A new independent publisher started in Lancaster
last December by the name of WayleavePress. Founded by Mike Barlow who is also one of the founders of April
poets and first prize winner in the National Poetry Competition 2006.
In the Welcome page of the press website it’s
clearly explained that Wayleave is the ‘permission granted to cross or enter
territory from which one has previously been excluded.’ which refers to both
the founder and the poets published. Mike himself said in an interview with
Helena Nelson of Happenstance press, that he self-published a pamphlet that he
felt would be rejected by many editors, though he had been widely published in
the past. Then he did the same for the poets he admired, as he knew they had a
good bunch of poems waiting to be published as well. It’s such a hard time for
publishing, especially poetry, therefore it’s very generous of Mr Barlow to
allow access to this ‘denied territory’.
Wayleave press can be proud of its poets (well known
in Lancaster area and beyond): Elizabeth Burns, Carole Coates, William Gilson,
Pauline Keith, Jane Routh and Ron Scowcroft. The pamphlets published have from
ten to fifteen poems each, with an intriguing picture by Mike on the cover. The
books look elegant, spare and dense.
But how can you be published by Wayleave? I’m afraid
unsolicited submissions are not welcome, Mike publishes the poets he knows
whose poems he likes and, above all, whose work is coherent and good. His main
aim is to get high quality work out so that it can be read and appreciated by
the public. And he is having great fun in his new role of editor/publisher.
Mike also keeps a blog (everybody can subscribe to
on the website) where he posts insightful reflections on his fellow poets’ work
and on publishing which is definitely worth the read. And the pictures on the
covers are works of art in themselves.
Watch out Wayleave poets readings in Lancaster and
nearby areas for the future.
More about them and their work on my next piece.
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