2020 Poetry Contest

Contest Sponsors

Alan Halford Poetry • Alexandra Umlas • Amélie Frank • Angélique Jamail, Author • Ann Christine Tabaka • Annest Gwilym • Anonymous • Betsy Mars • Bill Cushing • BooksMakeBooms.com • Carrie Magness Radna • Charlie Brice • Charlie Brice • Chuck Peek • Dakota Donovan • David Flynn • Debbie Hall • Deborah P Kolodji • Dreams and Nightmares • Elizabeth Marchitti • Ellaraine Lockie • Emily Vieweg, Poet • Hanoch Guy • Ink Publications • Jeffrey Spahr-Summers • Jerry Garcia • joshuacorwin.com • Larry Bubar • Lawrence Berger • LB Sedlacek • LB Sedlacek • Lenny DellaRocca • M. J. Arcangelini • Magdalena Ball • Mary Langer Thompson • Peggy Dobreer • Poet Caldwell Lee • Poetry Is An Essential Service • Poets INC (Inland North County) • Raindog • Rick Lupert • Rolland Vasin • Ron Kolm • Scott Ferry • SFPA – Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association • Silver Birch Press • Southern California Haiku Study Group • Space Cowboy Books • Steve Braff • Suzanne O’Connell • Tebot Bach • The Poetry Market Ezine • The Poetry Salon • thebookdoc • Unlikely Books • Urtica Press • Voices Israel • Winning Writers • Zvi A. Sesling

Winners and What They Won

First Place:
Taylor Bias
$751.50


Second Place:
B.J. Buckley
$450.90


Third Place:
Angele Ellis
$300.60

We received 978 entries into the contest. The $978 (one dollar per poem entry fee) was added to the additional $525 donated to the prize pot by contest sponsors Rolland Vasin and Anonymous. This total ($1503) was divided amongst the top three scoring poets. First place won 50%, Second place took 30%, and Third Place won 20%.

Every single poet who entered the contest will receive at least one prize just for entering thanks to the generosity of the many sponsors who supported this year’s contest.

Thanks to everyone for entering!

Read the Winning Poems | Watch the Winners Announcement

Additional Prizes:

Alan Halford Poetry
https://www.facebook.com/AlanHalfordPoetry
3 copies of the poetry book “The Memory Bone” by Alan Halford

Alexandra Umlas
https://alexandraumlas.com/
3 copies of the book “At the Table of the Unknown” by Alexandra Umlas

Amélie Frank
15 copies of the book “Percy, Bob & Assenpoop” by Elliott Baker

Angélique Jamail, Author
http://www.SapphosTorque.com/
3 copies of the book “FINIS” (first edition) by Angélique Jamail

Ann Christine Tabaka
https://annchristinetabaka.com/
2 copies of the book “No More Hallelujahs” by Ann Christine Tabaka

Annest Gwilym
10 copies of the book “What the Owl Taught Me” by Annest Gwilym

Anonymous
$25 added to the cash prize divided by the three winning poets

Betsy Mars
https://marsmyst.wordpress.com/
1 copy of the book “Alinea” by Betsy Mars
1 copy of the anthology “Unsheathed: 24 Contemporary Poets Take Up the Knife” (Kingly Street Press)

Bill Cushing
1 copy of the book “Music Speaks” by Bill Cushing

BooksMakeBooms.com
https://www.booksmakebooms.com
2 Sets of Richard Rensberry’s “Lighthouse Series of Books, Rhyme For Young Readers” Each set includes “If I Were A Lighthouse,” “Big Ships” and “Keepers of the Light”

Carrie Magness Radna
carriemagnessradna.com
1 copy of the book “Remembering you as I go walking” by Carrie Magness Radna

Charlie Brice
1 copy of the book “An Accident of Blood” by Charlie Brice

Chuck Peek
2 copies of the book “Nebraska–Conflicting Reports” by Chuck Peek

Dakota Donovan
dakotadonovan.com
5 copies of the book “L.A. Sleepers” by Dakota Donovan

David Flynn
2 copies of the book “Selected Poems” by David Flynn

Debbie Hall
1 copy of the book “Falling into the River” by Debbie Hall

Deborah P Kolodji
1 copy of the book, “highway of sleeping towns,” by Deborah P Kolodji
1 copy of the anthology “Eclipse Moon,” by the Southern California Haiku Study Group

Dreams and Nightmares
https://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/
3 one-year subscriptiions to “Dreams and Nightmares” (pdf delivery)

Elizabeth Marchitti
1 copy of the chapbook “Growing Old Disgracefully” by Elizabeth Marchitti

Ellaraine Lockie
1 copy of the book “Blue Ribbons at the County Fair” by Ellaraine Lockie

Emily Vieweg, Poet
www.emilyvieweg.com
3 Broadside prints of winner’s choice from Emily Vieweg’s Etsy Shop

Hanoch Guy
hanochguy-kaner.com
1 copy of the book “Springtime in Moldova;Fantasy and dreams poems” by Hanoch Guy

