National Beat Poetry Festival happening September 1st thru 3rd

I am thrilled to be participating in the National Beat Poetry Festival again this year in Connecticut. Here is the schedule of events:

Friday September 1st 2023 from 7 to 10 p.m. (In Person)

 Location: Canton Town Hall, 4 Market St # 100, Collinsville, CT 06019.

7pm to 8pm – Beat Poets Laureate from around the country read.
8pm to 8:30pm – Open Mic.
8:30pm to 9:45pm – Do It Now (poet Paul Richmond, percussionist Tony Vacca, and guitarist John Sheldon) perform.


Saturday September 2nd 2023 from 1 to 9 p.m. (In Person)

Location: 22 River Rd, Pleasant Valley/Barkhamsted, CT 06063 (outside in back of the house, under the tents; park along the side of the long driveway).

1pm to 2:30pm – New Beat Laureates receive their awards and read.
2:30pm to 4:30pm Open Mic (sign up when you arrive).
4:30pm to 5:30pm – Ernest Brute & Object Echo perform.
6pm to 9pm – Beat Laureates celebration continues.


Sunday September 3rd 2023 from 1 to 3 p.m. (In Person)

Location: 22 River Rd, Pleasant Valley/Barkhamsted, CT 06063.

1pm-3pm – an informal gathering of poets with readings.


Sunday September 3rd 2023 from 1 to 6 p.m. (Online)

The festival will also include an online component for those who cannot attend the in-person events. To participate, email a photo of yourself to nbpf15@gmail.com and say what state or country you live in. Then a few days before the event, you will receive the Zoom link in a email. Those unable to come to the online zoom may also participate virtually by sending in an up to 3 min video using the free program  WeTransfer.com

So many thanks to the National Beat Poetry Foundation, CEO Debbie Tosun Kilday, as well as Paul Richmond and Chryssa Velissariou, for all they do to make these events happen and support the work of poets.

For more information, visit https://nationalbeatpoetryfoundation.org/.

State Fair and Poets Baseball Cards

Surreal. A week ago today, I was the keynote poet at the Ohio State Fair, reading from the same stage as some of my favorite folks [photo of me to the right by Sandra Feen].

 

And then I came home to see this [below]. I feel so honored to have been included in Justin Hamm's fine Poets baseball card series alongside so many other poets I respect and even admire. I'm gonna have to collect them all.

 

Contact Justin Hamm to order your set of The Poets baseball cards. Or click here for more info.

 

Ohio Poetry Showcase August 3rd at the State Fair in Columbus

I very much look forward to reading with some fabulous poets from around our state tomorrow, August 3rd, during the Ohio Poetry Showcase at the Ohio State Fair. 

Here's a photo I love from the 2019 State Fair with current Ohio Beat Poet Laureate Sandra Feen (who's also reading tomorrow) and recent Ohio Poetry Association President Chuck Salmons.

But here's more info about our 2023 event, from the Ohio Poetry Association website:

Again this year, OPA will partner with the Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Program and the Ohio Arts Council to coordinate the Ohio Poetry Showcase. For our third-annual showcase, in addition to some of Ohio's Poetry Out Loud winning students, we will feature as many of Ohio's poets laureate as possible. Our keynote poet will be U.S. Beat Poet Laureate John Burroughs! Numerous other county, city, and regional poets laureate will join us as well.

The State Fair opens at 9 AM. Get complete State Fair information at ohiostatefair.com.

AGENDA
1:00–2:00 PM, Poetry Out Loud student reading

2:00–6:00 PM, Ohio Poetry Showcase (poets will include Geoff Anderson, Karen Scott, Jonie McIntire, Jeremy Jusek, Doc Janning, Stephanie Kendrick, Erica Manto Paulson, Sandra Feen, and Siaara Freeman)

6:00–7:00 PM, U.S Beat Poet Laureate Reading w/Q&A

LOCATION
Ohio Expo Center & State Fair - Cox Fine Arts Building
717 East 17th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211

Parking is free to all fairgoers. Join us for this terrific showcase of Ohio's poetic talent!