The 2011 Story Prize judges were announced Wednesday. They include writer Sherman Alexie, who won a National Book Award for his young adult novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” and whose most recent book, “War Dances,” is a collection of poetry and short fiction.

Joining Alexie on the three-judge panel is Louise Steinman. An Angeleno, Steinman is the author of “The Souvenir: A Daughter Discovers Her Father’s War” and is co-director of the Los Angeles Institute for Humanities at USC. She is in charge of the ALOUD speaker series at the L.A. Public Library.

The Story Prize annually awards $20,000 to a collection of short fiction and $5,000 each to two runners-up. The finalists are announced in January; the prize itself will be awarded at a ceremony in New York in March. The event includes a reading by each of the finalists — at least it did for the 2009 awards, for which I served as a judge.

Each year there are three judges, and generally the list includes a librarian. The third judge is Breon Mitchell, director of the Lilly Library at Indiana University professor of Germanic studies and comparative literature.

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Sherman Alexie, L.A.’s Louise Steinman to judge Story Prize

Jan Zwicky chosen as this year’s Gustafson Distinguished Poet reads from her award-winning work at Vancouver Island University Thursday (Oct. 20). Zwicky, of Quadra Island, is an award-winning poet, essayist, philosopher and musician who received the Governor General’s Award in 1999 and the Dorothy Livesay Award in 2004.The lecture, entitled “Auden as Philosopher: How Poets Think,” explores the concept that poets know the world in a distinctive way that challenges corporate and technological culture. The gala evening event takes place on at VIU’s Nanaimo campus, Bldg. 355, at 7:30 p.m.

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Award-winning poet lectures at university

Hero? Romantic? As tax-accountant-by-day Brad Cran prepares for his final act as Vancouver’s poet laureate – hosting the Vancouver 125 Poetry Conference – he is thinking back on his 2½ years in the honorary position. He leaves the job as well-versed in politics as poetry, especially after his high-profile boycott of the 2010 Winter Olympics (resulting from factors that include the exclusion of female ski jumpers from competition, deep cuts to arts funding in British Columbia and VANOC’s so-called muzzle clause for Cultural Olympiad artists).

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Brad Cran: A poet laureate pens those tricky last stanzas

Poetry Society of New Hampshire Reading
The Poetry Society of New Hampshire will host a reading by Becky Sakellariou and Charles Pratt on Saturday, October 29th, at 11AM in the auditorium of the Manchester City Library, 405 Pine Steet, Manchester, NH 03104. Prior to their reading, at 10AM, members of the Society will read their work. All are welcome. The event is free and open to the public.
Both authors have recent books published by Hobbebush Books in the Second Granite State Poetry Series.

For more information contact the society at poetrysocietyofnh@gmail.com or call 603-332-0732. To learn more about the society or learn what is happening in the poetry world, visit us on the web at www.poetrysocietyofnewhampshire.org or visit our Facebook page.
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The Poetry Society of New Hampshire is a non profit membership organization dedicated to the promotion of poetry. The society publishes the quarterly journal The Poets’ Touchstone, sponsors poetry contests and hosts poetry readings and workshops. The society also publishes anthologies, most recently The 2010 Poets Guide to NH and The Other Side of Sorrow, Poets Speak Out About Conflict, War and Peace (winner of the 2005 IPPY Bronze Award), and the occasional chapbook.

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Poetry Reading in Manchester, NH

