May Flowers

by Olivia Loftis May 07, 2026

The Orchards is now open for submissions!

We are open for our Summer 2026 issue of The Orchards literary journal. Each poem is considered for our Grantchester Prize, which is awarded to two poems per issue for cash prizes. Please review our guidelines. We look forward to reading your work!

Events

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Eleni Traganas presents Writers at the Roerich, celebrating the launch of Lucent Voicings, at 5:30 PM on Friday, May 8. Learn more and register at www.roerich.org

Eleni Traganas is a forthcoming Kelsay Books published author! Traganas curates and hosts the Writers at the Roerich series at Manhattan’s Nicholas Roerich Museum. Elizabeth Morse, author of Unreasonable Weather, recently featured in this series.

WESTMONT, ILLINOIS: Melissa Huff will appear at Brewed Awakening for the Illinois State Poetry Society's FREE Last Sunday Open Mic Event on Sunday, May 31.

Awards

Congratulations, Linda Neal Reising! Navigation won first place in the BookFest awards.

Congratulations, John Maynard! Armando and Maisie won the BREW Book Excellence Award and the Literary Titan Award.

Reviews & Features

Jean Feldeisen speaks about the power of poetry on the podcast Crow's Feet: Life as We Age.

Neil Creighton hosted the first of a series of readings in Richmond River Valley, the setting of My Blood’s Country.

Beth Kanell is customizing signed copies of Thresholds on local author displays in bookshops! Vermont readers can find unique lines of poetry preceding each autograph.

Carol Sadtler and Marcia Pradzinski hosted a reading at The Book Cellar in Chicago during National Poetry Month! View more on Instagram and Facebook.

Carol Sadtler shares a joyful moment with a reader!

In Memoriam

Poet Laureate of Sonoma County Phyllis H. Meshulam has passed. Kelsay Books shares our sympathy with Meshulam's community and loved ones.

Opportunities

Poetry by the Sea Conference Will Run May 19-22 2026

"We hope you will make plans to join us as we gather by the sea in 2026! We have Cornelius Eady as our Keynote Speaker, Jennifer Michael Hecht giving the craft lecture, an amazing workshop faculty, and a stellar lineup of readers to be announced soon. To read more about Cornelius Eady, please visit the website."