The Best British Poetry 2011

I'm delighted to have a poem - Pluvialis - included in The Best British Poetry 2011, which anthologises poems which have appeared in British-based literary magazines and webzines over the past year (it originally appeared in Iota). The book's edited by Roddy Lumsden (there'll be a different editor in each subsequent year), and runs to 176 pages with, as you can see from the link, a long and varied list of featured poets.

The format's similar to the Best American Poetry series, and similar anthologies that have appeared in countries such as Ireland and Australia, with each poem accompanied by a note by the poet about the piece's inspiration and form.

It's published on September 1st, and costs £9.99 ($16.95).

Pluvialis, I should add, also appears in hydrodaktulopsychicharmonica, which you can order direct from me, or from Nine Arches Press. If you click on the cover of any of the poetry collections on the Nine Arches site, you can now read extracts.

And another review

The latest issue of Iota (No82) was waiting when I got home last night. It's the last one produced by the current editors, Bob Mee and Janet Murch, who have turned it into a really good small press magazine, IMHO. Sometimes the poetry is a little hit or miss, but to be honest I think that's what I want from a magazine. It means there are always surprises, and that's not always true of some rather more feted publications.

From next issue, it's going to be produced by a new editorial team, and published and distributed by Bluechrome Press, so there's every chance it will go from strength to strength.

Anyway, I had a new poem, St Martin's Summer, in No82, plus there was this review of Troy Town, by Bob Mee, which was a pleasant surprise. Good to see Adrian Buckner's collection Contains Mild Peril reviewed extensively and positively too - it's on my To Buy list, and not just because it contains a section of cricket poems.