After struggling with malaise over the Holidays (poetry!), I've been much slammed with work from my actual job that pays my salary and makes this all possible. As a result, I've been doing a bit of catching up.
For several months, I've had two chapbooks in the works, and they're finally ready (and almost ready, respectively). The first, due to "arrive" in a week or so, is Judging Our Allies by Francis Raven. The second book--Scent of Shatter by Valerie Wetlaufer--should hit around the end of February.
When Francis' book is ready to sell, I'll update the official Grey Book Press website with ordering information. (At that time, I'll also update ordering information for our 2009 titles, as well as some older books.)
As for Momoware #3, I've been slowly gathering poems. Still shooting for this Spring . . . just might be late Spring.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Monday, December 14, 2009
Momoware #3 Guidelines
We don't usually embrace "themes" here at Grey Book Press (when it comes to our journals), but have decided to try something for the Spring issue (#3) of Momoware. Which could, very likely, become the new "norm."
As you probably know, we're fans of Asian forms and erotica. So, that's what we want: erotic poetry and/or poetry written in an Asian form. Bonus points for combining.
Deadline is . . . whenever we get enough to put an issue together. Hopefully sometime in February.
As you probably know, we're fans of Asian forms and erotica. So, that's what we want: erotic poetry and/or poetry written in an Asian form. Bonus points for combining.
Deadline is . . . whenever we get enough to put an issue together. Hopefully sometime in February.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
November News-Dump
Lots of things afoot here at Grey Book Press. If you know me even a little bit, then you won’t be surprised this calls for a bulleted list:
- First and foremost, we recently published a mini-chapbook in conjunction with Sandra Simonds’ Wildlife imprint—“Terrarium of the Frame” by Laura Carter. We did a limited run of 50 copies. The book was launched at a reading in Atlanta this past weekend, and most of the copies are gone. We have a few copies left; I’m hesitant to put up a Paypal “button” because I wouldn’t want to sell more than we have. Contact us (greybookpress at gmail dot com) if you’re interested, and we can work something out. (Or, I’ll let you know we’re all out. When that happens, there could very well be a second printing . . . although it wouldn’t be through GBP.)
- While Laura and Sandra were reading in Atlanta this weekend, we were in St. Augustine at the Florida Literary Arts Coalition’s “Other Words” Conference. We had a great time; the conference was nice, too. There was a panel on chapbook publishing headed up by Gianna Russo of Yellowjacket Press.
- I have a couple manuscripts that are likely to materialize as chapbooks in the coming months. More details soon.
- New website is almost ready. More details soon.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Announcing a Poetry Reading . . . Last Week!
I’m a great promoter, no?
Actually, I DID do some promotion on Facebook, which was echoed and picked up and forwarded by a few of the readers, so the Fermentation Lounge* was overflowing with people.
I invited the featured poets from the first two issues of Momoware (Becky Baxley Kring and Christine Poreba) to read, as well as the authors from the first three Grey Book Press chapbooks (Kristine Snodgrass, Jay Snodgrass, and Sandra Simonds).
Now that things are settling down (some), we’re getting ready to pull the trigger on a limited edition run of mini-chapbooks (in cooperation with Sandra’s Wildlife imprint). And then I’m looking at two more chapbook projects to come out in the coming months.
* You should go.
Actually, I DID do some promotion on Facebook, which was echoed and picked up and forwarded by a few of the readers, so the Fermentation Lounge* was overflowing with people.
I invited the featured poets from the first two issues of Momoware (Becky Baxley Kring and Christine Poreba) to read, as well as the authors from the first three Grey Book Press chapbooks (Kristine Snodgrass, Jay Snodgrass, and Sandra Simonds).
Now that things are settling down (some), we’re getting ready to pull the trigger on a limited edition run of mini-chapbooks (in cooperation with Sandra’s Wildlife imprint). And then I’m looking at two more chapbook projects to come out in the coming months.
* You should go.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Grey Book Press "Store"
Here are the chapbooks we have for sale. Prices (per copy) include shipping.
"Fledgling Starlet" by Kristine Snodgrass ($5)
"Solid Waste" by Jay Snodgrass ($5)
"Used White Wife" by Sandra Simonds ($5)
"Fledgling Starlet" by Kristine Snodgrass ($5)
"Solid Waste" by Jay Snodgrass ($5)
"Used White Wife" by Sandra Simonds ($5)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
SIMPLE Poetry Exercise
Here’s a very simple writing exercise you can do any time.
What you’ll need:
• paper
• cover stock (can use another kind of paper in a pinch)
• long-arm stapler (or another binding implement)
• rubber stamps (e.g., alphabet letters) and ink
• pen
Essentially, in doing this exercise, you’ll be making a chapbook, of sorts. For my example, I’ll be making a digest-sized book (5 ½” x 8 ½” which is the size of standard letter paper folded in half). Start with your cover stock (or whatever you’re using for the outer “cover,” which should be at least as large as the inner pages); lay that down on the table. On top of that, stack pieces of paper for the inner pages; each sheet will be four “pages” in digest size. Now, fold the cover stock and other pages in half so that that cover stock is enclosing the other pages, and fasten/bind the pages together at the fold. (Helpful tip if you’re using a long-arm/saddle stapler: Set your guide at exactly 5 ½” and staple BEFORE folding . . . once near the “top” and once near the “bottom.” That way, your pages will stay aligned while you fold.)
