At the moment, Tulipwood Books is quietly one person: Lynne Ellis.
Lynne is an award-winning poet and small-press editor. She earned her Certificate in Editing from the University of Washington in 2023. Papeachu Press brought her on as co-editor in 2021. Lynne served on the editorial board at Nimrod International Journal and has participated in artist residencies in California and Washington. A lifelong collaborator, Lynne is a career stagehand and lighting designer, and holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Read their poems and résumé over at www.lynneellis.com
I started Tulipwood Books for two reasons: to collaborate with other poets, and to interrogate the poetry publication industry. These are two related goals. Writing can be such a lonely practice, and the modern systems of publication lead to so much anonymous rejection—even as we succeed at putting work into the world!
At Tulipwood, rather than accept or reject a project as-submitted, I select projects that spark my interest then work with their authors to develop a manuscript. I believe that it’s possible to cultivate, as Eduardo C. Corral says, the intellectual, linguistic, and emotional pleasures of the line, while staying faithful to one’s own poetic voice. If you agree, then I want to work with you.
Every poem is a collaboration.
No poet creates in a vacuum. At the very least, our words create meaning in the body, heart, and mind of the reader.
(some of) Our Poetics
Poetry is a form of music.
Attention to sound and rhythm is at the core of our poetics. We read for language that engages with our ear, as well as our thoughts.
Clarity helps.
Staying true to your own voice is important, and you also have to be able reach your reader. Bring a generosity to the page.
Language is a river.
Part of the tremendous joy of language is that it moves and shifts. Words pick up and let go of meaning like water over stones. One of the poet’s tasks is to help a reader celebrate that joy.
Thanks to Kory Stamper for the image above.