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Leading Historians, Novelists, Poets and Children’s Writers Are Among the Authors to be Featured during U.S. 2018 National Book Festival

The Washington, D.C. Convention Center at Mount Vernon Square courtesy of APK like a lollipop under CC BY-SA 3.0 license

Dozens of best-selling authors, leading historians, American poets and children’s writers will be featured speakers at the U.S. Library of Congress 2018 National Book Festival. The festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.  This year’s schedule includes a wide-ranging mix of authors and genres.

HISTORY and BIOGRAPHY

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will discuss her new book, Fascism: A Warning, a history of fascism in the 20th century and how its legacy shapes the world.

Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will speak about her new book, Leadership in Turbulent Times, an examination of leadership based on four presidents she has studied most closely.

Historian Jon Meacham will discuss his new book, The Soul of America, about critical times in our history when hope overcame fear and division.

Alexander Hamilton biographer Ron Chernow is back with a new biography of Ulysses S. Grant.

POETRY and WRITING

Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith will join the festival for a conversation with former Poet Laureate Robert Hass about the making of poetry.

American Author, Amy Tan (b. 1952). Her work explores mother-daughter relationships and the Chinese American experience. Public Domain photo courtesy of Robert Foothorap

Best-selling author Amy Tan will discuss her new memoir, Where the Past Begins, A Writer’s Memoir, delving into memories of her traumatic childhood, the inspiration behind her fiction writings and the workings of her mind as a writer.

CHILDREN and TEENS

Children’s author and Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz will discuss his debut picture book, Island Born, about a girl who can’t remember the island where she immigrated from – so she imagines it with help from family and friends.

Matt de la Peña and Loren Long will discuss their new children’s book, Love.

Leigh Bardugo will speak about her series, Six of Crows, a young adult best-seller.

Jacqueline Woodson, the Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, will discuss two new books she has been writing.

Novelists

Isabel Allende will discuss her novel In the Midst of Winter. The story is about an academic who rear-ends a car driven by an undocumented immigrant and an adventure that unfolds.

Dave Eggars will discuss his new book, The Monk of Mokha, the true story of a young Yemeni American man’s quest to resurrect the ancient art of Yemeni coffee but is trapped by civil war.

American Novelist and Short Story Writer, Jennifer Egan (b. 1962), is the author of several novels and a short story collection. Her new novel, Manhattan Beach, published last fall, has been awarded the 2018 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Her last novel, A Visit From the Goon Squad, won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Los Angeles Times book prize. Also a journalist, she has written frequently in the New York Times Magazine. Photo courtesy of David Shankbone under CC BY 3.0.

Jennifer Egan will discuss her historical novel Manhattan Beach, set in the docks of Brooklyn during World War II when a girl becomes the first female diver on the squad.

Additional authors—including the Main Stage lineup—and other details of the festival will be announced in the coming months.

More information and updates will be available on the National Book Festival website at loc.gov/bookfest/.

Later this summer, the National Book Festival app will be updated with complete presenter, schedule and wayfinding information for iOS or Android smartphones. Follow the festival on Twitter @librarycongress with hashtag #NatBookFest.

The Main Reading Room of the U.S. Library of Congress courtesy of Carol M. Highsmith. Public domain.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov, and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

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LGBT Cultural Pioneer Edmund White and Irish Novelist Edna O’Brien to be Honored for Lifetime Achievement

PEN America announced last week that it will honor author and LGBT cultural pioneer Edmund White with the annual PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction.

White at the 2011 Brooklyn Book Festival courtesy of David Shankbone under CC BY 3.0

EDMUND WHITE  (b. 1940) is an American novelist, memoirist, and an essayist on literary and social topics. Much of his writing is on the theme of same-sex love. His books include The Joy of Gay Sex (1977) (written with Charles Silverstein, a writer, therapist, lecturer and gay activist), his trio of autobiographic novels, A Boy’s Own Story (1982), The Beautiful Room Is Empty (1988) and The Farewell Symphony (1997), and his biography of Jean Genet. His website is HERE.  His Amazon page is HERE.

