Prole

Reprint!

2012-01-30T20:18:00.003Z

Really good news: we've sold out of issue 6. As there's still over two months until the launch of issue 7, we've decided to go for a short reprint run. Thank you for all your support. Please spread the word that Prole is still available and a fantastic read.

Anti-Slavery International

2012-01-23T22:28:00.002Z

We're pleased to be working with Anti-Slavery International. Prole will be aiming to help raise their profile with our readers and raise some money to support their work. Watch this space. In the meantime, why not check out their site: http://www.antislavery.org/english/

Reviews for Nan Hardwicke Turns into a Hare and Merlin's Lane

2012-01-16T21:51:00.001Z

London Grip have been kind enough to review two of our pamphlets: Nan Hardwicke Turns into a Hare by Wendy Pratt and Merlin's Lane by Robert Nisbet. Read the reviews here: http://londongrip.co.uk/2012/01/poetry-review-winter-2011-pratt-nisbett/
The pamphlets can be purchased here: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page10.html

Almost sold out

2012-01-09T19:53:00.003Z

Only a few copies of issue 6 remaining. If you fancy one and have been putting it off, get your skates on before they all go. Click here.

Literary resolutions

2012-01-02T20:17:00.001Z

Care to share your literary resolutions for 2012? Here at Prole, we want to keep publishing excellent examples of poetry and prose. On a personal level, I’m going to reread some Hardy novels – that’s Thomas, not the adventurous boys - and try to find a home for a few more pieces of writing of my own. A friend of the poetry ed is studying several of Shakespeares plays and he's agreed to read along. (Any excuse for some Shakey - though where Green Door fits into the bard's works I have no idea.) He'll also be submitting his own efforts to respected journals and finishing the copy of Catch 22 I bought him over a year ago.
So, what are your literary resolutions?

Winter editorial

2011-12-26T20:05:00.001Z

Editing Prole is normally a long distance affair. Tomorrow, it's the prose ed's turn to journey to Wales. Tuesday and Wednesday we are meeting at one of the Prole offices to plan the coming year. As the office is only open for Proley business every few weeks, anyone near The George and Dragon in Abergele is welcome to pop in. We'll be there for two days. (If not, try The Bee.) It's your round.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-19T23:31:00.001Z

An early Merry Christmas from the Proles,
and thanks to all of you who've bought and sold
this treasure trove of poetry and prose.
Contributors, you are the Proley gears
and as we shift towards another year
Brett and Phil salute you with their beers.

All the best

Suggestions please...

2011-12-12T22:43:00.001Z

Prole is looking to partner with three charities: one for each of our issues in a year. We already have two in mind. We're asking for suggestions from Prole followers for our third charity. If you'd rather not post here, you can email us at admin(at)prolebooks.co.uk

Read our competition winners

2011-12-04T19:55:00.001Z

The winning entries to the Prolitzer Prize can now be read here: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page8.html
We had some terrific pices to choose from; these three really hit the spot.
Our second Prole Laureate poetry competition is now receiving entries. Details are here: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page6.htmlThere are cash prizes and publication on offer.

Competition winners

2011-12-03T19:18:00.001Z

The winners of the Prolitzer Prize prose writing competition have been announced on our website here.Thank you to all who entered. The standard was fantastic. Thanks also to our judge, Stephen Ross.

Stuck for a Christmas gift?

2011-11-28T19:44:00.001Z

If you'd like to give a subscription or single issue of Prole as a Christmas gift (And who wouldn't want to receive one?) you can include a message in the 'instructions to merchant' box in PayPal and we'll send your subscription gift wrapped along with your message in a festive card. Orders must be placed by Wednesday 14th to arrive in time for the big day.http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/

Prole # 6

2011-11-25T21:42:00.001Z

It's Out! Prole issue six is now available from our website
http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page5.html
This issue is a real rollercoaster of quality fiction, memoir and poetry.
A three issue subscription to Prole is a Christmas present that would last all year!

2011-11-21T19:51:00.001Z

Inbox, letterbox behold!
Watch for issue 6 of Prole.
Though in this electronic age
you have the choice of screen or page
from which to read our writers' flare,
one thing is writ so be aware
that by the (c)licking of your thumbs
something wicked your way comes.

http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/index.html

Review for Merlin's Lane

2011-11-16T20:56:00.001Z

Robert Nisbet's Merlin's Lane has received an excellent review from Pembrokeshire Life Magazine.
Merlin's Lane is published by Prolebooks and can be purchased here.

