Michael e. Casteels wrestles with robots in
existential-crisis, dinosaurs that refuse extinction, alphabets in various
stages of explosion/implosion, and many other serious topics, like century-long
bus rides, and the way the clouds look right now. His first collection of
poetry, The Last White House at the End of the Row of White Houses, was
published in autumn of 2016 by Invisible Publishing, and a chapbook collaboration with Nick Papaxanthos is new with above/ground press. He lives in
Kingston, where he runs Puddles of Sky Press.
Q: Tell me about your press. How long
have you been publishing, and what got you started?
Puddles
of Sky Press produces handmade chapbooks of poetry, with a focus on surrealist,
minimalist, and concrete/visual poetry.
My
friend Andrew Nurse and I started the press over 15 years ago when we were both
living in Peterborough. We started it as an avenue to help one another publish
poetry zines, which we distributed to friends and family. We shared production
materials like staplers and paper cutters and printers, and when we could, we’d
help with some printing costs for others. Through the press we also hosted a
number of poetry readings in Peterborough.
When I moved to Kingston 10 years ago I continued publishing my work under the Puddles of Sky imprint. Through Stuart Ross, the 2010 Queen’s Writer in Residence, I became aware of the broader community of chapbook presses. With some encouragement from Stuart I began publishing work from other writers. I also became more focused on the quality of my publications—moving away from zine publishing, towards finer crafted chapbooks.
When I moved to Kingston 10 years ago I continued publishing my work under the Puddles of Sky imprint. Through Stuart Ross, the 2010 Queen’s Writer in Residence, I became aware of the broader community of chapbook presses. With some encouragement from Stuart I began publishing work from other writers. I also became more focused on the quality of my publications—moving away from zine publishing, towards finer crafted chapbooks.
Q: How many times have you exhibited
at the ottawa small press fair? How do you find the experience?
Over
a dozen times now—I easily lose track of time, so I’m not sure of the exact
number.
Sometimes,
sale-wise, the fair can be hit-or-miss. Some fairs I’ll sell a whack of
chapbooks, and some fairs I’ll hardly make my gas money back. But really, if I
were in chapbook publishing to make money then I’d have been out of the game 15
years ago.
The
best part about the Ottawa Small Press Fair is the community. Most of the folks
I see there I only see there, twice a year. It’s my time to connect with other
writers, peers, and friends. I’ve made some incredible relationships through the
Ottawa Small Press Fair. They’re a welcoming bunch.
Q: Would you have made something
specific for this spring’s fair? Are you still doing that? How does the lack of
spring fair this year effect how or what you might be producing?
I
usually base my production schedules around the Small Press Fairs. I’m a
professional procrastinator. Usually the week leading up the fair has me awake
until 2:30 a.m., proofing, printing, cutting, stamping, sewing, trimming, etc. I
love that rush that leads up to the fair.
I had a few projects lined up for this June’s. One was rubber-stamped chapbook by MA|DE (a collaboration between Mark Laliberte and Jade Wallace). Another was a self-published chapbook of new minimalist poems. These two projects are on the back burner for now. I’m waiting for the impulse to start working on them. Without that impulse I’d really feel like I was forcing the production, and that would take a lot of the fun out of the project. I’m certain that drive will arise at some point in the near future.
I had a few projects lined up for this June’s. One was rubber-stamped chapbook by MA|DE (a collaboration between Mark Laliberte and Jade Wallace). Another was a self-published chapbook of new minimalist poems. These two projects are on the back burner for now. I’m waiting for the impulse to start working on them. Without that impulse I’d really feel like I was forcing the production, and that would take a lot of the fun out of the project. I’m certain that drive will arise at some point in the near future.
Q: How are you, as a small publisher,
approaching the myriad shut-downs? Is everything on hold, or are you pushing
against the silences, whether in similar or alternate ways than you might have
prior to the pandemic? How are you getting your publications out into the
world?
One
project I have continued is the Puddles of Sky Postcard Series. I’ve published
4 postcards since March. I haven’t been selling any of them, but I’ve been
sending them out to friends and family and other writers. It’s how I’ve managed
to keep in touch. Rather than sending an email or a facebook message I just jot
down a quick note and pop it in the mail. Having over 800 postcards on hand
makes that pretty easy.
Q: Have you done anything in terms of
online or virtual launches since the pandemic began? Have you attended or
participated in others? How are you attempting to connect to the larger
literary community?
To
be honest, I’ve sort of retreated from the world for the past few months. I
haven’t been on social media since mid-March, and I’ve been trying to curb my
internet activities as much as possible. I’ve never liked video calls, so I’ve
really cut myself off from the larger community for now.
On
the flip side of this I’ve been incredibly productive with my own writing and
visual art work. I feel like it’s been a good, and healthy retreat—sort of a
social hibernation. I’m back to work now, so I imagine I’ll start reconnecting
with the larger literary community before long.
Q: Has the pandemic forced you to
rethink anything in terms of production? Are there supplies or printers you
haven’t access to during these times that have forced a shift in what and how
you produce?
All
of my supplies are pretty easily accessed. Since most of my recent publications
have been rubber-stamped, I have a surplus of materials to work from. I’ve
probably got enough paper and ink to last me two or three pandemics.
Q: What are your most recent
publications? How might people still be able to order copies?
The
most recent publications are the new Puddles of Sky Postcards. Two from myself.
One from collage artist Sean F’n Gammon. And most recently, an installment of
jwcurry’s Welcome to Concrete Series.
They’re not up on the website yet, but this interview is the push I need to
update that, so expect to see them there soon.
Q: What are you working on now?
Right
now I’m working on the 9th draft of a novel. Working on a series of
comic book collages. Plus writing postcards, typing letters, and slowly crawling
out from my cave and re-entering the world at large.
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