RUBERY poet Spoz, aka Giovanni Esposito, has been shortlisted for a prestigious national literary prize.
The former Birmingham Poet Laureate is in contention to win the Ruth Rendell Award for Services to Literacy.
Spoz, who also performed as one of the ‘Bards of Brum’ at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, has made the ALCS Educational Writers’ Award shortlist for the work he does taking poetry into schools.
Speaking to the Standard, he said: “I had a message on Facebook from a lovely lady I’d worked with at a school, saying she was going to nominate me for the Ruth Rendell Award.
“After Googling it to find out what it was, I felt quite humbled and excited.
“I cant’e believe I’ve made the shortlist.”
His citation describes Spoz as ‘an award-winning performance poet, singer/songwriter, film maker, playwright and the poet-in-residence at Birmingham City FC’.
He has performed on BBE Radio Four and 5 Live and at multiple festivals, including Glastonbury.
He has published poetry collections and a graphic novel.
He is up against six others for the accolade with the winner announced at the ALCS Annual Awards in London on February 22, which is being hosted by previous winner Karl Nova.
Best-selling crime author Ruth Rendell championed literacy throughout her life and worked closely with the National Literacy Trust (NLT).
After her death in 2015, ALCS partnered with the NLT to launch the award in her honour the following year.
Last year’s award was won by novelist and playwright Cecilia Knapp for her work as Spread the Word’s Young People’s Laureate.
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