Handsel Press

22/12/2023

HAPPY CHRISTMAS and all the best for the NEW YEAR from HANDSEL

The photo below is a display by Margaret Stein for her ‘Wee Art Group’with ‘Mary’ as the theme.

And Mary said:

I’m bursting with God-news;
I’m dancing the song of my Saviour God . . .

What God has done for me will never be forgotten, t
he God whose very name is holy . . .

His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him . . .
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud

The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
The callous rich were left out in the cold . . .

It’s exactly what he promised,beginning with Abraham,
and right up to now.

[From the Magnificat,in the Message version]

08/12/2023

"This Saturday we team up with Tyne and Esk Writers at the Pamphlet Fair in the Scottish Poetry Library."

13/10/2023

Thomas Torrance in local dress - an example for any communicator - taken from the cover of Thomas Torrance, China and the Qiang, launched a week ago.

16/09/2023

Our new book about Thomas Torrance, missionary and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, is to be launched on October 7th.

Through his letters and articles Thomas Torrance, American Bible Society missionary in Chengdu, provides us with unique insights into the demise of the Qing dynasty, the turmoil of China’s Republican period, and the rise of Communism. We are also given a window into Qiang culture of the early 20th century, and follow Torrance’s quest to unearth more about the origins of the Qiang people, whose customs seem strangely reminiscent of some Old Testament practices.

02/09/2023

"Our book on Thomas Torrance Torrance, China and the Qiang will be launched on October 7th. (see below). Did you know that his son James Torrance once met with President De Clerk in South Africa, and helped him understand why Apartheid was bad theology, which in turned opened the way for Nelson Mandela to be released?"

30/08/2023

written by an independent scholar on China, Rachel Meakin, this insightful new book follows Thomas Torrance's quest to know more about the Qiang people. It will be launched on October 7th in Abbey Church, North Berwick, 10.30-11am.

12/08/2023

"A rapt audience at the launch of Jenny Robertson's Ukraine: a personal exploration before Putin's invasion"

credit David Healey ARPS

22/07/2023

Thomas Torrance was a missionary and archaeologist in China. Although in his lifetime the Communist regime hunted him, a few years ago they opened a museum honouring his work among the Qiang people. A book about him is coming out in the autumn.

07/07/2023

Jenny Robertson has just written what is likely to be her final book, on Ukraine: a personal exploration before Putin's invasion. It will be launched in Edinburgh on August 12th.

25/06/2023

Thomas Torrance, China and the Qiang is coming out in the autumn. Thomas Torrance was the patriarch of the Torrance theological dynasty. His son David still lives in North Berwick and was 99 last week!

15/06/2023

delighted to say that due to high demand 'Conversations by the Sea' has gone to second printing.

15/06/2023

Sold some Handsel Press books for Christian Aid this week . . .

19/04/2023

Andrew Rollinson introduces 'Conversations by the Sea' at the book launch today

17/04/2023

How nice to come home today and find a copy of 'Conversations by the Sea' waiting for me. Don't miss the chance to get your copy at the Book Launch on Wednesday including a meet and greet with the author, Andrew Rollinson. (See details below)

31/03/2023

18/03/2023

Did you know that Handsel published useful short 'Nutshell Booklets' on some of the great figures of the 20th century? John MacMurray, William Barclay, T.F. Torrance, James Stewart - as well as earlier figures like Duns Scotus and the Philosopher Thomas Reid. And did you know that Thomas Reid (Gasgow) once sent his ideas across to David Hume (Edinburgh) to see what he thought. Hume ignored what was to become Scottish Common Sense Philosophy, and told Reid to 'get rid of his Scotticisms' - not David Hume's finest hour.

05/03/2023

Thursday night workshops on Temple and Tartan have started,and here is the outline:

18/02/2023

The Sanctuary First Book Club will feature five Zoom sessions on Thursdays in March, starting on 2nd at 7.30pm, with Jock Stein leading an evening discussion on his book Temple and Tartan, see

Temple and Tartan Book Club Jock Stein's latest book, "Temple and Tartan" is a new, fulsome and poetic exploration of each of the Psalms. Clearly rooted in Jock's Scottish heritage, its expostion and themes are global in reach and topic. Join us, together with Jock Stein each Thursday (at 7.30pm) ...

