The brand new book from Lachlan J McDougall and their small children is here and available for purchase.
This stunning collaborative effort is sure to dazzle and delight and you’ll be amazed at what these small forces of nature come out with.
All proceeds from this book go towards new toys and art supplies for the little ones.
Purchase a copy from Amazon here or email lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com to order a copy direct from LJMcD Communications.
Systems is ten images based off the idea of an image processing system. We take a verbal cue from out in the aether and we transpose to the picture language. We distort what is through our lens of system. A rigorous system no doubt but what remains is another matter entirely. These photographs represent the functional world reduced to mere repeating patterns. Things are brought down to a simple gridwork or a fantastic kaleidoscope and move further and further away from that thing which they are. The physical world is no longer recognisable and the representative function of the photograph is nullified.
All images, bar one, were produced by taking a photograph of a thing then using a standardised procedural system to overlay image and distort functionality. The thing no longer remains although it has been multiplied ad infinitum. The odd image out was produced by abstracting photography away from the object and moving towards the infinitesimal—the thing becomes blind to our looks and takes on a textural quality like trees on a distant hill. I’ll let you decide which image is the odd one out.
Systems distorts the commonplace by repetition and abstraction. Nothing remains when you see a thing multiplied beyond the point of counting. The ocean is not a glass of water, a roll of paper is not a tree—these images are not their preceding form, they are something new that stands outside of function and time. They often take on a stark minimalist quality—the thing which looms so large is reduced to a mere pattern that stands in for the entire universe—or else they explode in kaleidoscopic mandalas where the thing loses itself in the monumental ebb and flow of time. Systems is the point of departure, even the name loses meaning.
Each image is on offer in a limited signed and numbered edition of 10 per photograph. For affordability and accessibility there is also an unsigned ‘print on demand’ option. Prints can be purchased from artpal.com or email lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com for pricing and details.
In what seems like a whirlwind, Issue 2 of the LJMcD Communications literature and arts magazine filled up and hit the shelves!
You can purchase print copies of the magazine from Amazon right here or you can email lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com with your order details and I will send a copy to you asap.
Or, feel free to download and read this free pdf and share far and wide!
I do recommend getting the print edition if you can afford it, the art and poems just look better on the printed page, but if not, it’s more important that the work gets read.
Enjoy! And keep an eye out for issue 3!
As you may know, LJMcD Communications publishes free zines and pamphlets from time to time. To date these have been the work of press founder and main contributor, Lachlan J McDougall, but now the call is open to have your work published as part of this wonderful free mail out network.
What we’re looking for: set your word document to A5 paper size and put together material up to 52 A5 pages in length. Please, no more than that as the zines become unwieldy, but anything up to that length is workable.
We’re looking for experiments here. We’re looking for something that’s been on your mind and you just need to get it out. You might want to check out the free pamphlets that have already been distributed here.
What’s in it for you: well, it’s a free mail out service, so there’s no monetary recompense, but it’s a great way to get your work out to a wide audience and it will put you in a good position if you ever want to submit a book for consideration with LJMcD Communications. There’ll be the option to limit the number of print copies if you’re into rarity, but otherwise your pamphlet will be distributed to the mailing network and included with orders of books and other mail outs and go on the ‘Catalogue of Ephemera’ for collectors of LJMcD Communications work.
Your pamphlet will also be put aside for inclusion in an anthology volume collecting all the LJMcD Communications ephemera in the future.
You will hold complete copyright over your work and can withdraw the zine at any time or use it for your own purposes, whatever you like!
There is also an option to put the pamphlet out as a full book after a period of time to set it in stone as part of the LJMcD Communications catalogue.
How do I submit: start by familiarising yourself with the zines the press has already put out, then put together your own zine manuscript and email it to lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com for consideration. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible and let you know how to proceed from there.
Laird Lee Kirk’s fabulous book of human poetry is now live for sale!
I’m so happy to have been able to bring you this book and I hope you enjoy it every bit as much as I have. Let’s have a look at what the introduction to the book has to say about this fantastic collection:
Laird Lee Kirk, as he likes to be known, is a Gregory Corso beat genius for the Scottish urban Twitter generation. His simple, forceful verse pushes into the abstract reaches of the everyday and brings out the sublime absurdity and the nascent hysteria that lingers there. Bubbling just under the surface of every poem is a quiet breakdown, a flood of humanity in the cold, detached voice of jaded youth.
