I am thrilled and honoured to have one of my very favourite and special-to-me photographs on the cover of Mercy Island, a collection of new and selected poetry by Ren Powell and just published by Phoenicia.

Ren (Katherine) Powell is a writer, translator, poet, and native Californian living on the west coast of Norway. She has published four full-length collections of poetry and eleven books of translations, and her poetry has been translated and published in six languages. (more)

See also the press release on Ren’s blog* with which I’ve been delighted to recently get acquainted. I can understand Phoenicia’s editor Beth Adams’ feeling for a certain kind of connection in Ren’s Nordic home and my own Nordic roots and love of rocks in making this choice of image, with Ren’s approval as well. As Beth wrote elsewhere: “I’m so grateful for the artistic cross-fertilization that goes on here!” I am too, with my heartfelt thanks to both Beth and Ren.

Now I can hardly wait to hold and read the book. I hope interested readers will consider purchasing a copy directly from Phoenicia Publishing where more of your purchase goes to the author and to the support of independent publishing. Best of success to Ren’s new “baby” as it goes out into the world!

You may be interested in visiting my old blog post concerning this image, which I’ve always called ‘fetus rock’. Do you see another connection there?

Updates:
March 24th, 2011: More about Mercy Island, including a review by Rachen Barenblat at my post called lichen

March 31st, 2011: Another most interestingly written review including some gratifying comments about the cover by Carolee Sherwood. Thanks for sending it to me, Beth!

*August 2, 2011: I’ve just discovered Ren Powell has changed her blog and some of its contents. Visit it here.