some author activity: Chang-Richardson, Hausner, Niespodziany, Shirley, Barwin + Reid,

Ellen Chang-Richardson is featured in the "Canadian Poets Series" via Peripety and/or Tronies; Beatriz Hausner is interviewed over at Touch the Donkey; Benjamin Niespodziany hosted an online reading for Evan Nicholls that included readings by above/ground press authors Vik Shirley and Gary Barwin, as well as readings by Mark Leidner and Kiik Araki-Kawaguchi, the entirety of which is now available via YouTube; and did you see the new interview with Monty Reid via the above/ground press substack?

new from above/ground press: The Moleskin Coat, by Ellen Chang-Richardson

The Moleskin Coat
Ellen Chang-Richardson
$6

06 • yyyy


worth revisiting—saline
rolling across our tongues
entwined and shimmering

certain now
      of our existence

akin to flavour
like pinches of white pepper
nestled in the depths
of long auburn hair

published in Ottawa by above/ground press
July 2025
a/g subscribers receive a complimentary copy
[this is above/ground press publication #1400, for those keeping bibliographic track]

Ellen Chang-Richardson is an award-winning poet, multi-genre writer, judicial assistant, and editor of Taiwanese and Chinese Cambodian descent. A third culture kid at heart, Ellen’s writing is informed by their love of contemporary art, their concern with humanity’s impact on Earth, and their experience moving through various societies as a femme-presenting genderqueer.

The author/co-author of six other poetry chapbooks, Ellen’s multi-genre writing has appeared in Augur, Anti-Heroin Chic, the Ex-Puritan, the Fiddlehead, Grain, Plenitude, Watch Your Head, and more. Their debut collection, Blood Belies (Wolsak & Wynn, 2024), was shortlisted for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. 

They are a co-founder of Riverbed Reading Series, an editor for Room and long con magazine, and a member of the poetry collective VII.

[Ellen Chang-Richardson launches this title in Ottawa on August 7, 2025 as part of the above/ground press 32nd anniversary reading/launch at RedBird Live; tickets available]

Chang-Richardson also had work appear in The Peter F. Yacht Club #32 (March 2023).

To order, send cheques (add $2 for postage; in US, add $3; outside North America, add $7) to: rob mclennan, 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9. E-transfer or PayPal at rob_mclennan (at) hotmail.com or the PayPal button at www.robmclennan.blogspot.com

new from above/ground press: B U R N T O R A N G E, by Buck Downs

B U R N T O R A N G E 
Buck Downs
$6

the ampersand
—    for Creeley

        I’d like
    to hear more
    about that
etc.
    thing you like
to do and how
    the whole weight
of suggestion
    rests on it —

        I had
an ampersand,
        here — what
happened — it was
        too much —

I’m a sucker
to the power
of suggestion —

    when you say
etc.,
        I do
etc.

published in Ottawa by above/ground press
July 2025
a/g subscribers receive a complimentary copy

BURNTORANGE is Buck Downs's fourth above/ground chapbook, after Shiftless [Harvester] (2016), The Hack of Heaven (2017), and Another Tricky Day (2020). Buck divides his time between Washington, D.C., and Ellisville, MIss. His latest full-length is Exit Style, available at buckdowns.com

To order, send cheques (add $2 for postage; in US, add $3; outside North America, add $7) to: rob mclennan, 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9. E-transfer or PayPal at rob_mclennan (at) hotmail.com or the PayPal button at www.robmclennan.blogspot.com

some author activity: Banks, Campanello, Bell, Notley, Berlatsky + Olsen,

Chris Banks has new work and an interview up at Only Poems; Kimberly Campanello has an article up at The Guardian, on being diagnosed with Parkinson's; Wade Bell has some poems up at The Typescript; Anselm Berrigan reflects on his mother Alice Notley's life and legacy over at Interview magazine; Noah Berlatsky has a poem up at New Feathers Anthology; and Geoffrey Olsen is interviewed in the "12 or 20 questions" series.

new from above/ground press: Spamtoum, by Noah Berlatsky

Spamtoum
Noah Berlatsky
$6

Hi, Noah

Thank you for giving us 
the opportunity to consider
ultimately we appreciate
all the best
we promise to do our best
please do not reply
the message has been received
please do not reply
even if you gave permission
after careful consideration, please
there’s a lot to like here
thank you for trusting us
unfortunately, dear
please take this for what it is
it’s pretty amazing
we work hard
year-round, we work
your work, we wish and work
a venue for your creative work
even very high-quality
please do consider the future
has been received and look forward
to the future and organization directly
platforming your interest
in the decision-making process of the platform
receipt for your payment
that has shuttered operations
as you may have seen in the New York Times
you weren’t quite right for us
please do not reply
on our workloads, on our welcoming alternative
communities your patreon
your payments are precious
your interest looks forward
this email consideration forward
please remember your manuscript
your Instagram and your interest
we are interested and look forward
please do not reply.

published in Ottawa by above/ground press
July 2025
a/g subscribers receive a complimentary copy

Noah Berlatsky (he/him) is a freelance writer in Chicago. His full-length collections are Not Akhmatova (Ben Yehuda Press, 2024), Gnarly Thumbs (Anxiety Press, 2025), Meaning Is Embarrassing (Ranger, 2025) and Brevity (Nun Prophet, 2025). 

This is Berlatsky’s second above/ground press title, after Send $19.99 for Supplements and Freedom (2023).

To order, send cheques (add $2 for postage; in US, add $3; outside North America, add $7) to: rob mclennan, 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9. E-transfer or PayPal at rob_mclennan (at) hotmail.com or the PayPal button at www.robmclennan.blogspot.com

new from above/ground press: Sigil Series, by Andrew Brenza

Sigil Series
Andrew Brenza
$6

published in Ottawa by above/ground press
July 2025
a/g subscribers receive a complimentary copy

Andrew Brenza’s recent books include the visual poetry series The Book of Andrews (Red Fox Press) and the experimental science fiction play Night Walking & the Makers’ Taint (Sulfur Editions). He is also the founder and editor of Sigilist Press, a micropress devoted to the publication of visual poetry.

This is Brenza’s second above/ground press title, after Geometric Mantra (2021).

To order, send cheques (add $2 for postage; in US, add $3; outside North America, add $7) to: rob mclennan, 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9. E-transfer or PayPal at rob_mclennan (at) hotmail.com or the PayPal button at www.robmclennan.blogspot.com

some author activity: Unsworth, Kolewe, mclennan, Ursuliak, Kratz + Straumsvåg,

[photo by Dag T. Straumsvåg] Lydia Unsworth has two new poems up at The Manchester Review; R. Kolewe has a poem up in the "Tuesday poem" series; rob mclennan has some new work up at Noir Sauna; Emily Ursuliak has an essay up at The Goose; and Al Kratz is interviewed by Constance Malloy.