Rest assured, Philip Levine readied himself for his inaugural Monday night gig as the poet laureate of the United States.
“I bought a suit,” he said. “It almost fits.”
The 83-year-old Levine remains comfortable in his own skin, whatever epaulets are added. His former students at California State University, Fresno, still know him as Phil. He answers his own phone; he sets strangers at ease.
This poet laureate business? It’s already a kick, though it’s only just begun.
“I’m loving it,” Levine said. “By the time I get used to it, it’ll probably be over.”
Monday night marked the formal start of Levine’s yearlong stint as what’s technically called the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. Congress, in the 1986 bill establishing the title, explained that “this position is equivalent to that of Poet Laureate of the United States.”
But don’t worry. Levine is not obliged to write odes to Congress. His official duties are limited, starting with the fall reading and book signing Monday night at the Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress.
“I do these all the time,” a relaxed-sounding Levine said a few days before his Monday reading, though allowing that “I’ll probably be a little more serious than I usually am.”
Beyond the inaugural reading Monday, and a follow-up reading next spring, being poet laureate is largely what Levine makes of it. He’ll help pick other writers for public readings, and introduce them. He has a small office on the third floor of the Library of Congress’ Jefferson Building.
He’ll be paid $35,000 and have at hand another $5,000 for travel, from a private fund established in the 1930s by arts benefactor Archer Huntington.
Levine doesn’t anticipate hanging around Washington much. Instead, he and his wife will continue dividing their time between Brooklyn, N.Y., and Fresno, where he is a professor emeritus at Fresno State.
Previous poet laureates have undertaken projects that ranged from Joseph Brodsky’s push to infiltrate poetry into supermarkets and hotel rooms to Rita Dove’s combining children’s poetry with jazz. Levine has some ideas of his own; they will ripen in time.
Levine also will be grazing among the speaking-engagement offers that have been proliferating like mad.
Levine, winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and author of 20 books of poetry, already had an estimable reputation before this year. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington called him “one of America’s great narrative poets.”
Levine said his market value, though, has “leapt up” since he was named new poet laureate in August. His agent is busier than ever, fielding paid speaking invitations.
“She’d like to make me rich,” Levine said, “and then get 20% of my riches.”
Levine has done about a dozen readings since August. Earlier this month, for instance, he said he was paid “a prodigious amount of money” to speak at a private school in Pennsylvania. In August, he appeared at the famed Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference in Vermont.
“The audience was just immense,” Levine said. “Everyone I knew who lives in Vermont showed up.”
Other, less literary, opportunities have arisen. Seemingly “out of nowhere,” Levine said, he ended up with an invitation to tennis’ U.S. Open. There, he enjoyed the luxury suite belonging to the president of the U.S. Tennis Association and the company of limousine-riding swells who looked, Levine said, like they belonged in the Hamptons.
“My wife and I were probably the only ones who took the subway there,” Levine said.
From the past, too, the poet laureate designation has pried open some surprises. At a reading at the Detroit Institute of Art, Levine ran into a man who, in December 1941, had first told him the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. He has reconnected with long-lost relatives and old high school friends.
In a word, Levine said, the whole poet laureate experience has been “terrific” even before his inaugural reading. He’s ready for what comes next, new suit and all.
Said Levine: “Bring it on.”

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Local: Levine ready for role as poet laureate

Sir Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate between 1999 and 2009, has created three poems for Vintage Inns for a campaign created by Elvis which were revealed in the national press on Saturday.

The poems, inspired by the warmth and hospitality of a country pub and the important part it plays in British rural life, are the culmination of several months of collaboration between the Vintage Inns marketing team, Elvis and the Vintage Inns managers themselves to identify the essence of what makes the pub restaurants so inviting.

The campaign will run for two months in the lead-up to Christmas and will be supported by online advertising, eCRM activation and social media. The public are invited to write poetry through a Facebook application that will then be judged by Motion.

Joanne Kay, senior marketing manager of Vintage Inns, said: “Our positioning work with Elvis and the subsequent creative puts us firmly in the space we’d like Vintage Inns to be; known for the wonderful, natural hospitality of a country pub, which equates to more than the sum of its parts. The creative is disruptive for the category, and evocative of the perfect country pub experience.”

Martin Semmens, Elvis CEO, added: “Never before has such a culture figurehead driven a truly British pub restaurant estate and we’re delighted that our advertising can raise the profile of the campaign further in 2012.”

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Ex-Poet Laureate poems at heart of Vintage Inns campaign by Elvis

The Fort Pierce Branch Library will host a free poetry reading on Oct. 29 from 1 – 2 p.m.

Join poet William Kemmett in reading your favorite piece of poetry aloud. Guests are welcome to read their own work or that of another. Kemmett has studied at both Harvard and Norwich Universities. He currently teaches English and writing at Indian River State College.

This event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

The Fort Pierce Branch of the St. Lucie County Library System is located at 101 Melody Lane. For more information about library programs, call 772-462-2787 or visit: http://library.stlucieco.gov.

This story is contributed by a member of the Treasure Coast community and is neither endorsed nor affiliated with TCPalm.com

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Fort Pierce Library hosting poetry reading on Oct. 29

Dressed in a one-piece black dress and Pendleton vest, Tapahonso read selections from her large body of work to middle and high school students inside the student chapel.

