This post introduces the first in an ongoing series at this blog about the Granite State's important sponsors of literacy. A sponsor of literacy (Deborah Brandt's term) is someone--an individual, donor, business, volunteer, or organization--who gives time, support, or expertise to assist other people's writing. Sponsors of literacy essentially make possible, usually behind the scenes, writers' success. They're the under-sung heroes of poetry production.
Hobblebush Books, based in Concord, NH, has been in
operation for twenty-seven years and has published over fifty titles, thirteen
of which as part of the Granite State Poetry Series. Although the press curates
a range of genre, including nonfiction, fiction, and memoir mostly from New
England-based authors, poetry and especially New Hampshire poetry, enjoys a
remarkably high showing with this publisher.
The press has been a major
supporter of poets in the state. As owner Kirsty Walker explains, “There’s just
so much talent in our neck of the woods.”
Hobblebush Books has published selected poems, translations,
poetry anthologies, and poetry handbooks, in addition to single-author poetry
collections. Hobblebush has sponsored the work of several state poet laureates
as well as the Penny Poet of Portsmouth. The many accolades this publisher’s
authors have received include a Ruth Lilly Fellowship from
Poetry, the Modern Language Association and the 2011 New Hampshire
Reader’s Choice in Poetry, and selection for the
Best American Poetry Series.
The press is named after a prolific wildflower in New
Hampshire, a plant called “hobblebush” in England because its roots interrupted
the movement of walkers and horses. Kirsty says Sid saw a parallel in the books
he wanted to produce since the wildflower is like “good literature in the way
that it slows down, trips up, the reader,” asking them to spend more time, be
mindful and aware.
Both the press founder, Sid Hall, and his successor,
Kirsty Walker, carry extensive roots in New Hampshire. With the exception of a
hiatus out West, Sid Hall has spent his entire life in New Hampshire. Book
publication was a longtime ambition for Sid Hall.
Kirsty Walker grew up in New Hampshire, in Hopkinton, and
she has resided in the Granite State her entire life. As Kirsty puts it, she
“loves everything about New Hampshire, even the weather.” Hobblebush offices
were originally located in Brookline at the edge of the woods, attracting a
notable amount of wildlife, such as the moose that demolished the press’ porch
door.
Wildlife seems to follow their poets around like a fan
club. When Hobblebush sponsored an outdoor poetry reading at Greeley Park in
Nashua to celebrate the Granite State Poetry Series, an impressive hawk
practically flew onto the stage just as Henry Walters, a bird expert and falconer
and whose poetry book with the press is full of birds, began to read.
After college, Kirsty worked as the press’ marketing
director and in 2015 assumed responsibility for the day-to-day operations of
the press, upon Sid’s retirement, with the help of interns and freelancers. She
became owner of Hobblebush Books in January 2019. Sid still consults for the
press and is co-editor of the Granite State Poetry Series with Rodger Martin.
The initial concept for the Granite State Poetry Series
came when Sid realized it would be more expeditious to start a poetry book
series than a literary journal, his original intention. Because New Hampshire
is well known for poetry, Sid “knew that he would have plenty of material, and
he felt that Hobblebush was in a perfect position to help these poets.”
In a typical year, the press receives approximately
twenty poetry queries, ten manuscripts of which qualify for the Granite State
Poetry Series, with one or two resulting in book publication.
The founders and publishers are themselves active poets.
Sid is the author of three books of poetry, and Kirsty is collecting poems
toward a future book manuscript.
It’s practically a truism that writers want to publish
books since publication validates a writer’s efforts. It’s the writer’s name
that appears most prominently on the cover, and the writer’s photo that appears
on the book jacket. Yet without the sponsorship of the publisher and many other
people, that book wouldn’t exist.
As Kirsty says, “the author needs the
publisher, printer, reviewers, blurbers, librarians, booksellers, event
coordinators, award judges—and of course—readers.” Hobblebush Books has been
integral to the writing success of many poets of the Granite State.
More information about Hobblebush Books can be found at
www.hobblebush.com
