The Arizona State Poetry Society recently published two of my poems in their anthology, Sandcutters 2023. “Adam & Eve: After the Fall” placed first in the ekphrastic contest sponsored by NavWorks Press and judged by Frances Cheong. “True Story” placed second in the Sci-Fi / Fantasy Award contest sponsored by Brick Cave Media and judged by Jennifer Hernandez. I’m so grateful these two poems found a home in this anthology. I also appreciated the opportunity to read my poems at a Zoom event featuring selected works from the anthology.

A little pet trivia: “True Story” is the second published poem featuring our dog, Oliver. The first was “As I Stepped Down Darkened Stairs,” published by Mildred Haun Review Journal (2021). (More trivia: “As I Stepped Down Darkened Stairs” was among my first published poems.)

Another Tennessee Voice in Sandcutters 2023

Fellow Poetry Society of Tennessee colleague Jeff Price also has work in Sandcutters 2023. His poem “Badlands at Sundown” placed first in the Native Lands and Voices Award contest sponsored by Lollie Butler and judged by Jennifer Reeser. Jeff, a wrestling coach and AP English instructor at Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tennessee, also served as judge for the society’s Traditional Rhyme Award contest. Jeff’s inaugural poetry collection, One Steady Glance, was published by Redhawk Publications in 2023 and is worth a read. Learn more.

About Sandcutters

Sandcutters 2023 is available on Amazon in paperback format. The anthology features Arizona State Poetry Society’s winning poems and other selected works. (The society is doing some wonderful work to support and promote poets and poetry in Arizona.)