The View from Rack Press Corporate HQ

We are having a London launch in January but Rack Press is a Welsh press based in the beautiful Radnor Valley in the Welsh Marches.

This was the view on the last day of British Summertime.

The New Rack Poets Are Coming

We will soon be announcing the poets in the new 2010 series to be launched in January. Because this is to be the fifth birthday of the relaunched Rack press there will be more poets, a special London launch, and lots of special offers so watch this space!

We are also redesigning our website which we hope will be active in a few weeks.

Poetry Wales Salutes Us

Thank you to Poetry Wales for a nice mention of Rack Press in its latest issue (Spring 44 (4)) in the context of a discussion of the current fashion for poetry pamphlets. In a sense it is a mixed blessing from big poetry publishers like Seren and Faber who have both announced new pamphlet initiatives in the past year, because we look to them for a more substantial commitment to new poetry in book form. But every little helps.

Poetry Wales writes: "In Wales, Powys-based Rack Press has established a well-produced series frequently reviewed in this magazine..." Not strictly accurate because Poetry Wales consistently ignored us until a splendidly generous review last autumn of the third annual batch of poets appeared there. Getting anything reviewed these days in the poetry magazines is a struggle so we are grateful for all these notices.

While on the subject of pamphlets we recommend the following:

Towards a Pamphlet: a practical course

Tutor: Roddy Lumsden

Venue: Poetry School, 81 Lambeth Walk, London SE11 6DX

Day / Time: Fridays, 6.45-8.45pm

Duration: 6 weeks

Start Date: 6 November

Price: £65 (£46 concs)

You’ll look at how to put together, order and edit a pamphlet of poems; considering publication options, range, theme, the editorial and selection processes, design, layout and fonts. This short course, aimed at advanced poets who feel their work is now strong and original enough to be successful in a busy market, is taught by a poet who has edited many pamphlets

as well as writing both pamphlets and full collections of his own.

To book: call 0207 582 1679 or book online at www.poetryschool.com

New reviews of Rack Press pamphlets

The latest issue of Planet magazine carries reviews by Lyndon Davies of the 2009 series of Rack Press pamphlets. He praises John Powell Ward's "witty and inventive sequence" Variations on Four Places, finds Siobhán Campbell's language in Darwin Among the Machines "revels in the lexicon of mechanical paraphernalia" and describes William Palmer's poems in An Instruction from Madame S. as "elegantly wrought and mellifluously gratifying to the ear".

Issue 195 of Planet is available from www.planetmagazine.org.uk

The current issue of Agenda, a Welsh issue, also reviews Rack Press pamphlets under the slightly disconcerting heading of "Omnium Gatherum of Welsh Books". John Powell Ward's sequence is praised again and there are reviews of Steve Griffith's Landing and Byron Beynon's Cuffs.

Agenda is available from www.agendapoetry.co.uk.

Rack Press at Hay Festival of Literature

Rack Press pamphlets and poem cards will be available during the three day Hay Poetry Festival 28-30th May, a fringe event to the main Hay Festival, taking place at Oriel Gallery, Salem Chapel, Bell Bank, Hay on Wye with a range of poets appearing including Peter Finch, Wendy Mulford, John James, Chris Torrance and David Greenslade.

Information from goodbard@yahoo.co.uk

Rack Press Poem Cards on Sale

This year's new venture from Rack Press, Poem Card No 1, an attractively produced  folding card that can be used as a greetings card (see illustration to the right) is now available at two Welsh outlets, The Rowan Tree in Presteigne, Powys and Pemberton's in Hay-on-Wye, also in Powys (all ready for the imminent influx of the metropolitan literati at next month's Guardian Hay Festival of Literature).  

The card consists of a reproduction of a contemporary painting by Leeds-based artist, Elizabeth Neylan, Acapulco, together with a poem by Rack Press founder, Nicholas Murray in response to the painting.  This literary pairing of poem and painting is called ekphrasis.

Cards can also be ordered directly from Rack Press either individually at £1.65 (post free) or at a special discount of 8 cards for £10.

Latest Review Praises Byron Beynon

The latest Rack Press review of Byron Beynon's pamphlet, Cuffs (2008) has appeared in the winter issue of The Seventh Quarry (No 9).  The reviewer finds this: "A slim publication of excellent and successful poems. It is an individual and impressive voice that is threaded with focussed intelligence and maturity. A first class poet who really understands the importance of craft, and the emotional and intellectual weight of his chosen words."  Deserved criticism of this fine collection, copies of which are still available.