Black Ocean
@blackoceanbooks.bsky.social
Black Ocean is an award-winning, nonprofit publisher based in Chicago. We are the home of groundbreaking poetry and a community of bold, uncompromising voices from Zachary Schomburg to Aase Berg. www.blackocean.org
Congratulations to Colin Leemarshall, translator of JUST LIKE, the 2025 recipient of the Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize! "Leemarshall's translation is fearless, reconstructing Lee Sumyeong’s syntactical components into an English that is as challenging as it is rewarding." 🔥 📖 👏
November 7, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Congratulations to Colin Leemarshall, translator of JUST LIKE, the 2025 recipient of the Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize! "Leemarshall's translation is fearless, reconstructing Lee Sumyeong’s syntactical components into an English that is as challenging as it is rewarding." 🔥 📖 👏
Los Angeles City College, in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles, hosted a “Poetry Class with Oh Eun,” celebrating the English translation of his collection From Being to Being. Watch a video of the event's highlights: buff.ly/z95nMi5
November 2, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Los Angeles City College, in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles, hosted a “Poetry Class with Oh Eun,” celebrating the English translation of his collection From Being to Being. Watch a video of the event's highlights: buff.ly/z95nMi5
Many congratulations to 2025 Colin Leemarshall, translator of *Just Like* by Lee Sumyeong, shortlisted for the National Translation Award in Poetry! Check out the book and others in the Moon Country series here: buff.ly/mxFZzww 👏 🔥
October 9, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Many congratulations to 2025 Colin Leemarshall, translator of *Just Like* by Lee Sumyeong, shortlisted for the National Translation Award in Poetry! Check out the book and others in the Moon Country series here: buff.ly/mxFZzww 👏 🔥
We are thrilled and honored to have not one but TWO Moon Country books on the short-list for the 2025 Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize from ALTA! Many congratulations to translators Spencer Lee-Lenfield (BIOLOGICITY) AND Colin Leemarshall (JUST LIKE)! 🔥 bit.ly/3VcIkTT
September 11, 2025 at 4:26 PM
We are thrilled and honored to have not one but TWO Moon Country books on the short-list for the 2025 Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize from ALTA! Many congratulations to translators Spencer Lee-Lenfield (BIOLOGICITY) AND Colin Leemarshall (JUST LIKE)! 🔥 bit.ly/3VcIkTT
Many congratulations to Colin Leemarshall, translator of JUST LIKE by Lee Sumyeong, which has been longlisted for the 2025 National Translation Award in Poetry by the American Literary Translators Association! 🙌
September 4, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Many congratulations to Colin Leemarshall, translator of JUST LIKE by Lee Sumyeong, which has been longlisted for the 2025 National Translation Award in Poetry by the American Literary Translators Association! 🙌
Tomorrow! Don't miss Black Ocean's own Nathan Hoks + some very special Chicago poets at this pre-Printers Row Showcase. Friday, September 5th at the Whistler. 6-8:30.
September 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Tomorrow! Don't miss Black Ocean's own Nathan Hoks + some very special Chicago poets at this pre-Printers Row Showcase. Friday, September 5th at the Whistler. 6-8:30.
Next week! Don't miss Black Ocean's own Nathan Hoks + some very special Chicago poets at this pre-Printers Row Showcase. Friday, September 5th at the Whistler. 6-8:30.
August 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Next week! Don't miss Black Ocean's own Nathan Hoks + some very special Chicago poets at this pre-Printers Row Showcase. Friday, September 5th at the Whistler. 6-8:30.
Don't miss Black Ocean's own Nathan Hoks + some very special Chicago poets at this pre-Printers Row Showcase. Friday, September 5th at the Whistler. 6-8:30.
August 18, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Don't miss Black Ocean's own Nathan Hoks + some very special Chicago poets at this pre-Printers Row Showcase. Friday, September 5th at the Whistler. 6-8:30.
