August 11, 2003

BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY’S AHSAHTA PRESS ANNOUNCES POETRY COLLECTION

Forbidden City, a first book of poetry by Peggy Hamilton of Pompano Beach, Fla., will be published in September by Ahsahta Press at Boise State University, Boise, Idaho. Hamilton’s interest is in isolation—specifically, in the isolation that comes from perceived differences. How language (languages, dialects, jargons, codes, even speech defects) collaborates in this closing-off is the primary investigation here, but Hamilton also creates characters and narratives as complex as in the best novels. Her characters inhabit imperial walled gardens, individual Miami neighborhoods, bedrooms, churches and children’s hiding places. In these settings, the language used allows some people to speak freely and bond with each other — but also marks them as “other” as they close out outsiders. The passionate and disparate voices of this volume belong to individuals within communities: people in their daily lives — lives many of us never see. “This is a daring book,” said Janet Holmes, director of Ahsahta Press and an English professor at Boise State. “Hamilton risks a lot, being herself an outsider, in bringing the characters in Forbidden City to light. Still, its riskiness is what makes it compelling poetry, and that, along with its humor, heart and heartbreaking honesty, makes us question our assumptions and marvel in the world’s intricate structures.” “Forbidden City is a book of complex and visceral virtues, where the implicit meets the explicit, and dialect becomes dialectical,” poet Campbell McGrath said. “Peggy Hamilton’s poetry is alive, authentic and empowered, not to mention formally inventive and full of conviction.” Hamilton is the current recipient of the State of Florida Individual Artist Fellowship in Literature for poetry. A native Miamian, she has taught middle and high school students, many of whom are in residential foster or substance abuse programs or corrections facilities. This is her first book. Forbidden City marks the 62nd book from Ahsahta Press. Ahsahta, a word from the Native American Mandan language, means “Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.” The press has produced volumes by such poets as Sandra Alcosser, David Baker, Linda Bierds, Wyn Cooper, Linda Dyer, Lisa Fishman, Lance Phillips and Heather Sellers. The Sawtooth Poetry Prize, inaugurated in 2002,  has been awarded twice, to Aaron McCollough of Ann Arbor, Mich., for his book Welkin, and to Graham Foust of Des Moines, Iowa, for Leave the Room to Itself. Peggy Hamilton’s Forbidden City will be available in September from the Boise State University Bookstore, 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725; from Small Press Distribution; from Amazon.com, or from Ahsahta Press at 208 426-2195 or http://ahsahtapress.boisestate.edu. -30- Forbidden City by Peggy Hamilton ISBN 0-916272-75-3 trade paper 124 pages • 6” x 8” • $14.95 Contact Janet Holmes Department of English 208 426-2195 jholmes@boisestate.edu Media Contact Kathleen Craven Boise State communications and marketing 208 426-3275 kcraven@boisestate.edu

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