MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vic Books and Helen Rickerby of boutique poetry publisher Seraph Press are teaming up to create Seraph Press Poets & Friends, a National Poetry Day event at Vic Books on the Kelburn campus. The event will bring together Seraph Press poets and some of the fantastic poets who are part of the Victoria University community. The theme of the event is the ampersand: &, symbolising inclusion and connection.
“I’m really excited about the mix of poets,” Helen says. “From the university we have Anne Kennedy, who is this year’s Writer in Residence, Italian lecturer Marco Sonzogni and PhD students Therese Lloyd and Liang Yujing, whose translations into Mandarin of Best New Zealand Poems 2014 was published earlier this year. Also from Wellington we have Anahera Gildea, whose recent chapbook Poroporoaki has been a hit. And I was really delighted to be able to invite some of my out-of-town poets, as we don’t often get to hear them read. From Auckland we’ll have Paula Green – who, through her reviewing and her NZ Poetry Shelf blog, must surely be the biggest supporter of NZ poetry – and Vana Manasiadis, and from Palmerston North we have Helen Lehndorf and Johanna Aitchison.”
Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2016 is on Friday 26 August. This year, the 19th annual celebration of poetry and poets, is the biggest yet, with almost 100 events taking place across the country. Of the many events in Wellington, Seraph Press Poets & Friends at Vic Books is probably the earliest. They chose a morning teatime slot so people can sit back with their coffee from Vic Books Cafe, perhaps one of their famous doughnuts (if they’re quick enough to get one before they sell out), and start the day with poetry.
“We’re going to have lots of fun with this. The shop will be Poetry-struck!” says Marion Castree of Vic Books. “We’re going to decorate the shop, and Poetry Day coincides with the university’s Open Day.” Audience members are also in for a special take-away treat. After the popularity of the free poetry zine at last year’s event, staff member Jayne Mulligan (also one of this year’s Salient editors) will be crafting a follow-up.
Helen, a poet herself, founded Seraph Press in 2004. It has gained a reputation for publishing beautiful books of high-quality poetry. Marion says, “We asked Helen and Seraph Press to be involved because we really like what she’s doing in her poetry publishing, and the range of voices she promotes.” Helen was delighted to work with the bookshop: “Vic Books are great supporters of the literary community, promoting local books and authors, and turning up to sell books at launches and events – always with great enthusiasm.”
When: Friday 26th August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Where: Vic Books, Easterfield Building, Victoria University, 1 Kelburn Parade, Kelburn, Wellington 6012.
Notes:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vic Books and Helen Rickerby of boutique poetry publisher Seraph Press are teaming up to create Seraph Press Poets & Friends, a National Poetry Day event at Vic Books on the Kelburn campus. The event will bring together Seraph Press poets and some of the fantastic poets who are part of the Victoria University community. The theme of the event is the ampersand: &, symbolising inclusion and connection.
“I’m really excited about the mix of poets,” Helen says. “From the university we have Anne Kennedy, who is this year’s Writer in Residence, Italian lecturer Marco Sonzogni and PhD students Therese Lloyd and Liang Yujing, whose translations into Mandarin of Best New Zealand Poems 2014 was published earlier this year. Also from Wellington we have Anahera Gildea, whose recent chapbook Poroporoaki has been a hit. And I was really delighted to be able to invite some of my out-of-town poets, as we don’t often get to hear them read. From Auckland we’ll have Paula Green – who, through her reviewing and her NZ Poetry Shelf blog, must surely be the biggest supporter of NZ poetry – and Vana Manasiadis, and from Palmerston North we have Helen Lehndorf and Johanna Aitchison.”
Phantom Billstickers National Poetry Day 2016 is on Friday 26 August. This year, the 19th annual celebration of poetry and poets, is the biggest yet, with almost 100 events taking place across the country. Of the many events in Wellington, Seraph Press Poets & Friends at Vic Books is probably the earliest. They chose a morning teatime slot so people can sit back with their coffee from Vic Books Cafe, perhaps one of their famous doughnuts (if they’re quick enough to get one before they sell out), and start the day with poetry.
“We’re going to have lots of fun with this. The shop will be Poetry-struck!” says Marion Castree of Vic Books. “We’re going to decorate the shop, and Poetry Day coincides with the university’s Open Day.” Audience members are also in for a special take-away treat. After the popularity of the free poetry zine at last year’s event, staff member Jayne Mulligan (also one of this year’s Salient editors) will be crafting a follow-up.
Helen, a poet herself, founded Seraph Press in 2004. It has gained a reputation for publishing beautiful books of high-quality poetry. Marion says, “We asked Helen and Seraph Press to be involved because we really like what she’s doing in her poetry publishing, and the range of voices she promotes.” Helen was delighted to work with the bookshop: “Vic Books are great supporters of the literary community, promoting local books and authors, and turning up to sell books at launches and events – always with great enthusiasm.”
When: Friday 26th August, 10.30am to 11.30am
Where: Vic Books, Easterfield Building, Victoria University, 1 Kelburn Parade, Kelburn, Wellington 6012.
- For more information about the Seraph Press Poets & Friends event:
- For more about all the National Poetry Day events around the country, visit www.nzbookawards.nz/national-poetry-day/2016-national-poetry-day.
- For comment from National Poetry Day, contact: Miriam Barr, National Coordinator, miriamnpd@gmail.com.
Notes:
- Organisers and poets are available for interview. Contact Marion Castree: 04 280 6205, marion@vicbooks.co.nz.
- A high resolution jpg of the poster is available for download: http://www.seraphpress.co.nz/media.html.
