Gez Walsh facts for kids
Gez Walsh is a former joiner, former social worker and children's poet. He has written various books of children's comedy poetry including "The Return of the Spot," "Someone's Nicked My Knickers," "Parents, Zits and Hairy Bits", "Norah's Nasty Kickers", "Fido's Foul Surprise", "Terry and Mum", among others. In addition, he is also the author of a trilogy of sword-and-sorcery fantasy novels: "The Man in the Skirt", "Banshee Moon" and "The Keeper".
In 1997 he began touring promoting his poetry. This has included many performances at schools, libraries and festivals in the UK and beyond, in Germany, Luxembourg and other venues.
Poems
Gez Walsh burst into the poetry scene in 1997 armed with his first collection of children's verse, "The Spot on My Bum: Horrible Poems for Horrible Children", which was rapidly to become a cult classic. Written in response to his dyslexic son's need for stimulating, approachable reading material, Gez decided to use humour as his tool to encourage interest. Quickly realising he'd hit on a successful method of providing reluctant readers with enthusiasm, Gez's world of laughter sprang into life. Soon it was not only his son enjoying hilarious performances of these poems, but a much wider audience of enthusiasts at schools, festivals, book signings and charity events.
Adding to his range of material for an ever-growing army of fans, Gez penned "The Return of The Spot: More Horrible Poems for More Horrible Children" (1997). Encouraged by this success Gez decided to try and further his appeal by branching out into fiction. In 1998 volume one of the Celtic Chronicles trilogy, "The Man in The Skirt", was published and promptly reviewed on the popular children's television programme Fully Booked. A year later in 1999 his followers were presented with his next poetry offering, "Someone's Nicked My Knickers: Poems to Make Your Toes Curl", then, in 2000, "Parents, Zits and Hairy Bits: The World According to Wilf", a big hit with teenagers.
Towards the end of 2001, "Fido's Foul Surprise And Other 'Ruff' Rhymes" hit the bookshops, closely followed by the second volume of the comedy-horror Celtic Chronicles, "Banshee Moon".
2002 saw Gez's sixth potty poetry collection, "Norah's Nasty Knickers: Crazy Poems for Cool Kids" come into being, receiving a warm reception from fans and generating media interest, while 2003 provided the much-awaited concluding volume to the Celtic Chronicles trilogy in the shape of "The Keeper".
2004 proved a busy time for Gez. Writing and performing full-time took his unique brand of humour to schools, libraries and festivals around the country with his reputation as a motivator of reluctant readers growing alongside his popularity.
In the last couple of years Walsh has really been concentrating on his new series of fiction for young adults, "Twisted Minds". Volume 1 of this series, "The Meeting Room", was originally published as a digital book for download only; however, it was released in book form in late 2014. In the meantime, two other volumes, "Changes" and "Diva Dave and Fat Sue", have appeared both in book form and as e-books.
Walsh has also developed a stand-up act for adult audiences. He also regularly presents the Wednesday afternoon show on Phoenix FM Radio in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. In the summer of 2014 he was appointed as the official "poet laureate" of Calderdale. Also, at the same time, he was the poet in residence at the Orange Box, a community arts centre in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
