Poetry written by the members of a community creative writing group will be released next week.

’Bathing In Rainbows’ is an anthology of poetry and prose, written during two courses of creative writing for wellbeing sessions at the Hub, a community arts centre which is based at Thie Rosien, in Port Erin.

Taking inspiration from the island’s natural landscapes and seascapes and also from culture, heritage and folklore, the group have created the poems and stories over two periods, of creative workshops, one over four weeks in 2018 and another earlier this year.

The book and creative writing sessions are backed by the Year of Our Island project.

The sessions were led by writer Janet Lees, who said that the book features a wide variety of writers from different backgrounds, and that she finds creative writing a valuable tool in helping people transform their lives.

’Some of the authors had writing experience, while others were just starting out on the road of creative expression using words,’ said Janet. ’You’ll find a range of different voices here, all of them distinctive and compelling, alive and shimmering with different emotions and experience, some imagined, some real, some a mixture of both.

’Creative writing can be a powerful tool to support wellbeing because it is totally absorbing and because everyone has their own unique voice and life experience,’ said Janet.

’I have an unshakeable belief in the power of creativity to transform, because in these sessions I’ve seen it happening again and again.

’The sessions are also very connecting - we quickly form bonds when we’re able to express ourselves creatively in a warm, supportive space.

’We are extremely grateful to Year of Our Island for supporting these sessions and also to the Isle of Man Arts Council for all their support over several years.’

’Bathing In Rainbows’, which is taken from a line of a poem called ’The Respite of Dreams’, written by ’Boakesey’ is published by the Isle of Man-based online publisher dpdotcom, and is already available from Amazon, priced £6.50.

The book will be officially launched at a special release night at the Hub on Thursday, October 24. Copies of the book will also be available to buy from the Hub.