Ekstasis Editions Seasonal Book Launch December 7, Victoria

Robert Martens will be part of the line up reading from his latest book Little Creatures

Thank you Naomi, Kim, Kim, Darryl, Robert, Lisa, Julie and Poetry Gabriola

It was a wonderful gathering last night to launch Lipstick Press' Beautiful Women and Robert Martens Little Creatures (Ekstasis 2013).

We couldn't have done it without you who came from far away and Poetry Gabriola. And we couldn't have had the drinks and snacks without Julie of The Old Crow Cafe.

Last but not least - thank you to all the people who came to listen. Poetry would not survive without you.

Poetry Gabriola sponsors Beautiful Poets, November 21, at The Old Crow Cafe on Gabriola

Thursday from 7 pm until 9: the evening begins with the regular open mic, then will be followed by these beauties reading their poems from the Beautiful Women anthology and other publications.

Kim Clark

Disease and desire, mothering and the mundane propel Kim Clark’s ongoing journey between poetry and prose, page and stage. Her debut fiction collection, Attemptations (Caitlin Press), was launched in 2011 and one of its novellas has been optioned for a 90 minute feature film. Her chapbook, Dis ease ad De sire, the M anu S cript (Lipstick Press), came out in April, 2012. Her new poetry collection, Sit You Waiting, hit bookshelves in August, 2012 via Caitlin Press and she was a finalist in Theatre BC’s 2013 Playwrights competition. Professional stage-reading upcoming. She lives in Cedar on Vancouver Island.

Kim Goldberg 

Kim Goldberg's Red Zone collection of poems about urban homelessness as been taught in university literature courses. Her previous collection, Ride Backwards on Dragon, was a finalist for Canada's Gerald Lambert Award. She is a winner of the Rannu Fund Poetry Prize for Speculative Literature, the Goodwin's Award for Excellence in Alternative Journalism, and other distinctions. She is currently writing a nonfiction book about people sickened by WiFi and other sources of electromagnetic radiation. 

Darryl Knowles

Lives on Vancouver Island. He is an old fashioned sign painter who went on to a degree in graphic arts, and has been writing songs and poetry since Dick and Jane saw spot run.

Naomi BethWakan, Nanaimo’s inaugural Poet Laureate, has published over 40 books. Her most recent A Roller-coaster Ride: thoughts on aging (Wolsak and Wynn) and And After 80… (Bevalia Press).

Robert Martens

Robert Martens grew up a village Mennonite, and so feels quite at home in the village of Gabriola. His poems address the loneliness of our times and attempt in some small way to heal the malaise. Robert has co-edited and co-written a number of books, including Half in the Sun, an anthology of Mennonite west coast writing. He has a manuscript of poems which he hopes will soon be published.

"ROBERT MARTENS' book "little creatures" must be read with caution, for inside its covers is a jumble tumble playground of poems, a riff on the existentialism of insects, creatures of twilight, and six-chambered souls. And oh, for a thousand legs to flea the flea, the fly, the rat, the snake, and crickets with moods. Shelled things and slimy, furry, and wondrously winged. Blood junkies that buzz in the night, hump pump the skin, tickle and creep, expire. Humans, too, in the book, transfixed by the brilliance of sun mirrored on beetle’s back, the poet, line after line, leading readers into the sadness of things. The glory."

-- Elsie K Neufeld, personal historian, poet, essayist and editor.

For further information or to sign up for the open mic portion email Lisa at altogetherlisa@yahoo.ca, or Janet at lipstickpress@shaw.ca

Deep gratitude and thanks to Poetry Gabriola and The Old Crow Cafe.

Moon Language: November 17, 5pm at Phoenix Auditorium, The Haven

Join us from 5pm-6pm(ish) tomorrow at the Phoenix Auditorium for Moon Language, an intimate and eclectic musical journey that includes classics, covers, poetry, and improvisations featuring pianist and vocalist, Leah Hokanson, with special guests Tim Harrison on guitar and vocals, and Saburo Murata on saxophones.

Tickets are $15 in advance at Village Liquor Store, $20 at the door, and $5 for youth (16 and under). For more information please email info@luluperformingarts.ca.

