Poet Beman has released his first poetry collection at the age of 82, sharing a deeply personal body of work shaped by decades of lived experience, hardship and humour.
Facing Life with a Smile will be released on January 23rd 2026 and is available now for pre-order through Amazon, Waterstones, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers.
The book features a series of poems inspired by Beman’s own life, reflecting on key moments with warmth, wit and a quietly hopeful tone.
Born in West Yorkshire in 1943, Beman grew up in a mining community, raised by a mother who worked as a weaver and a father employed as a bricklayer. He later worked as a carpenter and site manager and married his wife in 1971.
A serious accident in 1990 changed his life when he fell from a ladder. Multiple spinal surgeries followed, leaving him paralysed and facing the challenge of adapting to lasting physical change.
“After my injury, I found myself with time to spare, and I started to write poetry.” Shared Beman.
Writing poetry became part of his recovery, helping him work through the emotional impact of his injury. Over time, his poems were shared with family and friends, whose encouragement helped shape the idea of a published collection.
“Making people smile was always my main aim. Most of what I’ve written is true to life, and when people told me they enjoyed my poems and encouraged me to write a book.” Benman added.
While the collection reflects on serious life events, humour remains central throughout, offering balance and approachability for readers.
The book is published by Maple Publishers in the UK, with book cover design, illustrations and layout produced by White Magic Studios.