04/02/2023

CDs of Jock Stein reading his poems on the Psalms are now available at https://handselpress.org.uk/our-books . Books 1, 2 and 3, 4 and 5, each at £5.

See also, Julie Canlis' beautiful little book, Theology of the Ordinary, £12 because of its transatlantic origins, but well worth it.

07/01/2023

A good New Year resolution, which I have never kept, is to give away all the things you don't need. As we wish you all a Good New Year, I have been given permission to share with you a poem about simplifying your life. It is by Tam McKirdy, known as 'Tam the Clock' because he looks after the floral clock in Edinburgh's Princes St Gardens:

THINGS

Too many things
Mementoes
Memories
Markers
Milestones

To let them go
Is not to lose them
But to finally
Properly use them

To let them go
Saves others the choice
Of deciding which thing
Speaks your voice

17/12/2022

Peter Kimber's book 'Taking the Long Way Home' has sold out, but it is now available as a Kindle download on Amazon (and soon as an E book on the Handsel Press website:

www.handselpress.co.uk

profits go to Scripture Union.

26/11/2022

"Last night the Scots Language Society launched its Anthologies of Prose and Poetry, Wunds That Blaw Sae Roch and Sangs That Sing Sae Sweet, the twa buiks screivit in the Scots leid tae forder the wark o the Scots Leid Associe. Handsel Press supports this cause, and our own contributions in Scots are Irene Howat's The Crackit Cup and Anne Jones' Slither Intae Hur Skin."

29/10/2022

One of our latest books, Shades of Black: the Origins of Colour Consciousness in the Caribbean, is now on sale. https://handselpress.org.uk/product/shades-of-black/ It has two pages at the start explaining why it is important that a Scottish Publishing House (like Handsel Press) should produce this book. Sir Geoff Palmer of Heriot-Watt University says it is 'an important book on the horrors of the enslavement of black people', but it's much more than that - it highlights how racism has developed, and gives 'an intimate isight into inks between empire, commonwealth and race relation'. A great contribution to Black History Month, written by Clifford Hill and others. Clifford has a prophetic ministry, and is regarded as a pioneer of race relations in Britain where he has been responsible for many radio and TV broadcasts.

And here is an advance invitation to a Pamphlet Fair at the Scottish Poetry library on Nov 19th: https://tickets.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/event/764:62/764:124/

Sat 19th Nov 11am-3pm. Free-no ticket required. The Scottish Poetry Library Pamphlet Fair is back! Come along to browse and buy poetry pamphlets, periodicals and zines from some of Scotland’s incredible independent presses. Our donation bar will also be open for refreshments. Exhibitors include Ha...

13/10/2022

Jock Stein's 'big book', Temple and Tartan, Psalms, Poetry and Scotland will be launched on 8th November. Here are just three of the commendations:

Temple and Tartan is a joy of a book – and the poems are terrific. Highly recommended. (Doug Gay, Glasgow University)

These are poems for the tongue and ear, not just for the eye. Read them aloud and let them tease your palate with the complexity of a really good whisky. (Hugh Pyper, Sheffield University)

I’m grateful that, in Scotland, there is still the intellectual, theological and artistic space afforded to allow Jock Stein’s learning and imagination to take flight. (Ricky Ross, Deacon Blue)

For more information about the book, and the opportunity to attend the launch and/or buy the book, click on

You are invited to the Zoom launch of Jock Stein’s new book, Temple and Tartan: Psalms, Poetry and Scotland, on Tuesday November 8th at 5pm.

