"Best of the Net" Selection: "Swallowed" by Anne Haines

I am pleased to announce that Sundress Publications, which compiles an annual “Best of the Net” anthology, has selected “Swallowed” by Anne Haines, which appeared in the Spring/Summer 2007 issue (Volume VIII, Number 2) of Valparaiso Poetry Review, as one of only twenty poems chosen to be honored from all the works appearing in online publications during 2007. Poet Chad Davidson served as this year’s final judge.

Last year Sundress published the first edition of its anthology, which included remarkable works displaying both the wide range and fine quality of poetry now appearing in a multitude of Internet magazines. As I mentioned in an August post when nominating poetry from Valparaiso Poetry Review, the editors of Sundress deserve praise for correctly bringing greater recognition to the developing presence of quality poetry online.

I congratulate Anne Haines, and once more I would like to take this opportunity to thank all contributors to Valparaiso Poetry Review. I value all the poems and depend on all the poets in VPR. I also welcome the admirable efforts of Sundress Publications to bring attention to the growing number of fine works being published in online journals. I recommend readers look for the new edition of the “Best of the Net” anthology when it is released on February 1.