Something New Out of Charlotte Lit – The Roman writer and naturalist Pliny the Elder once wrote, “There is always something new out of Africa.” Well, he actually wrote this sentence in Latin, but I have taken a liking to the English translation of it. I know that I am taking liberties with Pliny’s famous proclamation, but it seems to me that there is always something new coming out of Charlotte Lit, too. I just learned that Charlotte Lit recently published three poetry chapbooks. I contacted Paul Reali and Kathie Collins, the co-founders of Charlotte Lit, and asked them for more information about these poetry chapbooks. Here is what they sent to me:
Mark, thanks for asking us about the three new poetry chapbooks released by Charlotte Lit Press. This is a good example of how different Charlotte Lit programs come together to make something new.
We launched the imprint Charlotte Lit Press last year when we began publishing our literary journal, Litmosphere, knowing there would be more we’d want to publish in the future. After releasing our second issue in May, we were ready to entertain some new publications.
Meanwhile, we had eleven writers in our inaugural Poetry Chapbook Lab. It’s a year-long immersion for poets to take classes and work on their poems with two coaches and with each other. (The second cohort is forming now, in fact
http://www.charlottelit.org/chapbooklab/) The result is a publication-ready poetry chapbook, ready to be submitted to contests and presses.
Putting these two Lit programs together, we decided to expand Charlotte Lit Press into poetry chapbooks, beginning by opening to submissions from Chapbook Lab writers. We’re happy to say we’ve accepted five manuscripts so far, with the first three just released.
Into the Swirl is the debut collection from John Clark, a North Carolina native and former WDAV general manager. John says he “writes poems and composes music as a way to play,” and this collection demonstrates both musicality and playfulness.
I’ll Buy Flowers Again Tomorrow is Patricia Ann Joslin’s debut collection. Published on the five-year anniversary of her husband Roy’s death from pancreatic cancer, this deeply-felt chapbook pays homage to him while exploring grief, hope and healing.
Subjects Suitable for Poetry is the second collection from former Carrboro poet laureate Gary Phillips. He explores family, nature, and his rural upbringing, which prove to be interwoven and inseparable.
These three writers, and others whose books are in our pipeline, will read at Charlotte Lit on September 8 (details available in upcoming Charlotte Lit newsletters). To support the work of John, Patricia, Gary, and future Charlotte Lit Press writers, our books can be ordered from one’s favorite bookstore, any online retailer, or directly from us at https://www.charlottelit.org/press/
We’ll have more publications in the near future, both chapbooks and full collections—including the latest from renowned poet Lola Haskins. We’re not yet open to general submissions, but that will happen within the next year.
I thank Paul and Kathie for sharing this information about these poetry chapbooks and their plans for Charlotte Lit Press. All of us in Storied Charlotte are indebted to Charlotte Lit for always providing us with something new.