POETRY FROM PARADISE VALLEY

POETRY FROM PARADISE VALLEY
Click Image to Visit the Pecan Grove Press Web Page for Poetry from Paradise Valley

POETRY FROM PARADISE VALLEY web page

Poetry From Paradise Valley

Pecan Grove Press has released an anthology of poems, a sampling of works published in Valparaiso Poetry Review during its first decade, from the original 1999-2000 volume to the 2009-2010 volume.


Poetry from Paradise Valley includes a stellar roster of 50 poets. Among the contributors are a former Poet Laureate of the United States, a winner of the Griffin International Prize, two Pulitzer Prize winners, two National Book Award winners, two National Book Critics Circle winners, six finalists for the National Book Award, four finalists for the National Book Critics Circle Award, two finalists for the Pulitzer Prize, and a few dozen recipients of other honors, such as fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, etc.

Readers are encouraged to visit the Poetry from Paradise Valley page at the publisher's web site, where ordering information about the book can be found.

Best Books of Indiana 2011: Finalist. Judges' Citation: "Poetry from Paradise Valley is an excellent anthology that features world-class poetry, including the work of many artists from the Midwest, such as Jared Carter, Annie Finch, David Baker, and Allison Joseph. It’s an eclectic and always interesting collection where poems on similar themes flow into each other. It showcases the highest caliber of U. S. poetry."
—Indiana Center for the Book, Indiana State Library

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Best of the Web: VPR Nominations

I am pleased to announce Valparaiso Poetry Review’s nominations for the upcoming Best of the Web anthology from Dzanc Books, an annual collection described as “representing in book form the best literary writing online magazines have to offer.” I have been privileged to report in the past that works from Valparaiso Poetry Review have been chosen to be among those published in previous editions of Best of the Web.

The editors invite up to three nominated works for submission by each online literary journal. As I have mentioned in the past, I maintain a high regard for every poem selected for publication in VPR, and I am reluctant to pick some pieces for honor over others. Indeed, I value all the poems and depend on all the poets in Valparaiso Poetry Review.

Yet, I welcome the admirable efforts of the editors at Dzanc Books as they bring attention to the growing number of fine works appearing in online magazines. Moreover, I have recently written about my belief that we are witnessing a coming of age for electronic literary journals, and I am confident publications like the Best of the Web anthology help raise awareness of the excellent quality existing in writings regularly witnessed in such online venues. Additionally, I am pleased whenever an opportunity arises for greater recognition of the contents in issues of Valparaiso Poetry Review.

Reviews of the 2009 edition of Best of the Web included the following:
“The book is heartily significant, featuring work that is sometimes surprising . . . and sometimes exhilarating—not unlike the Web itself. —Los Angeles Times

“The book both recognizes a wide range of quality online writing, and gives its readers a comprehensive look at the field from which its contents come—two characteristics of a good anthology . . . . Such a development could not have come at a better time for online literary publishing.” —New Pages

Therefore, I have offered the editors three poems for consideration from the most recent issue of Valparaiso Poetry Review, works that are eligible for Dzanc Books’ 2010 Best of the Web anthology, and I am pleased to report the following nominations:
Cornelius Eady: “Aretha Franklin’s Inauguration Hat”

Claudia Emerson: “Ground Truth”

Charles Wright: “I’ve Been Sitting Here Thinking Back over My Life . . .”

These poems appear in the tenth anniversary issue (Fall/Winter 2009-2010: Volume XI, Number 1) of Valparaiso Poetry Review, released earlier this month, and I again invite readers to examine the entire roster of writers in this wonderful issue.

I congratulate the nominated poets. At the same time, as I have in the past, I wish to express my appreciation to all the contributors whose works appear in the current issue of Valparaiso Poetry Review, as well as to those hundreds of poets published in VPR during its tenure of ten years. I am grateful for all the ongoing support Valparaiso Poetry Review has received from contributors and readers during its decade of publication, and I look forward to much more splendid poetry available to readers among the pages of VPR in the future.

5 comments:

Melissa Studdard said...

How wonderful. Congratulations!

get info here said...

Well, that's a great news. Good job.

denise said...

A paradise? Nice post that's why people really wanted to read it.

dves said...

I love poetry since in grade school. but never heard of this valparaiso. well, it's nice though. And also I congratulate the poets too.

RMorresi said...

wonderful poems, confratulations