William Allegrezza

William Allegrezza was born in Jackson, Mississippi, but after he turned eighteen, he moved around the South, from Dallas to Baton Rouge, until he made his migration to Chicago. Bill just recently left Chicago after living there seven years to Kalamazoo, MI. During his moves, he managed to pick up English and Comparative literature degrees from the University of Dallas and Louisiana State University, and also managed to teach at Indiana University Northwest, Western Michigan University, Roosevelt University, Columbia College, Louisiana State University, and Morton College. He is married with his first child on the way.

William Allegrezza edits the e-zine Moria and the press Cracked Slab Books. Bill has published four books, In the Weaver’s Valley, Ladders in July, Fragile Replacements, and Covering Over; one anthology, The City Visible: Chicago Poetry for the New Century; seven chapbooks, including Sonoluminescence (co-written with Simone Muench) and Filament Sense (forthcoming with Ypolita Press); and many poetry reviews, articles, and poems. Bill curates series A, a reading series in Chicago dedicated to experimental writing. In addition, he occasionally post his thoughts at http://allegrezza.blogspot.com.

Publication Questions:


1) What projects are you currently on? (Include issue #s, books, chapbooks, broadsides, special projects, print and web).

I’m working on putting out the next few issues of the e-zine Moria; plus, I’m trying to publish some books/e-books under Moria Books. Happily, I am handing out some guest editing positions for the coming year. One issue especially has me excited, for Brian Whitener has plans for a visually-oriented issue that sounds like it will be quite good.

I’m also in the process of publishing two books with Cracked Slab Books, the press I co-edit with Raymond Bianchi. One is a translation from Italian of a book by Marcello Frixione.

2) What has been your biggest challenge as a poetry publisher/editor?

Time. I receive so many submissions for Moria; plus, once I finally decide on what to use, putting it together in web format or book format takes up the free time I have. Since there is no money involved, the process always takes a back seat to projects that help pay the bills

3) Do you regret any paths you have followed as a publisher/editor?

I regret only that I’ve taken on too much at times. Being the editor of an e-zine/e-book publisher and the editor for a traditional press has been overwhelming. Poets can be very demanding—expecting an editor to respond quickly to everything, even minor issues. I wish I could respond quickly, but that does not happen often.

4) Name one poet who has not appeared in your publication which you would love to have included and why.

Charles Bernstein. His work was a huge influence on me when I began Moria, so I would like to see his work represented in it.

5) Who is the designer of your web site and how much input do you have in the design of the web site and the other design elements including covers for books, etc.?

I do most of the design work for the website; however, I often have help with book covers. I’m really too interested in controlling the look at times. I want the website to be clear and free of clutter so that readers can focus on the work and not on the publication that presents the work.

6) What recognitions have you received as a publisher/editor?

I’ve been invited to speak about the e-zine and the press that I run at several colleges; plus, reviews of works have often mentioned the press or website. Still, my favorite recognitions have come on an individual level, however, from poets and readers of the works.

7) Where do you see your publication/editing in 5 years?

I’d like to see the press I edit, Cracked Slab Books, build its booklist and start supporting more readings for its work. For Moria, I’d like to see it continue to produce interesting issues, but I’d also like to bring in more people to work on it so that I can step away from it a little. I used to have more time to work on it than I do now, but I’d like to see it continue.

8) What are some of your other interests?

Hiking, cooking, sailing, playing music.

9) What is your favorite poem as of today and why?

Charles Olson’s “Maximus, to himself.” Why? It’s in my head, repeating over and over. Poems do that with me quite often. I’ll be sitting at a stoplight, and in my head like a click track, I hear the lines of some poem. Today that poem is by Olson. Besides being a fascinating poem and what I take to be a commentary on the poetic life, it touches me close to the heart with words I could have chosen and topics from my own head.

10) Recommend a poetry book, blog or web site to our audience (not from one of your press) and why.

Any poetry book by Anselm Hollo. As for a poetry web site, I’d suggest Penn Sound. They have a wonderful collection of recorded poetry.

11) What is the most exciting aspect of being a poetry publisher/editor?

I enjoy getting to see work by interesting writers and communicating with them. I also think of myself as keeping an outlet open for the experimental in poetry, an outlet that can be accessed around the globe. That’s probably the main reason that I do it.

12) Leave us with a recipe for poetry.

Read as much as you can from as many time periods and in as many different styles and languages that you can. Then forget it. Leave it behind and allow yourself to enter the creative flow, as chaotic as it might seem—right when you know you are there, write.