Dusie: Kollektiv Participation, My Next Big Project...

Illustration from Dusie : 3

Dusie du...

The wonderful Susana Gardner who facilitates Dusie, the journal, press & many other writing projects, kindly invited me to participate in the Dusie Kollektiv Chapbook Project for this year. I'm so greatful to be a part of this and really excited about this project!

How it works... Susana has divided the group into partners, or rather created a kind of chain where, for instance, I will be giving writing to another in the Kollektiv for them to publish, and someone else will be giving me their writing to publish. Things are very much in beginning/organising stages at the moment, but I will keep you updated on the project here. I can say at this stage that I am so lucky to be paired up with such inspiring, experienced, wonderfully supportive writers...

Winterling and other things...

I originally had plans to make more chapbooks of my own writing this year (self-publication was a good place to begin and test things out), but now I can see that is probably not going to happen - not only because I realised how long it takes to make a chapbook, but also because I want to work on other writing projects, i.e. I do not think everything I write has to be "chapped" necessarily and I have also realised that would love to publish others' writing. So Winterling Press as a chapbook series will include my own writing but I am hoping to mostly publish others' work.

So... I think I will make some more copies of there is always the impossibility of being able to move sideways and As For We Who Love, At the Instant As Being Entirely Different From It for more chapbook swaps and art trades this year. Writing that I have done for the forthcoming Anathema ... chapbook, is no longer going to be "chapped" (well not by Winterling anyway) - I think it will be reworked into more self-contained sequences - which I then plan to send out into the world - my first time submitting for publication in journals. I have decided I will make two new chapbooks at the end of the year, after Dusie, over the summer - and I will be publishing another's writing for each, I am very excited about this - such a great way to diversify and move Winterling along.

Emma X

"Generosity As Method"

I am so overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity I have experienced conducting chapbook swaps so far - the giving and gifting that occurs is productive on both distributive and communicative levels. Not only has this given me a chance to expand my "readership" (or rather start), swapping has allowed me to share in the creative processes and publishing activities of many wonderful writing communities and independent presses, here in Auckland and on the other side of the world. I often experience a lot of anxiety, as a beginner - writer and publisher - so being in contact with very inspiring, experienced and dedicated people has alleviated much of this. I feel chapbook swapping will positively influence, open up and diversify my practice more - not only as others support my activity through the exchanges, but as they share their own writing and publishing experiences with me. Thank you! I hope to continue to do more swapping.

I also would like to take the opportunity to showcase such wonderful gifts - from three wonderful wee presses:

Michael Steven's Soapbox Press

Click here to be directed to Michael's wonderful poetry blog

Lovely to find other small press activity right here in Auckland... Soapbox publications are stocked at Parsons and Jason Books, or alternatively you could email Michael (you can find his contact email on his blogger profile).

Carrie Hunter's ypolita press

Carrie sent me two beautiful chapbooks - Gothenburg from Three Geogaophies: A Milkmaid’s Grimoire by Arielle Guy ...

... and ypolita's latest chapbook, Easter Sunday by Barbara Jane Reyes.

I love the beautifully illustrated covers.

... take a look inside Easter Sunday.

Juliet Cook's Blood Pudding Press

to be administered in spoonfuls...

Juliet, also very kindly, sent me two chaps! Ectoplasmic Necropolis - great title! Love the binding - making use of different kinds of ribbon-ish materials - and the brightly coloured paper too ...

... back cover illustration surprise!

... and The Laura Poems - am looking forward to reading this very much...

... Twin Peaks is such a great series, and as Juliet's poems are, I'm sure.

If anyone would like to do a chapbook swap - and remember I am keen to trade for any other lovely bits - please be in touch!

More soon! X

Wee-Gifts from Dusie

The package finally arrived...

... oh look! Darling reproductions of miniature Continental antique jumping jacks! I will have fun assembling these... a sweet thank you note on a gorgeous postcard... I love these touches and attention to detail... Can't wait to open up ...

... and look what's inside! Nine delightful wee chapbooks (I purchased the first three sets of the WEE CHAPS series - each set has three chapbooks) - I cannot wait to read these. Thank you dusie! X

dusie shop at Etsy

(chapbooks, collage, packettes, ephemera, artful objects and assemblages).

Dusie - Giving and Sharing Poetry

Many might recognise Dusie as Mina Loy's student nickname, it is also, quite fittingly, a name that encompasses the concepts, creative ouput, poetic projects and collaborative activity, instantiated and cultivated by Susana Gardner. The word Dusie has several different personal resonances for Gardener, Dusie projects and press activities are similarly diverse. Dusie exists as an on-line poetry journal, a small press, a website, a series of collective poetics projects, and a community. Although largely based and distributed online, a distinctive handmade aesthetic and craft-ephemera sensibility is carried across to these virtual spaces.

~ Dusie Links ~

Dusie.org operates as the main hub site for Gardner and her collaborators' activity. Note that the link will take you to Dusi/e-chaps Issue Seven but you will find all the other issues archived here and e-chaps that are downloadable and free, easily accessible and printable in pdf format. You will also find information about Dusie, and links to current projects and a wide poetics community.

micawberesque - Dusie blog

How2 A Small Press Feature: Dusie Books

Frances Kruk 'Welcoming Space: Susana Gardner and Dusie Books' - a beautifully written and informative piece about Dusie

An Interview with Gardner