Monday 3 December 2007

Arrowhead say yes!

Friday’s reading came at the end of a pretty exhilarating few days for me. Some time ago, I submitted a manuscript for a full-size poetry collection to Arrowhead Press, and they’ve just accepted it. The working title is Troy Town (although I have quite a few alternatives in mind), and publication is currently set for the middle of next year.
Of course, there’s still a lot of work to be done, but when Making The Most Of The Light was being put together, it surprised me just how much I enjoyed that editing, honing process (it helps when you have an excellent editor), so I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in.
Naturally, I’m delighted by all this and haven’t quite got my head round it yet. I can’t claim to be familiar with all of Arrowhead’s poets, but I’m flattered to be in the company of those I do know. Bob Cooper (whose work is sometimes described as “New York meets Newcastle”) is a really excellent poet, whose perceptive criticism at The Works has been a big help to me, and David Bircumshaw (another Leicester poet), had a really unusual and memorable collection published by them a few years back. Another Works regular, Poetry Scotland editor Sally Evans, is there too, and Jennifer Copley, Lyn Moir, Marita Over and Sue Vickerman are all poets I’ve read and enjoyed. And of course, Poetry Editor Joanna Boulter’s own On Sketty Sands is a really fine chapbook (she went on to be nominated for the Forward Prize, I think, for her recent collection).
Funnily enough, at Friday’s reading, I met Peter Rafferty, who has already had a collection published by Arrowhead, and who shares my predilection for birds in poems. I like the look of his book a lot. It's good to be on board.

19 comments:

Rob said...

It's fantastic news, Matt. I'm already in the virtual queue to buy it.

Frances said...

Congratulations Matt. That's great news and I'm not at all jealous, just going quietly green here.

James Midgley said...

Congrats!

Rob said...

I meant to ask earlier, but forgot - what is 'The Works'?

Ivy said...

Yay! Congratulations, Matt! Wonderful, wonderful news! Well done! :-)

Matt Merritt said...

Thanks very, very much, everyone.
The Works is the Pennine Poetry Works, an online poetry workshop. Until a couple of weeks ago, it had gone very quiet for about 18 months, but hopefully it's just about to revive. There was never a huge membership, but it was geographically quite widespread (USA, Australia, Austria, etc), and as well as the people I mentioned, there were loads of other excellent poets involved at different times, including Helen Clare, Christina Fletcher and Gary Blankenship.
It's at: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/archives/the-works.html

Ben Wilkinson said...

Great news, Matt. I look forward to reading it.

Andrew Philip said...

Congratulations, Matt! I suppose that makes you the first HappenStance alumnus. I'm sure Nell is delighted.

Matt Merritt said...

Thanks Ben, and Andrew. Nell was indeed delighted.
By the way, Ben, I really enjoyed your poem in The Red Wheelbarrow.

Anonymous said...

Well done again, Matt, that's excellent news. Good for you!

Matt Merritt said...

Thanks very much, Eleanor.

Anonymous said...

just adding a late voice to the chorus of praise. Heard the news last weekend, or is that the one before, but of course I am pleased and dare I say slightly proud that a stablemate has gone on to the next step! Weel done, Matt! james w Wood

Matt Merritt said...

Thanks very much, James. I'll be very surprised if a lot of HappenStancers don't follow suit very soon, though.

Ben Wilkinson said...

Is this the latest issue of the Red Wheelbarrow, Matt? Glad you enjoyed it. I knew a poem of mine was appearing in it, but I haven't received a copy of the mag yet.

Matt Merritt said...

Yes, it came about 10 days ago. Let me know if yours doesn't turn up, because they sent me two (is that a policy with them?), so I can send one on to you.

Ben Wilkinson said...

I think mine might have been sent to my old address, or lost in the post, so if you're sure you don't mind sending your extra issue that'd be great. What's your email address so I can send my postal ad? Thanks, B

Matt Merritt said...

No problem, Ben. I'll pop it in the post ASAP.
The email address is: mattmerritt100@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

well done Matt,
good luck with Arrowhead
SallyE

Matt Merritt said...

Thanks very much, Sally. Nice to join familiar faces on there.
Matt