Merlin'sLane : A Review of Robert Nisbet's new poetry collection

By PhilCarradice

Poetryautobiographies rarely seem to work. Betjeman's “Summoned By Bells” and “TheAngry Summer” by Idris Davies are rare examples of two that do – but now, Ithink, you can add another volume to that list. Robert Nisbet's “Merlin's Lane”is a vivid and compelling account of childhood, adolescence and early adulthoodin Haverfordwest.

The poetryis excellently conceived, well written and full of beautiful and strikingimages. But for Pembrokeshire readers it is the descriptions of the county –Haverfordwest and Milford Haven in particular – that will strike a chord.Nisbet catches the bygone days of the 40s and 50's, even the early 1960s, andpresents them in a vivid series of word pictures that are not sentimental butwhich are certain to bring a catch to the voice or raise up the hairs on theback of your neck.

There aresome wonderful moments here. I loved “King George the Sixth is Dead” and the nonchalant way the news about thedemise of this distant and obscure figure, previously glimpsed by the boys onlyon the backs of pennies or on newsreel shots, is given:-

“At theclassroom door a lank-hired boy,

the errandrunner, blushed and blurted,

Please sir,the King's dead.”

There arepoems here about a striptease show at Portfield fair, about trips down placeslike Pembroke Main Street to play Monkton Swifts or Angle at football. Thereare poems about vacation jobs when the writer returns from University to work“behind the scenes” in the local butcher's shop and about the town carnivalsthat used to hold such an important position in Pembrokeshire life.

Naturally,with a story teller like Robert Nisbet, these are poems about place and people.They are the stuff of his literary life – he has, after all, spent thirty yearscapturing their every move and thought. Previously he has done it in prose, ina series of tightly woven short stories. This is his first poetry collectionand it is one that is memorable for many reasons – mostly the writer's abilityto take a small moment or incident and develop it into something significantand telling. People will read these poems and say “Why didn't I think of that?”And that is the true poet's art.

As someonewho spent his early teaching career in Milford, the poems brought back manymemories for me. Take this one, “A Postcard from Milford Haven,” as anexample:-

“'Oh hear uswhen we pray to thee

for those inperil on the sea.'

Those stormymornings we'd sing that hymn.

The fathersof many of the school

were outthere, trawlers taught against

the seas ofFinisterre, Tiree. And

as thesinging swung into the heaves

and hollowsof its verse, my blunt

neck-hairstingled with the sharing

fear.”

Short, sharpwords but so telling. Anybody who remembers the fishing fleet of Milford Havenwill enjoy – if that is the right word - that emotion. And certainly anyone who ever stood in a school assemblyhall and bellowed out those incredibly evocative verses whenever the wind blewand rain fell, will relate to this short but powerful poem.

'Merlin'sLane' is an excellent addition to the literature, not just of Pembrokeshire butto the whole of Wales. It is one man's telling of his life in a place he trulyloves and, as such, it will surely become essential reading for anyone whofeels the same about the county.

Pembrokeshire Life Magazine

Swan House
Bridge Street
Newcastle Emlyn
SA68 9DX

Will the real Nan Hardwicke please stand up?

2011-11-15T19:04:00.001Z

Will the real Nan Hardwicke please stand up? Prole is proud as punch to post that Wendy Pratt's debut poetry pamphlet has had a review in the Scarborough Evening News. Click here to read.

#6 to print

2011-11-14T20:28:00.001Z

Prole issue 6 has just gone to print. We believe it to be another excellent collection of short stories, memoir and poetry - are you as excited as us? Say, 'Yes, Uncle Brett. Yes, Uncle Phil.'

Christmas shopping?

2011-11-07T19:43:00.000Z

Only 48 days left until Christmas. Why not let Prole take the strain with a single or three issue gift subscription for friends or family. Visit http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page5.html for details.

2011-10-31T20:05:00.000Z

Weekend just gone saw Prole eds meeting up with poet Wendy Pratt and husband Chris in Manchester to celebrate our publishing of her pamphlet, Nan Hardwicke Turns into a Hare.We made sure we got our copies signed before too much merriment. Drinks and Chinese food enjoyed by all.Only a handful of Prole issue 5 are left if you have not yet purchased yours. Issue 6 will be out in time to make a cracking Christmas read.

Second Prole Laureate Competition

2011-10-24T14:49:00.000+01:00

The second Prole Laureate poetry competiton is now open. The winner receives £130 and publication. There are two runners up prizes of £25. This year our competition is being judged by the celebrated poet, Andrew McMillan. Click here for full details.