If you are viewing this from an email subscription, you’ll likely have to link through to the site to watch this video.

The 2018 PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature will go to the extraordinarily prolific Irish novelist Edna O’Brien, whose acclaimed work broke down social and sexual barriers for women in Ireland and elsewhere.

Edna O’Brien at Hay Festival 2016 courtesy of Andrew Lih under CC BY-SA 3.0

EDNA O’BRIEN, DBE (b. 1930) is an Irish novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet and short story writer. Philip Roth described her “the most gifted woman now writing in English”, while the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, cited her as “one of the great creative writers of her generation”.

O’Brien’s works often revolve around the inner feelings of women, and their problems in relating to men, and to society as a whole.Her first novel, The Country Girls, is often credited with breaking silence on sexual matters and social issues during a repressive period in Ireland following World War II.The book was banned, burned and denounced from the pulpit, and O’Brien left Ireland behind.

O’Brien  received the Irish PEN Award in 2001. Saints and Sinners won the 2011 Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, the world’s richest prize for a short story collection. Faber and Faber published her memoir, Country Girl, in 2012.  Her Faber & Faber author’s page is HERE. Her Amazon page is HERE.

If you are viewing this from an email subscription, you’ll likely have to link through to the site to watch this video.

PEN America will also honor:

  • poet Kamau Brathwaite with the PEN/ Voelcker Award,
  • translator Barbara Harshav with the PEN/ Manheim Medal for Translation, and
  • author Dave Kindred with the PEN/ ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing.

The PEN/ Laura Pels Foundation for Theater Awards will be conferred on playwrights:

  • Luis Alfaro for Master American Dramatist,
  • Sibyl Kempson for American Dramatist in Mid-Career, and
  • Mike Lew for Emerging American Playwright.

White, O’Brien, and PEN America’s other career achievement award winners will accept their prizes at the 2018 PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, February 20, at the NYU Skirball Center near Washington Square Park. Featuring readings, performances, and edge-of-your-seat live announcements of the winners for the year’s prizes, this annual celebration of literature and free expression has become one the city’s premier literary events drawing the biggest names and the hottest new voices in literature. Special guests, finalists, and presenters in attendance will include:

  • Tanwi Nandini Islam
  • Yahdon Israel
  • Hari Kunzru
  • Victor LaValle
  • Colum McCann
  • Lynn Nottage
  • Philip Roth
  • Layli Long Soldier
  • Monique Truong
  • Kevin Young
  • David Zirin
    … and many more

Hosted by author, social activist, and political commentator
Sally Kohn

A full list of finalists for the 2018 PEN America Literary Awards is available HERE . All book award winners will be announced at the ceremony. Purchase tickets HERE. I understand that this is the first year tickets are being made available to the general public. Student tickets are discounted.

Compiled with thanks to PEN America, White’s website, Faber & Faber, Wikipedia and Amazon.

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. It champions the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Its mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.

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SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Calls for Submissions, Contests, Events and Other Information and News

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Opportunity Knocks

RINKY DINK PRESS, Micropoetry for the People “is on a mission to get poetry back into the hands (and pockets) of the people – each of our single author collections can fit in your pocket, but we never sacrifice craft, and despite the tiny format, we refuse to sacrifice style.” $4 submission fee for book submission. Deadline: November 17.  Guidelines HERE.

THE CORTLAND REVIEW will consider poetry, prose, essays, translations and book reviews and will reopen for submissions in October. Check the site for updates.

DIRTY PAWS POETRY REVIEW is a fledgling with its first publication scheduled to debuted in December. The plan is biannual publication. The editors say they “want poetry unafraid of facing the truth and unashamed of having hope.” Submissions are open until November 15. Details HERE. 

FLARE literary journal is published by students in Flagler College [Florida] English Department and seeks poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and art from anywhere in the U.S.  It is published once a year in the fall.  In the spring the publication goes online as a zine. Deadline: October 15.  Submission guidelines are HERE.

