New Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Edition of “The Haiku Handbook” Arrives

About ten days ago I got my first “author” copies of the new edition of The Haiku Handbook. I’m thrilled to say that the book is beautiful. Barry Lancet, our / my editor at Kodansha International had told me that books would be available in Japan in November, and in the states early in 2010. The book is in a trade paperback format (larger), with a lovely new cover and an inviting new Foreword by Jane Reichhold. In addition, a few other poets have offered new blurbs—including X. J. Kennedy and Jane Hirshfield. I am blessed by their generosity.

It is a wonder that the book has been in print for twenty-five years, now. How well I remember Bill’s serendipitous meeting of Bonnie Crown at the New York Bookfair (Bonnie later became his agent, and now is mine);  the years of Bill’s writing the book  (with me both helping and cheering him on); Bill’s buying us our first Kaypro computers so he could edit it down when, after he submitted the manuscript,  McGraw Hill told him they wanted a Handbook, not an Encyclopedia; and our exciting  publication party at the Armory in Manhattan. How very pleased and excited I know Bill would be to see this book come out in this handsome new edition—as am I.