Andrew McMillan

Prole lauches two poetry pamphlets

2011-10-20T19:48:00.000+01:00

We are very proud to announce the publication of our first two poetry pamphlets (or chapbooks, if you prefer): Nan Hardwicke Turns into a Hare by Wendy Pratt and Merlin’s Lane by Robert Nisbet. Both have already received high praise. Phil Carradice, an editor at Roundyhouse Magazine, said of Merlin’s Lane: “Merlin's Lane” is the sort of collection we would all loved to have written. Very few of us ever could. And that's what makes it a fascinating, interesting and evocative read. It is an excellent collection of poetry by an excellent writer.

In her foreword for Nan Harwicke Turns into a Hare, celebrated poet, Alison Brackenbury wrote: I was astonished by the courage and generosity of this pamphlet. Many poets, finding in their finished work a powerful story of magic, and briefer lyrics of personal loss, would have eked them out into separate publications. But poetry is a drawing together, and Wendy Pratt excels at the deft and moving assembly of her poems’ world... Its final astonishment is that such power can rest within a handful of lyrical stories, like the woman in the frail body of the hare. I left these compassionate poems with admiration and regret.

Both pamphlets can be purchased at: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page10.html

Prolitzer judged - results pending!

2011-10-17T20:15:00.001+01:00

The Prolitzer Prize for prose writing has been judged and winner and runners up chosen. There were some fantastic entries and judging wasn't easy. The winner and runners up will be announced on our website on Dec 3rd and in issue 6 of Prole which will be out in late November.

Cover art

2011-10-10T20:09:00.002+01:00

We're very lucky and grateful to continue to receive some excellent poetry and prose submissions - it has helped Prole develop throughout our first year or so of publishing. We've also had some great covers, but have had to work very hard to find material. Submissions of cover art would be very welcome. Art for Prole covers should be in black and white and show some aspect of humanity. You can see our previous covers on our website. Submissions should be in black and white. Details on the website here: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page3.html

Prolitzer competition closed

2011-10-03T19:31:00.001+01:00

Thank you to all those who entered our competition. The entry period is now closed and your little works of art will soon be winging their way to New Zealand for judging.

Last chance...

2011-09-26T19:04:00.000+01:00

Only five days left to enter our Prolitzer Prize competition for prose writing. Cash prizes and publication on offer. Many thanks to those who have already entered. We've enjoyed reading your efforts.Details here: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk

Peace One Day

2011-09-19T22:20:00.003+01:00

Wednesday 21st September is International Day of Peace. One small act of kindness can make a difference. Visit:http://www.peaceoneday.org/en/welcome orhttp://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/to find out more.

Prolitzer Prize

2011-09-12T21:34:00.000+01:00

Feeling the pinch and got a masterpiece hiding away on your hard drive or in a dusty notebook? There are only eighteen days left to enter the Prolitzer Prize for short prose writing. Cash prizes and publication up for grabs. Don't worry, Ernest Hemmingway is dead and E. Annie Proulx is probably busy. All details on our website here.

Where do you read yours?

2011-09-05T19:48:00.000+01:00

The Prole poetry pooches, Remi and Rio, read theirs whilst winding down after walkies (they like their alliteration too). Share your photos of where you read yours on our Facebook page and best pic of the month wins a pdf of the Prole issue of your choice. Facebook page is here.

This one is Remi - quite a philosopher.

And here's Rio - in honesty, more of a Daily Mirror type - see the lips move?

New Prole stockists in Liverpool

2011-08-29T16:54:00.000+01:00

Royal Mail permitting, News From Nowhere in Liverpool will be stocking Prole from Tuesday 30th August. Support Prole and your local, independent book store by popping into News From Nowhere on Bold Street.

Where do you read yours?

2011-08-22T17:38:00.000+01:00

Prole's poetry ed reads his in the George and Dragon, Abergele. Where do you read yours?

Support your independents

2011-08-15T20:02:00.002+01:00

The last independent bookshop in Bolton, Sweetens - stockist of Prole, has now closed down. A town already homogenised becomes an even blander place and our reading choices become dictated by Waterstones and their buyers. Lesson? Support your local, independent businesses before every town is like every other and choices are limited to those made at corporate level.

Prole, issue 5 - feedback

2011-08-08T20:49:00.002+01:00

Initial feedback from readers of issue 5 is very positive. A special thank you to our subscribers. As we are completely independent, you are the lifeblood of Prole. Get your copy from
http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page5.html

Prole issue 5

2011-08-06T11:15:00.001+01:00

We're very excited to be launching Prole issue 5 today. Issue five is packed with quality fiction and poetry. Thank you to our contributors for their excellent submissions and our readers for their continued support. Issue 5 can be purchased from our website.

