Meet the Authors

FLP is a proud member of the Community of Literary Magazines & Presses [ c l m p ]

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Authors please send your  events, readings, and gigs information to Jackie Steelman at  XclusivlyU@aol.com

 
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Karen Leahy, the author of the poetry chapbook Enchantment released by Finishing Line Press this past month, is hosting a book party/poetry reading at the Stargazer Craft Shop, 66 Pondfield Road in Bronxville NY, on Sunday, April 13, at 3:00 p.m.  All are welcome.
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Susan Jaret McKinstry will read from her chapbook Tumblehome

(fall 2024) at Zenith Bookstore in Duluth, Minnesota on May 1st from 7-8:30 p.m.

 
https://zenithbookstore.com/events/2521020250501
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Steve Pollack, 2025 Montgomery County Poet Laureate

Celebrate poetry, visual art and community — 

April 18th at 7 pm
Eclipse Center for Creativity 
40 Vine Street in Lansdale, PA
 
 
 

Poet Laureate 2025

Steve Pollack hit half-balls with broomsticks, rode the Frankford El to Drexel University, sailed the equator on the U.S.S. Enterprise, crossed the Mississippi with two kittens and a mustache. He advised governments, directed an affordable housing co-op, built hospitals, science labs and public schools. He found poetry (or it found him) later. His writing has ap-peared in various print and cyber journals including Poetica Magazine, Mukoli – the Magazine for Peace, Schuylkill Valley Journal, and The Jewish Writing Project. His debut chapbook, L’dor Vador – From Generation to Generation, was published by Finishing Line Press. “December 26, 1960” will be re-printed in Keystone: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania, the anthology by Penn State University Press forthcoming in May 2025. On first Saturdays, he circles with Joanne Leva and Forgotten Voices at the Indian Valley Public Library in Telford. He serves on the One Book One Jewish Community advisory team sponsored by Gratz College and sings bass with Nashirah: the Jewish Chorale of Philadelphia.

 

Steve Pollack writes with such specificity that I can visualize where I am and who I encounter. In “The Last Wild Thing” for example, the narrator mentions driving down “Ranch Road 2222” in Texas on a 90-degree day in December 1973. In that poem, I am right there with the speaker having a multisensory experience with a band of folks I meet on the journey. Throughout the collection, there’s “long-haired skinny dippers “ in “Hippie Hollow Park,” siblings who have to “duck and cover” in the halls of Solis-Cohen Elementary, and a man in a wheelchair who wears a t-shirt that reads “We are all the same beneath the skin.” This poet sets up camp on the page and allows the reader to witness the world in a particular way.

Pollack also includes dialogue that does not feel intrusive. In “Deep-Dish,” for example, when the narrator says, “Beneath the skin we all love pies,” and the man replies, “That’s what I’m sayin’,” it adds credibility to the poem and enhances its sound. No matter what subject he tackles, the musicality of the pieces is intact.

When the poet writes about family, it is both musical and relatable because the stanzas are filled with truth and tenderness without being overly sentimental. We see an example of this in the poems “By Heart” and “A Father’s Truth.” We know these characters because we either share their thoughts, or we know someone else who thinks like them.

Overall, Steve’s specific details create images that give readers a sense of time and place, grounding the work and making it easy to visualize the world of each poem. Also, the writers’ passion for family and humanity is clear, and like all great writers, the poet uses specific details to bypass everything that makes us different and speaks to what we all have in common, our humanity.

Shawn Jones

2025 Celebrity Judge

Deep-Dish 

He leaned forward before a diner’s display of assorted pies

thinking from wheelchair angle, slice or tempting whole.

His T-shirt declared: We are all the same beneath the skin.

Fluorescent glare polished his braided hair and ebony skin,

my message for his ears: “Beneath the skin we all love pie.”

“That’s what I’m sayin’ ”, his pleased voice deep and whole.

Young legs disabled, his handshake made us both whole.

Lofty meringue or fruit filled, shell an aluminum skin,

these unbleached faces baked golden, buttery crusted pies.

