In this new book of poems, his 15th, Stephen Bett writes with a striking but characteristically subtle power and beauty about the edgy romance of new beginning. The poet’s absorbing interest in a “minimalist” poetics has here met up with his longstanding admiration of the open, ranging “journal” poem as practised, at times, by such figures as Robert Creeley, Philip Whalen, Robert Grenier, Paul Blackburn, and bp nichol, and more recently by Michael Rothenberg in his wonderful book on Whalen. The minimalists, chiefly, continue to inspire: Rae Armantrout, and younger, envelope pushing poets such as Nick Demske and Craig Dworkin.

Stephen Bett has had fifteen books of poetry published: Breathing Arizona: A Journal (Ekstasis Editions, 2014); Penny-Ante Poems (Ekstasis Editions, 2013); Sound Off: a book of jazz (Thistledown Press, 2013); Re-Positioning (Ekstasis Editions, 2011); Track This: a book of relationship (BlazeVOX Books, Buffalo, N.Y., 2010); SPLIT (Ekstasis Editions, 2009); Extreme Positions: the soft-porn industry Exposed (Spuyten Duyvil Books, NYC, 2009); Sass ’n Pass (Ekstasis Editions, 2008); Three Women (Ekstasis Editions, 2006); Nota Bene Poems: A Journey (Ekstasis Editions, 2005); Trader Poets (Frog Hollow Press, 2003); High-Maintenance (Ekstasis Editions, 2003); High Design Refit (Greenboathouse Books, 2002); Cruise Control (Ekstasis Editions, 1996); Lucy Kent and other poems (Longspoon Press, 1983). A sixteenth book (a selected poems) is forthcoming from Salmon Poetry, in Ireland: The Gross & Fine Geography: New & Selected Poems.

His work has also appeared in well over 100 literary journals in Canada, the U.S., England, Australia, New Zealand, and Finland, as well as in three anthologies, and on radio.His “personal papers” have been purchased by the Simon Fraser University Library, and are, on an ongoing basis, being archived in their “Contemporary Literature Collection” for current and future scholarly interest.

Reviews of his books can be found at www.stephenbett.com. He lives in Vancouver.