Enamel: The First Issue of a New Literary Journal

Emma Barnes, in addition to being a fine poet herself, is the editor of the new literary journal Enamel. The first issue of Enamel has just been published, and I’m pleased to say that I have two poems in it: “The Penciller” and “Nightlife”.

Emma starts her editorial by saying:

When I decided to start Enamel I naively placed the word pro-feminist in my call for submissions. At the time of writing I phrased it as a slight bias toward pro-feminist literature. Little did I know that this would cause a dearth of submisions from anyone who didn’t identify as a woman. Tumbleweeds rolled across my inbox.

Well, Emma seems to have dealt with that tumbleweed problem (you can probably turn rolling tumbleweeds off using a hidden option in Gmail), because there are some fine poems in this first issue of Enamel – although it’s true that not many of the poets are of the masculine persuasion. The poets represented in this issue are Johanna Aitchison, Anna Forsyth, Tim Jones, Miriam Barr, Jennifer Compton, Helen Heath, Reihana MacDonald Robinson, Andrew Coyle, Meg Davies, Elizabeth Welsh, Ruby Mulholland, Meliors Simms, Lori Leigh, Marcia Arrieta, and Helen Rickerby.

On my first, quick look at the issue, poems that stood out for me included “Extravagant Promises” by Meliors Simms, “Useful Cupboards” by Jennifer Compton, and “Nothinghead” by Helen Rickerby. But that’s just on a first look: I am sure there will be more when I take the time to look again.

Emma is selling hard copies of Enamel through TradeMe for a price between $10 and $15. PDF copies are available for a donation. And if you’re interesting in contributing, the next issue of Enamel is due to be published in March 2010.

4 thoughts on “Enamel: The First Issue of a New Literary Journal

  1. Hope your sore throat is better, Tim. I posted an account of last night\’s reading at my blog \”Still standing on her Head\”

  2. Thanks, Catherine – I have just read, and commented on, your post, and I\’m glad that you enjoyed the reading. My sore throat is a lot better today, and now I am going to add you to my blogroll!RegardsTim

  3. Hi – greetings from Melbers – (we just had 2 earthquakes!!!! on top of bushfires!) it is a cracking little mag, isn\’t it – was most pleased and impressed – love from jen

  4. Good to hear from you, Jennifer. Victoria does seem to be doing it very tough at the moment. Yes, Enamel is great – Emma has proven to be as good an editor as she is a poet!

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