Hank's Original Loose Gravel Press

Hank's Original Loose Gravel Press — also known simply as Hank's Original or Loose Gravel — is an American small press dedicated to publishing new poetry and "poming," along with a planned literary journal. According to its official site, the press issues chapbooks (which it calls "chappers") and maintains a literary magazine, Loose Gravel, devoted to what it describes as uncommercial, post-capitalist poetry, criticism, and intellectual discourse. The press traces its lineage to the original Loose Gravel, founded in 1987 by Henry Mancini together with Jim McCrary and Steve Tills. That earlier venture produced a small number of homespun, staple-bound issues and published a circle of poets associated with David Bromige and the Sonoma, California poetry scene of the mid-1980s. Contributors included Cydney Chadwick, Christopher Reiner, D. A. Powell, Jayne McPherson, Ann Erickson, T.C. Marshall, Paul Mariah, Catherine Bowers, Pat Nolan, Carol Ciavonne, Patricia Hartnet, and Barbara Weber, among others. The current incarnation of the press continues that tradition. Its recent chapbooks include Judith Roitman's "Slackline," Eric Selland's "Still Lifes," Aldon Nielsen's "MANTIC SEMANTIC," and j/j hastain's "queer phylactery." The press also announced a revived Loose Gravel magazine, with a first 2012 issue planned to feature poetry and close readings of David Bromige and friends from Sonoma circa 1985. As a small press, Hank's Original Loose Gravel Press operates outside mainstream commercial publishing, positioning itself as a home for experimental and non-generic literary work. It is based in the United States and distributes its titles directly and through small-press channels.

Hank's Original Loose Gravel Press is an American small press whose history begins with the original Loose Gravel, founded in 1987 by Henry Mancini along with Jim McCrary and Steve Tills. According to the press's official site, that first venture produced two or three "ecstatically homespun 'staple-job' issues" and published primarily a circle of poets connected to David Bromige and the mid-1980s Sonoma, California poetry scene. Contributors to those early issues included Cydney Chadwick, Christopher Reiner, D. A. Powell, Jayne McPherson, Ann Erickson, T.C. Marshall, Paul Mariah, Catherine Bowers, Pat Nolan, Carol Ciavonne, Patricia Hartnet, and Barbara Weber, alongside the three founders. The site also names Cecelia Belle, Steven Farmer, Susan Gevirtz, Cole Swensen, Trane DeVore, Jonah Raskin, Gerald Rosen, Elizabeth Herron, and Terry Ehret as part of the wider circle around the original project. The press was later revived or continued under the name Hank's Original Loose Gravel Press, also known as Hank's Original or simply Loose Gravel. In its current form it publishes new poetry and "poming," issuing chapbooks that it calls "chappers." Recent titles named on its site include Judith Roitman's "Slackline," Eric Selland's "Still Lifes," Aldon Nielsen's "MANTIC SEMANTIC," and j/j hastain's "queer phylactery." The press has also announced a revived literary journal, Loose Gravel magazine, described as a regularly maintained, "spanky fresh, frankly non-generic" journal of uncommercial, post-capitalist, pre-compassionalist poetry, criticism, and intellectual discourse. Its first 2012 issue was planned to feature poetry and close readings of David Bromige and friends from Sonoma circa 1985, tying the new venture back to the original 1980s Loose Gravel circle. As a small press, Hank's Original Loose Gravel Press operates outside mainstream commercial publishing. It is based in the United States and distributes its chapbooks and magazine directly and through small-press channels. Its catalog and editorial identity are closely tied to experimental and avant-garde poetry communities.

• 2012

  Planned first issue of the revived Loose Gravel magazine, featuring poetry and close readings of David Bromige and friends from Sonoma circa 1985.

• 1987

  Henry Mancini, Jim McCrary, and Steve Tills found the original Loose Gravel.

Uncommercial, post-capitalist, experimental small-press poetry and literary discourse.

• Slackline

• Still Lifes

• MANTIC SEMANTIC

• queer phylactery

• Loose Gravel magazine

1. 1Hank's Original Loose Gravel Press official websitetherepublicofcalifornia.com
2. 2Wikidata: Hank's Original Loose Gravel Presswikidata.org