Each pie round and whole, slices alike; skin one millimeter thin.

The Last Wild Thing

 William Barret Travis died at the Alamo in 1836

“Buck” was a 26 year old revolutionary

his name legendary Deep in the Heart of Texas.

In Travis County, on the dragon-tail shores

of Lake Travis, “Hippie Hollow Park” is 103 acres

clothing optional, cash only admission

—no camping, no fires

—no smoking or alcohol

—no lewd behavior

 

Students named the steep secluded limestone cove

in the free-love era—before hillside haciendas,

yuppie wineries. Far from the Spanish fireclay roofs

of UT campus, it was an oasis without rules.

In sticky summers, long-haired skinny-dippers

refreshed in waters fed by the Pedernales River,

spoken “Purr-de-nail-iz”, in home-grown twang

like Texas independence. Crowded on week-ends

with naked sunlovers, pungent cannabis,

and wide-brimmed beer-guzzling cowboys

in speedboats, close enough to ogle and holler.

 

Texans boast:“At least one day in every month,

the temperature in Austin reaches 90 degrees.” 

It was like that—on the day in December, 1973

when I drove Ranch Road 2222, past natural stands

of live oak and ashe juniper, last half-mile gravel,

to celebrate completion of my Master’s Thesis—

middle-of-the-week, high sky, no more classes.

 

Soon to be a father at the age of 26, I was not

a revolutionary. Maybe the last wild thing I ever did

was strip and plunge into chilly waters, skin tingling

as arms stroked 100 swift yards to a craggy outcrop,

welcome sun-drenched ledge of radiant warmth,

my fit body and mind free of time and obligation

day-dreaming unfenced joy, just being alive.

In a prior century, sheepherders lost range wars      

for open grazing. Today, park rangers protect

Black-capped Vireo, Golden-cheeked Warblers—

senior discount available at the entrance gate

but who wants grandpa to be buck-naked.

By Heart

Before our boys began kindergarten

they loved a beginner’s book,

Fred & Ted, two dogs—one big, one little,

one liked green, the other red.

Though opposites, puppy pals.

Fred said: “Back to bed, Ted.”

No question mark or exclamation,

a simple suggestion. Ted mirrored

in kind: “Back to bed, Fred.”

As we looked at P.D. Eastman pictures

and read, our boys already in bed,

I can’t say their heads nodded fast asleep.

Each night, that tender story delighted again

and again, until they knew all the words

by heart. Our eyelids often first to drowse.

Now, my wife and I are old enough

to have grandchildren in high school.

We gave away that dog-eared book

but, speak that same storied dialogue

in dreamy tones, before we sigh

onto our king mattress. Ahh,

soothing words known by heart

like a goodnight kiss.

 

 

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You are invited to a reading of poems from Suzanne Jones Weisberg’s book of poetry:
At the
April 13 2025 at 5pm
The Studio Theatre at St. Denis Building
3433 Cahuenga Blvd West
Los Angeles 90068
 (Near Universal Studios)
*** Masks Optional ***
Brooks Moody Book Launch of Astral Weeks, Etc.
 
Brookes Moody

Brookes Moody – Astral Weeks, Etc.

We’re so excited to host our dear book seller and poet Brookes at Charter Books to celebrate her debut work of poetry, Astral Weeks, Etc.  Join us for a wonderful evening as Brookes introduces her new book of poetry. 

This event is free and open to all, but we kindly ask that you RSVP so that we can plan accordingly. See you there!

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Astral Weeks, Etc. is a collection of intertextual poetry centered on music, starting with the work of singer-songwriter Van Morrison. With music—from Morrison, his peers, influences, and artistic descendants—as the catalyst and the frame, this collection of poetry explores female friendships, familial bonds, the relationship that we have with art, and the relationship we have with one another and ourselves through art. Employing multiple layers of allusion and musical ekphrasis, these poems operate like music reviews while others engage in counter narratives of classic rock history.

