≈Newest & Forthcoming Titles≈
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Over the 30 years of BBP's publishing history, we have attempted to share with readers the work of the most intriguing writers and artists we could find -- without consideration of how well their books or art might sell. Here are a few of the newest examples of this continuing search: some of these books are in print, others are in production, or in manuscript form. A few of the titles listed in this catalog will also be appearing as ebooks in the new year, but without abandoning our commitment to handcrafted books printed on smooth vellums from classic typefaces in metal.
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"Poetry is simply literature reduced to the essence of its active principle. It is purged of idols of every kind, of realistic illusions, of any conceivable equivocation between the language of 'truth' and
the language of 'creation'."--Paul Valery
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1 ≈ Newest Titles ≈
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WEST OF RANGELEY, by Robert J. Romano, Jr. This much
anticipated new novel is the fast-paced sequel to Romano's
immensely popular NORTH OF EASIE. It brings to life a
whole new set of twists and turns, along with plenty of
drama and humor, well-drawn characters (including the
Vice President of the United States!) as well as local intrigue
involving a missing-person mystery. All set in and around
a lively little town amidst the rugged woods and wild
fishing waters of Western Maine. Everything begins to boil
when the lead player in both of these novels, Salvatore
D'Amico, fishing guide extraordinaire, learns that his back
woods cabin, and his prized fishing stream, could be taken
over by developers and gold prospectors. Artwork by noted
Maine artist John Swan graces the front cover. 224 pages
of delightful reading. $22.00. ISBN: 978-0-9842003-3-7.
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BIRTHRIGHT, by Gwendolyn Jensen.A first-rate collection of tight-
crafted poems which are like close-up photographs of childhood,
family, and relationships woven together by the line between
life and death. "Birthright is a stunning first volume which forms a
process both into and away from unmitigated heartbreak.
Throughout, Jensen's grace is at once relentless and restrained,
every bit as voluptuous as it is formal."--Frannie Lindsay, author,
Mayweed, winner of the Washington Prize. "This collection of
poetry begs to be read again and again, with the poet's masterful
use of rhythm and form, of repetition..."--COMSTOCK REVIEW.
Jensen is the former president, Wilson College, Chambersburg PA.
The first edition of this book has been sold out. A second edition is
now available. Printed letterpress from handset 14 pt.
Perpetua metal type on 80 lb. Mohawk Vellum. 'Birthright' features
the glorious art of Helen Febbo, the author's sister.Softcover: $16.
ISBN: 978-0984-2003-06. Visit www.gwendolynjensen.com
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THE SINGING INSIDE, by Michael Miller. This new collection
by the author of THE JOYFUL DARK is anchored by a startlingly
honest, moving, and intimate sequence of poems on married
love as the couple adjusts to changes which long-term
relationships and human bodies undergo. A letterpress edition
featuring three wood engravings by Frank C. Eckmair. Printed
on 80 lb. Mohawk Vellum from handset metal type. "I read
Miller's poems with great pleasure in their accurate seeing,
their assured phrasing, their true and proportional feeling."
--Richard Wilbur. "The title poem is an extraordinary tribute
to married love that is universal without being conventional."
--William Leo Coakley. "Miller hits on a major issue in modern
life, which is the tentative nature of human relationships in
our technological, impersonal age...His language is natural
and the images are specific yet universal."--Eric Greinke,
PRESA magazine. 56 pages. Antique Gray softcover edition:
$16.00. ISBN: 978-0-984-2003-1-3
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ONLY THE WORD GIVES US BEING, by Edward Francisco. In this
new volume--his ninth book of poetry, the poet takes the
remarkable position that our very being depends upon words.
His search for le mot juste takes readers through America,
England, Finland and beyond in search of the spirits of Keats,
Kierkegaard and other great wordsmiths. "This poet is
concerned with the power of language to heal and make us
whole."--THE OAKRIDGER. "Wherever this poet may wander,
he speaks in an elegant syle." --METRO IMPULSE. "Francisco
reflects on the inadequacy of language with humor and a
steady hand."--ICONOCLAST. "Here is a sensitively observant
and energetically introspective poet taking lyrical measure of
this life's riddles and challenges that become for the reader
a sustained and compelling summons to follow suit, to look
inward and consider life's many mysteries."--Robert Coles.
A letterpress edition printed on antique presses from handset
metal type on 70 lb. Cool White Mohawk Vellum. 56 pages.
$16.00. ISBN: 978-0-9842003-2-0.
