addition by subtraction

The reading which took place at St. Elmo's in Alexandria, VA produced a number of video poems that will soon be viewable on youtube at Plan B Press.

beyond that, the night was a wash. While the space may have potential, we didn't get the sense of being welcomed - rather merely tolerated. Not the atmosphere we are seeking. So, we will seek another location and try again.

3 feet to the left

We want to mention that we'll be moving our offices to Fairfax Virginia next week, and will essentially be incommunicado for about a week and a half thereafter. If you want to contact us, it would behoove you to either give us a ring (our number is still the same) or stamp it, snail mail. Our new address is: PO Box 3242, Fairfax, VA 22030. Also note that our e-mail address has changed and will now be planbpress@gmail.com

Danka.

Katy Jean May

The Wolfgang Books series

On June 7, 2008 Plan B Press concluded its monthly series at Wolfgang Books in Phoenixville, PA with CL Bledsoe reading from his new "__(want/need)" chapbook as well as Jim Mancinelli and stevenallenmay.

It's been over a year since the series began and we wish to thank Paul & Jason for having us in on the first Saturday of the month where about a dozen Plan B Press poets as well as some friends of the Press got to read with each other and to build an audience for their work.

We hope to return for special events/presentations in the future. But for the moment, that's all she wrote. Wolfgang Books will continue to carry the full line of Plan B Press books, so please swing by and pay them a visit. It's one of the best bookstores we have been to and a real treasure for the community of Phoenixville.

Till soon

June 10th is a one-time only gig

We had thought that we had an agreement with ownership to have a series at St. Elmo's on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. I had even booked the whole summer already. Alas, is but a one time deal there. An older group which had been inactive until I started to poke around has reemerged to claim the day as theirs, which has been re-awarded to them beginning in July, 2008.

Well, at least the rust will get shaken off a bit. Tommy Tavenner and I can break in our new VADO camera and try out some things that we have discussed. Samantha will be brilliant because she is, Pandora will astound because she does. It will be a great ONE NIGHT ONLY gig.

If you are in the DC area, come out - show support.

thanks

stevenallenmay

Congrats to Ellen Sullins, our 2007 contest winner

Ellen Sullins, of Tuscon, Az. has won a prestigious award from New Millennium Writing, for her poem "The Visible Spectrum" which opens her contest winner chapbook, Elsewhere, our 2007 poetry contest winner. Katy decided to present the book with 5 separate covers, it was a first for us. 

We congratulate Ellen on her accomplishment and award. As well we would like to acknowledge our fine readers and last year's judge, Lisa Sewell, for picking so perfectly a great new voice. 

Big bear hugs all around 

s - a - m

The Chapbook Format

The Chapbook Format

As a poetry chapbook publisher, we feel that we fulfill a vital need within our industry – producing high quality chapbooks by talented poets. Many other poetry chapbooks, though not all, may deliver one aspect or the other (and in some cases neither), but very few that we have encountered succeed in both of these areas. Tell us, what have your experiences been with poetry chapbooks?


Katy Jean May
Creative Director

up & coming

At the time I was completing my Grad degree in Arts Management two years ago, I made a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish - this was right before our daughter, Julia, was born. Of course the items on that list were placed directly onto the frig and promptly buried beneath coupons for diapers and baby formula, grocery lists and daily to-dos, all the hub-bub of parenthood that swipes away the best laid plans ....

On that list was the idea of doing a series of poetry readings in different states over the same period of time (as we now have poets in several areas of the country) and that idea is going to reach fruition the first week of June 2008 when there are 3 "Plan B Press presents..." events taking place in three different locations in two different states.

Beginning on June 7, 2008 with our swan-song reading at Wolfgang Books in Phoenixville, PA featuring C L Bledsoe, Jim Mancinelli, and stevenallenmay. We decided to end the series there as a monthly concern as it was becoming too difficult to manage for us from northern Virginia. The owners of Wolfgang Books have been very supportive and will continue to carry Plan B Press books. This reading begins at 7:30PM and will have an open reading to conclude the festivities.

On June 10, 2008 will be the first event at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, 2300 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA. "Plan B Press presents..." is fairly open at the moment. These events will be taking place on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, from 7-9PM. I can confirm that on July 8 the features will be Mary Ann Larkin ("gods & flesh" 2007) with her husband Patric Pepper, and C L Bledsoe ["___(want/need)" 2008].

Then on June 12, 2008 at Robin's Bookstore in Philadelphia, PA beginning at 6PM will be Kristine Grow reading from her brand new ("Petal Whispers" 2008), along with Joyce Meyers ("Wild Mushrooms" 2007) and Ryan Eckes ("when I come here" 2007)

more events coming soon!

no, we are a little ball of nervous energy..

....like our running man, always on the go. Always on the move. 

And now, on to the next new thing - "Plan B Press presents......." lands in Alexandria, VA at St. Elmo's Coffee Pub beginning June 10, 2008. 

We are not a zine

We're not a zine!

From time to time we get submissions of one to four poems for our poetry zine. The fact of the matter is, we don't have a zine. We never had one. We have no plan to have one. The closest we have come are our occasional anthologies, which we haven't ever opened up submissions from the public.

The poetry of these zine submissions might be good, but we really only read collections or masses of poetry that need pairing down into a collection. That's our focus.


Katy Jean May
Creative Director

Plumb Lines by Elizabeth Bodien

We had the good fortune to have been invited to the first two poetry festivals held at Stonehedge Gardens outside of Tamaqua, PA. Last year, among the poets who had attended and read there, was a lady named Elizabeth Bodien. I liked what I heard I told her so. She sent me a mss., we liked it and published it this season.

Her book is called Plumb Lines. Learn more about Elizabeth and read one of her poems here.