Richard Snyder Poetry Prize Winner Announced

Gabriel Spera's manuscript The Rigid Body was chosen by Natasha Tretheway for publication by Ashland Poetry Press later this year.

Manuscripts are now being accepted for the 2012 Snyder Prize. Contact me soonest if you would like your manuscript prepped for this and other spring poetry book/chap book competitions.

Poetry Book Group Discussion Today

Today, my monthly poetry book group will be discussing Steve Huff's More Daring Escapes (Red Hen Press, 2008). His poems on the subject of the working life are reminiscent of Jim Daniels' work though Huff's poetry, while equally as gritty, has more poetic fluidity than Daniels' jabs and punches. One can argue the efficacy of "How the Poem Means" vis a vis each of these poets' styles though I am inclined to consider each equally compelling. Huff's work comes more as a reflection of a middle-aged man than Daniels' fresh-out-of-the-factory youthful perspective.

To read a review of Huff's book (not mine, however) visit: http://whatistheverd.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/book-review-more-daring-escapes-by-steven-huff/.

2011 Black Lawrence Press Chapbook Contest Winner Announced

Nick McRae's manuscript, Mountain Redemption, has been chosen as the winner of the Black Lawrence Press 2011 Black River Chapbook Competition. McRae currently teaches creative writing at Ohio State University. Finalists and semi-finalists are listed below.

Poetry Finalists

Bone Letters – Peter Schwartz & Nicelle Davis
Farmstead of the Burning Field – Duncan Campbell
Mountain Redemption – Nick McRae
not meant for you Dear Love – Brian Clements

Poetry Semi-Finalists

Annunciation – Barbara Tomash
Malice Aforethought – Jon Flieger
Proximity – Jan Freeman
Sludge – Vivian Prescott
The War Reporter – Dan O’Brien

Poem Published in Ruminate

With the new year comes a new publication to announce. My poem "Smoke and Cloud" appears in Ruminate Issue 22: Up in the Air http://www.ruminatemagazine.com/issue-22-up-in-the-air/. Ruminate's tag line is "Chewing on life, faith and art." This is an appropriate venue for my most recent work since my writing leans in a more spiritual direction. This work is also less narrative than most of my published poems.

Please check out the web site and let me know what you think. Purchasing a copy of Issue 22 will also be appreciated, by the magazine and me.