Welcome to Masque Publishing.

Issue 35 of Decanto out now!

It is time to say welcome to the latest issue of Decanto (Issue 35 June 2008) which is now available as you read this. In this issue, George Kay takes the spotlight in the ‘Centre Stage Poet’ section. George Kay’s work first came to my attention when I was approached by Alastair Thomson who wanted to publish a collection of his deceased friends work. I decided to give George's poetry a section in Decanto, as I believe that it is a really worth while collection, and contains a beautiful selection of poetry, which is well worth a read.

Please follow the link below or follow the Decanto button on the left for full details of this issue including which poets are included, and some examples of their work. Details of ordering current and back issues can also be found on these pages.

View Latest Issue of Decanto Issue

Issue 36 of Decanto is scheduled to be completed in August 2008, where we will be featuring the work of David McLean.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing increase of costs (due mainly to the rise in paper costs), the price of Decanto will be £3.80 for current issues, and £3.20 for back issues, from January 08. This will not affect those of you who have already subscribed.

The Decanto Poetry Competition

The Decanto poetry competition is now open for all poets at home and abroad to participate in. Please follow this link for more details. Decanto poetry competition 2008

More News

Subscriptions: We are pleased to announce that we will now be offering readers the chance to subscribe to Decanto magazine. The price for a years subscription (6 issues) is currently £19.00 / €32.00 / US$38.00. All prices include P&P. Please contact us if you require a subscription form or any other details.

Writer’s Market UK 2009 (David & Charles, £14.99 ) is the new and popular comprehensive guide for all writers. It’s the go-getting guide for aspiring and established writers and includes all the up-to-date contacts you need to get your writing noticed. There are toptips on many aspects of writing: from penning a radio play to crafting a newspaper article: from having your poetry published to successful online writing and networking: from preparing a synopsis to working with a publisher once your work has been accepted. Over 15 experts write friendly, down-to-earth articles about their specialist area: and include writers such as Simon Brett, Philip Gross, Elizabeth Kay and Sam Murphy together with a foreword by Joanne Harris. The Writer’s Market is available from the 15th May 08. (David & Charles at £14.99) For more details please see; www.writersmarket.co.uk

http://sonettopoesiahome.homestead.com/index.html Regular contributors to Decanto are invited to submit of formal rhymed poetry, above all sonnets, but also quatrains, villanelles, triolets, rondeaux and the like, to Sonneto Poesia ISSN 1705-4524, a quarterly journal in print. You may send an initial submission of up to 6 formal rhymed poems by e-mail only, and as attachments only, one copy in .rtf (rich text) and the same in .txt (plain text) to Richard Vallance, Publisher and Editor at vallance22@gmail.com with subject ‘formal poetry submission’.

Beyond the Beaten Track: Offbeat Poems from Gujarat. An anthology of over 200 poems translated from Gujarati into English by Pradip Khandwalla, himself a poet who writes in English. Gujarati is spoken by nearly 55 million people in western India. Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, the foremost literary body of Gujarat is publishing the book to bring Gujarat‘s poetry and the diverse voices, visions, and passions of its poets to the attention of the world’s English-speaking poets. The poems for translation were selected for their offbeat quality, and after sifting through some 4000 poems included in various anthologies and publications. For more information email; beyond.bt@rediffmail.com

I would also like to mention ‘Ready made Bouquets’, a new poetry book available from Robin Lindsay Wilson, who is a regular contributor.
Review;
‘There are poets who take the everyday and present it in a manner so fresh that the ordinary becomes extraordinary. There are poets who take inspiration from visual art and paint word pictures so vivid that the images are almost palpable. There are poets who transform landscape or cityscape into narrative meaning. And there are poets whose senses are so open that they open the heart of things for others. Rarely, there are poets who do all of this and more; Robin is such a poet.’
If you would like more information about the book please contact; Dr Jan Fortune-Wood - Cinnamon Press - Ty Meirion - Glan yr afon - Tanygrisiau - Blaenau Ffestiniog - Gwynedd - LL41 3SU or see; www.cinnamonpress.com.

Poems by David Francis: I would like to take this opportunity to mention a new CD collection by David Francis entitled ‘Poems’ which is a collection of poems and music. Singer-songwriter David Francis held a residency at the BMW Bar in NYC from 1999 until its closing in 2001. Giorgio Gomelsky, original manager of the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds, frequented the BMW and wrote the first serious criticism of David’s music. David has composed music for plays at LaMaMa, ETC, while earning a following for his solo gigs in the East village. If you would like more information about David's CD please visit: (This link is also on our Music page) www.cdbaby.com/all/davidfrancis

Journal for the State of Tennessee: John D. Gosslea will shortly be creating a journal for the State of of Tennessee and for the blind and deaf readers of poetry. They would like to receive works from all over the world and so far have had submissions form Jamaica, India, Australia, and the USA. If you would like further information on this project, please visit www.ttspl.org

Healing Tree by Michaela Sefler: Another of our contributor’s has a new volume of poetry available. ‘Healing Tree’ by Michaela Sefler with Innercircle Publishing. In this compilation, Michaela presents a series of poems that convey healing as a mystical state supported by an ancient system of faith and understanding, describing belief in a creator as the root essence of our existence. She describes nature and spirituality as interconnected to contain a reality where possibility is actual. She draws on ancient Qabbalistic knowledge, the poems are Inspired by esoteric work and knowledge, and are illustrated with symbols to enlighten the reader. For further details please visit: http://msefler-inspiration.net

What Makes Poets Tick? Dee Rimbaud has written to let us know that he has added yet another section to his website, "What Makes Poets Tick?" This is a series of interviews with poets who are at the latter or intermediate stages of their writing careers. He asks each poet the same questions, about their backgrounds, their education, their success (or lack of), their attitude, what advice they have for young writers and even if they would participate in a reality television show.

A new publication by Raymond Humphrey. Checkpoint is a collection of speculative fiction, seventeen stories ranging up to 6,000 words in 190 pages. Most of the stories have been published before in magazines (one, Wish Man’s Wood, in an anthology published by Accent Press), but there are 4 or 5 new ones, including three especially written for the volume. The post-inclusive price is £7 (£8 overseas). Details of how to order are on the website: www.benybont.co.uk

If you have any poetry news or events that you would like others to know about, please contact us with the details and we might be able to help you spread the word!