This chapbook, these sixteen simple poems, speaks to a very real set of human experiences. Rooted firmly in the everyday, they pulse up in flowers at the most unexpected places. Perhaps Kirk has played the beats over in his own head as he was writing this, or perhaps he is naturally attuned to the sensitivities of an overabundance of life, but either way he has constructed a riveting suite of poems that deserve a thorough reading and a life of their own.
I hope you enjoy these poems as much as I have. I hope some of their convivial snark leaves a lasting impression and helps you to make sense of the lunacy of modern life. But most of all, I hope you read and enjoy as these poems are meant to be enjoyed. They are celebrations of humanity in all its flawed beauty and that is something worth enjoying.
You can get a copy of the book from Amazon here or, to order copies direct from LJMcD Communications, just email lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com with your order details. Orders of more than on LJMcD Communications book usually result in a reduced price and combined shipping. Have a look at what’s on offer here
Anyway, get Kirk’s book, have a read, and lose yourself in the fantastic glow of his words!
My latest free pamphlet for 2023 is now available!
A Report from Elm Street Number 23 is a wild experiment in text and narrative—part cut-up text, part experimental scifi, it reads a bit like Burroughs in the sixties but with a more modern environmental bent.
The print edition of this little zine is limited to 50 signed and numbered copies with very few editions remaining at time of writing. If you’d like one of these limited handmade zines, email lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com with your request and postal details and you will be put on the mailing list.
For those of you who might have missed out on a print copy, don’t worry—you can simply download the pdf below!
Enjoy this free offering and if you like it, don’t forget to pay it forward and buy one of the great books I have on offer. You can find links to all released books here or read the catalogue of books being put out by LJMcD Communications in 2023 right here.
And keep an eye out for The Poets Have the Floor, the next of my free zines coming out in May!
That’s all from me,
Happy hunting,
Lachlan J McDougall
March is coming to an end, so it’s time to wrap up and see what’s happened over the month.
A Pocketful of Scars by Laird Lee Kirk is the touching and humorous book of modern Scottish poetry that you never knew you needed. You can order a copy from Amazon here or email lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com to order direct from the publisher.
Public Artist: Unceremonious Nudes is the brand new photographic and collage suite from Lachlan J McDougall. This stunning collection of images delves deep into the divide between the public and private lives of the artist and brings out some startling shots. The full range of (NSFW) images can be viewed here. Purchase details for photographic prints can be found at the link.
D.O.R Issue 2, the second in the LJMcD Communications magazine of experimental literature and art, is now available. With some returning favourites and some brand new faces, this is sure to stun and delight. You can purchase a copy from Amazon here, email lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com to get a print copy, or access a free pdf of the magazine here
Shimmied Christmas Jimmy, the Rat Fink of the Chimney is the latest chapbook by Lachlan J McDougall in the c22 open editions series. The book can be read for free here or you can purchase a copy from Amazon here or you can email
And what’s coming up next month? Well just take a look!
The beginning of the month will see a brand new series of photographic manipulations from Lachlan J McDougall entitled ‘Systems’. These ten images will astound and amaze and you will want to get your hands on a print as soon as possible. Details to come soon.
April will also see the release of The Sound of A Pistol, the thrilling poetic and artistic collaboration between Lachlan J McDougall and their two small children. This delightful little book is a real thrill to leaf through and all proceeds from sales go towards new toys and art supplies for the little ones involved. Pre-orders open — just email lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com to pre-order a print copy, or pre-order the kindle edition here
Well, that’s all for March. Stay tuned for more exciting updates!
My latest chapbool, a long form surreal poem, is now available as part of the C22 open editions series. You can download a pdf of the poem below, or if you’d prefer a print copy, you can purchase from Amazon here or email lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com to purchase direct from LJMcD Communications.
Have a read and enjoy!
SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
Hi all,
I’m happy to announce that the LJMcD Communications literature and arts magazine, D.O.R, is opening up for a fabulous second issue.
I’m looking for poetry, prose, and art on the edge of sanity. Bold new experiments in text and form. Anything that pushes the boundaries of what we can do with language and symbol. Full details below.
POETRY: Send up to five poems as a single word document. No restriction on form or subject matter, just make it interesting. You’ll find I’m more interested in experimental poetry than I am in traditional sonnets and the like, but I’m open to anything. Up to a million lines, but make them count!
PROSE: Up to 5,000 words in a word document. Short stories, prose poems, essays on contemporary magick, whatever ya got, just make sure you’re doing something new with your words. I want my head to spin with the modern world.
ART: Send up to five high def images in a single email along with any additional information you want published like titles and media.