Before reading from a verse about the Holy People creating the Diné, she told students that she is originally from Shiprock.

“When people hear that I am from Shiprock, they say, ‘You’re from the place of tall leaders? What happened?’” Tapahonso said of her petite form.

The joke received chuckles, then Tapahonso launched into “The warp is even: taut vertical loops,” from her 2008 collection, “A Radiant Curve: Poems and Stories.

“Afterwards she explained that the lines, “I sing songs created for him, Whose little boy are you? Said I am Grandma’s boy.

Grandma’s little baby boy,” refer to her 13-year-old grandson, Isaiah.

She said speaking to the students reminded her of Isaiah and his 5-year-old sister Samiyah, who were home this past weekend for the Northern Navajo Nation Fair, much to her delight.

“As I look out and see all of you, it reminds me of my grandson,” she said.

Throughout the presentation, students were treated to poetry and portions of short stories written by Tapahonso.

The poem “Tsilii” is about Tapahonso’s miniature pinscher, Max, and their relationship.

She told the audience that Max likes going to the Shiprock fair.

When her children and grandchildren were leaving for the carnival, Max whimpered because he was being left behind.

“‘You can’t go.

You can’t get on any rides,’” Tapahonso recounted the family telling Max.

“He’s a silly guy.

“She also read one of her classics, “Hills Brothers Coffee,” in which she captures the mellow pace of a morning’s visit between her mother and uncle, who loves the “coffee with the man in a dress, like a church man.

“You can smell the fragrant brew and feel the warm family bond as Tapahonso describes her uncle stirring in sugar and creamer until his coffee looks like a chocolate shake.

Her poetry reveals the beauty of Navajo life in spare terms, conveying with equal dexterity the almost hypnotic quiet of traditional customs and the loony interface with modern America.

How Tapahonso, currently on leave from her teaching position at the University of Arizona, finds the space to distill such pictures amid the frantic pace of life is a mystery, but she does so unerringly.

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Celebrated Din poet visits kids

The Cupertino Poet Laureate program held its first-ever event Saturday morning at the city’s Civic Center Plaza with First Words, which featured poetry readings from several poets from the local community.

The event drew more than 40 people, and was hosted by the city’s newly installed Poet Laureate David Denny, the city’s first-ever to hold that post.

Participants in the poetry reading included Denny, poetry teacher Jennifer Swanton Brown, retired Foothill College Professor Jack Hasling, Cupertino poet and businessman Karl Kadie, Poet Laureate Selection Committee Chairman Ron Miller, retired educator Ann Muto, and poetry youth instructor Laura Oliver.

According to Miller, who has also served on the city’s Library Commission, the event was a big success for the group’s first event, which reflects the strong leadership and coordination by Denny.

“The event went off very well in my humble opinion,” said Miller. “The Poet Laureate selection committee is very pleased that Dave is the first poet laureate of Cupertino. He has easy command of the language and the high quality of his poetry make him the best choice.”

Denny, who teaches English at De Anza College, said he is happy to be selected as the city’s first poet laureate and the group is planning to host a series of poetry events that will include educational events with the youth, senior citizens and adults.

“It was really an honor to be selected,” said Denny, who has also served as mayor of Cupertino. “I know the committee interviewed a lot of qualified people and it was great to make it to the top of the heap this time. It’s kind of fun being the first one.”

Denny has been publishing poetry in literary magazines and journals for 30 years. He began writing poetry in high school when he got his first poem published in his school’s senior yearbook, and then went on to double major in theater arts and English literature in college at California State University-Long Beach.

He was installed as Poet Laureate on Sept. 24 by the mayor and city council. He has been a De Anza resident for 25 years recently will be releasing a book in January through Finish Line Press titled, “The Plebeian On The Front Porch.”

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Cupertino Poet Laureate Hosts First Poetry Reading

Flushing area resident, Sharon Bolander, announces the release of her latest book, “Grandma Always Slept Nude and Other Cheeky Situations”. Her first adult release is a collection of humorous poetry written since 2005. It is available online through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Publish America Bookstore in both soft cover and e-book formats.
Peer into the lives of Grandma, Grandpa, their grandchildren, and their pets for a bit of fun. Light-hearted poetry, often written from life’s observations, fills the pages of “Grandma Always Slept Nude and Other Cheeky Situations” to offer readers a smile, chuckle, or laugh to brighten each day. Enjoy!

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Flushing area resident releases new humor book