Gean Tree Press: books and magazine publishing

A book of parallel haiku from Brendan Slater presenting many possibilities for the reader. You can read 'em in the direction of your choice - either down the page or across two. With this his first book, Brendan Slater who is owner of Yet To Be Named Free Press and editor of 'moongarlic' haiku magazine, stamps his own unique style and distinctive voice on the world of haiku. First published by Gean Tree Press 2013. Now with a special surprise feature at the end of the book. 

I have admired Brendan’s work for some time now. We have shared many ideas on haiku. When Brendan approached me with his manuscript idea for two liners, which he was reluctant to call haiku, I was both excited to see what he would produce and honoured he thought of my press. I had 100 poems in hand within weeks from what I suspect was a red-hot keyboard. I had told him beforehand I would only use 60 or so poems and he gave me the difficult task of having to cut some. 

My solution was to arrange the poems in such a way as to offer multiple readings, both vertically and/or horizontally, thus enabling the reader to follow the many directions Brendan’s work can take one to while also maintaining a loose narrative throughout. 

There is an openness about Brendan’s work which deserves to be presented in such a fashion as to offer the reader many possibilities. I believe we have succeeded in this, but if not, and if English Language Haiku must have rules then Brendan is the man to make ‘em.

Colin Stewart Jones – Editor, Gean Tree Press.