I could not be more honored that The Singing River was just named a finalist for the 2023 Washington Prize at the Word Works: not only is this press one of my absolute favorites in the business, but my dear friend (and steadfast encourager) Brad Richard actually won that prize in 2010 for his book Motion Studies. Am flattered and flabbergasted in equal measure. Onward!

Could not be more delighted to be a part of the new Mid/South Sonnets anthology forthcoming from Belle Point Press, edited by Casie Dodd and CT Salazar. It’s sure to be an amazing book — not just a poetic snapshot of the region, but a snapshot of the contemporary form (and all its variations). Even more delightful is a reading/launch that will be taking place in September for the book, featuring as many contributors and other Belle Point authors as we can fit in the room:

“Sonnets in September”: The New Orleans launch of a new anthology by Belle Point Press
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Old Metairie Library Poetry Series
2350 Metairie Road, Metairie, LA
2-4pm

More details on the lineup to come, but it’s going to be a blast. Watch this space.

Next Wednesday, May 31st, I’ll be appearing alongside David Greenspan, Katherine Gaffney, and Amanda Emily Smith as part of the Unlikely Saints reading: Bar Redux in New Orleans, 8pm. There will be cupcakes.

Salvation South has three sonnets from the highways project; I’m grateful to the editors, whose mission of discovery and truth-telling about the South I’ve admired for many years.

As part of National Poetry Month, I’m grateful to Deep South for taking two poems, one a post-hurricane poem written last year, and the other one of the ongoing pieces mapping the state highways of Mississippi in sonnets. All the poems from this past month are worth a read; my thanks to the editors.