Kettillonia: New Scottish Writing

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"At a time when the poetry equivalent of the corporate big boys are playing it safer than ever, it's a genuine cause for rejoicing that small presses in Scotland can produce work of this quality." [NorthWords]

In the last few years Scottish poetry has received a much-needed shot in the arm from an explosion in pamphlet-publishing, helped by the establishment of the Callum Macdonald Memorial Award (see www.scottish-pamphlet-poetry.com) and a general recognition that small is not just beautiful but also efficient in connecting readers with quality writing.

KeTtilLonia has played its part in these developments, and continues to do so. We start with two new publications, and also bring to your attention one that slipped in under the radar just over a year ago.

was launched ten years ago but our aim is the same as it ever was – to put 'original, adventurous, neglected and rare writing' into print. We think the three pamphlets we're highlighting in keep to that agenda.

Read more about these on this website and, if you're tempted to buy them, remember that KeTtilLonia pamphlets tend not to be around for long: of the backlist titles still available, several are down to the last few copies, so buy now if you don't want to be disappointed later.

New Title, May 2010:

"DRUM OF STONE", by Humberto Ak'abal: Drum of Stone is Kettillonia's first full-length book publication. It is a selection of the work of the celebrated Guatemalan Maya Indian poet Humberto Ak'abal, reproducing his poetry in English and Scots translation (from the Spanish) alongside examples of his work in the original K'iche'. Drum of Stone is published to coincide with Ak'abal's first ever visit to Scotland, indeed to the U.K., in May 2010.

Visit the Drum of Stone website

Kettillonia titles can be purchased securely via this website, care of PayPal, the global leader in payment solutions.

See details and extracts from:

Hem an Heid: Ballads, Sangs, Saws

A Tunnel of Love

A Tapsalteerie Touer

more ...

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New Titles

The poems in Ayont the Dyke, lyrical but challenging, carry echoes of the Scots voices of fishermen from the north-east which he heard in childhood long before he encountered spoken English. There is too in MacNeacail’s work a MacDiarmid-like willingness to seek out rare, rich words and their subtle meanings, and this gives these poems both an economy and expansiveness that is fresh, stimulating and uncommon in contemporary Scots verse.