Inaugural Publication Series

The Five Islands Press inaugural publication series was launched in 1988.

In the press release Ken Stone (Five Islands Press executive officer) writes:

“Though the mainstream publishers are making some moves to publish new poetry and short fiction, it is in small press endeavours that the future lies…Small presses can keep the overheads down, and are generally less concerned with profit. The act of publication is an expression of belief in the literary value of the works themselves.”

The original press release and catalogue were found in second-hand copies of the first books to be launched: Ron Pretty’s The Habit of Balance and Chris Mansell’s Redshift/Blueshift.

From the catalogue:

“It is the small presses which provide something out of the ordinary and give a voice to rising talent.”