It has been a busy couple of months with the deadline for submissions closing at the end of June for the Pandemic Poetry Anthology. We had a fantastic response, with over 500 poems submitted for consideration from the UK, USA and elsewhere. It has been quite a task to administer and monitor, but very fulfilling, thank goodness for the joys of airtable!
And we are at the printers! Charlie Markwick of Yarn Whispering has done a fantastic job of formatting and layout, and alongside artwork, chosen by Ziggy, by Glen Vaudrey and Steve Samsara, and a cover by Jason Conway, we are good to go.
It has been an enjoyable six months or so, working remotely alongside Ziggy and Charlie: discussing submissions, editing, section arrangements, proofs, and corresponding with the contributors.
Nightingale and Sparrow’s Issue VIII – Woodland is now ready to order for doorstep delivery or to read online. Extract from Juliette’s introduction:
‘You’ll travel through the woods of the world with each page, and even enter other literary worlds – beyond a certain wardrobe door – through the pieces included in our eighth issue.’
The hardback Pandemic Poetry anthology is now out in world. I’m so pleased that my poem ‘Looking for Dad’ has been included. Proceeds from the sales go to NHS charities and frontline workers PPE. The anthology, which features over 70 poets can be ordered here.
Issue IX ‘Blizzard’ from Nightingale & Sparrow is now available online from the website, or in print from Amazon. EIC issue note:
Issue X ‘Harmony’ from Nightingale & Sparrow is now available online from the website, or in print from Amazon. EIC issue note:
‘For this submissions period, we asked writers and photographers to “surprise us with your own unique harmonies. Share the songs that intersperse your life. Show us the places where discord unites. Let us hear the chords in each image and every line.” As always, our wonderful contributors have brought that vision to life.’
It’s been a busy month, and I’m delighted to say that Juliette (N&S EIC) has asked if I would be willing to take on the role of Managing Editor for the Press, which I was delighted to accept.
Amantine and I have been working on her gathered poems collection for a couple of months, and I’m delighted to hear her publisher Book Hub Publishing are in the final stages of production. Print copies are officially ‘coming soon’. Working as Amantine’s editor has been such a joyful experience – learning about her drivers, expansive life experiences, and many hours of poetic discussions. I really can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy!
The last couple of months have been enlightening and enjoyable compiling the Gloucester Poetry Festival, which runs online for the month of October 2021. This is my first year as festival coordinator working with Director Z.D. Dicks. The programme is now finalised and free tickets are available from www.gloucesterpoetryfestival.uk. There are 13 event from publishers and individual poets, as well as open mic slots.
I’m delighted to be recently appointed as Editor of Rare Swan Press and its companion Literati Magazine, a Swiss based venture run by the talented Renee Sigel. We have a number of fabulous poets and writers lined up for publication in late 2021 and 2022. The manuscripts I have read so far have been exceptional. Looking forward to diving further in!