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Friends!
It was brought to my attention last night that there was a problem with purchasing from the new store i set up. To everyone who attempted to buy a book (or some) in the last couple of weeks or so and could not, i sincerely apologize. It was 100% my fault for not setting up the shipping options correctly.
BUT!, i have fixed the issue, so y'all can commence the purchasing!
–mz
FRIENDS!
This past weekend was a whirlwind of an experience. As you know, Friday the 10th marked the release of Stanford Cheung's first full-length poetry collection, STRUCTURES FROM THE STILL. And, as you may have guessed, Stanford lives in Toronto. And, as you have no doubt intuited, i do not. So, early Friday morning, i packed up my car with books, snacks, and a friend (Maria, i will road-trip with you anytime!), and hoofed it up to the i think birthplace of my pops (it's either Toronto or Montreal, i can never remember).
On the drive up, i made note of a few interesting things:
Almost as soon as we got to the city, it was time for the launch. If you ever visit Toronto, i highly, HIGHLY recommend a visit to knife | fork | book. The store is situated in a corner of a sizable belly-dance studio and is resplendent with wood floors, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and heaps of large, inviting, and nestle-able chairs.
And Kirby, the founder/owner of knife | fork| book as well as a poet and publisher, is someone you ABSOLUTELY need to meet and forge a friendship with. He is a consummate curator of space and one of the major hubs of and beacons for the Toronto poetry scene.
As for the launch, what can be said? The intimate group that braved the incredibly pleasant summer evening to be a part of the evening were treated to a powerhouse reading: JC Bouchard primed us and Stanford caught us in a wholly new, collective dreamscape. It was hand's down one of the best readings i have ever been to.
I posted a few videos on my instagram, but they don't do the evening justice.
And, after the reading and talkback, the after-mingling and book sales, the launch was over. We all went our separate ways: to home, to the Night Market, to dinner, to an airbnb. . .
It's fitting, i think, that this launch happened in the middle of August. The best image i can muster for the event is a breathtaking summer sunset: the mountainous clouds dyed the soft yet magnetic tones of the vanishing sun, the sky itself stacked and striated with colors that have no right to exists so well together, to blend so seamlessly into each other, but somehow do, somehow gradient this miraculous way every evening, and then they're gone, then everything is gentle and blue and at peace.
It was a everything befitting of Stanford's book, and so much more than anything i could have hoped for.
STRUCTURES FROM THE STILL is out now and can be purchased here.
Kirby's beautiful photos from and write-up of the event can be found here.
–mz
FRIENDS!
If you are in/around Toronto on August 10th, please join us at Fork Knife Book at 7 pm for the launch of STRUCTURES FROM THE STILL by Stanford Cheung!
It will be a night full of wonderful readings and rad discussions.
If you won't be able to make it, please pop over here to do a little preordering and here to get some more details about the book.
–mz
Friends!
I am so incredibly excited to announce the imminent launch of akinoga press' next book/first full-length collection of poetry: STRUCTURES FROM THE STILL by Stanford Cheung.
I have been working with Stanford off and on for years and i am so thrilled to finally be publishing his poetry. I've never read anything quite like it, and yet, on some deep dream-level, i have encountered his poetry everywhere.
Head on over to the spotlight page to read some advance praise of and an excerpt from the collection, and then head over to the akinoga press store and preorder yourself a copy!
STRUCTURES FROM THE STILL will be launching on August 10 at Knife Fork Book in Kensington Market in Toronto, so you're around/out that way, please join us for a night of poetry and book releasing!
More details/a facebook event link will follow!
–mz
FRIENDS! TODAY IS THE DAY!
TO TRACY LIKE / TO LIKE / LIKE is officially launched!!!
If you can, join us tonight at Greedy Reads in Baltimore at 7 for the launch event: a panel discussion featuring Tracy Dimond, Mary Adelle, Mandy May, Sharea Harris, and Jane Lewty.
It's going to be the best!
If you can't join us for the launch, make sure you get your copy here.
FRIENDS!
I am beyond excited to announce that Tracy Dimond's TO TRACY LIKE / TO LIKE / LIKE will be launching here in Baltimore on Thursday, July 12th, at Greedy Reads at 7 pm!
Won't you join us?!
The event will be a panel discussion titled What I Talk About When I Talk About My Body and will feature poets/writers Jane Lewty, Mandy May, Mary Adelle (Walters), Sharea Harris, and of course, Tracy Dimond.
TO TRACY LIKE / TO LIKE / LIKE, along with the other poets' books, will be available for purchase at the event, but if you'd like to get a copy of Tracy's early, head over to the akinoga press store and snag one today!
This is going to be an amazing evening at an amazing book store featuring amazing people.
