Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A New Era for Atlas Poetica

With this issue we open a new era for Atlas Poetica. For the first two years, Atlas Poetica was one many fine journals published by MET Press. However, last summer, circumstances required Denis M. Garrison, founder of MET Press, to reduce his workload. Several journals ceased publication. ATPO has moved to Keibooks and will be known as Atlas Poetica : A Journal of Poetry of Place in Contemporary Tanka to reflect that change.

The decision to move ATPO to my own small press, Keibooks, was both simple. ATPO is a unique journal in the field of tanka and has helped expand the poetic vocabulary, both in terms of subjects addressed and how they are addressed, bringing together works from poets and critics around the world.

Deliberately large format, ATPO is the only journal in existence which can publish epic tanka sequences, tanka prose, shaped tanka, book reviews, resources, announcements, non-fiction, and other material while still leaving plenty of room for individual tanka. Yet print provides a limited range of readership. Online journals develop readerships in the thousands; thus the decision had already been made to provide a free online version. ATPO will continue in digital and print versions.

Readers will find some minor changes in the print journal, but it will continue to offer the same great tanka poetry of place that is its hallmark. Most importantly, we are engaged in updating our international and multi-lingual services with the journal and website. Planned updates to all the international language blurbs are planned with expansion of international support.

Volunteer translators are sought to assist with increasing the number and quality of translations on the website. In addition, we are specifically seeking submissions in languages other than English for both poetry and articles. While we prefer that tanka be accompanied by English translation, we are able to provide translations from some languages (please inquire). We will publish announcements and articles in any language without translation. ATPO 7 (Autumn, 2010) will publish the international resources and multi-language blurbs, as well as tanka and articles in various languages. Please send your international materials!

One major change has occurred behind the scenes: I am pleased to welcome Alex von Vaupel as the technical director for ATPO. An excellent poet in his own right, Alex's assistance with the journal's cover, revamping the website, and related technical matters has been invaluable. In addition, Alex is a native Dutch speaker and professional translator who will be assisting with international outreach.

~K~

M. Kei
Editor, Atlas Poetica

Monday, January 25, 2010

ATPO 7 to feature International Tanka

Atlas Poetica 7, the Autumn 2010 issue, will have a special focus on tanka in translation from around the world. Poets are invited to subject tanka, kyoka, tanka sequences, tanka prose, shaped tanka, tanka acrostics, tanka book reviews, tanka articles, tanka interviews, and tanka resources in any languages. While poetry must be accompanied by an English translation, ATPO will published non-fiction, resources, and announcements in any language.

Atlas Poetica always welcomes international contributions and resources, but we are making a special effort to entirely fill ATPO 7 with international and translated works to focus attention on tanka in languages other than English and to promote improved communication among the various tanka communities of the world.

~K~

Friday, January 1, 2010

Atlas Poetica 5 Deadline Approaching

Atlas Poetica : A Journal of Poetry of Place will close to submissions on January 31, 2010 for issue 5. Poets who are planning to submit should get their tanka, tanka sequences, tanka prose, and articles in as soon as possible -- the interest is high and competition will be fierce for issue 5.

Planned topics include: Vacation/Recreation, Women, Rainy Weather, and Microtanka

As always, we are open to book reviews, articles, announcements, and other items. We also collect international tanka resources, book notes, and other items which are published on a space available basis.

Complete submission guidelines and a previous issue are available free online at: http://www.themetpress.com/atlaspoetica/masthead.html

Poets who are not familiar with tanka poetry of place are strongly encourage to read the sample issue carefully to understand what we seek.

Please note: Atlas Poetica was published by Modern English Tanka Press of Baltimore, Maryland, for the first four issues. Those issues will continue to be available for sale through themetpress.com. As of 1 January 20101, Atlas Poetica will be published by Keibooks of Perryville, Maryland. A new redesigned website will be announced soon and will be the 'one-stop' up to date location for all Atlas Poetica archives and current information. Atlas Poetica was formerly published two times a year, but starting in in 2010, will be published three times a year.

Atlas Poetica is pleased to welcome Alex von Vaupel as our new technical director. Alex is a fine tanka poet in his own right, and will be serving as webmaster of the revamped site and assisting in other matters.

A press release with full details will go out when the new site is ready.

~K~