By Jess Fisher, Priyanka Joshi and William Swift
Hedgehog Poetry Press, based in the UK, is an independent publisher celebrating contemporary poetry. Established in 2017 by Mark Davidson, it acts as a platform connecting readers to the diverse voices of modern poets. Determined to invigorate the current literary scene and highlight underrepresented poets, its commitment to quality and innovation has brought it notable recognition.
Among other honours, it has published Amanda Huggins' Saboteur Awards winner, The Collective Nouns for Birds, and Jennifer Copley's Forward Prizes shortlisted, Songs We Were Singing. Its titles have also been nominated for the Michael Marks Awards and the Pushcart Prize. Moreover, the Press was voted Best Indie Press at the Saboteur Awards in 2020 and has been recognised for its significant contributions to the poetry community.
Hedgehog Poetry Press is also home to the strictly 100-member Cult of the Spiny Hog, an author collective slash subscription for the poetry world. Submissions from this ‘Cult’ are vital to the life of Hedgehog Poetry, and readers will enjoy the exposure to each new collection from the press upon release.
New Releases
Rescue Lines by Lesley Curwen
Launched by the Hedgehog Poetry Press on 17 July 2024, Curwen’s Rescue Lines has been described as a “really special” poetry collection. Curwen is a Plymouth-based poet, broadcaster and sailor who writes, “Loss and rescue… and family traumas around coercive control and forced adoption, as a way to witness and make sense of those happenings” (Press website). She has won the Molecules Unlimited Poetry Prize and was also a finalist in the Wales Poetry Award.
Rescue Lines has been described as a “navigation of the sea itself, and an emotional expanse being steered here too, one that contains grief, absence, and the depth of sisterly love.” (Rebecca Goss).
Poems for Wonderland by various artists
A stunning front cover isn’t the only upside of this book—this collection cleverly mixes poetry alongside the original artwork of John Tenniel (the illustrator of Alice in Wonderland). Various poets have responded to full-colour pictures taken from the original text, including its characters and stories. The book includes 26 poets, showcasing great talent in this fascinating format.
Written Down in Pencil by Sue Lewis
Launched only recently on 13 July 2024, Written Down in Pencil is a “brilliant collection by a fantastic poet” (Press website). Lewis sets out to capture the ephemeral nature of life in her short but memorable thirteen poems, touching on subjects such as death, love, grief and obsession. She questions the natural world and our place in it and is said to leave a ‘lasting impression’ on its readers.
Notable Releases
thoughts while walking with merlyn by Phillipa Hatton-Lepine
In a stunning debut collection released in 2022, thoughts while walking with merlyn includes poetic musings on the nature of grief and bereavement, as well as genuine recollections in dialogue with mundane activities. A collection of only a few pages, Hatton-Lepine’s seminal work takes on many themes often deemed too complex for many an early-career author. Still, she does so with an authenticity and openness that speaks to her experiences. Signed editions of Hatton-Lepine’s work are available and easily accessible through the Hedgehog Poetry Press and the author’s websites.
The Bird Room by Dawn Gorman
After the passing of Gorman’s father in 2020, The Bird Room came together as a collection. Gorman’s early memories are inseparable from the memory of spending time with her father, a lifelong ornithologist and habitual birdwatcher. Having felt the effects of her father’s slow decline in health until his death, Gorman navigates the complex feelings around being “too late” to share this hobby with him and the way his obsession impacted her perspective. This collection has a depth of feeling that can only be explored through the vessel of bird-watching, as words like “humour”, “longing”, “grief”, and “gratitude” do not scratch the surface. As with Hatton-Lepine’s collection, readers looking for a signed edition can do so through the Hedgehog Press and the author’s website.
The Words of Others Are All We Have by Louise Machen and J Daniel West
What if paradise “was never an option?” In this poetic dialogue between Machen and West, the authors explore the working-class urban landscape and how this atmosphere has changed with recent developments in culture and technology. Studying the ‘roots’ of this disillusioned working class in Manchester, All We Have paints a picture of the city as seen by those born into its roughest streets. Released in April 2024, this short collection – at only 30 pages – brings attention to an issue that speaks to today’s political climate while, as the title promises, the only answers come from the words of others- those with lived experience, and those whose words keep them down.
To contact the authors or request a signed edition, please refer to the email address listed with Hedgehog Poetry Press.