Happy National Poetry Month to All of Our Friends.

Recently I was reminded of a book I had as a child called You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You, by John Ciardi. My mother and I would sit on my bed, passing the book back and forth; she would read the black text, I would read the blue. It was thrilling to read poetry to my mother! 

There’s a mouse house
In the hall wall
With a small door
By the hall floor
Where the fat cat
Sits all day …
 
And here I am—continuing the legacy—publishing poetry books, planning readings, and participating in a superb literary culture that includes you: You read to me, I’ll read to you.

It has been a banner year for Perugia Press, and I’m going to take a minute to brag.

Amanda Auchter won the PEN Center USA Award for The Wishing Tomb, and Diane Gilliam, author of Kettle Bottom, was awarded the $50,000 Gift of Freedom award from A Room of Her Own Foundation. Frannie Lindsay won the Benjamin Saltman Award, and Ida Stewart was a finalist for the Ruth Lilly Fellowship. Several Perugia poets have new releases or books under contract. Look for new collections by Lynne Thompson, Frannie Lindsay, Faye George, Jennifer Sweeney, Catherine Anderson, and Gail Thomas.

That’s just this year.

Since our mission is to help poets get started, this news is especially notable. In total, 8 of our 17 poets have published a subsequent book or two. Our books or poets have won 9 national prizes and been finalists for a dozen more. What a tremendous record for so few books!
 
While the accolades boost the poets’ careers and shine a flattering light on the press, they do not bring in the financial support we need. (In fact, often awarding organizations request complimentary copies to publicize the award or to thank their donors.) And that’s where you can play an important role.

Please help us keep the momentum going. We’re on a streak that can only continue with the generous help of people like you.

With gratitude,

Susan Kan
Director of Perugia Press


 
To make a secure, online donation today, click here.

 
The Poetry Month Book Fair at the A.P.E. Gallery is in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Perugia Press will be presenting their reading at 6:30 PM.
 

 
 
Massachusetts Poetry Festival
May 2-4, 2014
Salem, MA
 
Visit Perugia Press at the Book Fair
May 3, 2014
noon till 5:00 PM
 

Don't miss Perugia Board Member Rebecca Hart Olander and Joyce Hayden at their workshop, "Reaching Beyond: How Ekphrastic Poetry Connects us to the Larger World" on Saturday, May 3 at 12:15-1:15 at the Charter School site in room 3.

 
PO Box 60364, Florence, MA  01062