Astral Weeks, Etc. is a fearless catalogue of life’s moments, documenting everything from chronic illness to finding home in coves and oceans. Moody bears witness not just to her body but to what the body archives. We are lucky to be shown the overflowing connections between music, memory, and language with such patience and kindness. This book will make you want to nod and hum along. Will make you want to say yes, I was there and I can hear everything, as Moody softly sings, “Here, sound moves faster…Here, it doesn’t hurt so bad.”

–Su Cho, author of The Symmetry of Fish

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BROOKES MOODY earned a PhD in English with a concentration in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she taught literary journal production and creative writing. She also holds an MFA in creative writing from The New School. A Jersey girl with Rhode Island roots, her poetry and creative nonfiction has appeared in magazines like swamp pink (formally Crazyhorse), Mississippi Review, The Literary Review, phoebe, and Crab Creek Review, among others. Brookes has worked in all facets of publishing whether that’s as an indie bookseller, on the editorial board of a literary journals, or in the Publisher’s Office at Red Hen Press. You can find Brookes spending her vacation days at one writing retreat or another.

Date:Tue, 4/15/2025
Time:6:00pm – 7:00pm
Place:
Charter Books
8 Broadway
Newport, RI 02840-2938

COME CELEBRATE THE PUBLICATION OF ASTRAL WEEKS, ETC.
 

April is National Poetry Month and there’s no better way to celebrate than by attending the Book Launch of Astral Weeks, Etc., my recently released collection of poetry, published by Finishing Line Press.

On Tuesday, April 15 from 6-7pm Charter Books in Newport, RI will host me for a reading from the book, followed by a discussion and book signing. There will be light refreshments! While this event is free, please RSVP to help Charter Books get an accurate head count. I look forward to seeing you there! With gratitude, Brookes
RSVP HERE
 
 
 
 
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John J. Trause Readings: 

Dear Family & Friends,

 

Besides this event, please check out at the end of this message an updated list of my other events this winter / spring.

 

I am pleased to be invited both by the Grantwood Reading Series and by Roxanne Hoffman of Poets Wear Prada (Hoboken, NJ), publisher of my book Seriously Serial, to appear in this poetry festival: 

 

Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 4 p. m. to 9 p. m.

Hudson County Poetry Festival (Poetry in the Park) Washington Park

between Central Avenue and Palisade Avenue

Union City, New Jersey 07087

(at the border with Jersey City)

 

https://hudsontv.com/first-ever-hudson-county-poetry-festival-is-this-saturday/

 

Please see the schedule attached to this message.

 

Coming Soon

 

Please remember to mark your calendars for all poetry features and events by John J. Trause in winter / spring 2025:

 

Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 4 p. m. to 9 p. m. representing both the Grantwood Reading Series and Poets Wear Prada in the Hudson County Poetry Festival (Poetry in the Park), Washington Park, between Central Avenue and Palisade Avenue, Union City (at the border with Jersey City), New Jersey 07087.

 

Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 7 p. m. in Silver Tongued Devils Anthology reading at at Otto’s Shrunken Head, 538 East 14th Street, New York, New York, 10009.  https://www.ottosshrunkenhead.com/

 

Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 11:30 a. m. National Poetry Month Festival for the 100th Anniversary of the Dixon Homestead Public Library (1925 – 2025) at Dixon Homestead Public Library, 180 Washington Avenue, Dumont, New Jersey 07628.  (201) 384-2030.  https://www.dumontlibrary.org/

 

Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 1:30 p. m. for Art in the Park (Passaic County) in Goffle Brook Park, 675 Goffle Road, Hawthorne, New Jersey 07506.  https://www.pcartscenter.org/art-in-the-park/

 

Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 9:30 a. m. [time and venue pending confirmation] as co-feature and co-host at the Poetry Café at the Montclair Literary Festival at the First Congregational Church, 40 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042.  https://succeed2gether.org/montclair-literary-festival/

 

Friday, May 16, 2025 at 7 p. m. as co-feature in the second anniversary party for the Grantwood Reading Series at the Cliffside Park Association Hub, 207 Edgewater Road, Cliffside Park, New Jersey 07010.  https://www.cliffsideparkarts.org/

 

Participation in other literary and arts festivals TBA.

