Ten Years and Two New Books

The Blasted Tree is ten years old as of this summer! It seems like only yesterday I was registering the domain name and asking my fellow creative writing students for short stories and poetry collections to publish as chapbooks. From its founding in Montreal in 2014 to the present day, The Blasted Tree has chased that special something that makes text fun to read and a page fun to read from. Now, I am delighted to present two new, fully-illustrated visual poetry books by ground-breaking Canadian authors, each available in a limited edition of 100 copies. Take a closer look at these titles below, and please consider participating in our 10-year anniversary fundraiser in support of these, and future, publications.

Game Genie Poems

by Kevin Stebner

Game Genie Poems takes the limited set of letters available in the Game Genie cheat code cartridge to its poetic extreme. Selecting only from words compatible with the code entry system, Stebner has crafted a collection of poems that treat topics as diverse as politics, gastronomy, sex, and literary formalism with rigorous precision and ribald humour. This volume presents photographs of Stebner’s code words entered into the Game Genie interface alongside textual versions to give readers an idea of the laborious process, not only of composing these poems, but of entering them letter-by-letter into a 1980s video game console.

HAVANA SYNDROME

by Sacha Archer

Slicing through genre and convention like a razor through celluloid, Sacha Archer’s HAVANA SYNDROME is a grimy, ink-splattered adventure in the hinterlands of typographic representation. Like a clandestine dossier of photocopied documents, these poems disclose themselves in furtive fragments, drawing the reader into a conspiracy of text and visual detritus. Which fingerprints are Archer’s and which are left by the reader? Whether you’re a detective or the culprit, HAVANA SYNDROME will enlist you into a secret agency of interpretation.

To celebrate ten years of small press publishing, The Blasted Tree is hosting an anniversary party and funding drive. Full details about the party are coming soon. Meanwhile, check out the fabulous offerings available through the funding drive over on The Blasted Tree’s online store, including book and chapbook bundles, one-of-a-kind art, out of print publications from our back catalogue, and more!

The Blasted Tree is looking to raise $2500 over the next couple of months to cover the production costs of our new books. Purchasing any of these bundles (or the books themselves) will be a huge help in meeting this goal. There are only 1 or 2 of each bundle available, so act fast! If you miss your shot at a bundle or just want to support the funding drive, The Blasted Tree also accepts donations. Any amount donated to the cause is greatly appreciated!

Donate

Spoken Word - Complete Verbal Vol. 1 Anthology

The Blasted Tree's first foray into the publication of spoken word recordings, Verbal Vol. 1, is complete! Each of the eight tracks can be listened to and read on our website, plus now you can download the entire anthology from our Bandcamp. Thanks for listening, and thanks especially to the poets, musicians, and recording experts who contributed to putting this thing together: Audrey Lane Cockett, Anthony J. Gavin, Ilona Martonfi, Laine Pineo, Prairie Chola Ayatollah, Ian San Agustin, Adrien Smart, Michael Smilovitch, Alec Panikian, SHIGETO, and Josh Cunningham.

Download Verbal Vol. 1

Spoken Word - Chased by Bears Across Marshmallow Bluffs

 

The eighth and final entry in Verbal Vol. 1 was written and performed by poet, musician, and scientist, Michael Smilovitch. Chased by Bears Across Marshmallow Bluffs, which previously appeared in Smilovitch's chapbook obscuritysquared, has now been expanded upon and set to music by Alec Panikian. The poem is one hell of a romp, and Smilovitch makes full use of the vocal talents he's developed singing for the progressive metal band Bird Problems. Chased by Bears Across Marshmallow Bluffs can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO CHASED BY BEARS ACROSS MARSHMALLOW BLUFFS

We recommend beginning with the Forward by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer if this is your first exposure to Verbal Vol. 1, or are interested in the documentation of spoken word.

Spoken Word - They don't want you to talk about it by Laine Pineo

 

The penultimate track in Verbal Vol. 1, our digital spoken word anthology, is a seriously moving poem about surviving domestic abuse. "They don't want you to talk about it" comes to us from Laine Pineo, a Calgary-based poet, aromatherapist, and wonder-mom, who has lit up stages all around town with her empowering words. This poem challenges us to believe and support victims of abuse, to discuss these issue more open and honestly. "They don't want you to talk about it" can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT IT

If you have recently become acquainted with spoken word poetry, we recommend you begin with the Forward to Verbal Vol. 1 by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer.

Spoken Word - Hello Hollow Sunrise by Anthony J. Gavin

 

Today we unveil the sixth track in Verbal Vol. 1, our ongoing digital spoken word anthology! hello hollow sunrise was written and recorded by poet, academic, and repeat Blasted Tree contributor Anthony J. Gavin. In turns political screed, rant against the daily grind, and reminder for self care, hello hollow sunrise is a roller coaster of a performance. Anthony's poem can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO HELLO HOLLOW SUNRISE

If this is your first listen to Verbal Vol. 1, or to spoken word poetry in general, check out the Forward to the anthology by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer.

Spoken Word - CHILLY CHILLY by Prairie Chola Ayatollah

 

Verbal Vol. 1 continues with a spoken word track by Prairie Chola Ayatollah, Calgary's own third-eye word clown and performance artist. As with many of her poems, CHILLY CHILLY employs looping pedals to build sonic emphasis, variation, and intensity. This comic and creative spoken word poem can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO CHILLY CHILLY

For a quick introduction to spoken word poetry and the challenge of "publishing" literary audio, check out the Forward to Verbal Vol. 1 by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer.

Spoken Word - #myfavouritepersonintheworld by Ian San Agustin

 

This week's addition to The Blasted Tree's spoken word anthology Verbal Vol. 1 is performed by Calgary-based poet and sneaker freak, Ian San Agustin. Ian has performed at many open mics and poetry readings around Calgary, and his laid-back delivery of #myfavouritepersonintheworld, an ode to chill times in the best of company, is soothing to listen to. #myfavouritepersonintheworld can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO #MYFAVOURITEPERSON-INTHEWORLD

For a quick introduction to spoken word poetry and the challenge of "publishing" literary audio, check out the Forward to Verbal Vol. 1 by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer.

Spoken Word - Dandelion Snow by Ilona Martonfi

 

This week in Verbal Vol. 1 we're featuring a spoken word poem by repeat Blasted Tree contributor Ilona Martonfi, an author, performer, and literary event organizer. Ilona has written three books of poetry, and she is the founder and producer of The Yellow Door reading series in Montreal. Her poem "Dandelion Snow," addressed to the unseen Daughter, asks how mental illness and poverty contribute to the erasure of intimacy. Ilona's poem can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO DANDELION SNOW

If this is your first listen to Verbal Vol. 1, be sure to read the Forward by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer for a quick introduction to spoken word and the challenge of "publishing" literary audio.

Spoken Word - Filter by Adrien Smart

 

The second entry in Verbal Vol. 1, a digital anthology of spoken word poetry, is "Filter" by Blasted Tree contributor Adrien Smart.  Adrien a writer of poetry, short fiction, and screenplays living in North Vancouver. "Filter" takes on the cultivation of personas, social hierarchy, and addiction : "I'm the ecstatic truth / The glazing of the facts." Adrien Smart's poem can be heard (and read) on The Blasted Tree, and you can download all of Verbal Vol. 1 as it becomes available, one track per week throughout spring, on Bandcamp.

LISTEN TO FILTER

If this is your first listen to Verbal Vol. 1, be sure to read the Forward by Blasted Tree editor Kyle Flemmer for a quick introduction to spoken word and the challenge of "publishing" literary audio.