"People think it's impossible to get
published," said Doug Holder, a Somerville poet, founder of the
Ibbetson Street Press and the Arts Editor for The Somerville News, "but
with small presses, it can be easier than they think."

On
Monday, February 23rd, from 7-9 pm at 530 Mystic Avenue, Mr. Holder
will talk about how new writers can publish their work through small
and independent presses, or even create their own small press. He will
speak from experience in the industry, which includes running Ibbetson
Street Press, a poetry journal and publisher that produces the work of
about 7 new authors a year.

Attendees will have a chance to
participate in creative writing exercises, and will also hear from
guest speaker C.D. Collins, whose book of poetry was recently published
by Ibbetson Street.

The free event is part of the Youth &
Community Writers Series organized by Books of Hope, a collaboration
between the Mystic Learning Center, a nonprofit affiliated with the
Mystic Housing Development in Somerville, and the Somerville Arts
Council.

For the past decade, Books of Hope has sought to help
urban teens achieve self-expression and advocacy through creative
writing. The non-profit's writing workshops teach poetry, short story,
memoir, and non-fiction, and publishes books written by participants.
According to Florence Bergman, the director of the Mystic Learning
Center, Books of Hope has published over 125 young authors, who keep
all the proceeds from their book sales.