Outcome of our Call for Submissions

After a long and arduous, but also very rewarding, selection process, we are announcing the names of the accomplished poets whose collections will be included in our 2026–27 publication program. Our congratulations to each of these authors.

Our 2026–27 program provides opportunities for new voices as well as honouring the achievements of poets who have spent the best part of a lifetime perfecting their craft; it includes both first books from emerging poets, and collections that glean the fruits of long and distinguished careers.

We are confident that the books that we have chosen from the open submissions process will, together with the books to which we are already committed to publishing over this period, provide a rich and varied diet of nourishing poetry for all 5 Islands Press readers.

The precise publication date for each book has yet to be determined. But we have agreed on the year of publication with each of the poets whose work has been selected. This is shown, together with the title given by each poet to their manuscript, in the table below.

Author	Manuscript Titles*
2026
Annie Mairéad Hunter	Brood Chamber
Denise O'Hagan	What the Mirror Tells
Elizabeth Lewis	Everything, singing
Hemat Malak	Deep in the Woods, Autumn Winds Slow
Kate Lumley	The Multiple Effects of Entropy
Oormila V. Prahlad	Shadow Gold
2027
Bronwyn Rodden	4.51
David Bunn	Name Me the Seven Seas
Diane Fahey	The Weight of Honey
Libby Sommer	The Rub of Urban Life
Louise Nicholas	Dear Weeza
Mran-Maree	Falling Upwards
Shey Marque	Fugue State

*The title of the published book may differ; discussions on the best title for the book are a normal part of the editorial process, and often result is modifications to the title originally proposed.

We are greatly looking forward to working with each of these authors on getting their books into the world, and would like to thank them for entrusting their work to us. More details of each of their impressive manuscripts will be provided as we move through the publication process.

We would also like to thank all the other poets who responded to our call for submissions. We were overwhelmed by the quality of the poems that we received. It is heartening to know that so many talented people are dedicated to the art—and craft—of making good poetry.  It is heartbreaking that we do not have the resources to publish more of it. There is so much more of this excellent work that we would have loved to help into the world if we had the capacity to do so, and we wish these poets every success in finding another publisher for their work.  We will, at least, have the consolation of providing a small sample of it in our forthcoming anthology, Oystercatcher Two.