Catalog

Dive into the enchanting world of poetry and short form writing with our curated collections. From classic rhythms to contemporary expressions, explore a diverse array of voices and emotions. Each carefully selected volume promises a journey through the profound beauty of language. Elevate your reading experience and discover the genius of poetry, short-form, and art.

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2025:

Dreams of the Return / Alan Bern

In Dreams of the Return, Bern remembers being a teenager in the mid-sixties, living in Napoli for just one year with his family, and falling in love with it as if it were his true second home.

Napoli was a city of extremes, beauty and chaos, the bests in terms of food (Christmas cookies –roccoco napoletani– and pizza pie!). The young people were the most beautiful he had ever encountered though, as they got older, they began to sag into an uncomfortable and often unpleasant aging. The traffic was monumental, and the pick-pockets were so numerous! Menacing Vulcano Vesuvius loomed over all with the beautiful blues of the Bay of Naples in the background as some relief.

Join Bern as he recounts his travels in Napoli and Southern Italy through poetry, prose, and photos.

Jonah’s Map of the Whale and Other Poems / Anthony Doyle

Old Scratch Press implores you to dive into the mythic in JONAH’S MAP OF THE WHALE AND OTHER POEMS, a daring and dazzling collection from Anthony Doyle. In the submerged world of Flounder— part everyman, part flatfish—shipwrecked longing, philosophical wit, and lyrical precision converge. A poetic deep-sea dive into the soul, accessible to poetry and literature fans alike, JONAH’S MAP OF THE WHALE AND OTHER POEMS shimmers with heartbreak, absurdity, and revelation across the tide pools of memory and myth.

Tracing Bodies / Virginia Watts

Old Scratch Press is entranced by the collection, TRACING BODIES, by Virginia Watts. In this collection Watts maps the delicate, aching terrain of memory, love, and loss with unflinching honesty. These poems pulse with the ghosts of the past—childhood shadows, family echoes, and the quiet, enduring presence of the natural world. With lyrical precision and a storyteller’s heart, Watts invites us into a world where the past lingers, grief hums beneath the surface, and beauty can be found in even the most fleeting moments.

2024:

Recipes From My Garden: Herbs and Memoir Short Prose and Poetry / Nadja Maril

Old Scratch Press is delighted to offer the recipient of the Midwest Review California Book Watch Reviewer’s Choice, RECIPES FROM MY GARDEN by Nadja Maril, flash prose, poetry, and essays inspired by her kitchen, garden, and family memories. A National Book Award nominee, RECIPES FROM MY GARDEN is a sensual feast for the soul that mines simple objects for meaning and creates a lavish buffet for the readers.

No Ocean Spit Me Out / Gabby Gilliam

NO OCEAN SPIT ME OUT is a captivating debut collection of poetry from author Gabby Gilliam. Old Scratch Press is moved to offer this collection that delves deep into the intricate tapestry of family dynamics and personal evolution. A 2024 National Book Award nominee NO OCEAN SPIT ME OUT embarks on a profound journey through life’s stages, navigating the complexities of familial bonds and embracing the essence of self-acceptance.

The Song of North Mountain / Morgan Golladay

From the mighty pen of artist and author Morgan Golladay, Old Scratch Press is excited to present The Song of North Mountain, a transformative collection of poetry and art celebrating the famous and mystical North Mountain of Appalachia. A 2024 National Book Award nominee.

2023:

white noir / by Robert Fleming

Old Scratch Press proudly unveils the sensational collection white noir.by none other than the avant-garde wordsmith and visual artist, Robert Fleming. A Feast for the Mind and the Eyes, white noir is more than poetry; it’s a a tapestry of emotions on paper. Brace yourself for an electrifying literary experience that shatters the boundaries of storytelling.

Break in the Field / by Ellis Elliott

Old Scratch Press is proud to share our first collection with you, BREAK IN THE FIELD. Written by Ellis Elliott, BREAK IN THE FIELD is a captivating and heartfelt poetry collection. A 2023 National Book Award nominee title, this outstanding collection is a work you’ll want to revisit time and again.