Edited by Christopher Laird Simmons

Ocean Publishing, a small press with a big vision, released its newest book, The Powow River Anthology, a collection of poetry by 24 members of the celebrated Powow River Poets.

When asked why a three-year-old publishing house would publish a book of poetry by New England poets, Ocean Publishing's owner Frank Gromling replies, "It's simple. These poets are some of the best, most accomplished poetry talents in America today." Gromling, whose company had previously only published works by authors from the Southeast, wanted to expand his company's horizons to include authors from across the country.

One of Ocean Publishing's first authors, poet and journalist Kay Day, introduced Gromling to poet Alfred Nicol when she hosted him at a poetry reading in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2005. Gromling and Nicol hit it off and a few short months later Nicol inquired whether Ocean Publishing would entertain an anthology. In no time at all, the book was underway.

Alfred Nicol, winner of the 2004 Richard Wilbur Award for poetry, edited the anthology. In his Introduction, nationally recognized poet X.J. Kennedy writes, "Poetry is a house of many rooms, and whether a poet rhymes or doesn't rhyme surely matters less than whether he or she writes with sufficient energy to seize readers and strum on their emotions and keep them reading to the bottom of the poem. This rough test, all the Powow River Poets pass with unfurled colors."

The Powow River Poets formed in 1991 in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Renowned poets Rhina Espaillat, Deborah Warren, Len Krisak, and others, contributed their works to this collection. National award winning poets Timothy Steele, Lewis Turco and Bruce Bennett have written rave reviews.

Perhaps Timothy Steele, who wrote the definitive work in the nation on formal poetry, best describes the book, when he says, "Like an oasis in the desert, this anthology offers fertile refuge in the largely arid landscape of contemporary verse. Here readers can escape the bewildering, coercive heat of Poetry with a capital "P" and find many refreshing and memorable poems. Hats off to the remarkable Powow poets: long may they write and thrive."

The Powow River Anthology (ISBN 0976729156) is now available for $14.95 online at ocean-publishing.com, Internet retailers, and at local bookstores. After the book's national launch and celebration at the Newburyport (MA) Art Association on March 23, 2006, a series of readings by the contributing poets will be held at major poetry and literary events across the country.

Ocean Publishing, Flagler Beach, FL, specializes in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Among the publisher's twelve titles are A Poetry Break (ISBN: 0971764107), Zen Fishing and Other Southern Pleasures (0976729113), Killing Earl (0971764190), Windrusher and the Cave of Tho-hoth (0971764174), Zachary Cooks Up Some Fun (0971764166), Whales with Fur (0971764158) and Soccer Made Easy for Americans (0976729105). Only three years in business, the traditional press has won several awards for publishing excellence.

For more information, visit: http://www.ocean-publishing.com