The Next Blue Note

Joe Neal was born half-way up a mountain in North Wales. He began his acting career in repertory theatre before attending Nottingham University. To supplement his income, he also trained as a journalist, working for the Western Mail (Cardiff), Times, Guardian, Daily Telegraph and Daily Express. As an actor, he has performed on stage, radio and television in Britain and Ireland. Between acting work Neal writes extensively on the countryside and natural history as well as devoting time to poetry and short stories which he believes should be read aloud - 'even to oneself.' His published work has appeared in the Times, Daily Telegraph, Countryman, Waterlog, New Writer, New Society (now defunct), Ireland's Own, Scaldy Detail and numerous poetry magazines. Performed writing includes Revenge, The Reluctant Trombonist, Send in the Clown and Kites and Catullus. He has read the poems of Seamus Heaney and John Betjeman on BBC television and Shakespeare and Dylan Thomas on BBC radio. He has had 12 of his poems published in the anthology Dust Motes Dancing in the Sunbeams.

Joe Neal's poetry moves up and down the scale, from perfectly preserved moments in harmony with nature to offbeat observations on life, love and music. His imagery is vivid; his sense of rhythm is unparalleled. The Next Blue Note is a joy of a collection.