I was in Parson's Bookshop last Thursday evening on my way to the PANZ Book Design Awards and they showed me the latest publication from Dunedin boutique publisher Kilmog Press , Daybook Fragments, by Michael Steven, Illustrated by Emma Smith
It has been publisahed in an edition of 60, Hardback, cloth cover, 36 pages, 2 illstrations
ISBN 978-0-9864616-5-1, RRP: $45.00
In this, Michael Steven’s latest collection, the fragment or apercu, becomes at once both a point of arrival and of departure. These spare and elliptical poems cobble together the gleaming remnants of dreams, encounters with myths, paintings, lovers, friends, and dead writers.
Michael Steven is the author of two chapbooks and the collection Bartering Lines, also published by Kilmog Press. His poems and translations have appeared frequently in a number of journals, including Landfall, Poetry NZ, brief, Percutio, and Otoliths.
It is always a joy to visit this long-established independent bookshop to view their range of books, internationally famous of course for the depth of their art books but they also very siginificant stockists of a wide range of New Zealand titles including quite a number of out of print boosk.
Talking to the founder/owners Helen & Roger Parsons we were reminiscing about their 35 years as booksellers here in Auckland. They had come up with the novel idea of rewarding their customers by holding a one -off 35% disount day to mark the 35 years.
Sadly I was not able to attend Sunday as we were away from Auckland but I phoned them yesterday to ask how it had gone and Helen said that they " had an extremely busy 35th birthday/sale day. We were so lucky that the day was fine and sunny rather than the fierce rain we’ve been having recently. It was great fun and there was a wonderful spirit of celebration. Many long term customers called in. We had made up a photo board of old shop photos and of previous staff-members. We kept the day essentially simple. Our gift of the 35% was the main focus. We did however, pause to have wine and chocolate cake with candles in the afternoon".
Happy birthday Parsons Bookshop. Long may you reign !
Photo left - Helen & Roger Parsons celebrate 35 years. Photo right below - Parsons family arrive in Auckland in 1975 to establish their bookshop.
No comments:
Post a Comment