Calder Wood Press

Calder Wood Press is a small publisher which doesn't intend growing much bigger. However, it is a significant member of the small band of Scottish-based independent publishers of poetry. By independent I mean that I am unsubsidised, and I will remain so. I mainly publish chapbooks — poetry and some short story collections — in English and Scots. I don't have the experience or subject knowledge to publish any other subjects.

The 2009 programme is for seven poetry chapbooks and a book of short stories; the list is now full. No further submissions will be considered for 2009, and the 2010 list is already full (subject to confirmation). Unsolicited manuscripts will be returned unread. I know how difficult it is to have work published these days, and I’m sorry, but my other commitments make it impossible to take on more work than I can handle effectively and well. Eight books a year is as much as I can cope with.

For poets starting to think about how to get their work published but who aren't sure how to go about it there is some exceptionally good and sensible advice in a new book by Helena Nelson - How Not To Get Your Poetry Published. It's available through the HappenStance Press website.

Each Calder Wood Press chapbook is treated differently, with layout, cover and typography designed around the content. There is no ‘house style’ beyond a commitment to the authors and to the quality of their work. I like producing books with distinctive covers, but the content comes first.

Check out the New Books page for the latest information. The Sales page should be used for orders. Events and News contains information on Calder Wood Press authors.

Sample poems - Jo Gibson, Anna Dickie, David Purdie, Anne Connolly, Catriona Malan, Jayne Wilding, Lillias Scott Forbes, Irene Brown

photo by Anna Dickie

Colin Will