I’m going viral, not the blog – I’ve got a cold (I’m confident it’s a cold rather than anything more porcine and sinister, because my partner caught it a few days before me, and she’s getting over it). So instead of another pocket epic, this post is a very quick list of links to interesting things I think you should know about. (I’m infectious, so I’m allowed to be bossy.)
The Quiet World Project: Johanna Knox’s fascinating blog on the future of books, publishing and reading in a changing world.
The Kathleen Grattan Award: This lucrative award for an original collection of poems, or long poem, by a New Zealand poet was won in its inaugural year by Christchurch poet Joanna Preston. The deadline for entries, 31 July, is rolling round. If you’ve got a collection ready to go, I strongly advise you to check this out. (I’m thinking of applying in 2010.)
Anomalous Appetites: Shortly after the release of Voyagers: Science Fiction Poetry from New Zealand was announced, New Zealand poet and editor John Irvine got in touch to say that he had recently published an illustrated anthology of science fiction poetry, Anomalous Appetites. You can find out all about it, and how to buy it, on John’s website.
broadsheet 3 and Tom: The indefatigable Mark Pirie hasn’t rested on his laurels as co-editor with me of Voyagers. He has just produced Issue 3 of the literary magazine he edits, broadsheet. The centrepiece of this issue is an interview with Robert Creeley, and I’m pleased to say that my poem “Down George Street in the Rain” is also included. The HeadworX website has more information on broadsheet, including how to subscribe. I also have a copy of Mark’s recently-published verse novel Tom, and will be reviewing it here in the not-too-distant future.
Fascinating (?) fact: We recently sold our first copy of Voyagers for the Kindle, Amazon’s e-book reader, so far available only in the USA. At the time of writing, according to the Amazon listing for the Kindle edition of Voyagers, that sale makes Voyagers the 45th most popular poetry anthology available for the Kindle!.
Right, enough of these viral ravings. Goodnight, and good luck!
