Angela Garratt is a local poet and novelist, having performed her poems at festivals and theatres throughout the Black Country and surrounding areas. She is passionate about her craft so much so that she enjoys encouraging other people to write. So, in 2014 Angela Founded the Oldbury Writing Group (OWG) and since then people from all walks of life have come to her group to learn new skills, find inspiration or simply to get the support they need as a writer. One of the people that goes to her Group is Heather Barrett. Heather will be joining Angela, along with many others to perform at the tenth Sutton Coldfield Expo. This is another festival in the West Midlands that supports the arts year after year and Angela is proud to be one of the many performers supporting them this year.
Most recent, Angela and some of the members of the OWG supported the first ever book festival at Cannock Chase Museum. Though neither Angela nor the OWG performed at this particular festival, Angela says, ‘It is great to support local literary events, particularly when they are held for the first time as they tend to grow over the years. These events can only do that if people go and support them and we must, if not for ourselves but for the younger generations to enjoy as well. I hope that Cannock Chase Museum will continue to put on these bookfests as it is always beneficial for all writers to speak to those who have made a success of their craft.’
Apart from the OWG Angela is a member of PAR (Poets against Racism). She has supported them by performing with them at various venues which includes the Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton City Centre and Rock the Beacon Music and Food Festival. The latter was a whole weekend of fun, music and poetry. Furthermore, Angela believes that festivals and author events are a perfect place to meet knew like-minded people. People who have the same passion for her craft, people for whom she would like to stay in touch with and if possible help to encourage them to further their writing career. She continues to say, ‘networking is one of the most important things any artist can do. In order to meet new people, create opportunities and make new friends, it is imperative that we all get up and speak to one another, lest our art will disappear.’ She knows that talking to people that you don’t know can be daunting, but she also knows that everyone at networking events feels the same way, it is nerve racking, but when you are talking to someone for the first time and you realise that you are in the process of making a new friend, all of those nerves go away but what remains is a more healthy sense of your self-esteem. Stepping out of your comfort zone is never easy, but it is always worth it.