Congratulations to Naomi Beth Wakan

Nanaimo's inaugural Poet Laureate. 

Here are some of the books published with Naomi's writing:

http://www.naomiwakan.com/nw_books.html

As well as her extraordinary accomplishment in publishing forty books, Naomi has always supported the achievements among new poets through poetry workshops on Gabriola Island.  Her wisdom and knowledge goes beyond literature, science, healing and peace, and includes that rarest of gifts - inclusive compassion.

Naomi is held in high esteem for these many reasons by all who have the fortune to work with her.

Tanka Workshop led by Naomi Beth Wakan at Old Crow Cafe October 17th

Calling all writers (or non-writers, come to that) who would like a fun hour or so of trying the oldest continual form of poetry writing in the world - tanka.

These five-liners can contain anything including the kitchen sink.

Within their five lines you'll be able to express the universe. Not an idle promise.

The facilitator is Naomi Beth Wakan, who recently performed her book of tanka that she wrote with David Bateman ("pause").

Naomi has been short-listed for the position of First Poet Laureate of Nanaimo and is well-known for her two recent books of poetry (which include many tanka) "Sex After 70", and "And After 80" (available at Page's Marina).

Time: October 17th, 7-8 pm

Place: The Old Crow Restaurant, Gabriola

Cost: by donation

Hope you can make it.

Sponsored by Poetry Gabriola.

Submission call for young writers ~ Writing for Peace: DoveTales

2014 DoveTales Guidelines

DoveTales, an International Journal of the Arts, is an extension of our mission to promote writing that explores the many aspects of peace.  Our purpose is to expose young writers to a diverse collection of thoughtful works by established and emerging writers. The journal will also feature works by the winners of our annual Young Writer Competition.

There is no fee for submission, but please read our guidelines carefully.

The theme of our 2014 issue of DoveTales is Contrast. As in our first issue, we encourage contributors to take a broad view of the definition within the context of peace.

Submission guidelines here.

PC Vandall Guest poet at Open Mic on Gabriola

BEAUTIFUL WOMEN in New Westminster

launch of

BEAUTIFUL WOMEN an anthology

from Lipstick Press 2013

with poets

FRANCI LOUANN & SHELLEY HAGGARD

Sunday September 15^th, 1-3 pm

followed by OPEN MIC

Host: Janene White

at Renaissance Books / Coffee Bar

43 6^th St New Westminster

near Columbia SkyTrain Station

renbooks@telus.net 604-525-4566 www.renaissancebooks.com

Shelley Haggard writes, acts, does photography and watercolour painting, and works as a house painter. She has self published an anthology of poetry and photography called The Haggard Road.

Franci Louann’s recent publications have been in Silver Bow anthologies, Grace Grit & Gusto—Profiles of Remarkable Royal City Women (Vivalogue) and Jack Layton: Art in Action (Quattro Books). She manages Poetic Justice.

Lipstick Press Taking a Break for Reflection and Reorganization

Lipstick regrets to say that we are unable to publish new manuscripts at this time as we need to re-structure our practice.

Since 2009 we have published some beautiful chapbooks by experienced and new poets.  It has been a beautiful journey but now we must stop and consider how to proceed so we can, at least, cover expenses.

Many of these publications are still available, except Picket Fence Diaries and Grief Blading Up.  If you wish to purchase any at this point please contact lipstickpress@shaw.ca or leave a message on our Lipstick web page.

This blog will continue to run and cover updates regarding our poets and other announcements on poetry.

Thanks to all who have submitted, have worked with us, have ordered books or promoted them.

Where in the world is Franci Louann?

Rumours are flying! Franci Louann is travelling across Canada bringing copies of Beautiful Women to sell at various locations.  Lipstick Press will be keeping in touch with Franci to report where she will be, as she takes to the skies, the roads, and the rails to bring Beautiful Women to Canadians everywhere and anywhere.

There may be a reading in New Westminster in September.

There are also rumours of a launch happening in Nanaimo in the fall too.

Watch this space for sightings of Beautiful Women behind a mic and between the covers.