POESY Magazine Category:  Poetry Publisher: Poesy Inc. Type: Fiction Pages: 16 Copyright: Mar 1 2002 This issue features an interview with small press publisher RD Armstrong (aka Raindog) which touches upon ethics and pride of publishing as well as the vast differences between publishing a journal opposed to a press. RD and I stimulate the conversation with pokes and prods in accusation and defense of the sensitive poetic ego. Doug Holder marks the issue with a tight and precise profile on Bob Publicover, publisher of the independently owned Somerville News as well as a  playwright, poet, AIDS and community activist,. Bob's a well-known and respected guy on the Boston scene and does a lot for poetry in his newspaper. Poetry this issue by:  ryan alan, justin barrett, michele battiste, kurt erhard berger, luis cuauhtemoc berriozabal, mike catalano, alan catlin, doug draime, ed galing, robbie gamble, karla huston, marie kazalia, arthur winfield knight, radomir luza, jr., catfish mcdaris, louis mckee, brent mcknight, brian morrisey, david napolin, edward obuszewski, patricia rourke, david spiering, william taylor, jr., lawrence welsh, kelley jean white, a.d. winans, mark wisniewski, gerald zipper Two well-written introspective reviews on Charles Potts', "Across the North Pacific" by Joyce Metzger and Laurie MacCiarmid's, "Luna de Miel" by Karla Huston. As always we feature interesting photography by well known artists. This issue features the works of: a.d. winans, t. kilgore splake, marilyn dammann, and toni la ree bennet! Last, not least, there is an editorial by yours truly on approaching the poem with a perspective of catching your reader quick and effectively. That seems like a lot of jive for a sixteen page layout!! If you are not a subscriber or on the contributor list, you can get a copy for only $1.00 post-paid!! Excerpt POESY: RD, what is "the secret editors long for?" Are you going to give it up that easy or is there some prying involved? The reason why I ask is, you have been noted by some very reputable publications as one of the best publications in the small press...particularly the Small Press Review's "Pick of the Month,"...and so forth... RD ARMSTRONG: Not sure what you mean... this secret sounds very mystical. Yeah it's weird being on the receiving end of the attention. I guess it's true what they say: hard work and patience do pay off. I have been self-employed for most of my life, 'odd-jobbing' - doing handyman work. I've always worked alone and never relied on anyone to help me out. So my 'word' has always been my bond. I carry this over into the publishing racket. If I say I will do something, I mean it. Though of late, I've noticed that I'm slowing down somewhat and I know this will affect those whose work I've said I will do. All I can say is, "have patience." I got into the stuff I'm doing now, without knowing much about the history of the small press, or how it's SUPPOSED to be done. Nobody told me it's not easy doing a monthly mag for almost 75 issues. No one told me that publishing 10-12 books a year for a 'micro' (I can't even call myself 'small' because I publish books in amounts under 500 copies per run and orgs like the CLMP say that's the cutoff point for a small press -- nevermind that in the last two years I published over 3000 copies of the various 39 titles in the LITTLE RED BOOK series alone) press was crazy. I run Lummox like a small business and it's starting to take off and reach a wider audience of subscribers and readers. So, I'm continually amazed at how petty some editors are... I think these are people who should know better, but I guess they've never experienced the power of one's word or of a firm handshake. I don't know why. Or how, for that matter. I suppose for some editors, they long for a writer/poet who's a longshot, like Buk was for Black Sparrow. Or maybe they long for a formula that will bring them bestselling books everytime, and a market that's easily accessed repeatedly.. Me? I'm just looking to put out the best damn product I can for as long as I can. My subscribers expect nothing less.

Michael Basinski Book Reviews May 2002
Poesy: - A Publication for Poetry and the Arts. Issue 16. Spring 2002. C/o Brian Morrisey, 106 Campbell Street No. 5, Santa Cruz, CA. 95060. Issues are $1.00 for postage. Printed on newsprint, distributed for nearly nothin, Poesy is passion for poetry - Brain Morrisey's passion and Doug Holder's passion. Passion. Even in these dark days of oil drilling and war there are those for whom the poem becomes the all. Here it is folks. In this most wonderful issue is a most interesting interview with R. D. (Raindog) Armstrong editor and publisher of Lummox and poems by Edward Obuszewski, Mark Wisniewski and Radomir Luza Jr. Wisniewski's poem sticks in mind. It relates the abouts first love of wild, that is grown up, woman, real woman. And also there are poems by David, Kelley, Alan, Kurt and Ryan. And work by Gerald Zipper. And work by Arthur Knight and Alan Catlin and A. D. Winans. And there are reviews. Well - you get the drift. The magazine is about poetry and these editors work to get the good poem in print. Do not have to be the poem of the worshiped. But the good made sandwich - good with lots of ham and mustard and a banana and horseradish and zebra puke, refrigerators, sorrow and sunshine. And see Holder's article: "Bold Enough to Never Give Up." Seems like a good enough definition of this magazine. I give it five out five yeses: yes yes yes yes yes.