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NORTH OF EASIE, by Robert J. Romano, Jr. After writing
an important novel, fishing guide Sal d'Amico builds a cabin
in the back woods of Western Maine, where his outdoor and
social adventures are surrounded by the lakes and forests of
this great wilderness. A bright, attractive woman, Christine
Bailey, rolls into Easie with a black eye and a longing to
refresh her life. That's when the fun begins. Handsome
trade paperback features cover art by the noted outdoors
artist John Swan. Romano is also the author of SHADOWS
IN THE STREAM, and is currently working on another novel
set in this region, WEST OF RANGELEY. "NORTH OF EASIE
is a fine tribute to one of the last wilderness enclaves of
New England, and to the tough, resourceful, kind-hearted,
independent-minded people who eke out a living here..."
--Howard Frank Mosher, author of Waiting for Teddy
Williams. "Romano knows the lakes, woods, and small
towns of Maine, and he writes about them in clear,
evocative prose. I enjoyed his novel immensely..."
--William G. Tapply, author of the Brady Coyne novels.
A staff top pick at the Book Mailer. 220 pages. $20.
ISBN: 9780978997465.
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THE BELLS OF MOSES HENRY, by Peter Skinner. This author's
second novel is rich with drama, humor, insight, and peopled
by a cast of credible, endearing characters as a mulatto boy,
Willie Graves, travels from whore houses to railroad boxcars
to the homes of local folk in search of security, love, and
redemption. "A beautiful coming of age story that is poetic,
rich, and deeply affirming..."--Peter Walpole, Author, NPR
Essayist. "Skinner's latest is an exciting, generous novel
which tours Virginia from the mountains to Charlottesville to
Chesapeake Bay. It's a pleasure to see, hear, and feel his
array of characters, some up to no good and some doing the
right thing against heavy odds..."--John D. Casey, Author.
"With shimmering scenes, memorable characters, overseen
by the University of Virginia's old bell-ringer, the hard truths
that keep people apart are wrestled with..."--Donovan
Webster, Journalist/Author. "For fans of literary fiction or
those searching for a look into the soul of Virginia, this is a top
pick..." MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW. "A lovely book. Like a little
Southern gothic Dos Passos..."--Elizabeth Kiem, Member of
National Book Critics Circle. "Skinner has the gift of creating
sentences that linger long after they've been read..."
--Barbara Rich, DAILY PROGRESS. "Skinner seems a novelist in
the Steinbeck tradition, marrying history, nature, social issues,
vivid characters, and enough hi-jinks to keep the pages turning"
--Phillip Wagner, ICONOCLAST. 366 pages. Trade paper: $24.95.
ISBN: 9780978997458. Hard: $34.95.ISBN: 9780978997441.
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TONY'S WORLD, by Barry Wallenstein. The fictional Tony
in this series of living poems exists on the margins of the
urban scene and the character's own self-awareness as he
strives to establish a universally identifiable consciousness.
Tony is strong and quick-minded, and not to be trifled with.
"'Tony's World' fascinates uniquely, its depth revealed
gradually as it grips the reader with sudden mysteries and
revelations."-- poet DH Melham, HOME PLANET NEWS.
"Wallenstein's a splendid urban poet who is alert to the music
of New York--its dialects, generational inflections, and jazz."
--Marilyn Hacker, National Book Award winner. "Average
Joe who folds in on himself when life gets too tough, then
pops out the other side, more alive than ever."--FD Reeve,
author. "The poet uses these poems as a vehicle to tell a
story about the life of Tony, a city man of the world--a
unique collection that will keep people reading."--
MIDWEST REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Tony--the protagonist
of Wallenstein's superb new collection--is a complex
construct--part hipster, part hustler, part self-hater,
part self-infatuater, part cynic, part romantic--and wholly
compelling..."--Roy Robins, NEW CONTRAST: SOUTH
AFRICAN LITERARY JOURNAL. A letterpress edition
printed on Mohawk Vellum, and featuring hand-colored
cover art by Janet Aulisio. 64 pages of handset metal
type. Softcover: $16. ISBN: 9780978997489.
