A Few Notes on Poetry Publishers

 After 20 years of working in one form of library or another, I feel I am sort of an expert on nicely published books. You can tell when a publisher cares about the work that they are putting out in the world. The book feels well made, the cover art is nice, the author's photo is well done. Sometimes, you get colored edges, deckled edges, a built in ribbon bookmark. While I appreciate those books for their appearance, I prefer smaller press books especially when it comes to poetry collections and chapbooks. 

I simply cannot resist a stapled together chapbook hand created by the poet themselves. I always feel the treasure inside is more rare than something that is published by one of those big publishers. I also feel better knowing that I can support a poet and their work more directly. I have two favorite publishers in North Carolina that I will buy from directly:

Press 53 - Based out of Winston Salem, Press 53 has published some of my favorite authors - Adrien Rice, Cathy Smith Bowers, Dannye Romine Powell, Michael Hettich, Joseph Bathanti, and Joseph Mills. I know when I order a book from Press 53, I am going to receive the book quickly and packaged nicely. Once I received thank you e-mail from the publisher and editor, Kevin Morgan Watson, and that meant the world to me. Right now, I am reading Hickory Station by Adrian Rice and the cover is gorgeous and the poems even more so. Ever so often I have to read a poem aloud to my husband just because it is that beautiful, it needs to be read aloud. 

Redhawk Publications - Redhawk Publications is produced by Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC. They also have a wonderful podcast called RedPubPod that I never miss. I love the catalog of poets that Redhawk has produced: Les Brown, Tim Peeler, Ted Pope, Joyce Compton Brown, Scott Owens, Carter Monroe, Julia Nunnally Duncan, and Doug Ramspeck just to name a few. Redhawk also publishes memoirs, non-fiction, and fiction. I have purchased many books from Redhawk in the past and I always read those books first, they never linger on my bookshelf for long. I love the work that Redhawk produces and how they promote so many great authors in the area. 

Rank Stranger Press has got to be my favorite poetry press in NC. I wish I could link to the website but Rank Stranger Press is no longer operating. Carter Monroe, Publisher/Editor/Owner of Rank Stranger Press was one of the most fascinating poets that I have ever had the privilege to meet. I learned a great deal from him and his taste in poetry was impeccable. I would love to see a revival of Rank Stranger Press, I still look for books published Monroe whenever I am at a used book store. 


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