Summer of Kel-Slay

by Olivia Loftis July 14, 2024

Introduction

It's been a busy season, to say the least. I’m happy to report that production remains on schedule, so all books started in June are slated for October publication. In the meantime, please continue keeping us in the loop on your poetic acheivements via email.

This month’s blog is a two-in-one, featuring upcoming readings, awards, and spotlighting our poets’ summer successes. I’m looking forward to seeing you at our July 20th Zoom reading before I’m off to go camping and hit the road on tour! I can’t wait to share and discuss what’s been going on in your world. Let’s get into it.

Events

On Friday, July 19, John Milkereit will perform selections from Lost Sonnets for My Unvaccinated Lover with Courtney O’Banion Smith for a Houston, TX audience.

Preview the event by watching Milkereit’s book trailer by Kelsay Books.

You’re invited to our annual Summer Poetry Reading. Saturday, July 20th at 2:00 PM Mountain Time on Zoom. This virtual event is free and open to the public. We’re looking forward to catching up with our KB community! Click on the image or scan the QR code with your handheld device to register.

Note: Registrants must use the same email address linked to their Zoom account

Claire Coenen presents The Beautiful Keeps Breathing on Sunday, July 21 at 2:30 p.m. Central time on Zoom. Featuring guest readers Julia Sumner and Julia Fehrnebacher! Click on the image to register for this virtual Kelsay Books launch.

Mary Ellen Talley will perform selections from Taking Leave as a headlining reader at Everett, WA Poetry and with Cultivating Voices’ online new book showcase, both in August.

Poetic Excellence

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News

I am happy to share with you that three of my poems from Cultured Pearls are featured in this touching anthology, Poetry for the Dementia Journey by AlzAuthors, released June 1. Pages 78,79 and 80 are all poems written about my mother, Harriet Brodkin, who passed away in 2019 at age 94. ‘Earl Grey’, ‘The Kingdom of Immaculate’ and ‘Nightgowns on the Town’ are inspired by our loving relationship which only grew—with time. It seems to me, when a dear parent grows old, we children are the small flowerpots that help hold them in place.

—Sandra Dreis

On Saturday, June 29, 3 friends gave me a book launch party with a brunch for Living the Dream.On Wednesday, July 10, at the Topanga Book Club, hosted by Dr. Mark Hein, I read from Living the Dream.

—Jean Colonomos

Awards

San Diego Poet Wins California Press Women First Place Award

Los Angeles, CA, July 8, 2024– Recipients of California Press Women (CPW) Professional Communications Awards were among those honored at the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Conference, recently concluded in St. Louis, MO. Among the winners was San Diego poet, Jane Muschenetz, whose debut collection, All the Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents, (Kelsay 2023) won first place in the Creative Verse, Chapbook category for California and third place in the national contest. Jane, who arrived in San Diego as a Jewish child refugee from Soviet Ukraine, drew on her personal history and current global events to create her award-winning work.

“We are delighted to honor Jane’s poetry collection along with the outstanding work of writers and communications professionals representing California Press Women this year,” said Betty Packard, CPW Executive Director. “In selecting her work, the judges were especially moved by the accessible and beautiful language of Jane’s poetry and the chapbook’s message of hope and connection despite entrenched societal divisions.”

“All the Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents, is written directly from my heart and, as a new author, it is especially meaningful to have it recognized,” said Jane Muschenetz. “I am deeply grateful to California Press Women and National Federation of Press Women for this honor and for all their incredible work supporting and elevating the voices of emerging and established writers alike.”

NFPW Professional Awards are given in 54 categories and winners are listed at nfpw.org.

CPW Professional Communications Awards are given each year to entries representing the best work across all communications categories, which include online and print media as well as audio-visual productions. State first-place winners are forwarded for competition at the national level. To learn more about CPW or NFPW, please contact Betty Packard at bettypackard@comcast.net.