However, we’re coming out of it.  Probably not the banner year we had in 2011, but we’re pushing forward.

Later this week, you can get a copy of Mike Sikkema’s Wander-Rooms and Outside Noise.  The next book (late May/early June) will be Failure to Apply the Method by Nicholas Liu.  After that, it’s j/j hastain.  Even further down the road (shooting for a formal launch in August) is a collaborative effort focusing on a classic American pop-culture/matricide story from last year. 

In the fall, we’re going to assemble a fourth issue of Momoware and then have an open reading period (September or October). 

Thanks, everyone, for following along and keeping up and . . . patience.

It’s about life.  It’s about choices we make.  And it’s also about Nina Simone, baseball, Matt Damon, and how to save the world.  Get your copy now!

Actually, that’s the cover to Maurice’s new chapook, Rimbaud’s / Poems, as drawn by Gary Sullivan (proto-Flarf poet and illustrator).

You may recall that we had a chapbook contest last summer, with Elisabeth Workman as guest judge.  Well, Maurice’s exuberant book placed first, and you can now own a copy. 

Sorry this has been so long coming, but it’s worth the wait. 

Next up, Matthew Lippman!

This time last year, I think we’d published four chapbooks from the winners/finalists from our (previous) summer’s contest, so obviously we’re a little behind. But things are about to happen quickly. In a couple days, we’re going to add Rimbaud’s / Poems by Maurice Burford, followed a couple weeks later by Matthew Lippman’s Don’t Harrass the Garden. Which means our “plan” is a little out of order; our second-place book from the summer (Mike Sikkema’s Wander Rooms and Outside Noise) will be published third.

After that, we’ve tentatively lined up Nicholas Liu and possibly another book or two. I should let everyone know that, for the time being, we’re not going to accept unsolicited chapbook manuscripts. We have some manuscripts we’re considering and are going to solicit a few more in the coming months . . . which could keep us occupied through the summer. Meaning the summer “contest” could be delayed until fall. If I already have your manuscript, it’s still being considered.

And speaking of the fall, we’re going to do another issue of Momoware. Whereas our previous issue was all Asian forms and/or erotica, this issue will be focusing on activism/political issues . . . and erotica. What better way to celebrate our next election and/or the End of the World with some really spirited/dirty activist poet-rants?

See you in a couple days.

I am writing this bound and determined to get an update in by midnight. I think I’ll make it as I’m only on my first beer and the saddle-stapler isn’t here to distract me.

We took a little more time off than we’d planned, but we’re well on our way to start 2012 out strong. In fact, Maurice Burford’s book is mostly done, and I’ve got a start on a couple others. The GOAL is to have three chapbooks out by the end of February 2012 (from Maurice, Mike Sikkema, and Matthew Lippman). We’ll be following those up with a book from Nicholas Liu.

I have some other manuscripts under review, including poetry from other finalists from the summer’s “contest,” which could yield books going into the late spring and early summer. I also plan to request work from some poets I’ve met recently. Additionally, I’m going to solicit poems for a fourth issue of Momoware.

It’ll be great if I can stick with my plan (resolution?). This past year has been really awesome for us. I’ve worked with some fantastic, supportive, and fantastically nice poets this year. If 2012 is half as fun (and not, as “predicted” by the Mayans, the end of time), we’ll be doing all right.

See you all on the other side.

Our schedule for the rest of 2011 and early 2012 coming soon.

This year’s chapbook contest winner is Maurice Burford with Rimbaud’s / Poems.  The second place chapbook was Mike Sikkema’s Wander Rooms and Outside Noise.  We ended up with five other finalists, including:

Matthew Lippman, Don’t Harrass the Garden
Nicholas Liu, Failure to Apply the Method
Lily Ladewig, Shadow Boxes
Zeke Hudson, People
j/j hastain, Riding the Lace Barometer Through

Honestly, I haven’t contacted ANY of the finalists directly about publication details but, officially, the winner gets a full run and the runner-up gets a limited-edition run (see post from July 14 below).  Beyond that, I will (very) likely be contacting other finalists about publication. I’ll know more in the next week or so.  I foresee doing planning and promotion for the next month and then coming out with a schedule for the fall and into 2012.  Anyway, congratulations for all the winners and finalists.  We enjoyed reading your work.

Speaking of, I have to thank Elisabeth Workman for taking this journey with us (me).  She is so gracious and great, and I’m sure we’ll do another book with her down the road. 

It turns out that we received two and a half times the number of submissions from last year. But we’re nearing the end of the list, the bottom of the pile (all in a good way). Then we’ll be able to announce the Finalists, followed soon after by our winners.

Additionally, we’re about to go to press with a limited edition chapbook of cinquains by Evie Ivy. More on that and more on the chapbook contest very soon.

UPDATE: Entries should be around 18 to 24 pages in length. If you have more than one manuscript, chose the best one and send that.  Please remove your name and/or personal identifiers from your manuscript.

Also in the “store,“ you can (finally) get a copy of our oil-spill memorial chapbook, Welcome to the Dark Water. It’s chock-full of awesome poets and poetry. Proceeds go to benefit Save Our Shores (Florida).

We have one more book in the queue and our “contest” kicks off in, like, FOUR DAYS. So . . . more (very) soon.