About the Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene

This site was founded in 2004 by Doug Holder. It is dedicated to reviewing books of poetry, non-fiction, fiction, as well as featuring interviews of poets and writers. We also review plays, and other arts-related events. To have your book reviewed send it to: Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene  25 School St. Somerville, Mass. 02143  dougholder@post.harvard.edu (also use this contact email for inquiries about advertising)


Founded in 2004 by poet, teacher, editor, journalist, reviewer, and overall impresario Doug Holder, this serves as a model “alternative literary” site dedicated to building, reporting on, and promoting a local literary scene. In this case, while centered in Somerville, MA, the scene is that of greater Boston, which Holder boosts as the Paris of New England.  His first affinity is for beat poets, but he celebrates a generous range of local poets and fiction writers, many of them nationally known.
His weekly interviews are carried on Somerville Cable (“Poet to Poet/Writer to Writer”), transcribed and published in the Somerville Times, and featured and archived on the blog. He and his circle of regular contributors, known as “The Bagel Bards,” also write engaged and perceptive reviews of new books by locals (and each other). Recent high points include interviews with X.J. Kennedy, WTP Contributing Editor Joyce Peseroff, Margot Livesey, and the former Poet Laureate of Boston, Sam Cornish, whose book Holder had published with his indie press, Ibbetson Street.--- Dewitt Henry--(Founder of Ploughshares Magazine)