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John Leonard Press was started in late 2006, for publishing new Australian poetry in single-author editions. The aim is to show truly interesting work, well-edited and attractively produced to sell. We publish both new and established poets.

We are listed in Bowker's Global Books in Print. JLP is the sole distributor of its books to bookshops. Libraries can order through regular library suppliers. Orders are promptly filled (see 'Shop & Library Orders' page).

The Press began with the desire to publish five younger poets (Elizabeth Campbell, Claire Gaskin, LK Holt, Paul Magee and Petra White) whose work impresses with its originality and remarkable technical maturity. They have published widely in journals, and won awards for their poems. They give a true glimpse of the future of this art. Our other four poets thus far (Jordie Albiston, Julian Croft, Aileen Kelly and Jan Owen) are well established, and highly regarded for earlier collections — all have won national prizes for a previous book.

The publisher, John Leonard, is the experienced editor of the popular anthologies, Seven Centuries of Poetry in English (5th ed. OUP), Australian Verse (OUP), New Music (Five Islands Press), and Contemporary Australian Poetry (Houghton Mifflin). JLP books have been receiving notable reviews, from Radio National, the Age, Canberra Times, Island, Cordite, Poetry Ireland, ABR (the full set to date, March, April, May, October '07, May '08).

The schedule for future books is currently full; submissions are unable to be accepted for now.

Note that the publisher John Leonard, who is not himself a poet, has no other website.

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‘John Leonard Press produces beautiful books of poetry [with] precise standards . . .
Leonard’s aesthetic is more radical than most.’ Maria Takolander, Australian Book Review, May 2008.

‘. . . one of several handsomely produced volumes from the new John Leonard Press – the same John Leonard who, over the past few decades, has been our most thoughtful and fair-minded poetry anthologist.’ Geoff Page, The Canberra Times, July 14 2007.