About Smith/Doorstop (The Poetry Business)
Online Catalogue:
Featured Titles
 | The North 41 by Janet Fisher, Peter Sansom The main feature of The North issue 41 is a collection of articles concerning three major works to do with Ted Hughes... £6.00 |  | The Butcher's Hands by Catherine Smith ‘‘Her scary, unsettling voice seems unexpected in poetry. It cuts her free of the crowd" – The Times "Catherine Smith’s a fierce talent, ... £6.95 |
 | Lip by Catherine Smith SHORTLISTED FOR THE FORWARD PRIZE FOR BEST COLLECTION 2008 A litany of dangerous pleasure, in this book there are no safe words £7.95 |  | The Night Trotsky Came To Stay by Allison McVety SHORTLISTED FOR THE FORWARD PRIZE FOR BEST FIRST COLLECTION 2008 The nub of Allison McVety’s poems is family history, learnt from her mother’s lap. £7.95 |
The Poetry Business was founded in 1986 by Peter Sansom. In 1989 Janet Fisher joined as co-editor and co-publisher.
In 1991 we became a Limited Company. We receive financial support Arts Council England.
In June 2008 we relocated to Sheffield. Janet Fisher has retired and Ann Sansom is co-editor and co-director.
Priorities
The spreading of interest in contemporary poetry
The encouragement of new writers
The publishing of work of new and established writers
The setting of high artistic standards
Activities
We publish poetry books and pamphlets under our imprint Smith/Doorstop Books
We publish a literary magazine, The North, with two issues a year.
We run an annual Book and Pamphlet Competition - see below
We run monthly Writing Days.
Recognition and Awards
"A small but enterprising publisher talent-spotting marvellous new poets" – The Independent
"Smith/Doorstop have been quietly pushing new or developing talent for years now" – The Guardian
"Poetry needs a thousand capitals if it is to survive, and The Poetry Business ensures that Huddersfield is one of the liveliest" – Carol Rumens
"The quality of the writing in these slim volumes is matched by the high production standards of the publishers Smith/Doorstop" – Paul McDonald, PQR [on the Competition winners’ pamphlets, 1997]
"Dark and true and tender is The North" - a prescient Alfred Lord Tennyson
In the past few years, from our comparatively short list, we have gained:
Poetry Book Society Recommendations 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006
Poetry Book Society Special Commendation 1997
TS Eliot Prize shortlist 1999
Aldeburgh Poetry Festival (First Collection) Prize 1999; shortlist 2004, 2005
Forward Prize (First Collection) shortlist 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003
Forward Prize (Best Poem) 2005; shortlist 1995, 2003
Poetry Book Society Pamphlet Choice 2003 - the first to be awarded - and 2004
Children's Poetry Bookshelf Choice 2005
Poetry Business - Book & Pamphlet Competition
For more information about our annual Competition, please visit: www.poetrybusiness.co.uk/comp2000.htm
Winners receive publication of their poetry collections, plus cash prizes.
Contact Details:
w: http://www.poetrybusiness.co.ukt: +44 (0)114 3463 038
The Poetry Business
Bank Street Arts
32-40 Bank Street
Sheffield
S1 2DS
United Kingdom