Poetry Month: New moon, new books, events, awards and more!

by Olivia Loftis April 08, 2024

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Intro

Are you participating in Escapril? Tag us @karenkelsaydavies in your poem-a-day posts if so, we love to share our authors’ inspiration! Plus, this National Poetry Month update has an exciting reading to announce for our Pennsylvania poets, hosted at Newtown Bookshop, on May 14 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. You’re invited to join new and beloved poets at our reading, featuring not-yet-released poems from Cheryl Baldi, guest reader Charlotte Innes from Los Angeles, and four more local readers. See the flyer below and kelsaybooks.com to get to know each poet. That weekend, we’ll be back at our fave Parkside Lounge in NYC for an open mic on May 18!

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More urgently, if you are in the path of totality on this eclipse day, what better opportunity to get inspired by the moon. What’s your take on moon poems? Cliche or not, all it takes is a writer’s mastery of style to pull any subject matter off. So please continue taking creative risks and sharing your wins whenever possible, we're so happy to blog about the fabulous work you are doing and to wish our readers a happy National Poetry Month! Whatever you do, don’t look directly at the sun. Do look directly at the poetry collections no celestial event can outshine, by the poets we are celebrating this month and every month. Let us know your thoughts on moon poems in the comments, too.

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The most recent reading I went to took place at a beautiful downtown Chicago venue, produced by Luya, subtiled ‘poetry for the people,’ featuring masters of many forms and styles. It was so beautiful and I hope you all have a chance to experience this moving sense of being present with community at Kelsay Books readings, too. Maybe in the future it would be cool to host a reading at a similar space. Coming up in May, we are looking forward to meeting in Pennsylvania with beloved KB poets and poetry readers, who may look no further than Newtown for an independent bookshop of choice....

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Upcoming Events

Kelsay Books invites you to join us

Tuesday, May 14 at 6:00 p.m.

for a poetry reading at Newtown Bookshop

New Address: 2120 S. Eagle Road Newtown, PA 18940

Featuring:

Charlotte Innes (LA)

In New Jersey, Ann E. Wallace will launch Days of Grace and Silence on April 12

Days of Grace & Silence Book Release

Friday, April 12, 6:30-8:30pm

Art House Productions

345 Marin Boulevard

Jersey City, NJ

Event details and RSVP here

Admission is free & open to the public

Books will be available for purchase

New Yorkers, we didn’t forget about you! KB will be back at the Parkside Lounge on May 18th for an open mic, details below—

Poetic Excellence

This National Poetry Month we are especially honored to acknowledge independent authors, debut authors, seasoned poets, and celebrated cover designs published with Kelsay Books. Check out last month’s blog for a Reel of many of our Eric Hoffer Award nominees, covers designed by Shay Culligan. Look no further for book awards, reviews, readings, and interviews with KB poets. Congratulations to all!

Awards

Athar C. Pavis won the Independent Press Award for Pulled Pork in Paris

Winner: Distinguished Favorite Award
Jane Muschenetz won the San Diego Writers Festival Poetry Collection of the Year award for All The Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents; Muschenetz also featured in the San Diego Public Library’s Local Author Showcase.

Poetry Collection of the Year: All The Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents by Jane Muschenetz

San Diego Writers Festival published an interview with Muschenetz as part of the 2024 Poetry Collection of the Year Prize

All The Bad Girls also won First Place in the 2024 Communications Awards from California Press Women in the Creative Verse category and moved on to Nationals for consideration