ISBNs used to be free. Now, the ISBN Agency no doubt has financial targets to meet, and they charge: £56.40 for 10! They charge £148.04 for 100, and the price for 1,000 drops to 44p each. All of which seem to unjustly penalise small presses like Leafe. My initial batch has run out, and as I've only published 20 titles in 10 years, it seems daft to purchase 100 ISBNs; but that's what I'll probably do, just because I can't bear to pay £5.64 each.

I'm pleased to have published some new poems by Andrea Brady on Litter. These are from an unpublished pamphlet-length collection called 'Presenting' which includes a lyric translated from Provençal and a poem, 'Double Exposure' with a strong visual element (beyond me to put it into HTML I'm afraid).

I've also got some interesting work from Todd Swift - a plain style combined with rhythmic repetition which I found quite powerful. Also, as stated artwork from Bob Rissman of Bamboo Books and a prose meditation by John Welch. All coming up soon.

No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, nor will we proceed with force against him, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land. To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.

Magna Carta, 1215


"In the end, more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all -- security, comfort, and freedom. When ... the freedom they wished for was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free."

Edward Gibbon 1737 – 1794.


As of 6.35pm on Wednesday 11th June 2008 any British citizen can be imprisoned for up to six weeks without being charged, without being told why they are being held, and without any evidence being presented against them.

West House Books

presents a reading by

CATHERINE WAGNER & HARRIET TARLO

as the first in a new reading series: GARGOYLE @ BANK STREET

Saturday 21st June, 8 pm

admission free

Bank Street Arts, Bank St, Sheffield S1 2DS

enquiries to info@westhousebooks.co.uk

For details of Catherine Wagner's Leafe Press pamphlet, click here. Copies still available.

Two of my poems have just been published on nth Position. Thanks to editor Todd Swift.