Orbis 203, Spring 2023

Fancy a closer look?

And get to know us better: a whole year’s worth as pdfs: £12;
+ 1 back copy of the actual magazine; UK only (inc p+p)

Because reading magazines helps judge the best match with your work
in order to maximize publication opportunities.

****

Few magazines are able to offer payment or feedback, but Orbis helps alleviate suffering for Arts’ sake: Readers’ Award: £50; plus £50 between 4 runners-up
Editor Carole Baldock has also provided proofs with editorial suggestions for every contributor for the past 20 years…

Available for readings and workshops: The A to Y of Getting into Print

Anything at Any level to help Your success:

magazines; collections/books; competitions etc

Everyone said they’d come again which is, of course, the best feedback

(Cheshire County Council workshop)

Mentoring and Critique Service

Your editorial expertise was invaluable for improving my work (New York)

Wow – I thought it was finished. You made it so much better (New Zealand)

****

Information is posted at regular intervals,
regardless of what the date counter says
(because I keep forgetting to update it), unless –

Still busy wondering how to get the hang
of this updated version of WordPress;
unable to paste cover image…

Subs: £20/4 pa. Single issue: £6.50, all including p+p

Overseas:  £42/€50/$60. Single issue: £11.50/€14/$16

NB, cheques payable to me

Paypal: please use Contact Form or post request for email address 

Also, via LinkedIn or Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/53636000056/?ref=br_tf&epa=SEARCH_BOX

Orbis 203, Spring 2023

Orbis 200: ‘All the best to you, and to Orbis!’
(Glyn Maxwell; shortlisted for Best Collection in the Forward Prize)

‘Best wishes for the journal – and congratulations on such a successful magazine over the years’ (Joy Harjo, United States Poet Laureate)

****

Single issue: £6.50 (Overseas: £11.50/€14/$16); Subs: £20/4 pa (Overseas: £42/€50/$60)

Associate Editor (Book Reviews): Maria Isakova-Bennett

Reviews by Philip Dunkerley; David Harmer; Jenny Hockey;
D.A.Prince; Pauline Rowe; Theresa Sowerby

Please note with new collections, press release in first instance – not review copies.

****

Front cover artwork: ‘I got caught in the rain’ by Ira Whittaker

back cover, detail from image:   https://www.instagram.com/art_irawhittaker_artist/

Pouring down indeed to create an issue overflowing with incredible, inspiring writing,
in Spectacular Fashion, you might say, as Chris Scriven does, so you can see what Sparks fly from the pen of Philip Burton. And how lucky is Andria J. Cooke, enjoying the Aurora –
and how curious are you, to find out about Marie Papier’s Portrait of my grandmother as a wardrobe? And there’s more, much more, for example, Pat Marum’s tale of a Concubine, Beijing 1421, or Arun Gaur’s description of a Cenotaph plus Terrapins from John Gilham.
Indeed, as Ruth Arnison says, Knowing he’s the one, or rather, its:
what a splendid title from Michael Martin:
One time me and the dog swam with the dolphins, they let you get so close you can touch a fin.
And ok, you may feel it’s a step too far – or an issue too late,
but how about Frank X. Christmas’s Tribute from a three-year-old.

Because there’s certainly plenty here to encourage a response from all readers.

Featured Poet

Ros Woolner: Shouting at the sky; The unwrapping;Trucks; Permission

Poems from Courtney Brach: Lead Line; Richard Hawtree: I’ll Just Leave This Here; Anthony Head: Malá Strana; Peggy McCarthy: Pantoum For My Childhood Home; Vic Pickup: What she saw in the washing up bowl; John Smelcer: Churros With Death

Prose from Annie Newcomer: Gilbert Williams; Michael Swan: Anti-Boredom Procedure Type B; Nicky Winder: Crop Stories

Translation: Terese Coe: Homecoming, LXI, Book of Songs;
                                      Epitaphe De Jaques Mernable, Joueur de Farces

Past Master:  Richard Lister on Bibi Hayati

Orbis 203 Contributors also include
John Arnold; Steve Barton; Martin Bennett; Courtney Brach;
Patricia Brody;  Vuyelwa Carlin; Andrew Curtis; Lori Drummond-Mundal;
L.B. Jørgensen;  Dave Medd; John McOwat; Pat Murgatroyd; Louis Nthenda;
Doug Sandle; Carla Scarano; Dr. Roger G. Singer; Andrea Spurling

Single issue: £6.50 (Overseas: £11.50/€14/$16); Subs: £20/4 pa (Overseas: £42/€50/$60)

Associate Editor (Book Reviews): Maria Isakova-Bennett

Reviews by Philip Dunkerley; David Harmer; Jenny Hockey;
Maria Isakova-Bennett; Jennifer McGowan; D.A. Prince;
Pauline Rowe; Theresa Sowerby; Pam Thompson

Please note with new collections, press release in first instance – not review copies.

****

Front cover artwork: ‘Miyajima 09‘ by Niels Nielsen
back cover, detail from image: www.petrifiedclouds.com

Oh come, all ye faithful: readers, subscribers, contributors –

something to warm your heart in this bitter Winter.
Let us whisk you away to somewhere exotic, and join Jackie Wills
when Cruella de Ville visits Brighton, or Charles Wilkinson, looking at
The House in the Forest. No? Well, how about Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana…
At the Fishmonger’s with my son. Then you could be transported by Tim Houghton – |
and T-Rex, unless you’ve reached a Watershed; that’s you
and Nathanael O’Reilly both. But if you’re wondering what Martin Worster
means by The Let-Down, or Carolyn Oulton, asking What am I supposed to call this?
Catherine O’Brien may have the answer in A Lexicon Of You,
unless Rob McCarthy will translate From The Greek,
or George Moore,  using the Rosetta Stone. All the same, it’s no mystery
because reading Orbis. can help bring joy to the world.

Featured Poet, David Callin:
Fowmart; In Upper Sulby Glen; Preservation; Abney Park; The island; Elan

Poems from Claire Booker, The Horse In My Bedroom;
Roy Duffield A dream where procrastination works both ways;
Martin Elster De-Extinction; Cathy Grindrod, Aunt Margaret;
John Lanyon, Honorine Jobert; Jo Slade, O little root 

Prose from Charlotte Gringras, Midnight Memoir ; Phil Knight, Crosshairs;
Marie L’Ecrivain, Ugly: A Post Dystopian Tale

Translation: Stephen Capus, Desanka Maksimović: Za Zveri Oklevetane

Past Master: Mary Earnshaw on Anonymous

Orbis 202 Contributors also include

Jane Blanchard; Mark Carson; Alastair Clarke; Tina Cole;
Mark Czanik; Robin Ford; Peter French; Richard George;
Jill Jones; Judith Pollinger; David Punter; Michael Spinks;
Julia Stothard; Katherine Swett; Anne Symons;  Carolyn Waudby;
Isobel Williams; Susan Wismer; Marjory Woodfield