You should have a blank, digest-sized book at this point. Ready to write? No, you’re not. You need titles. Use your rubber stamps (or bourgeois markers) to give your “book” a title on its front cover. Yeah, not done yet. You need titles on the other pages. Now, you can start right on the first page (inside the front cover), or you can decorate that page . . . maybe give it a number, or echo the cover title? Have other cute stamps, like hearts, or flowers, or skulls? Your call. Me? I start with the third page (second right-hand page), using my rubber stamps to put a title up top. Now, continue through the book titling the pages. Every page? Every other page? How large is your handwriting? How much to you have to write to complete a thought or three? If you don’t have any preference, start on the back of page three and put a title at the top of every left-hand page, leaving the right-hand pages blank. That way, you’ll have two nearly blank pages per title. The LAST right-hand page (right before the back cover) . . . I like to leave that blank. That way, the last “poem” gets more room. You’ll see. Might be helpful. Or just more space.
NOW . . . you’re ready to write. See? Simple!
What you’ll need:
• paper
• cover stock (can use another kind of paper in a pinch)
• long-arm stapler (or another binding implement)
• rubber stamps (e.g., alphabet letters) and ink
• pen
Essentially, in doing this exercise, you’ll be making a chapbook, of sorts. For my example, I’ll be making a digest-sized book (5 ½” x 8 ½” which is the size of standard letter paper folded in half). Start with your cover stock (or whatever you’re using for the outer “cover,” which should be at least as large as the inner pages); lay that down on the table. On top of that, stack pieces of paper for the inner pages; each sheet will be four “pages” in digest size. Now, fold the cover stock and other pages in half so that that cover stock is enclosing the other pages, and fasten/bind the pages together at the fold. (Helpful tip if you’re using a long-arm/saddle stapler: Set your guide at exactly 5 ½” and staple BEFORE folding . . . once near the “top” and once near the “bottom.” That way, your pages will stay aligned while you fold.)
You should have a blank, digest-sized book at this point. Ready to write? No, you’re not. You need titles. Use your rubber stamps (or bourgeois markers) to give your “book” a title on its front cover. Yeah, not done yet. You need titles on the other pages. Now, you can start right on the first page (inside the front cover), or you can decorate that page . . . maybe give it a number, or echo the cover title? Have other cute stamps, like hearts, or flowers, or skulls? Your call. Me? I start with the third page (second right-hand page), using my rubber stamps to put a title up top. Now, continue through the book titling the pages. Every page? Every other page? How large is your handwriting? How much to you have to write to complete a thought or three? If you don’t have any preference, start on the back of page three and put a title at the top of every left-hand page, leaving the right-hand pages blank. That way, you’ll have two nearly blank pages per title. The LAST right-hand page (right before the back cover) . . . I like to leave that blank. That way, the last “poem” gets more room. You’ll see. Might be helpful. Or just more space.
NOW . . . you’re ready to write. See? Simple!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sands
I read on Facebook about this contest in honor of Sandra Simonds' book, Warsaw Bikini. I don't remember the exact rules, but the winner(s) receive a copy of the book, and it involves some other stuff. I may be disqualified, anyway, as I'm publishing a chapbook for Sandra very soon. But I don't own a copy of her book . . . and wouldn't turn one down. Is what I'm sayin'.
Back to the contest. The "entry" is a poem (or short prose piece) playing on a line or title or poem of Sandra's. I went with one of her recently published poems La Petite Zine. It's in the style of, not inspired by, Sandra. Just so we're clear. *ahem*
"This Storm is a State (its Beauty, Eternal)"
-- after Sands
Ferns in the gutter were just be-
ginning to brown---a Death
befriended,
as round bodies bloated and gathered
for easy rolling to a greater un-
safety.
The rain
swoons itself down as
a blushing, never-was virgin.
Oh, come, minty-fresh, cherished de-
struction and
spin us toward the tornadic dark-
scape of your mangled
appropriations.
Say put it in.
Say do it inside me.
Back to the contest. The "entry" is a poem (or short prose piece) playing on a line or title or poem of Sandra's. I went with one of her recently published poems La Petite Zine. It's in the style of, not inspired by, Sandra. Just so we're clear. *ahem*
"This Storm is a State (its Beauty, Eternal)"
-- after Sands
Ferns in the gutter were just be-
ginning to brown---a Death
befriended,
as round bodies bloated and gathered
for easy rolling to a greater un-
safety.
The rain
swoons itself down as
a blushing, never-was virgin.
Oh, come, minty-fresh, cherished de-
struction and
spin us toward the tornadic dark-
scape of your mangled
appropriations.
Say put it in.
Say do it inside me.
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