Ink Publications
https://inkpublications1.wixsite.com/mysite
1 copy of the ebook “Satan In Chicago” by Eric Evans
1 set of 3 broadsides from Ink Publications (to be selected by Ink Publications)

Jeffrey Spahr-Summers
jeffreyspahrsummers.com
5 copies of the book “Reasons for Raisins” by Jeffrey Spahr-Summers

Jerry Garcia
www.gratefulnotdead.com
2 copies of the book “On Summer Solstice Road” by Jerry Garcia

joshuacorwin.com
www.joshuacorwin.com
2 signed copies of the book “Becoming Vulnerable” by Joshua Corwin
1 Featured Interview on the Assiduous Dust Podcast

Larry Bubar
1 copy of the book “Poetry of War Vol I” by Larry Bubar
1 copy of the book “Poetry of War Vol II” by Larry Bubar

Lawrence Berger
1 copy of the book “Instant Poetry (just add words!)” by “Laughing” Larry Berger

LB Sedlacek
http://www.lbsedlacek.com/
1 copy of the book “Words and Bones” by LB Sedlacek
1 copy of the poetry booklet “Star Maps” by LB Sedlacek
1 copy of the poetry chapbook “Hey Astro!” by LB Sedlacek
1 copy of the poetry chapbook “I Am my Neighborhood Watch” by LB Sedlacek

Lenny DellaRocca
www.southfloridapoetryjournal.com
2 copies of the book “Things I See in the Fire” by Lenny Dellarocca

M. J. Arcangelini
1 copy of the book “What the Night Keeps” by M.J. Arcangelini
1 copy of the book “A Quiet Ghost” by M.J. Arcangelini

Magdalena Ball
http://www.magdalenaball.com
1 copy of the book “High Wire Step” by Magdalena Ball

Mary Langer Thompson
1 copy of the book “Poems in Water” by Mary Langer Thompson

Peggy Dobreer
www.PeggyDobreer.com
1 copy of the book “Drop and Dazzle” by Peggy Dobreer
1 free entry to E=Mc2Bodied Poetry Workshop or Private Session

Poet Caldwell Lee
https://book4mecaldwell.wixsite.com/poetcaldwelllee
2 copies of the book “COVID 19 A Compilation” by Caldwell Lee

Poetry Is An Essential Service
http://www.poetryessentialservice.com
1 Poetry Is an Essential Service T-Shirt, Tote Bag or Mug (Winners choice)

Poets INC (Inland North County)
https://facebook.com/PoetsInlandNorthCounty/
3 copies of the book “SUMMATION: Eleventh Annual Anthology” by Escondido Arts Partnership

Raindog
http://www.lummoxpress.com
1 copy of Lummox Poetry Anthology #6
1 copy of Lummox Poetry Anthology #8

Rick Lupert
https://www.poetrysuperhighway.com/
1 copy of the book “The Tokyo-Van Nuys Express” by Rick Lupert

Rolland Vasin
$500 added to the cash prize divided by the three winning poets

Ron Kolm
13 copies of the book “Welcome to the Barbecue” by Ron Kolm

Scott Ferry
http://Ferrypoetry.com
2 copies of the book “The only thing that makes sense is to grow” by Scott Ferry

SFPA – Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association 
http://SFpoetry.com
1 digital membership with the SFPA.
1 digital membership with the SFPA.

Silver Birch Press
http://www.silverbirchpress.com/
1 copy of the book “Alice in Wonderland Anthology of Poetry & Prose”
1 copy of the book “Bull: The Journey of a Freedom Icon” by James B. Golden
1 copy of the book “Bukowski: An Anthology of Poetry & Prose About Charles Bukowski”
1 copy of the book “Charles Bukowski: Epic Glottis” by Joan Jobe Smith
1 copy of the book “Coffee House Confessions” by Ellaraine Lockie
1 copy of the book “Dual Impressions” by John Brantingham and Jeffrey Graessley
1 copy of the book “Ides: A Collection of Poetry Chapbooks”
1 copy of the book “Grip, GIve and Sway” by Kathleen Wakefield
1 copy of the book “The Hollywood Catechism” by Paul Fericano
1 copy of the book “Nancy Drew Anthology of Poetry & Prose”
1 copy of the book “Phoenix” by Philippa Mayall
1 copy of the book “Point Blank” by Alan King
1 copy of the book “Resurrection Party” by Michalle Gould
1 copy of the book “Romancing Gravity” by Daniel Romo
1 copy of the book “Self-Portrait Poetry Collection”
1 copy of the book “Silver: An Eclectic Anthology of Poetry & Prose”
1 copy of the book “Stanton, California” by Sam Silvas
1 copy of the book “Swallow Dance: A Collection of Poetry Chapbooks”
1 copy of the book “Vanilla Milk’ by Chanel Brenner
1 copy of the book “The Wolf Yearling” by Jeffrey Alfier

Southern California Haiku Study Group
https://www.facebook.com/SoCalHaiku
2 copies of “A Sonic Boom of Stars: 2020 Southern California Haiku Study Group Anthology” edited by Susan Rogers and Beki Reese

