Gunpowder Press is an independent poetry press based in Santa Barbara, California.[1][2] The press is co-edited by David Starkey and Chryss Yost. Both Starkey and Yost have served as Santa Barbara Poet Laureate.[3] Gunpowder Press is a member of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses.
In 2023, Gunpowder Press was recognized by the Santa Barbara Independent as a Local Hero.[4]
Gunpowder Press books have been reviewed in The Adroit Journal,[5] Mom Egg Review,[6] Southern Humanities Review,[7] and elsewhere. Authors published by the press include Barry Spacks, Jim Peterson, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Catherine Abbey Hodges, Catherine Esposito Prescott, and others.[8] Authors published by Gunpowder Press have been interviewed in journals including RHINO Poetry,[9] Atticus Books & Music,[10] Plume,[11] The Christian Century[12] Water-Stone Review.[13]
History
editThe press was founded in 2013 by David Starkey. Chryss Yost is the co-editor book designer for the press. Starkey launched the press after unsuccessful efforts to find a publisher for a manuscript left by his late friend, poet David Allen Case.[14] That manuscript became The Tarnation of Faust, the first book published by Gunpowder Press, in 2014.
The name of the press comes from the legend of Saint Barbara, who is associated with gunpowder.
Publications
editSince 2015, Gunpowder Press has published one book annually as the Barry Spacks Poetry Prize. The Spacks Prize is named in honor of Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Barry Spacks. Judges for the Spacks Prize have included Dan Gerber, Thomas Lux, Jane Hirshfield, Lee Herrick, Stephen Dunn, Jessica Jacobs, Danusha Laméris, and Gary Soto.
Gunpowder Press also publishes anthologies of poems by Central California poets as part of the Shoreline Voices Project imprint. Over 130 poets have appeared in Shoreline Voices print and online publications.[15] The Press has partnered with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, the Santa Barbara Public Library, Lotusland, and Sansum Clinic.[16]
In 2022, Gunpowder Press launched the California Poets Series. Poets published in the California Poets Series include Susan Kelley-DeWitt (Gatherer's Alphabet, 2022), Sandra McPherson (Speech Crush, 2022), Dennis Schmitz (Our Music, 2022), and Gary Soto (Downtime, 2023).
The Alta California Chapbook Series publishes two books a year in bilingual editions. Emma Trelles, also a Santa Barbara Poet Laureate, is series editor.
References
edit- ^ Vreeland, Jon (June 1–29, 2018). "Gunpowder Press, the Advocates of Poetry". Santa Barbara Sentinel. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Columnist | @noozhawknews, Susan Miles Gulbransen, Noozhawk (2017-11-20). "Susan Miles Gulbransen: What Makes Santa Barbara Such a Writing Town? | Homes & Lifestyle". Noozhawk. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Poet Laureate - City of Santa Barbara". Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ Staff, Indy (2023-11-22). "Local Heroes 2023". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ Staples, Catherine (2023-06-29). "A Review of Catherine Esposito Prescott's Accidental Garden - The Adroit Journal". Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ "Accidental Garden by Catherine Esposito Prescott – MER – Mom Egg Review". 2023-09-04. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ "SHR REVIEW: Dark Matter: Aaron Baker's Posthumous Noon". SOUTHERN HUMANITIES REVIEW. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ "Gunpowder Press Poets". January 8, 2024.
- ^ "REVIEWS — RHINO — Accidental Garden by Catherine Esposito Prescott - Interviewed by Naoko Fujimoto". RHINO. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ Meyerhofer, Michael (2018-06-20). "Featured Poet: Catherine Abbey Hodges". Atticus Review. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ Christopher, Buckley (2023-06-25). "Buckley | Hodges". Plume. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ "Ordinary grace". The Christian Century. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ Review, WaterStone (2020-04-21). "In The Field: Conversations With Our Contributors--Michelle Bonczek Evory". Water~Stone Review. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ Columnist | @noozhawknews, Susan Miles Gulbransen, Noozhawk (2016-02-20). "Susan Miles Gulbransen: Poet David Starkey Presses On with Writing, While Marymount Holds Book Fair | Homes & Lifestyle". Noozhawk. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Shoreline Voices - Gunpowder Press". 2021-03-20. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ Donelan, Charles (2021-05-06). "'While You Wait: A Collection by Santa Barbara County Poets'". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2023-12-06.