Announcing Our Debut Poetry Collection: Jon Bishop's 'Home Life'
As we seek to revive traditional storytelling, so too traditional poetic forms, beginning with this excellent assortment from our poet-in-residence.
Perhaps our regular readers are beginning to pick up on a pattern with almost all the books we’re publishing so far here at God of the Desert Books: we’re pretty “traditional” or dare I even say “conservative” in the styles of what we want to do.
’s poetry in this collection shows roots in one of the literary movements which has most inspired me: modernism. The “dirty realism style” in the description below derives from and reflects the literary discoveries of 1900-1940.And so I just love it. I am so enthusiastic about Jon’s poetry and eager to publish more of it. One of the great values of this style is its accessibility. Just about anyone who can read can enjoy these poems, savoring their visuals, feelings, and style.
Jon’s collection is also the debut title for , our literary imprint which will offer works in a variety of mediums, written at serious levels of stylistic quality.
About the Book
Jon Bishop initially was interested in writing fiction, particularly short stories. And the poems demonstrate that. The poems are adjacent to the dirty realism style practiced by Richard Ford, Raymond Carver, and Jayne Anne Phillips. They offer a gritty, stark look at what goes on behind the walls of our homes.
This collection contains both free and metered poetry, although most of the poems here are written without meter.
About the Author
Jon Bishop began writing at a young age, prompted by a gift from his parents: the game “Storybook Weaver” and projects in second and third grade where students had to put together their own picture books.
Since then, he hasn’t stopped.
Bishop began publishing work in high school and college and then, following graduation, worked as a journalist for four years, honing his abilities. He also began pursuing a Master’s in English literature, which is where he began to take poetry seriously.
After leaving the newspaper business, Bishop continued to write and, before long, decided he would focus exclusively on poetry, which prompted his desire to study poetry academically. He now writes metered verse, after having spent his career on free verse.
This will be his second book of poetry.
He lives with his family in New Hampshire.
If this poetry collections sounds like something you’ll enjoy then please keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming announcement of the second poetry collection we have acquired and will release next year. We’ve just recently gotten it under contract along with a novel and novella, all by the same author, and all three to be published by .
Thanks everyone for your encouragement and support!