BMP4 nzpoetsonline
				Blackmail Press one year on... - Doug Poole BMP is one year  on, I am one year the better for it... I began writing in 1986. Lennon & McCartney, Kilgour, Phillips & Knox rocked my world. Being 16 I felt I had a song to sing. My Brother Vincent and I started 'Deformed and Proud' ; a back beat 3 piece, to expel creative demons. Realising I was no Muso, muse was fulfilled with simple poetry - For that I am grateful. 1992 "Blackmail Press" was started to promote works my peers and I were writing at the time. We had a very cottage approach to publishing. (MS Publisher, inkjet printer and a whole lotta love). 2001 with a humble 'Homestead' acount, 'ZFree' as our ISP. We started to dream about an New Zealand based e-zine; albeit on the fringe of NZ's literary scene.  Well... along the way  Christina Conrad, Michele Leggot and Billy Marshall Stoneking gave BMP the impetus to not 'wish' to be, but become reality. June 2001, Issue 1 : A small issue by comparison to our later issues, is our biggest. Christina, Billy, Larry, David and Michele were essential guests, a coup in fact, for Anja and I to e-publish in a small 'cottage industry' e-zine. November 2001, Issue 2  : Was graced with even more special guests. Paola Bilbrough, Jayne Fenton, Richard Zola and one of our greatest 'new poet ' finds, Alexandra Ekkelenkamp. This gave us a reality; Blackmail Press was being embraced, we were finding a voice. February 2002, Issue 3: A defining issue. Christina Conrad; Guest Editor, brought an edition of poetry never seen before, edited and nutured the issue into something quite rare. This issue is our "killer track", (the best song on the album). June 2002, Issue 4 : Four issues on, BMP has become an eclectic and essential read of new and contemporary poetry. All due to some of the finest people and poets we have had the priviledge to meet.  Thank you, to all who have been a part of BMP, whether in Issue or in Spirit, you have all made a dream come true. Arohanui Doug Poole Poetry Editor Blackmail Press nzpoetsonline02B
	BMP4 nzpoetsonline

---