Poetic Justice Institute Book Prizes

From the moment I learned that my collection MIDDEN had been selected as the winner of the 2016-17 Poets Out Loud Prize, I knew my book could not have been in better hands. The Series Editor, Elisabeth Frost, approached my manuscript with a balance of thoughtful empathy and visionary determination—pushing and uplifting the poems in equal and gentle turns while providing space for me to experiment and for the work to grow. There were a few tricky questions that arose during the editing process, and I always knew that I could rely on her wisdom and consideration, and that we would come to the best possible solution for the book together. When it came to the production process, Fordham University listened to my input and created a stunningly beautiful book—an object that organically and artistically represented the poems it contained, and which still jars me anew each time I have a chance to hold it in my hand. But the best part was perhaps the sense of community encouragement that POL offered. The memorable launch reading at Fordham, the wonderful Voices Up concert where I had a chance to see my poems set to choral music, and other opportunities, support, and collaboration all allowed me to feel as if my book and I had truly found a home and family. ~ Julia Bouwsma 

Publishing Xamissa with Fordham University Press in the Poets Out Loud series changed my writing life. A consummate editor, Elisabeth Frost helped me to revise my work, frame its documentary approach with introductory pieces, and offer endnotes on its South African context. Production was flawless, from permission to use a William Kentridge artwork for the book cover through to the layout of a challenging text, which included 17th century corporate logos, multiple languages, and a non-Latin script. My work suited the large format that FUP could offer and the production quality--from cover to cover--far outstripped most independent presses. The publicity team secured reviews in journals such as Prairie Schooner, Gulf Coast, Kenyon Review, Poetry International, and Colorado Review. Elisabeth and the Poets Out Loud team also put together a well-attended book launch in New York, as well as an unforgettable collaboration with the C4 Collective, who set some of my poems to choral music. The advantage of Fordham University Press includes a wide range of library purchases both in the US and abroad, from Stanford to the New York Public Library, from the British Library to the University of Leiden. In addition, their university press distribution model has kept Xamissa in print way longer than what most presses can afford. For writers looking for a university job or on tenure-track, Fordham University Press also offers immediate name recognition for colleagues unfamiliar with poetry. I'm grateful: I couldn't have found a better home for my first book.  –– Henk Rossouw