It's time for the annual Sealey Challenge to read 31 books of poetry during August. To help you achieve this goal, we’re offering a pretty extreme sale: 31 books for $169 + free shipping. Check out the all new list here: bit.ly/4fbQ5T3
August 1, 2025 at 1:27 PM
It's time for the annual Sealey Challenge to read 31 books of poetry during August. To help you achieve this goal, we’re offering a pretty extreme sale: 31 books for $169 + free shipping. Check out the all new list here: bit.ly/4fbQ5T3
Join our list! Last day to submit your manuscript as part of our current open reading period for full-length poetry manuscripts. Full details here: buff.ly/8p7zTHN
July 31, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Join our list! Last day to submit your manuscript as part of our current open reading period for full-length poetry manuscripts. Full details here: buff.ly/8p7zTHN
It's almost time for the annual Sealey Challenge to read 31 books of poetry during August. To help you achieve this goal, we’re offering a pretty extreme sale: 31 books for $169 + free shipping. Check out the all new list here: bit.ly/4fbQ5T3
July 29, 2025 at 2:24 PM
It's almost time for the annual Sealey Challenge to read 31 books of poetry during August. To help you achieve this goal, we’re offering a pretty extreme sale: 31 books for $169 + free shipping. Check out the all new list here: bit.ly/4fbQ5T3
Tomorrow! Don't miss Black Ocean's own Tessa Bolsover, Spencer Lee-Lenfield, and James Shea with an introduction by Janaka Stucky in person at Grolier Poetry Book Shop or via Zoom on June 25 at 7 PM ET. Sign up here: buff.ly/JHsaA9C
July 24, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Tomorrow! Don't miss Black Ocean's own Tessa Bolsover, Spencer Lee-Lenfield, and James Shea with an introduction by Janaka Stucky in person at Grolier Poetry Book Shop or via Zoom on June 25 at 7 PM ET. Sign up here: buff.ly/JHsaA9C
Next week! Don't miss Black Ocean's own Tessa Bolsover, Spencer Lee-Lenfield, and James Shea with an introduction by Janaka Stucky in person at Grolier Poetry Book Shop or via Zoom on June 25 at 7 PM ET. Sign up here: buff.ly/JHsaA9C
June 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Next week! Don't miss Black Ocean's own Tessa Bolsover, Spencer Lee-Lenfield, and James Shea with an introduction by Janaka Stucky in person at Grolier Poetry Book Shop or via Zoom on June 25 at 7 PM ET. Sign up here: buff.ly/JHsaA9C
Don't miss Black Ocean's own Tessa Bolsover, Spencer Lee-Lenfield, and James Shea with an introduction by Janaka Stucky in person at Grolier Poetry Book Shop or via Zoom on June 25 at 7 PM ET. Sign up here: buff.ly/JHsaA9C
June 1, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Don't miss Black Ocean's own Tessa Bolsover, Spencer Lee-Lenfield, and James Shea with an introduction by Janaka Stucky in person at Grolier Poetry Book Shop or via Zoom on June 25 at 7 PM ET. Sign up here: buff.ly/JHsaA9C
When isn’t a good time #ReadTheWorld with @LitTranslate? Join us in celebrating the 5th anniversary of #ReadTheWorld, the virtual book fair that honors translators and their publishers. Explore our diverse poetry collection from languages like Korean, Spanish, and Japanese here: buff.ly/OKEd0L6
May 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
When isn’t a good time #ReadTheWorld with @LitTranslate? Join us in celebrating the 5th anniversary of #ReadTheWorld, the virtual book fair that honors translators and their publishers. Explore our diverse poetry collection from languages like Korean, Spanish, and Japanese here: buff.ly/OKEd0L6
Celebrate our 5th anniversary of #ReadTheWorld with @LitTranslate! Join our online book fair honoring translators and publishers until May 27th. Explore poetry from Korean, Spanish, and Japanese at: buff.ly/OKEd0L6 #BookLovers
May 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Celebrate our 5th anniversary of #ReadTheWorld with @LitTranslate! Join our online book fair honoring translators and publishers until May 27th. Explore poetry from Korean, Spanish, and Japanese at: buff.ly/OKEd0L6 #BookLovers
Our friends over at Woodland Pattern bookstore are offering an incredible small press bundle subscription. And, if you subscribe by June 15th, you'll receive Tessa Bolsover's new book from Black Ocean, CRANE. Find out more:
Small-Press Bundle: Three New Titles Every Month
Join Woodland Pattern's subscription program and help us make large, sustaining purchases from poetry publishers! Each month, you will receive THREE small-press poetry titles, curated by our staff,…
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May 20, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Our friends over at Woodland Pattern bookstore are offering an incredible small press bundle subscription. And, if you subscribe by June 15th, you'll receive Tessa Bolsover's new book from Black Ocean, CRANE. Find out more:
