Earth Island Books To Release “In Pursuit of Expression” By Martin Appleby On April 4th

This collection brings together all of Martin Appleby’s small press poetry publications that were released between 2016 and 2024. From the early musings of his 20s to staring down the barrel of 40, and all the heartbreak, hangovers, and bad decisions he has made along the way.These poems are full of heart, hope, and unguarded honesty. They will make you laugh and they will make you cry. A journey through the highs and lows of modern life through the eyes of a cider drinking, vegetarian, scumbag punk!

I first encountered Martin Appleby’s poetry many, many years ago and I’ve followed his work closely ever since. What I like about Martin’s poetry is that it is brutally honest, and funny. There is humour there, which most poets lack because they don’t possess a funny bone. He writes about the mundane, the everyday, relationship break-ups, crap jobs, noisy neighbours, black-outs, and failure. Advertisements from the Edge of Hell. There is an air of resignation lurking amidst his stanzas, the awful reality that most people sacrifice their dreams and settle for a safe, but mediocre existence. Empty lives. Some fill this void by buying stuff, raising children, or becoming resolutely ambitious. Martin fills his void with poetry, which when you think about it, is a wondrous concept. In Pursuit of Expression is the collected work of Martin’s poetical output, spanning the years 2016 – 2024, and I can guarantee that after reading it, you will feel a whole lot better. – Joseph Ridgwell (Author of Burrito Deluxe)

About the author: Martin Appleby was born in Hastings, England, circa 1987. If you read all of the poems in this book then you already know more about him than his own mother does. If his own mother read all of the poems in this book then he apologises to her for all of the swearing drinking and drug taking. Martin started ‘Paper and Ink literary zine’ in 2013. A print magazine where he could publish the kind of offbeat, off the wall writing that he wanted to read by writers who would otherwise be ignored by traditional publishing. At the time of writing there have been eighteen issues published. In 2021 he started ‘Scumbag Press’ where he publishes poetry chapbooks by his favourite poets.  He currently resides in his hometown with his wife Anneka and their cat Boe.