Chapbook Contest judge, distinguished poet Naomi Shihab Nye, selected Ella’s Plan by Jeffrey Bean saying, “I could not look away from these magical poems.” Join this reading with Jeffrey Bean, hosted by Naomi Shihab Nye.
About her choice of Ella’s Plan as the prize winner, Nye wrote:
“ELLA’S PLAN is mesmerizing, embodying the real presence of an imaginative, eccentric, tender daydreamer-child. I felt riveted by the series of exquisite poems with such potent, occasionally chilling (as in the unforgettable poem “Truths” about an abusive babysitter) images. I could not look away from these magical poems. I felt I had known and treasured this child all my life, but never read this much about her before. I felt these poems rising out of deepest understanding and care for the outcast, the wayward creative. I adore them. There would be no way for this NOT to be the winner. I can imagine how utterly sensational this chapbook will be, and can’t wait to hold it in my hands.”
With over 250 submissions, the readers for this contest had the challenge and pleasure of reading through many wondrous and worthy chapbooks. Our sincere thanks to all those who submitted their work for consideration. Nye also selected two honorable mentions: Last Postcards by Lynne Ellis and Arrivals by Alli Cruz. Seven additional finalists were noted as outstanding and eminently publishable chapbooks:
Spit-Take by Peter Spagnuolo
The Beautiful Foolishness of Things by Sandra Hutchison
Sky Burial and Other Love Poems by Catherine Marenghi
Dragon Love by Marita O’Neill
Spiracle Groove by Monique Avakian
Fox’s Sleep by Meghan Sterling
A Lexicon of Snow by Angela Long
A sneak peek of Ella’s Plan, by Jeffrey Bean.
This chapbook is a limited edition of 250 copies designed, printed and assembled by Richard Reitz Smith, chair of the Book Arts & Design program at Maine Media Workshops + College. Ella’s Plan will be produced in the Charles Altschul Studio for Book Arts on a Vandercook Universal III letterpress. It will be for sale on June 12 at www.thepoetscorner.org/shop for $25.00. Preorder now to reserve your copy.