Two new books

Two promising books have just been released by two great writers. Charles Gramlich's latest book, In the Language of Scorpions, is a collection of horror stories and poems (some previously published, some brand new).  The book is 244 pages and sells for $14.99 on Amazon.  ($2.99 for the Kindle version.)  You can find out more information about the book as well as read part of one of the stories on Charles' blog.

Fellow speculative writer J.E. Stanley's new chapbook, Rapid Eye Movement, is available from Crisis Chronicles press for just $5 plus a dollar for shipping.  The chapbook contains 17 poems, and it's very nicely produced.

I'll be reading both of these soon and posting a review.  They both look to be very good.

Acorn and Dark Moon Digest now open

For haiku poets, Acorn is open to submissions through the end of February. Submit 5-15 unpublished poems (preferably by email). Acorn is no longer able to offer payment for accepted poems, but it's a great magazine so you can be sure if you get accepted, you're in good company.

Dark Moon Digest has also reopened to submissions. They want horror fiction -- flash fiction all the way up to full-length novels -- but no science fiction or fantasy. Payment is made in royalties, and simultaneous submissions are considered.

New apocalyptic poetry anthology

NightBallet Press is seeking submissions for its new anthology, Buzzkill: Apocalypse. The editor wants one or two poems that explore the theme of "the End." Previously published poems are welcome, and some of the already-selected contributors include John Burroughs, Lyn Lifshin, and Michael Salinger. The submission deadline is May 1st. (Thanks to J.E. Stanley for mentioning this one.)

Speaking of deadlines, Midnight Echo, the magazine of the Australian Horror Writers Association, closes to submissions January 31st. And Electric Spec ends their current reading period on January 15th (though they'll still be open to submissions).

Cheap haiku books

After Christmas is the best time to buy a lot of things. If you're looking for some inexpensive haiku, check out these offers:

- Breath Marks by Gary Hotham, $4 online from Barnes & Noble ($8 list price)

- The Haiku Handbook, 25th Anniversary Edition, by William J. Higginson & Penny Harter, $12.24 from Amazon ($18 list price)

- The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, & Issa, translated by Robert Hass, $11.55 from Amazon ($16.99 list price)

- The Sound of Water: Haiku by Basho, Buson, Issa, and Other Poets, translated by Sam Hamill, $8.69 from Amazon ($10.95 list price)

I have all of these books except for the last one, and (unfortunately) I paid much more than they're selling for now. I can definitely recommend each of the first three -- Breath Marks is a great collection of haiku from an American master, The Haiku Handbook is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about the form (either appreciating it or writing it), and Essential Haiku includes a large selection of well-translated poems from the Japanese masters. The Sound of Water looks like a good collection as well (I like Sam Hamill's translations that I've read in another collection) and I'll probably have to get that one.