I've been selected to serve as the 2022-2023 U.S. Beat Poet Laureate

OMG. I have been pretty much speechless since hearing the news earlier today. There are so many worthy candidates across our nation and I'm a bit incredulous that I've been selected. But I promise I will do everything I can to be worthy. Poetry saves lives. Someone asked me if I really believe that and I do. It saved mine.

Immense gratitude to the National Beat Poetry Foundation and everyone who has supported me over the years and has helped me evolve and continue evolving as a poet and person.

Performing June 21st in Evansville, Indiana!

I'm looking forward to performing at the Bokeh Lounge in Evansville this Tuesday at 7 p.m Central. This event is part of the Poetry Speaks: Readings and Performances series hosted by "Hoosier Bill" Sovern, the recent Indiana Beat Poet Laureate. It will be my first reading in that state since 2017. Looking forward to seeing area poet friends and hearing new voices!

Bokeh Lounge
1007 Parrett Street
Evansville, IN 47713.

NFSPS Convention in Columbus Next Week!

 

You now have until June 19th to register for the National Federation of State Poetry Societies Convention that is happening in central Ohio on June 23rd through 26th, hosted by the Ohio Poetry Association. 

Hanif Abdurraqib will be their convention Keynote speaker. If you can't attend in person, there is also an option to attend virtually.

More info: https://www.ohiopoetryassn.org/nfsps-2022-convention.

I'll be participating in two events there:

A reading by contributors to I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing: Ohio's Appalachian Voices on 6/23 at 8 p.m. and a Poets Laureate panel on The Power of Literary Citizenship on 6/24 at 1 p.m.

Hope to see you!

June 11th online: I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing anthology reading

On June 11th, the Cuyahoga County Public Library will host a reading by contributors to the new I Thought I Heard a Cardinal Sing: Ohio's Appalachian Voices anthology (edited by Ohio Poet Laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour and published by Sheila-Na-Gig). This reading will take place online and we'd love for you to tune in. 

Registered participants will also have the option of attending in-person at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch to watch the event on a large screen.

Please register here to attend.