Book launch: Hotel Theresa by Doc Drumheller

I have strolled down the brownstones of Harlem
with a heart full of salt peanuts and jazz.
Looking for soul food and a place to eat
as I try to find the Hotel Theresa.

 Come visit Hotel Theresa, the latest collection of poetry by Doc Drumheller, published by Cold Hub Press, with support from Christchurch City Creative Communities funding.

Hotel Theresa by Doc Drumheller launch event

Scorpio Books, BNZ Centre Five Lanes

Wednesday 13th November from 5.30pm

RSVP to tinyurl.com/ScorpioBooksRSVP 

The Hotel Theresa is a landmark in Harlem, New York City, where legendary figures like Josephine Baker, Duke Ellington, Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali made their New York stay-overs. After visiting this iconic hotel, poet Doc Drumheller was inspired to write and collect poems based on his travels, exploring the world as a dual citizen of New Zealand and the USA. The poems in this collection were composed on his journeys in New Zealand, and throughout the USA, Asia, Europe, and Central America.

For those unfamiliar with Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press publisher and editor-in-chief, Doc Drumheller is an award-winning poet, musician, dramatist, who has published 11 collections of poetry. His poems have been translated into more than 20 languages. He is the editor and publisher of the New Zealand literary journal Catalyst. 

He was elected to represent New Zealand on the Executive Board of the World Congress of Poets, and is the editor in chief of the World Congress of Poets literary journal Fuego. He has appeared at international poetry festivals all over the world, and has performed in Cuba, Lithuania, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Japan, India, China, Nicaragua, USA, Mexico, El Salvador, Ecuador, and widely throughout NZ.

His previous collection, Drinking With Li Bai, 100 Haiku from China and India, was published, with a memorable launch at Scorpio Books, by Cold Hub Press in 2022.

 

Dreaming of a Catalyst Christmas (Cracker)!

 

Our awkward little Xmas Xine returns! Submissions are open for Christmas-themed poetry contributions. 

The limited edition zine will be released just in time for Christmas in an openly cynical act of tinsel-tinged capitalism. The perfect gift for friends and enemies alike! Get amongst.

It's Grand Slam time! Ōtautahi Poetry Slam 2024

 This week the top 10 from the preliminary heat come out swinging in the Grand Final at Space Academy.

Who will be the 2024 Ōtautahi Poetry Slam Champion?

With a line-up that includes former Slam Champs, runners-up and Slam veterans it's surely going to be a poetically fierce feast - what a treat! Join us for the spectacle and your door sales contribute to travel for our Champ to contest the NZ Poetry Slam in Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland this November.

Ōtautahi Poetry Slam - Grand Final

Wednesday 25th September, 7pm

Space Academy, 371 St Asaph St

Door charge: $15

Ōtautahi - Christchurch Poetry Slam - THE RULES

 

 

Here are the official rules of the Christchurch Poetry Slam as per the NZ Poetry Slam.

Sign-up is on the night only - places are limited so get there early. 

 

Please note: to be in the Grand Slam, poets must enter the Preliminary round and make it into the top 10.

Rules for NZ Poetry Slam

• 3 minutes or less with no minimum time (10 second grace period before points deduction).

• Time starts when poet speaks, however while poets can have time to settle and adjust microphone etc, this time is not limitless; ideally a poet should start before 10 seconds.

• Original (i.e. your own) poems only.

• No props no music no costumes (i.e. clothing related to the content of your poem).

• In the case of a tie a slam-off will be required.

• Random draw, for performance order.

 
Judging and scoring:

• 5 Audience Judges (chosen by MC and/or organiser) display score cards 0-10 (Decimal points allowed).

• Top and bottom scores drop off and total of remaining 3 scores is the total.

• If Poet goes over grace period MC or Timekeeper to ask scorer to mark down points after the judges score… (Half a point penalty for every 10 seconds over time).

• After 4 minutes the MC can shut down the poet.

• 'Sacrificial Poet' (non-competing) to start the night, to help calibrate scores.

• Slams are equally about writing, performance and audience response.

• Slammers should have at least 3 poems, as there will be three rounds for the Regionals and NZ Slam.
  …

As always, remember: the point is the poetry not the points!

Catalyst volume 21 launched!

 

The Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press is proud to announce the release of volume 21 of Catalyst, international literary arts journal.

Featuring stunning artwork from New Zealand artist Helen Taylor and feature sections from Poland and Bulgaria, this issue is dedicated to the 'bleeding hearts and the artists'.

The book was launched in the traditional Catalyst rowdy manner with guest writers and read-alongs, at the home of Catalyst's monthly open mic - Space Academy, on Wednesday 7th August. Available to purchase now via our Subscriptions tab above.

Aotearoa Indie publishing: Ngā Pukapuka Pekapeka

 

This is an exciting, rare opportunity for publication of chapbook/small collection sized bodies of work.

ngā pukapuka pekapeka is open for submissions. Aotearoa New Zealand resident writers only.

We are looking for work:

• that pushes boundaries (content and/or form)
• that is confident both on the page and on the stage

We are interested in short stories, poetry collections and novellas. We have a particular interest in writers from Te Waipounamu, tangata whenua, and emerging writers, though we are open to all writers living in New Zealand.

We are open to submissions of approximately 40 document pages (conventional submission formatting- double spaced, 12pt font). If yours is more or less than this, tell us why. We’re flexible if the length fits the form. If you are sending us a collection, give it a title. Submissions will be considered by our editorial collective as a whole.

Part of publication will involve readings and live events in Te Waipounamu, and our authors will need to be in, or able to travel to, Ōtautahi for these.

Submissions are due on 31 May.

Send your work to ngapukapukapekapeka@gmail.com.