mischievous and playful nature is also evident, as well as his dislike of punctuation.
Norman, who is a member of the Carrickfergus Library Poetry Group, added: “I love words and I love playing with words - both in story format and in poetry.
“I started writing stories at a very young age, but by my teenage years I was starting to gravitate towards poetry, influenced by the Romantic poets, and in particular, Robert Browning.
“I write primarily for my own amusement and I enjoy playing with words to create nonsense poems.
“Generally, I eschew punctuation as I find it somewhat restrictive.”
As well as now having two volumes of his work published, Norman also contributes to the Yorkshire Poets online blog.
During a colourful and eclectic working life Norman has lived in London, Manchester, the Midlands and Somerset, as well as Northern Ireland.
He is currently working on new poems and hasn’t ruled out releasing a third anthology of his work in the future.
For more details, visit Amazon and search for Norman Turkington, where the paperback and Kindle formats of Nearly Man 2 Almost There are both available.
Notes to the Editor
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