AMAZING news and also an invitation to a launch.
I was so surprised and flattered and honored to find out earlier this year that a poem of mine would be included in The Best British Poetry 2011, the first anthology in a new series being produced by Salt Publishing and edited by Roddy Lumsden.
The poem, 'Hitodama', was first published in the Japan issue of Edinburgh Review, for which I am very grateful to the then-editor Brian McCabe and to Jennie Renton.
"The Best British Poetry 2011 presents the finest and most engaging poems found in British-based literary magazines and webzines over the past year. The material gathered represents the rich variety of current UK poetry, including lyric, formal and experimental poetry. Each poem is accompanied by a note by the poet themselves, explaining the inspiration for the poem and why they decided to write the poem in that form. The format of the book will be familiar to those who have seen similar annual selections made in other countries such as Ireland, Australia and especially the US, where the equivalent annual book is a popular yet controversial landmark in each year's literary calendar. At a time when print journals still retain their significance and popularity and when new sites are flourishing on the web, this book offers a snapshot of current poetry practices in the country by offering a diverse selection of excellent poems."
I'm so excited and grateful to have my poem chosen for this anthology. I grew up reading the Best American Poetry books so it's pretty overwhelming for me to think I could be included in the British equivalent. I'm also excited that the poem selected has such a Japanese bias, as I am most interested in writing about Japan/my Japanese heritage, and often worry that this sort of writing might not find a home in the UK. As a young writer, and a Japanese-American living in Scotland, I am so proud to have been chosen for such an important and 'British' anthology. I want to shout it from the rooftops!
Therefore! You are cordially invited to the London launch of The Best British Poetry 2011 on the 23rd September 2011 from 7 p.m. at The Betsey Trotwood, 56 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3BL. Please RSVP to: Christopher Hamilton-Emery, or Roddy Lumsden.
Everyone is welcome so do please spread the word for this significant event.
I hope you'll go to the launch! At least pick up a copy at your local bookstore, or ask them to stock the book if they don't already! That'd mean the world to me.
The Best British Poetry 2011
Edited by Roddy Lumsden
ISBN 9781907773044
Paperback | 176pp | Demy Octavo
Publication date 1 September 2011
£9.99 $16.95