BREATH & SHADOW, A Journal of Disability Culture and Literature has demographic restrictions (disability and age/21) and accepts poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Modest payment on publication. Submission guidelines HERE.

KALEIDOSCOPE of United Disabilities Service of Akron is “magazine creatively focuses on the experiences of disability through literature and the fine arts.” Considers feature articles, fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, book reviews, and visual art.  Modest payment on publication. Submission guidelines HERE.

THE BeZINE submissions for the October 2017 issue – themed Music – are open and the deadline is October 10th. Send submissions to me at bardogroup@gmail.com. Publication is October 15th. Poetry, essays, fiction and creative nonfiction, art and photography, music (videos or essays), and whatever lends itself to online presentation is welcome for consideration. Please check out a few issues first and the Intro/Mission Statement and Submission Guidelines. No demographic restrictions. We do not publish anything that promotes hate or violence.  The lead for the October issue is Sheffield poet and musician, John Anstie (My Poetry Library and 42).

CALLING ALL POETS, WRITERS, ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS: We need your most passionate work.

Heads-up on the November zine: The theme is Hunger, Poverty and Working-class Slavery. Deadline: November 10. 

CONSEQUENCE MAGAZINE, published once-a-year, is about to close its reading period.  End date: September 30. This magazine  – an independent not-for-profit – is devoted to women writing about the culture of war. Submit short stories, poetry, nonfiction, interviews, visual art, reviews, and translations. Modest payment. Demographic restrictions. Submisson guidelines HERE.

BACKBONE PRESS – “a small press with a big vision – is a venue for ethnic poets (African-American, Latino/a, Asian and others) invites “poetry, political, evocative, social, gritty … personal and poignant.” Both emerging and established poets are encouraged. Details HERE.

CONTESTS

Opportunity Knocks

CONSEQUENCE MAGAZINE is currently accepting submissions for its 2017 Women [“and those identifying as women”] Writing War Award for fiction. $250 award. Entry fee: $10. Deadline October 1. Details HERE.

THE FAMILY NARRATIVE PROJECT invites submissions to its 2017 essay contest, themed “family” and defined broadly. 1,000 word limit. $10 entry fee. Cash prize $500. Deadline October 31, 2017. Details HERE.

THE SHARED DREAM CHAPBOOK CONTEST for immigrant poets sponsored by Backbone Press has a deadline of November 30th. No reading fee. Cash prize. Details HERE.

PHILLIP LEVINE PRIZE IN POETRY hosted by Anhinga Press and co-sponsored by California State University, Fresno is an annual book contest open to poets who are not current or former CSU, Fresno students. Entry fee $25 U.S. Award: $2,000 and publication. Deadline: September 30. Details HERE.

EVENTS

  • Worcestershire Poet Laureate hosts a team of poets to join a project at Hanbury Hall. Annually the Droitwich Arts Network (DAN) work with the team at Hanbury Hall (National Trust) to offer local artists a space to exhibit and sell work in the Long Gallery. October 11 – 29. Details HERE. “In the past, poets have been invited to choose art to create a poem from. ‘Fragile Houses’ included two ekphrastic poems from this event in 2014. Other years have seen poets create videos, display poetry. The possibilities are endless.”
  • WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT, weekly by The Poet by Day, offers the opportunity to get to know other poets, share your work and get published here. The prompt is theme-based not form-based. All are welcome to join in no matter the stage of your writing career.
  • SEPTEMBER 30 IS 100,000 POETS FOR CHANGE (100TPC): Peace, sustainability and social justice are the themes set for global 100TPC by cofounders Michael Rothenburg and Terri Carrion when the event was first started in 2011. I think the number of events scheduled at various places around the world is around 600 for 2017. To find or organize an event in your area link to 100TPC global HERE. I’ve also been posting announcements from around the world on The Poet by Day Facebook Page as they come in but you will find the most comprehensive and up-to-date info at 100TPC.
  • THE BeZINE 100,000 POETS AND FRIENDS FOR CHANGE (100TPC) virtual event: In honor of 100TPC annual global event, at The BeZine we are dedicating our September efforts to the interconnections/intersections of social justice, sustainability and peace and how each of these effects the others. On September 30 we invite our poetry community – including other types of artists, our readers and friends – to share their work on theme. Directions for virtual participation with be provided that day on The BeZine blog. No stress. It’s easy. Israeli-American poet, Michael Dickel (Meta/ Phor(e)/ Play), is Master of Ceremonies (a tradition). Creatives and poetry and art lovers will be joining in from all over the world. You’ll love it.Guaranteed. It will run for at least 24 hours, making it convenient for you to organize your other activities around this event.