DON'T SLEEP ON THIS!
–mz
Hello, friends!
I have two pieces of news to share:
1) I will be exhibiting at this year's CityLit Festival! The fest will held Saturday, April 14th at the University of Baltimore (the exhibitors will be in the William H. Thumel, Sr. Business Center) and will kick off at 9:30!
I had a really wonderful time last year, and i hope to see y'all there because...
2) I WILL BE SOFT LAUNCHING TO TRACY LIKE / TO LIKE / LIKE! Come by and get a copy of Tracy's amazing poem-turned-chapbook waaaaaaaaay super early! If you can't make the fest and would still like an early copy, please place a preorder on or before April 14th, and i'll mail out a copy that weekend. Otherwise, the books won't be available again until the official launch in June.
So, if you want a copy any time soon, DON'T SLEEP ON THIS!
Tracy will also be around at some point to talk about/sign her books, SO YEAH COME BY AND SEE US!
–mz
Hello, friends!
It is with unimaginable excitement and gratitude that i can now announce the first batch of akinoga's 2018 publishing slate!!!:
spring — TO TRACY LIKE / TO LIKE / LIKE by Tracy Dimond
summer — Structures from the Still by Stanford Cheung
Tracy Dimond is a powerhouse of a poet and publisher: she co-curates Ink Press Productions; is the author of three chapbooks: I WANT YOUR TAN (Ink Press 2015), Grind My Bones Into Glitter, Then Swim Through The Shimmer (NAP 2014), and Sorry I Wrote So Many Sad Poems Today (Ink Press 2013); and was a 2016 Baker Artist Award finalist.
TO TRACY LIKE / TO LIKE / LIKE, her first single-poem chapbook, is set to be published in the March-April corridor.
Stanford Cheung is an exceptional poet and pianist from Toronto. His poetry has appeared in Nomadic Press, Ricepaper Magazine, and X-Peri. He is the author of three chapbooks: Comfort of Malice (Inspiritus, 2018), Kite Extension (Words(on)Pages, 2017), and Any Seam or Needlework (The Operating System, 2016).
Structures from the Still, his first full-length collection, will be published in the late-August corridor.
Be sure to check out the SPOTLIGHT page for more details as the launch dates get closer.
And if you happen to bump into Tracy at AWP this year, she may just have a mock-up or two of her book on hand...
Hello, friends!
It's that time again! That's right: tis the season for autumnal literary festivals!
I am honored to announce that akinoga press will have a presence at the Baltimore Book Festival (september 22-24) AND the Frostburg Indie Lit Festival (october 13-14).
This will be my second year at the BBF and my first at the Indie Lit Fest, and i could not be more excited for either. I should be at both for their respective duration (aside from a brief absence to sit on a panel at the Indie Lit Fest), so if you're in the area, PLEASE STOP BY, be it for chapbooks, shop talk, or general conversing.
I will be in the red rectangle for the BBF:
and when i get a map of the layout of the Indie Lit Fest/find out where my table will be, i'll make a new post about it.
Hope to see y'all there!
–mz
That's right, folks, In Place of This is FINALLY HERE
It's been a long, wondrous process. I love this book, and i hope you will to.
Head to the catalogue to get your copy today!!!!!!
–mz
hey there, friends!
welp, it's official: come morning, i am off to AWP. i still can't believe that i have the opportunity to sell my wares this early in the life of my press. Thank you again (and again and again), Dayana, for throwing me some space.
Speaking of, In Place of This is now OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER!!! Head over to the akinoga press catalogue page to grab yourself a(n eventual) copy (on the square market page, don't click the shipping option; that's just for mobile purchases). OR, WHY NOT STOP BY BOOTH 739 AT AWP AND PLACE A PREORDER IN PERSON MAYBE?
Either way, check out these amazing proofs, courtesy of Spencer Printing:
Can they print books, or what? Seriously, they are THE BEST. If you ever need something printed super well and super quickly, these guys are the people to talk to.
They will have my business until whatever looming apocalyptic event happens first.
SEE Y'ALL AT AWP!!!!
– mz
hello, friends! i apologize that it's been a bit since i posted any updates. to make up for it, have two AMAZING PIECES OF NEWS!
AMAZING PIECE OF NEWS NUMBER 1 — AKINOGA PRESS WILL BE SELLING BOOKS AT AWP2017!!!!!!!!!!
i know! i'm as shocked as you probably are! this is an unbelievable opportunity and i am so deeply grateful to Dayana Stetco it's kind of ridiculous. I had Dayana for a few wonderful classes in undergrad (i passed out in one of them; ask me about it when you see me at AWP) and she was gracious enough to offer me space on her exhibitor's table to sell my wares.
