Tomorrow begins our eight-week series on Canadian spoken word poetry, Verbal Vol. 1, showcasing audio recordings of poetry performances delivered all across the country. Each track is unique, from the topic chosen to the method of recording - some are even set to music! The series forward, penned by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer, provides a quick introduction into spoken word and the challenge of "publishing" literary audio. Verbal Vol. 1 opens on Sunday, March 25, 2018 with a track by Calgary-based artist Audrey Lane Cockett, and will proceed one track per week throughout spring. Be sure to check back every Sunday for a new adventure into spoken word!
FLASH HAIKU - Jesse Anger
The winner of The Blasted Tree's second flash haiku contest, held on Facebook earlier this week, is Jesse Anger! We've published his haiku into 2.5" x 2.5" mini-leaflets in a limited run of 60 copies. Jesse's poem was selected for its unconventional structure, loading the last line with contemplative images that lend retroactive meaning to the first two. While we usually go for haiku that open up, this one zooms right in, a surprising move, and a turn in its own right.
BUY FLASH HAIKU: JESSE ANGER MINI-LEAFLET
FLASH HAIKU - Ryan Tellier
The winner of The Blasted Tree's Flash Haiku Contest, held on Facebook last Monday, is Ryan Tellier! We've published his haiku into 2.5" x 2.5" mini-leaflets in a limited run of 60 copies. Ryan's poem jumped out for its simplicity and gentle humor, faithfulness to traditional haiku (in spirit if not in syllable), and its surprising turn. A great haiku that bears up to playful contemplation!
BUY FLASH HAIKU: RYAN TELLIER MINI-LEAFLET
Call for Submissions - Spoken Word EP
We are putting together a compilation album of spoken word recordings by poets from across the country, and there is still time/space (spacetime) to submit! There is no theme for the project; instead, we're looking to showcase the diversity of voices and techniques used within our thriving spoken word community.
Send a recording of your spoken word performance, along with written lyrics, to theblastedtree@gmail.com by Feb. 28th!
Feel free to contact us with any questions you might have about the project. We know "compilation album of spoken word recordings" is perhaps a little vague, but that's to encourage your interpretation of what might qualify. We're primarily looking for audio content, but we will also accept the submission of any accompanying visual art, like illustrations or video, or other supplementary media.
SUBMIT TO SPOKEN WORD EP
Two weeks, poets - let's hear what you got!!!
Year-End Sale and Call for Submissions
A new year is fast approaching, and for us that means an exciting new batch of projects! In 2017 we will begin publishing more than just our trusty chapbooks, including cool print media like leaflets, broadsheets, and longsheets. Of course, we will continue to publish boundary-pushing poetry, fiction, and non-fiction online. We're also looking to diversify our visual media collection by exploring everything from artist prints to video content.
YEAR-END SALE
With that in mind, we've put our entire back catalogue on sale! All remaining chapbooks are now only $3 to make room for our incoming projects. We have a very limited number of chapbooks by Jesse Anger, Laura Rojas, James W. Jesso, Ivan Fischer, Olivia Alexander, and several other fantastic authors, so DROP BY OUR STORE NOW to get the last copies around!
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Blasted Tree is currently accepting submission of unpublished short fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, visual media, and reviews. We're looking for sharp, experimental, subversive, challenging, or otherwise out-there writing and art of all types. Surprise us! We want innovative material we can publish in innovative forms, both physical and digital. Send your most daring work to theblastedtree@gmail.com.
As always, thanks for the support, and we look forward to another year of exceptional Canadian artistry!
Feminist Perspectives - Series Launch 30/3/16
Exciting news! Our six-part creative non-fiction series FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES begins Wednesday, March 30th with a prefatory Forward by series co-editor Bea Keeler and a short piece by Sammy Fogel on everyday activism, Note to an Airline Pilot. New entries will be posted every Wednesday for six weeks, aiming to sketch a portrait of the many-faceted movement that is contemporary feminism. Make sure you follow The Blasted Tree on Facebook and Twitter to keep up-to-date on this series and more from rising Canadian authors and artists!
Feminist Perspectives - Call For Submissions
The Blasted Tree is looking for creative non-fiction for a new series on FEMINISM! The series, to be published online in the coming months, will approach this issue from several perspectives, and we welcome all styles of non-fiction writing, from academic essays to autobiography and beyond. Help us celebrate feminist voices by sharing your wisdom and experience! Please send your original work to theblastedtree@gmail.com by midnight on February 29 for consideration.
Feel free to share this call with the feminists in your life. We'd love to hear from as many people as possible!
The Blasted Tree's Year One in Review
With The Blasted Tree's first year anniversary upon us already, we felt this would be a good opportunity to reflect on our journey so far, give thanks for all the fantastic support we've received, and take a quick look at what the future holds in store. The last year has been a whirlwind of activity, we've learned a lot about the contemporary landscape of editing and publishing in Canada, and there's tons more to look forward to, so let's dive straight into our...
YEAR ONE IN REVIEW
Spring Short(er) Fiction Sale!
From now until the end of March, receive 20% off our Short(er) Fiction series chapbooks, collecting the best in brief and bizarre Canadian short fiction! Featuring work by Alexander, Anger, Brown, Flemmer, Muir, and Smith across two volumes. Simply enter coupon code SpringFiction during checkout to activate your discount!
GO TO THE STORE
Our complete Short(er) Fiction catalog can be read online HERE.
Advance Copy Winner!
Congratulation to Natalie Smith, winner of an advance copy of These Are Fragments by Laura Dyer! Thanks for pre-ordering your Blasted Tree t-shirts, they will be available some time next week. Meanwhile, you can read These Are Fragments online, it's one of three new titles available from The Blasted Tree Store.