The Anstruther Reader

Palimpsest Press is publishing an anthology featuring work from the past 10 years(!!) of Anstruther Press! Two poems from Razor Burn will be included. You're able to preorder now.

When I was submitting Razor Burn to chapbook presses, my top two dream publishers were Rahilas Ghost (RIP) and Anstruther. I submitted to Rahilas Ghost and was rejected about six months afterwards. I then submitted to Jim Johnstone at Anstruther Press and he responded and had accepted it within a day! It was such a confidence boost to read that Jim thought the work was "outstanding." Jim was a very gentle editor throughout the whole process and never once asked me to compromise on my voice. At the end of the day, Razor Burn still felt very much mine.

I could not recommend Anstruther Press enough. We agreed on a Spring 2023 release date but it ended up being completed and back from the printers in January 2023. Jim also was very generous with re-printing and giving me copies to hand sell to keep up with demand. As long as there was demand for the book, he kept it in print. Today, Razor Burn has sold over 200 copies through both my hand selling and selling through their site (plus booths at events, etc), and it has opened up connections and opportunities for me beyond what I could have imagined. I had just moved to Toronto when the chapbook was released, and the Toronto literary community embraced me wholeheartedly. I really felt appreciated and a part of a lively literary community who would (and still do) treat Razor Burn with such care. She took on a life of her own!

Now I am working on my debut full length! Wish me luck! :D