KUDOS

  • Poet Linda Ibbotson for her engaging interview of Antonia Alexandra Klimenko HERE.
  • Michael Dickel (Meta/ Phor (e)/Play) for gifting us with a wonderful September issue of The BeZine
  • Eva Petropoylou Lianoy for the publication of her children’s book Adventures of Samurai Nonkasika available in Greece at
    Analogion – xylokastron, Adalakēs – xylokastron and other bookstores

OTHER NEWS AND INFORMATION

YOUR SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS may be emailed to thepoetbyday@gmail.com. Please do so at least a week in advance.

If you would like me to consider reviewing your book, chapbook, magazine or film, here are some general guidelines:

  • nothing that foments hate or misunderstanding
  • nothing violent or encouraging of violence
  • English only, though Spanish is okay if accompanied by translation
  • though your book or other product doesn’t have to be available through Amazon for review here, it should be easy for readers to find through your site or other venues.

DISCLAIMER

Often information is just that – information – and not necessarily recommendation. I haven’t worked with all the publications featured in Sunday Announcements or elsewhere on this site. Awards and contests are often a means to generate income and publicity for the host organizations, some of which are more reputable than others. I am homebound due to disability and no longer attend events. Please be sure to verify information for yourself before submitting work, buying products, paying fees or attending events et al.

Affiliate Links Disclosure:
Some product links within posts are Amazon affiliate links. The Poet by Day is supported in part by these links. Your use of them costs you nothing and helps to keep this site running. When you click on an affiliate link (not all links are affiliate) and/or make a purchase I sometimes receive a small percentage of the purchase price. Thank you for your support.

ABOUT THE POET BY DAY

 

 

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SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Calls for Submissions, Contests, Events and Other News and Information

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Opportunity Knocks

KILLER NASHVILLE’S Broken Ribbon is still open for submissions to its annual issue.  Submissions of poetry and fiction are welcome through deadline: November 15th. Details are HERE.

AZOTH KHEM PUBLISHING has calls for submissions open for several fiction anthologies: Carnival of Madness, The Beast Under Your Bed (Young Adult), Big Girls Don’t Cry: An Anthology of Strong Women, I Will Not Bow: An Anthology of Persevering Men, 2017: A Space Obituary: The Return of SciFi Horror, and Conspiracy Takes a Holiday. Details HERE.

SAVANT BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS LLC has an open call for submissions for the 2018 Savant Poetry Anthology. Interested poets are invited to submit up to five poems. The deadline is 31 December 2017.  Details HERE.

SAVANT BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS LLC “seeks the best in enduring literary (book/eBook), audio (CD) and audio-video (DVD) works “with a twist” that expand readers, listeners, and/or viewers’ points-of-view and world outlook. SBAP only accepts never-before-published, solicited and non-solicited manuscripts, audio works and audio-video works. SBAP accepts works by both established and previously unpublished authors, recording artists or audio-video producers. SBAP does not require that the submitter be represented by an agent.” Further details HERE.

AIGNOS PUBLISHING, an imprint of Savant Books and Publications LLC, seeks “avant garde, experimental and inventive works that ‘push the leading edge’ of all genres of fiction and non-fiction.  Aignos accepts solicited and non-solicited manuscripts for books from established and/or previously unpublished authors.” Details HERE. AP does not require that a submitter be represented by an agent. 

