Best of the Web 2011: VPR Nominations

I am pleased to announce Valparaiso Poetry Review’s nominations for the upcoming Best of the Web 2011 anthology from Dzanc Books, the latest of its annual collections 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 here a number of times, 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. In fact, I am confident publications like the Best of the Web anthology help raise awareness of the excellent quality existing in writings regularly witnessed among the pages of electronic literary journals. Additionally, I am pleased whenever an opportunity arises for greater recognition of the contents in issues of Valparaiso Poetry Review.

Therefore, I have offered the editors three poems for consideration from the issues of Valparaiso Poetry Review published during this year, works that are eligible for Dzanc Books’ Best of the Web 2011 anthology, and I am pleased to report the following nominations:

Lisa Lewis: “A Threat in May”

Alison Pelegrin: “Bestiary of the Bayou State”

Brian Turner: “Helping Her Breathe”

I congratulate the nominated poets. At the same time, as I have on other occasions, I wish to express my appreciation to all the contributors whose works appeared in the issues of Valparaiso Poetry Review released in 2010, as well as to those hundreds of poets published in VPR during its tenure of more than eleven years. I am grateful for all the ongoing support Valparaiso Poetry Review has received from contributors and readers, and I look forward to much more splendid poetry available to readers among the pages of VPR in the future.