ILKLEY artist and writer Sussi Louise Smith, debuts with the poetry collection Seashaken Light on Sunday, November 1

Originally from Denmark, Sussi moved to the Yorkshire Dales in 2015 and is well known locally for her colourful art, stories and not least the book stones she designs for the Grove Bookshop.

This is her first collection published in English.

Seashaken Light is a story told from many angles. With Scandinavian candour, moonlight and the raw voice of a life that has seen too much cancer but remains ever inspired by the roar of the sea, even now she lives inland, we are taken on a journey to the edge of the salty Danish coasts and travel below and above the surface of the ‘I am fine’ mentality. Seashaken Light is a passionate ode to hope and an authentic voice that cuts through the anxiety of dealing with loss, life and grasps light by its whiskers and pulls it in.

Four poems from the collection have been put to hauntingly beautiful music by local musician Emma Hughes and can be found on YouTube under #seashakenlight

Seashaken Light is published by Cathy Harper Publishing.

The Grove Bookshop, Ilkley will host a book launch via ZOOM on Wednesday, November 4 at 7 pm. The event is free. Please sign up via the website or call the shop. For those who feel they can a voluntary contribution to Cancer Research is Sussi’s preferred charity for the event.

Sussi will be signing her book in The Grove Bookshop on Sunday November 1 between 11am - 11.30.