Issue 5 - nearly here

2011-08-01T19:22:00.000+01:00

All being well, issue five will be launched on Saturday August 6th. It's a great issue and will be available to buy at www.prolebooks.co.uk In celebration, the editors will be visiting the George and other drinking holes in Abergele for a couple of days from about Wednesday lunchtime. Feel free to join us. (Though if you do, it's your round.)
Here's a quick preview of the cover.

Where do you read yours?

2011-07-25T19:08:00.000+01:00

Where do you read yours? Paste your photo on our wall at Facebook - here. Best one in every month wins a free PDF of Prole. Here's one to get you going.

Editorial anyone?

2011-07-18T23:30:00.000+01:00

Prole 5 about put to bed and editors' thoughts turn to the next editorial meetings. Watch out Abergele and Bolton.

Issue 5

2011-07-11T22:43:00.001+01:00

Content for issue five selected. All pieces already submitted will be considered for issue six - and, of course - we remain open to further submissions.

Issue 5

2011-07-04T20:12:00.002+01:00

Issue 5 is coming together well. Look out for launch of issue in mid August.

Prolitzer Prize

2011-06-27T19:44:00.003+01:00

Our prose competition remains open to fiction and nonfiction of less than 1500 words. Cash prizes and publication on offer. See our website at www.prolebooks.co.uk for full details.

Call for artwork

2011-06-19T16:59:00.001+01:00

Artists may be interested in submitting work for two poetry pamphlets we are publishing in November. Any artwork accepted will attract a small payment and the artist will be credited in the publication. Contact Brett at admin@prolebooks.co.uk for details.

Reader/writer blog

2011-06-13T21:22:00.001+01:00

For those of you who have read Prole, don't forget, you can share your thoughts online with our writers here. If you haven't read it yet, there are a few copies of issue four available at http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/

Submissions

2011-06-06T10:59:00.002+01:00

Our submissions remain healthy in terms of quantity and quality. However, we would like to see a few more pieces of creative nonfiction, well structured verse and comic verse. If you've anything lurking inside your bottom drawer that might fit the bill, give us a try. Visit the submissions page on our website for full details.
http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/index.html

Issue 4 update

2011-05-30T19:58:00.001+01:00

The royalty period for Prole 4 is still open and we have already met our targets to start paying our contributors for the third issue running. We've managed this with no funding. We rely solely on our paying readers. Thank you very much - especially to those readers who subscribe and our writers who donate their share of royalties back into the future success of Prole.

Editorial

2011-05-23T21:47:00.000+01:00

The next Prole editorial is next week so get your submissions in as soon as possible for a crack at publication in issue 5. Submissions will remain open after that time for issue three. Don't forget the Prolitzer Prize prose competition. As ever, all details on the website www.prolebooks.co.uk

Artwork

2011-05-16T21:58:00.001+01:00

Prole is looking for cover artwork. Details are on the website: subs page. Briefly, we’re after striking images that show some aspect of humanity. Previous covers can be viewed on the purchase page. If you are interested in providing cover art for the two poetry pamphlets we are publishing, please email us at admin@prolebooks.co.uk for details. Artwork accepted for the pamphlets will earn a small one-off fee.

Poetry pamphlets

2011-05-09T20:33:00.007+01:00

After four successful issues, Prole is branching out and publishing two poetry pamphlets. The pamphlets, due out around November, are by two well published and respected poets. We're excited to be working them. Watch this space for more details.

Highly commended from the Prole Laureate competition

2011-05-02T11:45:00.000+01:00

Gwen Seabourne's Spectatorwatching is now available to read on our website here. Gwen was highly commended in our Prole Laureate competition.

Highly commended

2011-04-25T20:05:00.002+01:00

David Mark Williams' Beautiful Animal is available to read on our website. David was highly commended in our Prole Laureate competition. Check it out here.

Prole on the road

2011-04-20T10:27:00.002+01:00

Many thanks to the Orton Scribblers for their hospitality and warm welcome. Thanks for treating us gently. Hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did.

Prole on the road

2011-04-15T22:15:00.002+01:00

Orton Scribblers have invited us to share our experiences and read a few of our favourite pieces published in the last year. We're really looking forward to a little 'Prole on the road'. Details are the Scribbler's website: http://www.orton.org.uk/whatson/scribblers.htm

Issue 4, available now.

2011-04-13T22:42:00.002+01:00

Prole, issue 4, another collection of great poetry and prose, is now available from our website.
http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/index.html
Just follow the purchase link.