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SEASONS OF DEFIANCE, by Lance Lee. The poet's effects
are achieved through a classically informed richness of
language, incorporating insights which ring true while
disclosing an abiding respect for the sensibilities, and
history, of the art of poetry. "Splendid, lovely writing from
a poet who has channeled George Herbert, Walt Whitman,
and Beethoven as witnesses to the knowledge that a man's
fate is to find and lose/what must be found and held."--
Jackson Wheeler, Editor, SOLO. "Unashamedly post-Keatsian
in tone, and transatlantic in bias, Lee's strongest strain of
originality lies in his marrying of lyric celebration with
precise imagistic clarity."--Tim Liardet, author, The Blood
Choir. "His musings about life and the lessons you learn
day to day are honest and insightful, giving the reader
much to contemplate -- Lee's collection is highly
recommended for personal reading lists as well as for
academic and community library collections."--MIDWEST
REVIEW OF BOOKS. "There is a compelling tussle between
an intellect and its surroundings in this work, one which
maintained my interest throughout."--Peter Target,
AMBIT, UK. Striking original cover art by noted
UK artist Ron Sandford. 96 pages. Softcover: $17.50.
ISBN: 9780978997472.
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AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, by Marcus Rome. The latest
collection of poetry by this NYC psychoanalyst sets forth in an
up-to-the-minute perspective what is happening to our
national character as a result of the pressures arising out of
economic, social and especially political anxieties in America.
From the shocking financial meltdown, the wild merry-go-round
revolving around heath care, corporate and government
incursions into our private lives, corruption and incompetence
in both of those sectors, and the ongoing wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Rome strategically employs taut language and
gripping rhythmic patterns to drive home his central concern:
If we do not regain control of our lives within this milieu,
America could face a total breakdown of its culture and
values. "Rome posed many questions to us as we read this
wonderfully cryptic/metaphorical book. He is whispering
loudly enough for us to hear; but will we listen to this profound
poet?"--WATER FOREST PRESS. "The poetry of Marcus Rome
documents him as a master wordsmith dealing with the
world of today with true poetic flair."--MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW.
Cover art by Bertha Rogers. 72 pages. Offset trade edition.
$16.50. ISBN: 9780978997496.
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THE SEA-CROSSING OF ST. BRENDAN, by Matthew Brennan.
A classic of Irish literature: a sparkling new verse version of
this great sea adventure which originally appeared in Latin prose.
The tale centers around St. Brendan the Navigator's seven-
year search for the isle known as "Land of Saints," and in the
course of which a giant fish lifts his ship on its back. "Brennan's
rendering uses an adaptation of alliterative meter tempered by
some effects of more familiar verse forms. This achieves a
swift-moving and eminently readable text full of concrete
details and direct action that should strongly appeal both to
students and to more general readers."--WD Snodgrass.
"Brennan offers an invention worthy of Borges, and the result
is an enchanting tale in which the real and spiritual worlds
blend as convincingly as its diverse linguistic elements do."--
Timothy Steele, "I liked Sea-Crossing because it's
adventurous and involves a bygone era of great belief and
simplicity."--INDIANAPOLIS STAR. "Sea-Crossing is highly
readable, and very approachable."--SOUTH CAROLINA
REVIEW. Original art by Trish Romano. 64 pages. Softcover
letterpress edition printed on 70 lb. Cool White Vellum:
$15. ISBN: 9780978997434.
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WHERE THINGS ARE WHEN YOU LOSE THEM, by Martin Golan.
This tightly written collection of twelve short stories by a veteran
journalist confronts contemporary issues in relationships, and
the nature of loss, with the keen eye of a reporter, a poet's
ear for language, and the insights of one who has "been there."
As Golan leads us through a landscape of loss, he doesn't
merely illuminate these moments but seems to celebrate them:
"Loss," he says, "comes with being human, with any life lived
fully and well." "Golan writes of contemporary marriage with
humor and reckless candor. He voices our marital anxieties,
its frustrations, losses and joys. Somewhere between the lies
we tell each other and those we tell ourselves, Golan finds a
vast human neediness for romantic love."--Ken Kalfus, author,
A Disorder Peculiar to the Country. "A novel is like a marriage,"
Golan said in the MONCLAIR TIMES. "A short story is like a
brief but intense affair. A poem is a one-night stand." Stories
include these intriguing titles: "The Shape of Water," "The
Loneliness of Men," "The Cicadas are Throbbing," "Nora,
Standing Naked." Published in a handsome trade paperback,
featuring cover photography by Peter Jacobs. 175 pages.
$18.95. ISBN: 9780978997427.
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2 ≈ Forthcoming Titles ≈
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CHRISTMAS IN THE WILD, an anthology of stories and essays which take place
from the Arctic to the Adirondacks to other remote, wild settings, in which the
characters and historical figures face the Christmas season while exploring, hiking,
camping, fishing, and hunting.
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POETRY ON HANDMADE PAPERS, a sheath of poems by Harry Smith in a
special wrapper. Each poem will be printed letterpress from a classic font of
handset metal type on beautiful, varying handmade stocks. Brief selection
will include "Internal Landscapes."
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