Action Books is a contemporary small press for poetry. The press is run by a team of three editors Joyelle McSweeney, Johannes Goransson, and Kim Koga (editorial assistant). There are, importantly, two are directors Jesper Goransson and Eli Queen. While the primacy of the material is written, illustrations accompany several of their works, & as we will see, their Quarterly features a number of visual works.
Action Books’ catalog consists primarily of English language poetry, but hosts a number of translations as well. Perhaps most uniquely, it has a number of Swedish-Norwegian translations, presumably attributed to connections amongst its Swedish staff members.
Action Books primarily receives submissions for publication, but due to the small number of editors/staff members, the high volume of submissions, and the relatively few works that might be printed, submission periods open and close relatively quickly.It appears, however, as if the press is always on the look out for competent original translations.
Action Books, as an overarching organization, also has a space for news/events/readings to which their poets contribute and organize. Currently there is a reading and party scheduled for Atlanta. It remains unclear whether the press, as an organization, creates these events or occasionally has contributing poets.
Action Books additionally hosts the journal Action, Yes! an Online Quarterly hosted by the same three members of the editorial staff for Action Books. It has been active for some time, and is up to the 12th issue in the first volume of the quarterly. The work in Action, Yes! takes all manner of forms, although free verse poetry is certainly the dominant aesthetic. The Quarterly also gives a forum to “abstract comics” (a celled form of sequential art works), concrete poetry, typographical storylines, and so on. This realm of the journal suggests an experimental attitude, and one willing to play with the forms that poetics might take.
While the title of the press is provocative, and suggests a greater thrust in the work of the press, I was unfortunately unable to discern one. The Action Books site maintains a section “Manifesto,” while Action, Yes! has a section “Statement.” Unfortunately, both are currently blank at the moment. I’m not sure what this suggests, but it is apparent that at one point this press had a greater mission or large critique that they hoped to emphasize through their publishing. I think that this is a critical missing piece and will make the adjustment when any new information becomes available.
As yet, the nature of its work doesn’t strike as inherently “active” or separated from the greater bulk of contemporary poetry presses. However, a certain playfullness, and a certain willingness to experiment is plainly evident.