July is Fremantle Poetry Month

18th May 2010

Fremantle Press will host five free events and an online poetry writing competition to celebrate the launch of its poetry list in July 2010.

Poetry Publisher Georgia Richter said she wanted to celebrate Fremantle Press’ long-established poetry program by holding Fremantle Poetry Month and by increasing the number of poets published annually from two to five.

The inaugural Fremantle Poetry Month will feature the work of established poets John Mateer and Caroline Caddy while introducing emerging poets Scott-Patrick Mitchell, J.P. Quinton and Emma Rooksby.

“I believe our poetry list provides us with a litmus test for the literary health of Fremantle Press as an independent publisher of fine writing by Western Australians,” said Richter.

Fremantle Poetry Month will include an evening of live music and performance poetry, a publishing master class, a poetry panel, a villanelle writing competition, poetry workshops for secondary school children and a professional development seminar for English teachers.

“We have been thrilled by the enthusiastic support of the concept by the wider Western Australian community, including many of Perth’s poetry and writing groups,” said Richter.

Richter said Fremantle Arts Centre, the Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre, the Fremantle Library, Fremantle Radio, indigo journal, Out of the Asylum Writers Group, Roland Leach at Sunline Press and WA Poets Inc had all pledged their support by supplying venues, volunteers and performers.

“We are delighted by their response to a project which aims to celebrate poetry in the broader community,” said Richter.

The 2010 Fremantle Press poetry list includes Burning Bright by Caroline Caddy, The West by John Mateer and Fremantle Poets 1: New Poets by Scott-Patrick Mitchell, J.P. Quinton and Emma Rooksby.

Fremantle Poetry Month starts on 8 July 2010. All events are free and, with the exception of the master class, open to the public. For more information click here or find us on Facebook from 18 May 2010.

SPONSORS
Fremantle Poetry Month is sponsored by Fremantle Arts Centre, the Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre, the Fremantle Library, Fremantle Radio, indigo journal, Little Creatures, Out of the Asylum Writers Group, Plantagenet Wines, Roland Leach at Sunline Press and WA Poets Inc.

For more information please contact Claire Miller, cmiller@fremantlepress.com.au