The Prolitzer Prize

2011-04-04T20:09:00.002+01:00

We have launched our Prose competition: The Prolitzer Prize. There's a cash prize fund and publication for the winner. Visit out competition page here for full details.
http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page8.html
Our guest judge is Stephen Ross, a much published and Edgar nominated writer.

Prole Laureate winners

2011-04-02T15:05:00.000+01:00

The winners and runners up of our first Prole Laureate competition have been announced. Visit our competition page here to find out more.

Thank you to Wendy Pratt, our co-judge - and all those who entered.

Creative nonfiction

2011-03-28T20:42:00.002+01:00

We've been very lucky to receive great submissions for issue four (due soon) but we would still like to see more creative nonfiction. By creative nonfiction we mean factual pieces that contain a narrative. Sharpen that pencil, dust off the keyboard and give us a try.

Simultaneous submissions.

2011-03-25T20:07:00.001Z

We decided not to accept simultaneous submissions at Prole from the start. That means we don’t want pieces that are being considered elsewhere. As both the editors here also submit work to literary publications we understand the frustrations of having to wait months to find out if our work is accepted. That is why we try to respond within two to three weeks to every piece that is sent to us. Sometimes that is a rejection; sometimes notice that the piece has been short-listed with an indication of when a final decision will be made; sometimes a quick acceptance.

Prole is a small concern but time is very valuable. We cannot afford to be let down a week or so before going to print. The print proof takes a long time to prepare.

We treat all our submissions and writers with respect and honesty. We ask them to treat us in the same way.

Competition

2011-03-21T21:19:00.002Z

All the poems entered into the Prole Laureate competition are now with our co- judge, Wendy Pratt. In a short space of time Wendy has had poetry published in several well respected journals. Thank you to all who entered - and good luck. Entries will be announced on our website on April 2nd. Issue 4 will also be released on that date.

Compiling # 4

2011-03-15T19:16:00.002Z

We're excited to be compiling issue 4 this week. The content is excellent. This issue will see us achieve our first birthday. A huge thank you to all who have subscribed, submitted or helped in any way over the last twelve months.

Graphic art

2011-03-07T19:25:00.000Z

We are considering including graphic art in Prole - single frame cartoons or multiple frames to fill a page. If you fancy submitting, email a jpeg or PDF to submissionsprose@prolebooks.co.uk The overall editorial tone of Prole doesn't change. (See submissions page - website) Any artwork accepted will be worth 2 points for royalty payments. This too is explained on our submissions page. Why not give us a try?
Website here.

Stocked!

2011-02-28T19:23:00.000Z

Prole is now available in Sweetens independent bookshop, Deansgate, Bolton: a friendly, well stocked (and clearly forward thinking) establishment. http://www.sweetensforbooks.co.uk/index.html

Editorial

2011-02-21T19:34:00.002Z

Mid February editorial being enjoyed by all. Catering by prose ed's wife is stupendous. Looking forward to finalising issue 4 and other Proley activities. Keep the subs coming in.

Nearly there for #4

2011-02-14T21:17:00.002Z

Content is being finalised for issue 4 but there are still slots available for both poetry and prose. We are also open for submissions for issue 5.

Another review

2011-02-07T21:54:00.000Z

Prole, issue 3 has been reviewed by Laura McDonald at the Neon Magazine website. We're thrilled with this one. The review can be accessed here. The Neon website is also well worth exploring while you're there.

The Prole year

2011-01-31T21:35:00.000Z

At a recent editorial we mapped out the Prole year. (Subject to change – but we’re going to try to stick to this.)
Issues published in April, August, November.
Poetry competition open from November to February, winners announced in April.
Prose competition open from April to September, winners announced in November.
Open to submissions year round.
Thank you to all those who have supported us in our first year.

Edgar

2011-01-24T19:25:00.000Z

One of our writers, Stephen Ross (The Devil’s Piano Player and Clocks Without Hands), has been nominated for the prestigious Edgar Award for short stories. ‘Monsieur Alice is Absent’ appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine in October. Many congratulations and good luck. The winners are announced on 28th April. Stephen’s site can be accessed here: http://www.stephenross.net/

Call for cover art

2011-01-17T20:42:00.002Z

We are actively looking for artwork to use for covers. We've been thrilled with our last two covers and would like to maintain the human interest theme. Those covers and details about how to submit can be found on the website. We remain open to submissions of poetry and prose. www.prolebooks.co.uk

Prole Laureate Competition.

2011-01-10T20:03:00.002Z

We have recruited the talented and up and coming poet, Wendy Pratt, to judge our competition alongside our poetry editor, Brett Evans. In a short space of time, Wendy has been published in: Acumen, The Interpreter's House, Other Poetry, Pennine Platform, Snakeskin and Prole.
Results will be announced on the website April 2nd.
On this day, we will also be launching the Prolitzer Prize competition. A prose competition to find someone to represent the editorial ambitions of Prole via prose.