THE POETRY FOUNDATION’S POETRY MAGAZINE will reopen for submissions on July 31. Details HERE.

THE BeZINE submissions for the August 2017 issue – themed Theatre –  closes at midnight PST on August 10th. Publication date is August 15th. Poetry, essays, fiction and creative nonfiction, art and photography, music and theatre (videos), and whatever lends itself to online presentation is welcome for consideration. Please check out a few issues first and the Intro./Mission Statement and Submission Guidelines. No demographic restrictions. We would especially encourage submissions from people who are involved one way or the other in theatre. Essays from theatre lovers on the impact of a specific show or the art in general on personal life or on culture in general are welcome, as is critique or historical perspective. Please keep in mind that we do not publish anything that promotes hate or violence. Special guest host is Richard Lingua, theatre aficionado, occasional actor and frequent lecturer. All submissions to Founding and Managing Editor, Jamie Dedes, bardogoup@gmail.com

LITTLE RED TREE PUBLISHING (Delight, Entertain, Educate) “is currently accepting unsolicited full length manuscripts of fiction and creative nonfiction throughout the year. Translations and bi-lingual manuscripts will be considered, but all work must be in the English language.” Manuscripts must include a $20 reading fee.  Details HERE.

CONTESTS

Opportunity Knocks

KILLER NASHVILLE’S Broken Ribbon is open for submissions to it’s fiction contest and poetry contest. Fee $15. Cash awards and possible publication. Deadline: November 15th. Details are HERE.

LITTLE RED TREE PUBLISHING 6TH INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE First prize of $1,500. $5 submission fee for “any number of poems.”Submissions must be postmarked (or emailed date of transmission) no later than deadline December 31, 2017.  Details HERE.

LITTLE RED TREE PUBLISHING Vernice Quebodeaux “Pathways” 5th Poetry Prize for Women $20 reading fee. Deadline: December 31. Details HERE.

WRITER’S DIGEST 5TH ANNUAL SELF-PUBLISHED E-COMPETITIONS “spotlights today’s self-published works and honors self-published authors. Whether you’re a professional writer, a part-time freelancer or a self-starting student, here’s your chance to enter WD’s newest competition, exclusively for self-published e-books.” Cash awards. Early-bird Deadline August 1. Entry fees: $99 first entry. $75 subsequent entries. Deadline: September 5, 2017. First entry, $110. Each additional entry, $85. Details HERE.

WRITER’S DIGEST 10th ANNUAL POETRY AWARDS welcomes entries “of all styles–rhyming, free verse, and haiku. Cash award, Publication. Early-bird Deadline: October 2. Entry fee: $15 first entry. $10 second entry. Deadline: September 5. First entry, $20. Each additional entry, $15. Details HERE.

WRITER’S DIGEST POPULAR FICTION AWARDS for short stories: Romance, Thriller, Crime, Horror, Science-Fiction, and Young Adult. 4,000 words or less. Cash awards. Publication. Early-bird Deadline: October 16. Entry fee, $20. Deadline: November 15, $25 for first entry. Each additional entry, $20. Details HERE.

WRITER’S DIGEST 18TH ANNUAL SHORT SHORT STORY COMPETITIONS Length: 1,500 words or less. Cash awards. Publication. Early-Bird Deadline: November 15. First entry, $25. Each additional entry, $20. Deadline: December 15. First entry, $30. Each additional entry, $25.

SIXFOLD, short stories and poetry/the completely writer-voted journal is open until tomorrow, July 24 at 11:59 ET. You are able to submit electronically, so if you’ve something prepared you still have time. Details HERE.