Send all submissions to lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com. Please include a brief third person bio in the body of your email to accompany your piece if it is accepted.
Unfortunately, I cannot offer payment for accepted pieces, but all contributors will get the option of a print copy of the magazine at printing/shipping cost.
You can check out the first issue of the magazine in pdf or print copy here
Now, go forth and send me your best and weirdest work!
Hi all,
The largely non-fiction book from Lachlan J McDougall, Electric Boy Scout:: Guerrilla Typewriter, is comin out in June and pre-orders for the print book are now open.
The book deals with language and symbol and how we can manipulate these to bring about a social artistic revolution and end the influence of Control in our day to day lives. Let’s see what the Amazon blurb has to say.
The future is now and there’s nothing left but the recordings.
This book is a program for taking on the world at large. A step by step guide to bringing about the revolution from within. You may try to fight the change, but when the Scouts come calling, there’s nothing else you can do.
A deconstruction of the role of language and a prescient dissection of the modern Control virus, Electric Boy Scout is full of helpful and practical tips for circumventing the Control narrative and substituting your own. Learn to take control of your life. Learn the limits of what you are doing and how to push them ever further. Learn a few tricks from the master at work.
You can pre-order the book by emailing lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com with your order details and a print copy will be sent to you soon after release date in June. Or, to get the book sooner (as well as getting a limited collector’s edition), reach out and see if any of the limited proof copies are still available. In addition to your proof copy, LJMcD Communications will send you a free pdf of the book so you can get reading straight away.
So, get in touch and order your proof copy, or pre-order a print copy today!
Hi all,
I’ve been a bit slack on book reviews recently, so here’s a small collection of reviews in brief for the books I’ve missed.
Letter to my Mother by Georges Simenon—an engaging little read. At times boring, but overall quite interesting and really draws you into the deathbed musings of a long and strained relationship. A quick and simple read, I’d recommend for a rainy day. 3/5 stars.
Death the Barber by William Carlos Williams—fine poetry, but overall didn’t engage me that much. A quick read, there were some lovely images at times, but I think I was expecting more. 3/5 stars.
The Waste Land by T S Eliot—you can smell the charred landscape, the trash the death the strained amd curt relationships. It’s a wonderful poem and there’s not too much to say that hasn’t already been said. 4/5 stars.
The Problem that Has No Name by Betty Friedan—this is where it’s at. A wonderful feminist piece cataloguing the despair of the mid-century housewife and also the passion of the early feminists. Every word is powerful and resonates all to well in the modern world. 5/5 stars.
Schisms by Joshua Martin—another wonderful installment in the Martin cannon, this book teeters on the edge of sense and leaves you to draw your own lessons from the chaos of the text. A great, quick read, there’s nothing quite like it. 5/5 stars.
I’ll try to keep up with my reviews going forward, but there might be more of these reviews in brief coming your way.
Lachlan J McDougall
The wild beat hullabaloo where it all began in resounding howl over rooftops and tenements. Vision through the skies and over land, unflinching language to settle the scores. I love Ginsberg, and this is a fabulous collection of some of the best of his writing. “I am old father fisheye” writes the maestro and we see him there.
There isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said. ‘Howl’ is ecstatic, wild, a bop kabbalah for the ages. The rest of the poems follow suit. Each link in the chain is a drawing back of energy waiting to be unleashed into the universe. Every bit as powerful as it was back in the late fifties.
I highly recommend this book. If you need poetry in your life—this is it.
Queen of smut, J. Ollie Manoeuvre, has made The Audrey Adventures, her collection of experimental scifi erotica, available as a free pdf. Here at LJMcD Communications we are always looking for new ways to make work available and Manoeuvre has very kindly agreed to make her book available for free. We do suggest however, that if you like what you read, you go ahead and purchase the book to help LJMcD Communications and J. Ollie Manoeuvre continue doing what you love.
You can get a copy of the book from Amazon here, or email lachlan.mcdougall@gmail.com with your order and a copy will be sent to you direct from the publisher.
A little about the book: Here’s what the blurb on Amazon has to say: Five startling queer erotic stories to dazzle and delight. Join Audrey as he jets through space meeting strange men and sampling their pleasures, follow him as he tastes the delights of the shapeshifters, tag along as he winds his way through the temple of flesh. Each story is sure to titillate and excite your deepest desires, so why don’t you have a look inside?
Interested? Well, just download the pdf below.
You might also like to check out all the other great books and pdfs we have on offer here.
LJMcD Communications (Lachlan J McDougall) 