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T17:49:00.000Z

Happy New Year to those who follow all things Prole. Issue three is available from our website and we are open to submissions for issue 4. http://www.prolebooks.co.uk

Competition

2010-12-27T12:06:00.000Z

Our poetry competition is now closed to entries. Thank you to everyone who entered. Winners will be announced on our website on April 2nd.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-23T10:54:00.003Z

Now that issue 3 is well underway, issue 2 of Prole is available at a discount price. http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/ for details.
Best wishes and a very merry Christmas to all who follow Prole.

Making payments

2010-12-18T22:29:00.001Z

Prole is proud to announce that after only two issues we are in a position to pay our contributors. Our thanks to those who have shown their support by making a purchase, and of course, our wonderful writers and artists who have made Prole such a success.

Competition

2010-12-18T10:24:00.000Z

Only 6 days to go until our competition to find the first Prole Laureate closes. There's a prize fund of £160 up for grabs. Details on the website here.

Only 18 days left

2010-12-08T21:07:00.002Z

Only 18 days left to get your entries in for our competition to find the first Prole Laureate. Try us with your most arresting and startling work. Full details at our website:http://www.prolebooks.co.uk

Issue three out now

2010-11-26T19:18:00.000Z

Issue three of Prole, a fantastic read including fiction, non-fiction and poetry is now available from our website.
http://www.prolebooks.co.uk

Exciting news!

2010-11-24T21:00:00.001Z

Exciting news: Prole issue three will be available on our website from Friday evening, 26th November. Besides it being a damn good read, it'll make a great Christmas present: either a single copy or a subscription. Visit http://www.prolebooks.co.uk for full details.

Sale!

2010-11-20T19:33:00.003Z

With the third issue of Prole about a week away, we have dropped the price of our very first issue. You can have issue 1 for as little as £1.99
Thanks for all the great submissions for issue 3 - it's going to be a cracker.
Submissions remain open for issue 4 and the poetry competition has about four weeks to run before we close.
For details, visit: www.prolebooks.co.uk

This month

2010-10-03T16:22:00.000+01:00

The end of this month sees the editorial for Prole issue 3. If you want to get something in for that, time is running short. Also this month, Prole will be at the Conwy Feast Festival and we're treating ourselves going to see Seamus Heaney read at the Manchester Literary Festival.
Our poetry competition is still open.
All details at our website here.

Competition reminder

2010-09-19T12:45:00.003+01:00

Our poetry competition - search for Prole Laureate - is open to submissions until Dec 24th. There is a prize fund of £160 and publication on offer. Full details on our website.
We are open year-round to submissions for the journal.
http://www.prolebooks.co.uk

Cover art

2010-08-26T19:59:00.000+01:00

Prole is looking for cover artwork for future issues. We’re after something that depicts any aspect of life in its beauty, cruelty, drama or serenity. Full details are on our website: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk Go to the submissions link.

Out Now!

2010-08-18T17:11:00.000+01:00

Issue two of Prole is out now.

A journal of prose and poetry to engage, challenge and entertain.

To purchase, visit our website here.

Another review

2010-08-16T11:50:00.004+01:00

Prole has had another very positive review. This time at New Pages:
http://www.newpages.com/literary-magazine-reviews/2010-08-15/index.htm#Prole-1-2010
It states: 'This journal is nothing if not challenging and engaging.
Prole’s fiction and prose uses only artful story-telling,
...skillful-weaving, compact wording; no literary tricks, twists, surprise endings or jolts to deliver one deep into their vast little worlds' and 'There are excellent pieces of creative nonfiction..' Of the poetry: '...there is much to be admired.'
Thanks to all at New Pages.

Poetry competition

2010-08-12T12:15:00.002+01:00

We have launched a competition to find our first Prole Laureate. The Prole Laureate will be a poet who represents our editorial ambitions: to make writing engaging, challenging, entertaining and accessible. First prize £100 and publication, runners up £30. The winner, runners up and highly commended will be showcased on our website.
Full details at: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/

Poetry Library

2010-08-10T15:35:00.000+01:00

Prole can now be read at The Poetry Library, Level 5 of the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre.

