My first time reading Jessie Janeshek’s poetry was during the 2015/2016 Open Reading period. I don’t think I’ve ever asked how Jessie heard of the press, but her chapbook manuscript (for Spanish Donkey/Pear of Anguish) set a high bar that year. Hers was the “winner” and the first chapbook we published in 2016. We went on to publish two more of Jessie’s chapbooks (Supernoir and Channel U). I don’t pick favorites from among the GBP stable of authors, but I did tell Jessie somewhere along the way that she could let me know if she ever had a full-length manuscript she wanted us to consider. And that’s just what she did about a year ago.
No Place for Dames will be the second (ever!) full-length from Grey Book Press. The book went through several revisions (and a few different titles) to reach its final form, which will be available June 7. There will be a Zoom reading about a week after the launch. Details are available on Facebook (we’ll post a link to the event on our page there).
Also, later in June, we’ll have our next chapbook . . . Snow Boat to Nowhere by Chelsea Bodnar. Deeper into Summer, we’ll have a chapbook from Howie Good.
I’m not sure about the timing of the next Open Reading period. Last year, it was right at the end of Summer, but I suspect this year, it’ll be back closer to the “traditional” Halloween kickoff. I think we may have some “offseason” developments that could impact the schedule. We’ll let you know when we know. In the meantime, see you in a couple/few weeks!