SO, when you get to the book fair, look for table 739, which is here:
and i will be somewhere behind it trying to not hyperventilate because I'M SELLING MY BOOKS AT AWP!!!!!1
AMAZING PIECE OF NEWS NUMBER 2 — AKINOGA PRESS WILL BE PUBLISHING IN PLACE OF THIS IN PROBABLY LESS THAN A MONTH!
yep, that's right: in all of this radio silence, i worked up another book for y'all! It is written by Dayana Stetco (yep, the SAME ONE) and Shannon Miller, and is:
a hybrid of illuminated facebook posts, emails, real and imaginary exchanges, and brief meditations on the nature of theatre, nostalgia, unhappiness, and inevitable encounters — a conversation in the shape of a tango, an ending, a beginning
i am so excited for y'all to read this book. i love it. i love everything about it, and hopefully you will, too. if you JUST CAN'T WAIT, i can help in two ways.
1) i can point you in the direction of THIS READING, thursday, feb. 9th, at the george washington university textile museum. the reading is off-site and runs from 4-6. Dayana will be taking the stage at some point and will FOR SURE be giving all who attend a sneak peak of what In Place of This has in store
and 2) i can point you in the direction of this, oh briefest taste of excerpt
there will be a pre-order signup/email sheet at the table, so please, COME ON BY AND PRE-ORDER ONE OF THESE BOOKS!
it's worth it.
– mz
hello, friends!
i apologize for the lack of updates lately. in the past couple of months, not a whole lot of actual news has happened with the press. some news is coming, but that's for another post.
this post, however, is about selling books! i am honored to announce that akinoga press will be selling its wares at this year's Art Market at MICA! i will be downstairs in Brown, right outside Falvey Hall, nestled among other tremendous artists.
if you are missing a book from akinoga press' catalogue, stop by; if you'd like to say hello, stop by; if you're in need of rad holiday gifts and want to support a great school and some wonderful artists, STOP BY!
Art Market runs from 11 – 7 Wednesday through Friday, and 10 – 6 Saturday; i will be there pretty much the entire time.
– mz
FRIENDS! MORE NEWS!
firstly, i have the location! akinoga press, along with Mason Jar Press, will be at booth P 09 on Light St (between the Visitor's Center and the Science Center). PLAN YOUR ROUTES ACCORDINGLY!
secondly, i am thrilled to announce that akinoga press will be publishing its FIRST-EVER ANTHOLOGY!!! head over the the on the other hand page for all the deets. submissions open THIS FRIDAY!!!
-mz
i went into the shop today and threw these guys together.
watch out, Book Fest! i'm ready to display my wares...
-mz
FRIENDS!
i am extremely excited to announce that akinoga press will be selling its wears at this year's Baltimore Book Festival. i will be sharing a table with the rad peeps of Mason Jar Press, so please stop on by for raffles, author signings, impromptu readings, and just a generally good time.
we don't know the exact location of the table yet, but as soon as we do, i will post a map so y'all can find us with ease!
-mz
FRIENDS!
season two of so...poetry? launched this afternoon with a wonderful episode featuring the incomparable Mary Adelle. do yourself a favor AND CHECK IT OUT!
it's been great fun hosting a podcast for over a year, and i am excitedly looking forward to the next (and next and next and next)...
-mz
FRIENDS TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!
if you are in the baltimore area, please join akinoga press at Charmington's at 7 for the release of anthony moll's debut poetry chapbook, Go to the Ant, O Sluggard! local writers drew robison and michelle dwyer gerlowski will also be reading and selling their wares.
Go to the Ant will be $10 at the release (plus a boh), and i will be accepting credit cards (i would actually prefer credit).
there will also be boh available for donation (starting at $3 cash).
come on out and show some support for an amazing local poet, teacher, and all around great person! it will be a blast of a time!
–mz
greetings, friends!
please say hello to the newest member of the akinoga family: this punching cradle!
i threw this guy together in like a half hour at work on friday (in my other life, i'm a cabinet maker), and put it through an extended test run by punching the sewing stations for half of Go to the Ant.
now all i need to make is a press...
-mz
hello, friends!
i am thrilled to announce that, in a little over a month, akinoga press will be publishing Go to the Ant, O Sluggard, anthony molls's debut poetry chapbook. anthony and i have been working on the book for about a year, if not longer, and i am so incredibly impatient to share this wonderful collection with everyone.
if you are in baltimore on may 23rd, please consider coming to the book release! as soon as we figure out a venue and a time, i will disseminate that information like nobody's business.
for now, though, please check back in for in-process pictures of the Great Chapbook Binding of 2016, aka mychael gets to stitch and glue together sixty books.
–mz
