Press release
Anna Harper’s Blooming Without Permission is a fearless celebration of love, resilience, and the powerful journey of a poet living with an acquired brain injury.
“Blooming Without Permission” is more than a poetry collection — it is a courageous and deeply human exploration of love, longing, resilience, and identity through the eyes of a woman living with an acquired brain injury. With honesty, vulnerability, and strength, Anna Harper’s words challenge perceptions of disability while celebrating the enduring power of creativity, emotion, and self-expression.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
United Kingdom – Local Poet Anna Harper, Leamington Spa, Launches her Second Poetry Collection Blooming Without Permission
The launch date for local poet Anna Harper’s second book of poetry, Blooming Without Permission: A Second Diary of Poetry, has now been confirmed. The event will take place on Saturday 20th June at 2:30pm in the Tom Hauley Room at Harbury Church.
Anna Harper, a poet living with an acquired brain injury, has been writing poetry for many years. Following the publication of her first collection in 2024 (Welcome to My World), Anna has continued to develop her work and now presents this second volume, which combines poetry and illustrations inspired by both her own experiences and those of others.
Created in collaboration with Cathy Lloyd, who supported the project in an editorial role, the collection explores themes of love, desire, identity, and the emotional realities of living with a disability. The poems offer honest and thoughtful reflections, alongside artwork that complement the deeply personal nature of the writing.
Anna remains passionately dedicated to her poetry and hopes to share that passion with others through this new collection.
Anna says:
“ “I’ve been writing poetry for as long as I can remember. Poetry and art is a way I can communicate with others. When I write I put my heart on the page, it helps me stay in my happy place. The poems in this book are about me growing into a woman and exploring love for myself and the desire to have someone in my life.”
Guests attending the launch event will have the opportunity to hear selected poems read aloud by actors from the Harbury Theatre Group as well as a performance poet guest Debbie Ellis, who will also be taking part in the afternoon’s celebrations.
All are warmly invited to join Anna on 20th June which promises to be an inspiring and moving event celebrating poetry, creativity, and resilience.
The first volume (Welcome to My World) is available to purchase through Amazon and her website, and the second volume (Blooming Without Permission) is due to be released soon.