 

Love & Peace,

 

JOHN

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Gail Lipe readings:
 
Below are a couple of readings coming up in which I am participating:
 
On April 10 I will be presenting an ekphrastic piece at the Arts Consortium of Carver County’s member show at the ACCC Gallery at the Chaska Community Center, 1661 Park Ridge Drive, Chaska, MN 55318. The event is from 6:30-8:30 pm.
 
On April 12, I will be participating in an open mic for poetry month at the Carver County Library at 7711 Kerber Blvd, Chanhassen, MN 55317. It will give me a chance to present peoms from my book “Life Seasons”, to be released in May. The event is from 10am to 12 noon.
 
I have been invited to participate in a poetry reading on the Minneapolis Television Network, which will be broadcasted on Facebook Live on April 6, at 6:30 p.m. central time. My understanding is each poet gets about 10 minutes to talk about their poetry and read their work.
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S. Hazen Guthrie events:
 
  • January 19,  Out Loud Huntsville Open Mic, Featuring S. Hazen Guthrie and new book, we held our breath, the birds and I
  • March 2,  Book Signing Party, Scribe South, Huntsville, AL
  • March 16,  Guest Speaker, MENSA Huntsville, AL
  • March 26,  Featured Writer, Writer’s Series at the Alabama Center for the Arts, Athens State Univ & Calhoun College – workshop with students during day, evening performance
  • April 4-5,  Guest Lecturer, H.E. Francis Festival for Readers and Writers, performance ending Festival
  • April 26,  Book Signing, Performance, Mid-Valley Arts Council Forum, Gurley, Alabama___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
Clara Silverstein events:
 
Wednesday, March 12, 2:00 p.m.
Author reading and conversation
Bookstore 1 Sarasota
117 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota, Florida
 
Saturday, April 26, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Author book signing
Richmond Public LIbrary, Main Branch
101 E. Franklin St., Richmond, Virginia
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Joyce Englander Levy reading:
 
I am excited to announce that I will be having my first reading at Books & Books in Coral Gables (Miami, FL) on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Please see the announcement here.
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Please join Donna Isaac in celebrating In the Tilling (Finishing Line Press):

Reading at Subtext Books, 6 W. 5th St., St. Paul, MN, March 23, 1:00-2:00, 6 W. 5th St., St. Paul, MN: Featuring readings from Donna Isaac (book launch), Stanley Kusonoki (book launch), and Janna Knittel. Refreshments served and books for sale.

Reading at Boneshaker Books, 2002 23rd Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN, April 6, 1:00-2:00 with poets Donna Isaac, Ted King, Suki Sun, and Dralandra Larkins. Beverages available and books for sale.

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Liz Whiteacre events:
 
  • 04/03/25 (10:30-12:00 pm EST, Indianapolis Public Library, College Ave Branch, Indianapolis): Register at Imagery and Poetic Leaps
  • 04/08/25 (7:30-8:30 pm EST, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis): Kellogg Writers Series: Liz Whiteacre (Poetry Reading) <–they purchased 30 books during the advanced sales period
  • 04/18/25 (6:30-8:00 pm EST, Tube Factory Art Space, Indianapolis): Nightjar Poetry Series
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Finishing Line Press is an award-winning small press publisher based in Georgetown, Kentucky, USA. If you are having trouble ordering from our site or need to contact us, please email us at FLPBookstore@aol.com.For author orders, bookstore orders, or for bulk orders of 10 or more copies, please call us directly at 502-603-0670 or email us at AuthorBookOrders@finishinglinepress.com.We also accept checks and money orders made out to “Finishing Line Press” at: Finishing Line PressPO Box 1626Georgetown, KY 40324

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FLP AUTHORS: If you are seeking permission to reprint individual poems from you collection please contact:
 
Frederick T. Courtright, President
The Permissions Company, Inc.
3735 Turtle Run Blvd., #1917
Phone: 570-839-7477