EVENTS

  • BABISHAI POETRY FESTIVAL 2017, August 4-6, Kampala Uganda. “Imagine,” the organizers say, “Imagine a banquet of poetry! Every delicacy of haiku, verse, outlandish performances and heart-wrenching stories. Imagine a television show with all your favourite and worst actors on the same stage singing the same song. Anything is possible.
    Edition III of the Babishai Niwe Poetry Festival, begins in two month’s time. In the first week of August, from 4th to 6th, it’s poetry time. We’ve held two poetry festivals so far, five poetry competitions for Ugandan women, three poetry competitions for Africans and this year, our second African haiku competition.  Come! Let’s talk poetry!” Call +256 703147862.
    Email us at babishainiwe@babishainiwe.com Follow us on Twitter@BNPoetryAward.
  • O’MIAMI POETRY FESTIVAL, a month-long initiative with the mission of every single person in Miami-Dade County encountering a poem.April 1, 2018 and runs until April 30, 2018. Details HERE.

KUDOS

  • SHARYL FULLER (a.k.a. Annie) for her work on Downtown LA Life as both a digital editor, poet laureate and contributor. Downtown LA Life is is an international online magazine that has been produced monthly for seventeen years …downtownlalife.com. … Sharyl says, “we have contributors world wide in all the arts. I also contribute to a monthly personal column – new short story & poem each month as well as promote writers in two different columns that are theme specific as well as a writer in New Orleans who is doing a saga of his experience during Hurricane Katrina – The Devil’s Slot Machine – and finally a poet each month in a section called Poetry Connection … new poets as well as published poets.”
  • HÉLÈNE CARDONA for recent participation in a panel discussion on the film Chocolate with Rincón de la Cultura,Teatro y Poesía. Helene had a role in the film. “La actriz y poetisa Helene Cardona, residente en Estados Unidos, presentó en la sala Martínez Villena de la Unión de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba la película Chocolate, del director Lasse Hallström, como parte del programa del Primer Festival de Poesía Itinerante Nuestra América en el cual participa. Rosalía Arnáez, acompañada del actor Rolando Núñez, presidentes de las asociaciones de Cine, Radio y Televisión, y de las Artes Escénicas, de la UNEAC, respectivamente,  sintetizó el currículum de la también traductora que ha cursado estudios y laborado en diversas y prestigiosas universidades de Europa y los Estados Unidos y ha participado en cerca de veinte producciones cinematográficas  de diferentes géneros desempeñando papeles protagónicos como el drama Paradiso, y la cinta de acción Bienvenidos al purgatorio, ambas del presente año. En cuanto a su poesía, Cardona tiene publicados los cuadernos. The Astonished Universe (2006); Dreaming My Animal Selves (2013); Ceque nous portons (2014), y Life in Suspension; Beyond Elsewhere; Winner of a Hemingway Grant y Whitman’s Civil War, todos del 2016.” por Susana Méndez Muñoz en Neva Cubava
  • To the publisher and all the poets/writers/friends included in the Peacock Journal Anthology

NEWS & INFORMATION

YOUR SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS may be emailed to thepoetbyday@gmail.com. Please do so at least a week in advance.

If you would like me to consider reviewing your book, chapbook, magazine or film, here are some general guidelines:

  • nothing that foments hate or misunderstanding
  • nothing violent or encouraging of violence
  • English only, though Spanish is okay if accompanied by translation
  • though your book or other product doesn’t have to be available through Amazon for review here, it should be easy for readers to find through your site or other venues.

DISCLAIMER

Often information is just that – information – and not necessarily recommendation. I haven’t worked with all the publications featured in Sunday Announcements or elsewhere on this site. Awards and contests are often a means to generate income and publicity for the host organizations, some of which are more reputable than others. I am homebound due to disability and no longer attend events. Please be sure to verify information for yourself before submitting work, buying products, paying fees or attending events et al.

Affiliate Links Disclosure:
Some product links within posts are Amazon affiliate links. The Poet by Day is supported in part by these links. Your use of them costs you nothing and helps to keep this site running. When you click on a affiliate link (not all links are affiliate) and/or make a purchase I sometimes receive a small percentage of the purchase price. Thank you for your support.

ABOUT THE POET BY DAY