South Wales poet, artist and therapist Alba Linden is earning critical acclaim for  her debut poetry collection, Shoulders of Giants.

Her deeply personal, yet widely relatable, collection has been described by critics as ‘strong and emotive’, ‘elegant’ and ‘a lovely use of language’. Despite carving out a successful career as an artist and holistic therapist, Alba admits writing was always her first love. She explained:

“I grew up in a creative family, who were always encouraging in various artistic ways of expression. I was reading and writing at an early age, and I loved writing poems and short stories. When I turned nine, I got a typewriter for my birthday, which became a treasured possession. 

“My uncle was also a poet, and I only recently realised how much he encouraged and inspired me as a child.”

Shoulders of Giants is a lyrically engaging and thought-provoking collection of 27 poems. Like the finest poetry, Alba uses deceptively simple language and structure to convey the deepest of emotions. Within the pages of Shoulders of Giants she explores the depths of loss and grief to the highs of finding new love.

Alba has fellow Welsh-based writer, Sophie Buchaillard, to thank for providing the inspiration to turn her poems into a collection. She said:

“I was reading Painting over the Cracks by Sophie Buchaillard, and it had a huge impact on me. 

“It inspired me to revisit my old poems, and it gave me the courage to take the next step of reclaiming my voice.

“’Shoulders of Giants’ centres on the journey through loss, grief and losing oneself within relationships to eventually finding clarity, strength and gentle rebirth. Poetry is like an abstract painting; people will interpret it differently, and I love that.”

Married to Wendy, Alba is a passionate advocate for greater awareness, support and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community.

Away from poetry, she is an in-demand artist and holistic therapist who also hosts creative writing and art workshops.

For more information about Alba Linden and her work, visit her author website, albalindenauthor.com

Shoulders of Giants is available locally from Griffin Books in Penarth and through various online retailers, including Amazon, in paperback and kindle editions.