Prole on Tour

2010-07-25T20:17:00.000+01:00

Saturday saw Prole at the Laureates for Lunch event (sponsored by Palas Print) in Caernarfon. Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, and National Poet of Wales, Gillian Clarke, both read new, unpublished and published works. A great afternoon - though the choice of crunchy pork scratchings as nibbles perhaps needs rethinking - difficult to eat quietly! Best of all, both poets left with their own copies of Prole. Diolch yn fawr.
www.prolebooks.co.uk

Issue two approaches

2010-07-20T22:35:00.001+01:00

Issue two approaches - but we are still open to submissions. Calling all those with a talent for the written word and photography/art. We're looking for fiction, non-fiction, poetry and black an white artwork that captures the drama, beauty or cruelness of life. In short:engagement.
Poetry can be in any style: free, rhymed, blank, serious, light - above all, engaging.
Visit our website here for more info.

First review

2010-07-01T19:16:00.000+01:00

Prole has received its first print review this week. It appears in The July Issue of The Crack Magazine: an arts an events magazine based in the northeast of England. The review is available in the magazine and online at: http://www.thecrackmagazine.com/index.php?section=2&category=17
Many thanks to those at Crack for the positive comments made.

Creative non-fiction anyone?

2010-06-06T21:18:00.000+01:00

We've had some great submissions for issue two but there's a distinct lack of creative non-fiction. Any takers? Click here to visit the website and submit or make a purchase.

Submissions

2010-05-17T20:53:00.002+01:00

Just a reminder - Prole is open to submissions for issue two. We take a wide range of poetry: structured or free, serious or light. Prose can be fiction or creative non-fiction. Whatever it is, it has to engage.
Visit the website here for details.

Prole - curious?

2010-05-02T21:55:00.001+01:00

Prole, Poetry and Prose, Issue 1 is available now. Full of quality fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry to challenge and entertain. Curious? Then visit our website at: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk to find out more. Once you’ve read Prole, you can join in and talk to our writers on our blog.

Icelandic volcano affects Prole sales

2010-04-17T14:49:00.000+01:00

Fallout from Iceland has caused our top salesperson to be stranded in France. Perhaps we should have done a foreign language version.

www.prolebooks.co.uk

Out now!

2010-04-05T20:15:00.001+01:00

Prole, Issue 1 is available now.

Visit: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk to buy.

Well worth a punt.

Issue 1 on sale, April 6th

2010-03-19T21:35:00.000Z

After much hard work, issue 1 of Prole will be available to buy through our website from April 6th.
We have an excellent collection of fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry to challenge and entertain.

For details, visit our website: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk
The purchase page will be online from April 6th.

We are open for submissions for further issues.

Cover design

2010-03-14T11:46:00.000Z

Prole is now open for submissions of cover design. For details on this and anything else Prole related, please visit our website: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk

Gone to print

2010-03-03T20:27:00.006Z

Our shiny new ISSN has arrived and Issue 1 has been sent to print. Assuming all goes well (no major hitches as yet) a release date will be announced soon.
Thank you for all submissions and messages of support. We are now reading for Issue 2 and welcome submissions for that. For full details visit: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk

Exciting times

2010-02-13T21:47:00.003Z

Exciting times at Prole. Content for issue one has been finalised and just as soon as our shiny new ISSN arrives we’ll be going to print. (Why does that take at least thirty days?) We aim to publish during May. Details will follow.
We remain open for submissions for Issue 2. Please note, submission guidelines have changed and we no longer accept reprints or simultaneous submissions. What hasn’t changed is the way we’d like submissions to be formatted. I assume our contributors are a literate bunch and it does clearly set out on our website how we’d like text presented. That being the case, why was it that about 70% of submissions did not follow guidelines, leading to a lot of extra work and swearing when setting up the final proof?
It may interest you to know that we are open to a small number of advertisements to be placed in Issue 1 and also on the website. ‘Subtle’ and ‘advertising’ are not easy bed-fellows, but please don’t ask for something spread across the cover or homepage – that isn’t going to happen.
As ever, for full details about everything, visit the website: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk

Getting ready for issue 1

2010-02-08T23:12:00.001Z

A big thank you to all those who submitted work to Prole for issue 1. We've had a very healthy number of submissions and an entertaining range of work to read. Remaining offers and notifications should be sent out soon as content is almost finalised. We remain open to submissions for issue 2. We hope to go to print within the next month, so keep an eye on the website for details about purchasing. As ever: www.prolebooks.co.uk

Going well

2010-01-24T18:18:00.003Z

The first issue of Prole, Poetry and Prose is coming together well. We are very impressed with the quality of work received and would like to thank those who have submitted so far. We initially had a publication date of June in mind. As things are going well, that may well be brought forward so long as submissions of the current quality continue to come in.
As ever: for information about the submissions process, please visit: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/

A great week for Prole

2010-01-15T23:11:00.012Z

Best news of the week: we’ve had a message of support from Bill Bryson. Yes, that Bill Bryson.
Submissions continue to come in and there have been some excellent examples of poetry and prose. A good portion of our content is firming up. We are still open to further submissions of all forms of poetry and prose but would particularly like to see examples of: nonfiction - biographical, autobiographical, historical, travel. We would also like to see more humour. A combination of the two would get us really excited. As ever: visit http://www.prolebooks.co.uk for full information.

