National Poetry Month

I found this great article, I thought I would share about the National Poetry Month... Yes, thats April!

We would love to hear what you think about National Poetry Month. What does National Poetry Month mean to you?

Here is the article:

UA Press celebrates National Poetry Month

Chase Smith

Issue date: 4/9/08

For 12 years, April has been established as National Poetry Month, and the UA Press, as well as poetry lovers nationwide, will celebrate.

"The history of poetry at the press is an illustrious one," said Tom Lavoie, marketing director for the press and a board member of the local Ozark Poets and Writer's Collective. Lavoie is also an avid reader and writer of poetry.

The press publishes four poetry books every year, two in the spring and two in the fall, through its Poetry Series, edited by Enid Shomer, Lavoie said.

Additionally, Bill Collins, who is one of the most successful poets in the modern market, was first published through the press, he said.

Poet Miller Williams founded the UA Press in 1980, Lavoie said.

"Williams' own poetry has won many awards, and he is probably best known for his reading at Bill Clinton's 1997 inauguration," he said.

Williams started the press with a strong focus on poetry. Many poets who he has discovered have gone on to lead very successful careers, including Collins, whose first book has been published thorough the UA Press.

"That book, 'The Apple That Astonished Paris,' is still our best-selling poetry title," Lavoie said.

In September 2007, the press held a benefit to initiate the Miller Williams Poetry Prize, according to the press release. The benefit was held at the Walton Arts Center and featured Grammy winner Lucinda Williams, who is the daughter of Miller Williams.

The prize is an important one for the press because it makes the press more visible among more nation wide poetry prizes, Lavoie said.

However, poetry seems to not be as widely accepted among the readers who read novels or short fiction nowadays.

"Poetry always seems to have a small shelf of its own in the back of any book store," Lavoie said. "It's a tough art form to get into for most readers." The press is doing its best this month to help students and readers to gain an awareness of poetry, he said.

There are many events coming up that are meant to help people catch a glimpse of what good poetry is, Lavoie said.

The Fayetteville Public Library will be hosting a poetry slam for students in the 3rd through 12th grades April 17 at Arsaga's Café.

Nightbird Books will host a reading by Beth Ann Fennelly April 11. The bookstore will also host HOWL, a women's open mic April 20.

The UA Master of Fine Arts program is holding its annual Festival of Writers at 5:30 April 9 and 10 in Old Main, Lavoie said. The festival will also be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Creative Writing and Translation Program, according to the press release.

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