03/09/2022

This Tuesday Sept 6th at 1.30pm we launch in Ayr Town Hall Irene Howat's poetry book, Marking Milestones. Irene has won many prizes for her Scots poetry, and sold over a million copies of her stories in English, but this is her first book of poetry in English. Find it on https://handselpress.co.uk/product/marking-milestones/

This book marks in poetry the memories of a skillful Ayrshire makar

24/07/2022

A small Publisher is a jack of all trades. Typesetting sounds like a relic of the dark ages, but this week I have been putting Precambrian details from 4,000 million years ago into a table, which is a change from typesetting poetry. The earth history stuff is for a booklet which may help people thirled to a 'Bible versus science' outlook see the true meaning and riches of the book of Genesis. Most Christian leaders in Darwin's time appreciated him, and it was much later on that some Christians began to worry over the idea of evolution, which of course is a scientific theory, whereas 'evolutionism' is a philosophy without scientific backing, even though (I think) Stephen Hawking in his final book argued that it had. The booklet, 'Life Evolving in the Hands of God', will come out in the autumn.

25/06/2022

"I was through in Stirling at a Link Trust meeting, speaking about my forthcoming book, 'Temple and Tartan: Psalms, Poetry and Scotland'. People said that it was really good hearing me reading the poems which will be a major part of the book, so I have decided that there will be a free CD included with the book. George Watt of the Scots Language Society is kindly helping me with this, which means ten minutes a week recording on my phone for the next seven weeks."

28/05/2022

Lorna Murray’s book “MENTAL HEALTH FOR ALL - Community Well-being and the Church” was published in 2020 but is one of the most useful and topical books we have ever produced. I am still amazed we made it so cheap when you think what is in it – a wonderful combination of stories and expert advice.

“Definitely a book for the times” – Professor John Swinton

https://buy.sanctusmedia.com/store/products/mental-health-for-all-community-well-being-and-the-church

Rev Lorna Murray is an ordained minister of the Methodist Church UK who spent most of her years in ministry as a Mental Health Chaplain within the NHS. Now retired, she remains committed to encouraging the well-being of individuals and communities through work with Scotland’s Rural Mental Health F...

14/05/2022

We have just launched the Fraser Prize Essays, available either as an epub book or on Kindle, and only £3. Dr Ian Fraser was one of the founders of the Scottish Church Theology Society, a parish minister and one of these rare academic practitioners who travelled the world, encouraged and learned from Christians who gathered in small groups in places like Guatemala, and was latterly warden of Scottish Churches House in Dunblane. He lived to be over 100, still writing books. The essays are on a variety of subjects from the Big Bang to Scottish Independence, and were written by winners of the Fraser Prize, an award which ran from 2012 to 2019, sponsored by the Scottish Church Theology Society and the journal Theology in Scotland. https://handselpress.co.uk/product/the-fraser-prize-essays/

Essays on ethics and theology

04/05/2022

HANDSEL PRESS OCCASIONAL NEWSLETTER


The main thing to report is that our website has been radically improved, so please look at www.handselpress.co.uk . Whether your interest is theology or poetry, I hope you like it. It shows our two recent new poetry booklets:


Silent Partners: Glimpses into Scripture – a look at some of the hidden women in the Bible;


Slither Intae hur Skin – Scots language and humour from a Musselburgh poet and artist.


And our first E-book, the Fraser Prize Essays, is now available as an .epub download from the website for those with an E-reader, or from Amazon on Kindle (or https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09ZF4J5X9/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_34FV4QS2M9W9PPF1M8PD. These essays, on a variety of subjects from the Big Bang to the Referendum on Scottish Independence, were annual winners of a prize awarded by the Scottish Church Theology Society and the journal ‘Theology in Scotland’ in memory of the late Dr Ian Fraser.


We have two ‘big books’ coming out in the next few months: Love Songs for Healing and Hope – a sequel to Love Song for a Wounded Warrior, by Fiona Gardner. Inspiring stories and copious resources for anyone involved with trauma healing today;

Shades of Black: Colour Consciousness in the Caribbean – written by Clifford Hill, Alton Bell and Nigel Pocock, with a Foreword by Rowan Williams, former Arch of Canterbury. Important background reading to issues of race in Britain today. Combination of fine historical and sociological analysis with the prophetic which no other Publisher would offer.


For lovers of poetry – we can offer three or more copies of any combination of poetry booklets at half price, post free. If you email me with your request, and give a mailing address, I will send them with an invoice which can be paid either by cheque or by bank transfer. (We could do that for books as well if I charge £2 towards postage.)


