YAK PRESS

An independent press devoted to crafting word art

YAK Tracks

San Gabriel Valley Literary Festival

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We are ecstatic! The poets of Yak Press have been invited to share their work at the 2019 San Gabriel Valley Literary Festival, San Gabriel Valley Lit Festto be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019 from 12:00 noon until 6:30 PM at the dA Center for the Arts located at 252 S. Main Street in Pomona, CA 91766. Nancy Carroll heads up our contingent of readers, starting at 3:00 PM, followed by Native Blossoms Chapbook Series authors Cindy Rinne, CLS Ferguson, Melisa Malvin-Middleton, and Anne Yale. Rounding out the Yak Press line up is the world-famous “RENT” poet, Brian Sonia-Wallace.

But that’s not all! We’re thrilled to be sharing the stage with some pretty outstanding voices in contemporary poetry, including John Brantingham, Grant Hier, Bronwyn Mauldin, Chad Sweeney, Ruth Nolan, and liz gonzalez. And to cap off the day, Kevin Ridgeway, Matt Sedillo, and Tony Barnstone will be reading, as well. The day will also include an art show to kick off the California Imagist Project.

Kudos to John Brantingham, poet laureate of Sequoia and Kings National Parks, for organizing a day full of arts and literature. This event is FREE and open to the public. What a great way to celebrate National Poetry Month!

Doors open at 11:00 AM, and the art show will be available and poetry readings taking place until the event closes at 6:30 PM.

Come join us for some free, family-friendly fun!

 

Release of Lovelier Than Dirt by Deborah Blakely Averill

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Poems by Deborah Blakely AverillYak Press is pleased to announce the release of Lovelier Than Dirt by Deborah Blakely Averill. Published posthumously, Lovelier Than Dirt completes the second quartet in the Native Blossoms Chapbook Series. A portion of the proceeds of all book sales will be donated to the Deborah Blakely Averill Scholarship Fund at California State University, Northridge, where Deborah was a lecturer in the Humanities, and an instructor in the English Department. To order a copy of Deborah’s stellar debut collection, click here.

Deborah Blakely Averill (1964 – 2018) was a gifted poet, teacher, editor, and critic. She earned both her BA in English and MA in Creative Writing from California State University, Northridge. Deborah’s poetry has appeared in NOÖ Journal, The Northridge Review, and Floor Plan. She was co-editor of the online literary magazine Red-Headed Step-Child. She was most proud, however, to have been a wife and mother.

As part of the Native Blossoms Chapbook Series, Deborah‘s chapbook features a constraint poem “that takes the botanical name of a wildflower or other flora native to the poet’s locale as its title.” Deborah had chosen to write about the Toyon bush (Heteromeles arbutifolia), also known as “Christmas Berry,” because it covers the Hollywood hills. In fact, through her research she had discovered that early settlers mistook the native plant for holly, which is actually how the city of Hollywood got its name! The plant is featured prominently on the book’s cover.

We will be honoring Deborah’s memory at a book launch and poetry reading on the campus of California State University, Northridge during April, which is National Poetry Month. Members of the English Department faculty, including Leilani Hall and Dorothy Barresi, along with several guest readers from the Native Blossoms Chapbook Series will read from Deborah’s collection, Lovelier Than Dirt, which will be available for purchase.

If you’d like to join us in a celebration of Deborah Blakely Averill’s life and poetic work, as well as the release of Lovelier Than Dirt, please come out for an evening of her poetry on Thursday, April 25, 2019 from 7:30-9:30 PM in JR319 (the English Department Reading Room) on the campus of CSUN. There will be a reception following the reading, and light refreshments will be served.

Here are the details:

 

Release of Mother Stump by Alexandra Donovan

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Donovan_Mother StumpWe are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of Mother Stump by Alexandra Donovan, the latest addition to the Native Blossoms Chapbook Series! Alexandra is a poet-teacher in the California Poet in the Schools program, and a volunteer chaplain. This is her debut collection.

Yak Press is so happy to welcome Alexandra Donovan to the Native Blossoms series that we’re offering free shipping on pre-orders of her chapbook through August 6, 2018! To pre-order a copy for yourself, click here. Pre-orders will be fulfilled on August 6, 2018, a week in advance of the official launch party, which will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena.

If you’d like to celebrate the release of Mother Stump with us, please join us for an afternoon tea and poetry reading at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena on Saturday, August 11, 2018 from 2:00-4:00 PM. Alexandra will read from her collection, along with readings by some of her poetry students, and special guest readers from the Native Blossoms Series: Nancy Carroll, Cindy Rinne, and CLS Ferguson.

As part of the Native Blossoms Chapbook Series, Alexandra‘s chapbook features a constraint poem “that takes the botanical name of a wildflower or other flora native to the poet’s locale as its title.” She has chosen to write about Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii), which is featured prominently on the book’s cover. Alexandra will be signing copies of her book, which will also be available for purchase at the event.

 

Here are the details:

  • What: Book Launch/Poetry Reading/Afternoon Tea for Alexandra Donovan’s Mother Stump
  • Where: All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101  map
  • When: Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 2:00 — 4:00 PM
  • Pre-Order: with free shipping through 8/6/18! Click here.
  • Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/263942774360381/

Studio C hosts FREE poetry reading for the Native Blossoms series

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Poetry Reading at Studio CWe had such a lovely time reading from the Native Blossoms Chapbook Series at Studio C last year during the Claremont Art Walk, that we’re doing it again this year! If you’re in the neighborhood, please drop in! There will be art on display in the gallery, and nature poetry being read aloud by Nancy Carroll, Anne Yale, Melisa Malvin-Middleton, Cindy Rinne, and CLS Ferguson.

This engaging cultural event is FREE, family-friendly, and open to the public! Please join us from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at Studio C — 260 West Bonita Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711.  Click here for directions.

Check it out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/191529794788232/

Come join us for a lovely afternoon of art and poetry!

Release of Tumbleweed: Against All Odds

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Tumbleweed: Against All Odds_poems by CLS FergusonWe are very excited to announce the release of Tumbleweed: Against All Odds by CLS Ferguson, the newest installment of the Native Blossoms Chapbook Series! A highly accomplished writer, performer, and speech instructor, this is CLS Ferguson’s second chapbook, and her fourth book of poetry.

Yak Press is so thrilled to offer CLS Ferguson’s work that we’re offering free shipping on pre-orders of her chapbook through April 30, 2018! To pre-order a copy for yourself, click here. Pre-orders will be fulfilled on April 30, 2018, a week in advance of the official launch, which will be held at Chevalier’s Books!

If you’d like to join us to celebrate the release of Tumbleweed: Against All Odds, please join us for the official book launch at Chevalier’s Books on Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 5:00-6:30 PM. CLS Ferguson will read from the collection, and will also be joined by special guest readers from the Native Blossoms Series: Nancy Carroll, Anne Yale, Melisa Malvin-Middleton, and Cindy Rinne.

CLS Ferguson

As part of the Native Blossoms Chapbook Series, CLS Ferguson’s chapbook features a constraint poem “that takes the botanical name of a wildflower or other flora native to the poet’s locale as its title.” CLS has chosen to write about Manzanita, which is featured prominently on the book’s cover. CLS will be signing copies of the books, which will be available for purchase at the event.

Here are the details:

  • What: Book Launch/Poetry Reading for CLS Ferguson’s Tumbleweed: Against All Odds
  • Where: Chevalier’s Books, 126 North Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004      map
  • When: Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 5:00 — 6:30 PM
  • Pre-Order: with free shipping through 4/30/18! Click here.