After a bit breather last year, Seraph Press is making up for it in 2013, with two poetry books already scheduled for publication.

In May we will be launching The Baker’s Thumbprint, a new book by well-known poet Paula Green. Philosophers, scientists and artists such as Socrates, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Einstein and Jane Austen make appearances in these playful and thought-provoking poems. The cover (which is almost finished) features a painting by artist Michael Hight (who just happens to be Green’s partner). Green has published seven previous collections, including two for children, and has written children’s books. She co-authored 99 Ways into New Zealand Poetry (2010) with Harry Ricketts and edited Dear Heart: 150 New Zealand Love Poems (2012).

Paula Green is a poet I’ve admired for a long time, and while I love her previous books, especially Making Lists for Frances Hodgkins  I think this may be her best yet. It’s a great honour to be publishing it.

(ISBN 978-0-473-23631-1)

In July we launch The Rope Walk, a poem sequence by Wellington poet Maria McMillan. The non-chronological collection tells the story of generations of a fictional family, from rope makers in 18th-century Scotland, to shipboard migrants in the mid-19th century on their way to New Zealand, and finally to a rope-climbing aerialist in the late 20th century. The Rope Walk will be hand-bound, with a letterpress-printed cover.

Maria McMillan isn’t a new poet by any means, but this is her first collection. It’s always wonderful to be involved with introducing a poet to a broader audience. I’m also a big fan of poem sequences, so this is right up my alley.

(ISBN 978-0-473-23632-8)

2013 also marks the year that Seraph Press has finally gotten around to printing a proper catalogue of the books its published. I’m very proud of all of them.