My own ‘big book’, Temple and Tartan, is scheduled for the autumn, as is Irene Howat’s book of poetry, Marking Milestones. Some of you get my fortnightly ‘blog and poem’ – if you are not on that list, and would like to be, let me know.


Jock Stein (editor

The Fraser Prize Essays eBook : Sainsbury, Kate, Fraser, Liam, Whyte, Margaret, Starr, John, Pass, Bruce, Deman, Isaak, Thieke, James, King, Derek, Jack, Alison: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

30/04/2022

Slither Intae hur Skin is Anne Jones’ first book of poetry – and it’s in Scots, East Lowland Scots if you’re fussy. She will be reading at the Musselburgh Hotpot this Sunday evening (7.30pm in Staggs’ Bar). https://handselpress.co.uk/product/slither-intae-hur-skin/

I sit by hur bed
She’s no mindin my name
but taks tent whan I sing
‘Don’t worry ‘bout a thing’

25/04/2022

Henry Marsh's wonderful book of poetry https://handselpress.co.uk/product/from-the-lonely-shore/ captures you in between past and future, between loss and hope. The cover, from a painting by John Cunningham, is a reminder of the poignant beauty of the shores and hills of Scotland.

Poems of loss and new life

02/04/2022

On Thursday this week, Handsel Press launches Silent Partners, by Claire Wilson. These poems are 'glimpses from Scripture' of hidden characters like the wives of Potiphar in the Old Testament and Peter in the New. https://handselpress.co.uk/product/silent-partners/

Glimpses from scripture indeed, giving a voice to women who remain otherwise under the radar. This is the first book of poetry by Claire Wilson. She take us behind the scenes of the Bible story, and probes the psyche of some well-known characters. She imagines sitting on a bench with the reader: Sit...

19/03/2022

You will find our new website at: www.handselpress.co.uk. Six books are circling at the top. When you read a good book, words or thoughts or poems from it keep circling in your head, as friendly as robins, as far-reaching as eagles. Were looking forward to introducing you to those books.

LAST DOCTOR OUT OF BIAFRA: The War Zone Journal of Dr Ann Jackson A diary of adventure in the Biafran war £15.00 Buy from Sanctus Media LOVE SONG FOR A WOUNDED WARRIOR One soldier’s unseen battle £10.00 Buy from Sanctus Media EDITING HUMANITY: Challenges to Faith Posed by the Biological Sciences...

20/02/2022

"Nero is supposed to have fiddled while Rome burned, even though he never had what we call a fiddle. The poet Auden, who famously said that poetry 'makes nothing happen', expressed some sympathy for Nero. Without wishing to admire Nero or what he stood for, I understand what he meant, which on a larger scale is one reason why Ukranians keep going with their everyday lives. All that is a long-winded way of saying that Handsel Press is still at work, whatever is happening around us, and a pretext for reminding you all that one of our best books of the past few years is still in print. Last Doctor out of Biafra is I think the only 'war book' we have ever published, about Dr Ann Jackson whose everyday life as a doctor was really on the front line during the Biafran War. https://buy.sanctusmedia.com/store/products/last-doctor-out-of-biafra"

05/02/2022

Handsel Press has a big publishing programme this year of 2022, both theology and poetry, with old authors and new authors. But before all this, our website is being renewed by simonpetermedia, a small fast growing creative duo based in Edinburgh and York, whom it is a joy to work with.

25/01/2022

This past week I have been enjoying a marvellous quote by the communist dictator of Albania in 1967, Enver Hoxha: "This year will be more difficult than last year. On the other hand, this year will be easier than next year." Of course, it makes some of us fall about laughing, and others wonder what is so funny. As I am currently trying to open a bank account for a charitable trust - a process which is not for the faint-hearted - I found it had a ring of truth. It also reminded me that a few years ago we published a book by John Miller, about a Czech dissident, Tomas Bisek, who worked for some years as a minister in Scotland. I'd like to offer copies post free at half price, i.e. £5, to anyone who contacts me direct before the end of January, [email protected].