The selection process

2010-01-10T21:21:00.004Z

Happily, we are receiving many submissions.
Following a question from one of our contributors, a word about the selection process:
Each submission is carefully read by two editors followed by a dialogue about its suitability for inclusion in Prole. We try to inform writers of work we don’t want as soon as possible. This allows them to submit elsewhere where their work may be better suited. Writers of work that is short-listed for inclusion will have to wait a little longer to be informed. Meanwhile, submissions remain open for all forms of poetry and prose. We’d still like to see a few more creative non-fiction pieces come our way. I'm informed that the poetry editor wishes to be grabbed by his balls - failing that, engaging poetry will have to do! For full details about submitting, please visit: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk

So far, so good.

2010-01-07T17:39:00.000Z

Just a couple of weeks into launching Prole and things are going well. The website works; we're listed with Duotrope; we're known by over one-hundred writers' groups and a couple of dozen writers’ websites; we’ve received many messages of support (and only one snotty message); and submissions are coming in from three continents. One thing we would like to see more of is creative non-fiction. Submissions remain open for all all forms of poetry and prose. For full details, visit: http://www.prolebooks.co.uk

Issue 1, open for submissions.

2010-01-04T21:32:00.000Z

Prole, poetry and prose, issue 1 is now open for submissions. We are that rare thing, a paying market.

If you think you have what it takes , visit out website for further details.
www.prolebooks.co.uk

Prole

Reprint!

Anti-Slavery International

We're pleased to be working with Anti-Slavery International. Prole will be aiming to help raise their profile with our readers and raise some money to support their work. Watch this space. In the meantime, why not check out their site: http://www.antislavery.org/english/

Reviews for Nan Hardwicke Turns into a Hare and Merlin's Lane

Almost sold out

Literary resolutions

Winter editorial

Merry Christmas

An early Merry Christmas from the Proles, and thanks to all of you who've bought and sold this treasure trove of poetry and prose. Contributors, you are the Proley gears and as we shift towards another year Brett and Phil salute you with their beers. All the best

Suggestions please...

Read our competition winners

Competition winners

Stuck for a Christmas gift?

Prole # 6

It's Out! Prole issue six is now available from our website http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page5.html This issue is a real rollercoaster of quality fiction, memoir and poetry. A three issue subscription to Prole is a Christmas present that would last all year!

Review for Merlin's Lane

Will the real Nan Hardwicke please stand up?

#6 to print

Christmas shopping?

Second Prole Laureate Competition

Prole lauches two poetry pamphlets

Prolitzer judged - results pending!

Cover art

Prolitzer competition closed

Last chance...

Peace One Day

Prolitzer Prize

Where do you read yours?

New Prole stockists in Liverpool

Where do you read yours?

Support your independents

Prole, issue 5 - feedback

Prole issue 5

Issue 5 - nearly here

Where do you read yours?

Editorial anyone?

Issue 5

Issue 5

Prolitzer Prize

Call for artwork

Reader/writer blog

Submissions

Issue 4 update

Editorial

Artwork

Poetry pamphlets

Highly commended from the Prole Laureate competition

Highly commended

Prole on the road

Prole on the road

Issue 4, available now.

The Prolitzer Prize

Prole Laureate winners

Creative nonfiction

Simultaneous submissions.

Competition

Compiling # 4

Graphic art

Stocked!

Editorial

Nearly there for #4

Another review

The Prole year

Edgar

Call for cover art

Prole Laureate Competition.

Happy New Year

Competition

Merry Christmas

Making payments

Competition

Only 18 days left

Issue three out now

Exciting news!

Sale!

This month

Competition reminder

Cover art

Out Now!

An early Merry Christmas from the Proles,
and thanks to all of you who've bought and sold
this treasure trove of poetry and prose.
Contributors, you are the Proley gears
and as we shift towards another year
Brett and Phil salute you with their beers.

All the best

It's Out! Prole issue six is now available from our website
http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page5.html
This issue is a real rollercoaster of quality fiction, memoir and poetry.
A three issue subscription to Prole is a Christmas present that would last all year!