The most recent addition to Gunpowder’s California Poets Series, Gary Soto’s Downtime is a collection of 47 new poem written during and inspired by the pandemic. Official release date February 1, available now for preorder!
Speech Crush
“Like kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing a broken vessel with lines of tree sap and gold, the poems in Sandra McPherson’s new book, Speech Crush, run a vein of intelligence and attention through often harrowing experiences—of deep loss, of scammers and self-immolators, of institutionalization and separations that rival those of Elizabeth Bishop’s “One Art.” … McPherson’s poems ask us to take into ourselves a wrecked, a transformed beauty.” Jordan Smith, author of Little Black Train and Common Spirits
Gatherer’s Alphabet
The first book in the California Poets Series. California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick writes, “These luscious poems feel like small museums of infinite wonder. Gallery, butterfly, stars in autumn. The wisdom of nature, the work of angels, what women endure—I love these poems. A timeless grace breathes through this marvelous book, this bounty you’ll be grateful that you read.”
Our Music
David Young, author of Field of Light and Shadow, says “What joys of discovery lie in wait for readers here, in Dennis Schmitz’s final collection. There is no falling off: the same lancing wit prevails, along with the psychological and spiritual acuity which has always marked his work. His poetic canon, first to last, here rounded out, inspires delight and reverence. His originality is our treasure, a gift we scarcely know how to celebrate adequately.”
What’s Up, Gunpowder?
Gary Soto to judge 2023 Barry Spacks Poetry Prize
Submissions are open now for the 2023 Barry Spacks Poetry Prize. The editors are thrilled that Gary Soto will be our final judge this year. The Spacks Prize is awarded to a full-length manuscripts and includes publication, $1000, and 50 copies of the winning book. Read more here.
Anacapa Review now accepting submissions
The editors of Gunpowder Press are happy to announce a new online poetry journal, Anacapa Review. Anacapa Review will be published monthly, with the first issue appearing March 2023. We welcome submissions of poems, as well as proposals for reviews or poetry-related prose. Visit the Anacapa Review site for more.
Other recent announcements:
Barry Spacks Poetry Prize
Catherine Esposito Prescott selected as winner of the 2022 Spacks Prize
Congratulations to Catherine Esposito Prescott! Her manuscript Accidental Garden was selected by Danusha Laméris as the winner of the 2022 Barry Spacks Poetry Prize.
Spacks Prize increased to $1,000!
Gunpowder Press is very excited to announce that the award for the 2022 Barry Spacks Poetry Prize has been increased to $1,000, thanks to a generous gift given by an anonymous donor in recognition of Barry. We are so honored to continue his legacy of support for other poets. Barry loved playing with numbers (for […]