Join us in celebrating the 5th anniversary of #ReadTheWorld with @LitTranslate! This virtual book fair honors translators and their publishers until 5/27. Explore our diverse poetry collection from languages like Korean, Spanish, and Japanese here: buff.ly/OKEd0L6 #BookLovers
May 15, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Join us in celebrating the 5th anniversary of #ReadTheWorld with @LitTranslate! This virtual book fair honors translators and their publishers until 5/27. Explore our diverse poetry collection from languages like Korean, Spanish, and Japanese here: buff.ly/OKEd0L6 #BookLovers
We’re excited to join @LitTranslate for the 5th year of #ReadTheWorld, an online bookfair
celebrating translators and their publishers through 5/27! You can find our extensive lists of poetry in translation from Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Japanese, and more here: buff.ly/OKEd0L6
celebrating translators and their publishers through 5/27! You can find our extensive lists of poetry in translation from Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Japanese, and more here: buff.ly/OKEd0L6
May 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
We’re excited to join @LitTranslate for the 5th year of #ReadTheWorld, an online bookfair
celebrating translators and their publishers through 5/27! You can find our extensive lists of poetry in translation from Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Japanese, and more here: buff.ly/OKEd0L6
celebrating translators and their publishers through 5/27! You can find our extensive lists of poetry in translation from Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Japanese, and more here: buff.ly/OKEd0L6
April 30th marks the anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, and to meet this moment is a powerful collection of poems that bridge divides between nations and generations from award-winning author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai. Read more about THE COLOR OF PEACE and buy it here: buff.ly/svNKVvP
April 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM
April 30th marks the anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, and to meet this moment is a powerful collection of poems that bridge divides between nations and generations from award-winning author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai. Read more about THE COLOR OF PEACE and buy it here: buff.ly/svNKVvP
Calling all Portland-based Bill Knott fans. Don't miss this celebration of the re-issue of Bill Knott's THE NAOMI POEMS from Black Ocean on April 10 at Blackfish Gallery.
April 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Calling all Portland-based Bill Knott fans. Don't miss this celebration of the re-issue of Bill Knott's THE NAOMI POEMS from Black Ocean on April 10 at Blackfish Gallery.
Discover THE COLOR OF PEACE, the debut English poetry collection by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, acclaimed author of The Mountains Sing. Her poems offer a profound reflection on healing and hope across cultures and eras. Purchase it now: www.blackocean.org/catalog1/col...
April 2, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Discover THE COLOR OF PEACE, the debut English poetry collection by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, acclaimed author of The Mountains Sing. Her poems offer a profound reflection on healing and hope across cultures and eras. Purchase it now: www.blackocean.org/catalog1/col...
Tonight! We're bringing you another amazing event with this #AWP25 off-site reading featuring our authors and poets from some of our favorite publishers. The Kulta from 6-10 PM!
March 28, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Tonight! We're bringing you another amazing event with this #AWP25 off-site reading featuring our authors and poets from some of our favorite publishers. The Kulta from 6-10 PM!
Attending #AWP25? Don't miss our author signings today with Nate Hoks, Jordan Windholz,
Ben Meyerson, and James Shea! Get a fancy autograph on your favorite new books!
Ben Meyerson, and James Shea! Get a fancy autograph on your favorite new books!
March 28, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Attending #AWP25? Don't miss our author signings today with Nate Hoks, Jordan Windholz,
Ben Meyerson, and James Shea! Get a fancy autograph on your favorite new books!
Ben Meyerson, and James Shea! Get a fancy autograph on your favorite new books!
Tomorrow! We're bringing you another amazing night with this #AWP25 off-site reading featuring our authors and poets from some of our favorite publishers. The Kulta from 6-10 PM!
March 27, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Tomorrow! We're bringing you another amazing night with this #AWP25 off-site reading featuring our authors and poets from some of our favorite publishers. The Kulta from 6-10 PM!