Tasmanian poet Pete Hay’s Forgotten Corners: Essays in Search of an Island’s Soul is that thing all readers search for: an unexpected gem. A writer fully engaged with the complexities of their home state, without feeling parochial. A much-loved Tasmanian author who deserves much wider recognition. If there is a theme to this collection of 18 years worth of essays – Hay ponders in the preface – it is an exploration of ‘a certain grain within Tasmanian life.’ A ‘cleavage between those who see the island as raw material awaiting the uncaring inscription of capital… and those whose ways of acting within and understanding the island are driven by a pure, intrinsic love, and are, hence, unavoidably oppositional.’ There is no doubt that such ‘dissident’ thought is at the heart of this collection. But the great delight is Hay’s quiet mastery of the literary essay. Hay is thoughtful. Down-to-earth. Often self-effacing. His streams of self and societal reflection feel clear and refreshing even – or perhaps especially – while pulling the reader through treacherous currents. These essays are beautiful. They will stay with you. So, in this year of disconnection, we feel privileged to have the chance to shine a light on the work of writers and publishers from small presses around Australia. And to hand the inaugural SPN Book of the Year Award to Tasmanian author and poet Pete Hay and publisher Walleah Press.