ml press is anthologizing their entire first year of chapbooks into one perfect-bound book volume. my chapbook altruism, which has been sold out since may, will be included in this anthology. there is going to be something like 54 authors representing a vast stylistic range of interesting contemporary independent literature.
the release date will be 1.1.10, but you can pre-order copies now which will help in the production of the book as well as get more copies into print. i believe the cost is $15
this is one of the nicest things i have been a part of, and i am very excited for it. there are rumors of marathon readings and other interesting promotion items, but for now just secure a copy of the book and more news will come when it is available.
here is a brilliant line from altruism which will encourage you to want to read it and therefore need to buy the antholgogy: "...& take us to the indian restaurant so we could eat cheese nan...”
j.a. tyler (head of ml press) is a really nice person. he is doing very helpful and good things for independent literature and also the world. i really like j.a. tyler. i fully support j.a. tyler's life and art.
by Mike Topp (from
Elimae 2009:09)
I had this old pencil on the dashboard of my car for a long
time. Every time I saw it, I felt uncomfortable since its point
was so dull and dirty. I always intended to sharpen it and
finally couldn't bear it any longer and did sharpen it.
I think you can guess the rest. . .
to smash motherfuckers in their face
by jillian clark
i want to talk about jillian clark right now. i really like jillian clark. i like reading jillian clark's poems. there is never anything that i want to skip over or a sentence that i feel sorry for having read. i do not read her poems very fast just to get it over with. i really like reading her poems. i recently received and read her chap/ebook from bear creek feed called falling stars to smash motherfuckers in their face.
falling stars to smash motherfuckers in their face exists. it is made up of words and sentences that exist in proximity to each other like rocks on a dusty road. jillian doesn't try to do anything or to not do anything with the words and sentences in her poems. she says things and doesn't care if they sound good or bad or stupid or smart. sometimes things she says sound like one or more of these things, but it doesn't matter. jillian's poetry is like a rock that lays in the dirt not caring if you look at it or not.
jillian seems to know that things happen, that people think things and feel things and that whatever they are, they're okay, and that it's okay to talk about them in a way that is regular and honest; that things don't need to be perfect, that it's okay if you go on a safari and don't see every kind of african animal.
oh well
so, i have received three responses so far from small presses to whom i sent my poetry manuscript oh well, here are the responses as i remember them right now in my head:
1. i sent a query with sample poems
response: we liked this a lot but are full at the moment. if you haven't found a home for it by mid 2010, check back with us and we will re-consider
2. i sent full maniscript
response: we were taken by your manuscript and would like to offer you a situation with our upcoming schedule, but we are broke because we lost major funding, so we need you to donate $___ to this project, if you can't, don't worry, we will be up and running by spring and will pursue your manuscript with great interest then
3. i sent initial query with sample poems
response: we like your poetry. here is a note about how we work: (we are a cooperative collective and require authors to find funding for the publication of this project. sometimes we are able to help new authors who are just starting. if you able to work in this way, send the full manuscript).
i sent full manuscript unsure of what would happen or if i was 'able to work in this way'
response: we like your poetry and would be happy to publish this. should i send you a contract and budget?
i'm confused. it seems like these are positive responses. people seem to be interested. but one press says try again next year. and two others ask for funding. i am still waiting for responses from a lot of other places, i have not received any responses that said 'no'. i guess that is good.
arthur
okay, now i have had a few responses on a fiction manuscript called arthur. i will type them out as i remember them:
1. i sent query and sample
response: i like this. it has a really interesting effect as it accumulates. however, it is the perfect opposite of what we publish. sorry i can't help you with this one. (then he gave a few suggestions of places i should send to)
2-17. i sent queries and manuscripts
responses: none or no.
18. i sent query
response: please submit to our contest (which costs $25)
19. i sent query with sample
response: we enjoyed reading this and found its concept interesting, however at the present time we cannot accept it. we strongly urge you to submit it to another house.
so, yeah, i don't know
gustaf numero tre, il mio preferito
GUSTAF 3 has been printed. it is a print journal from oslo norway featuring a lot of really good writing, in my opinion. gustaf is probably my favorite literature venue ever so please buy a copy because audun spends his own money to print them and they look really nice and they have really nice literature and drawings inside them.
i have four poems in this issue which you will only get to read if you buy it or if someone gives it to you or if you ask someone who has it to type out the poems for you or if you ask me to, but, buy the issue! gustaf needs to have its appendages purchased if it is going to continue supporting literature and art.
here are the titles of my poems in this issue:
alone/not alone
dishwasher
i met an italian daytime drama actor
bad bad bad
that up top is an image of the cover, here in an image of what it looks like inside (click to enlarge):
if your brother or sister, daughter or son is in the 4th grade and needs to pass art class, i will provide drawings of your choice for a small fee.
please contact me at matthewsavoca @ gmail.com