Space Cowboy Books
http://spacecowboybooks.blogspot.com/p/about.html
1 copy of the book “Future Anthropology” by Jean-Paul L. Garnier

Steve Braff
http://stevebraff.blogspot.com/
1 copy of the book “Forty Days” by Steve Braff

Suzanna O’Connell
suzanneoconnell-poet.net
1 copy of the book “A Prayer For Torn Stockings” by Suzanne O’Connell
1 copy of the book “What Luck” by Suzanne O’Connell

Tebot Bach
tebotbach.org
2 copies of a book of the winner’s choice from the Tebot Bach Bookstore
1 two-issue subscription to Spillway Magazine

The Poetry Market Ezine
http://www.thepoetrymarket.com
1 one-month E-zine advertisement (a $10 value) – in “The Poetry Market Ezine”

The Poetry Salon
http://thepoetrysalon.com 
1 registration to the Poetry Salon’s “How to Think Like a Poet” E-Course

thebookdoc
1 Reading Critique of a Manuscript

Unlikely Books
https://www.unlikelybooks.org/
2 copies of the book “The Deepest Part of Dark” by Anne Elezabeth Pluto
2 copies of the book “Political AF” by Tara Campbell
1 copy of the book “Swimming Home” by Kayla Rodney
4 copies of the book “Manything” by dan raphael
1 copy of the book “The Mercy of Traffic” by Wendy Taylor Carlisle
3 copies of the book “Citizen Relent” by Jeff Weddle
1 copy of the book “Left Hand Dharma” by Belinda Subraman
1 copy of the book “Apocalyptics” by C. Derick Varn
1 copy of the book “Pachuco Skull” with Sombrero by Lawrence Welsh
1 copy of the book “When Red Blood Cells Leak” by Anne McMillen
1 copy of the book “Monolith” by Anne McMillen
1 copy of the book “Scorpions” by Joel Chace
1 copy of the book “brain:storm” by Michelle Greenblatt
1 copy of the book “Ashes and Seeds” by Michelle Greenblatt
1 copy of the book “Anchor What” by Vernon Frazer
1 copy of the book “a ship on the line” by Vincent A. Cellucci and Christopher Shipman
1 copy of the book “#specialcharacters” by Larissa Shmailo
1 copy of the book “Beautiful Rush” by Marc Vincenz
1 copy of the book “Gods of a Ransacked Century” by Marc Vincenz

Urtica Press
http://urticalitblog.blogspot.fr/
2 books from the “Urtica” catalogue (winner’s choice)

Voices Israel
2 copies of the book “A Second Decade of Poems” from Voices Israel

Winning Writers
https://winningwriters.com
2 copies of the book “Poems to See By” by Julian Peters

Zvi A. Zesling
One book from my collection

Meet Your Judges

Angélique Jamail (Houston, Texas)

Angélique Jamail’s poetry, short fiction, and essays have appeared in over two dozen anthologies and journals, including New Reader Magazine, Waxwing, Time-Slice, Improbable Worlds, Pluck Magazine, The Milk of Female Kindness––An Anthology of Honest Motherhood, Untameable City: Poems on the Nature of Houston, Femmeliterate, Bayou City Magazine, and The Enchantment of the Ordinary. Her short story “Mother” was published in 2019 by Spider Road Press and nominated for Best Small Fictions. Her work was selected as a Finalist for the New Letters Prize in Poetry (2011). Her magic realism novelette Finis. (Odeon Press), first published in 2014, has been praised by fiction writer Ari Marmell as having “some of the most real people I’ve encountered via text in a long time,” and by poet Marie Marshall as “a witty tale of conformity, prejudice, and transformation, in a world that is disturbing as much for its familiarity as for its strangeness.” Her poetry collection The Sharp Edges of Water (Odeon Press) came out in 2018. She teaches Creative Writing and English in Houston and began serving on the Board of Directors for Mutabilis Press in December 2019. Find her online at her blog Sappho’s Torque and on social media.

Angelique Jamail
Ellaraine Lockie (Sunnyvale, California)

Ellaraine Lockie is widely published and awarded as a poet, nonfiction book author and essayist. Her fourteenth chapbook, Sex & Other Slapsticks, was recently released from Presa Press. Earlier collections have won Poetry Forum’s Chapbook Contest Prize, San Gabriel Valley Poetry Festival Chapbook Competition, Encircle Publications Chapbook Contest, Best Individual Poetry Collection Award from Purple Patch magazine in England, and Aurorean’s Chapbook Choice Award. Ellaraine also teaches writing workshops and serves as Poetry Editor for the lifestyles magazine, LILIPOH.

Suzanne O’Connell (Los Angeles, California)

Suzanne O’Connell’s recently published work can be found in North American Review, Poet Lore, Paterson Literary Review, The Summerset Review, Good Works Review and Pudding Magazine.  O’Connell was awarded second place in the Poetry Super Highway poetry contest, 2019. She was nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize. She received Honorable Mention in the Steve Kowit Poetry Prize, 2019.  Her two poetry collections, A Prayer For Torn Stockings and What Luck, were published by Garden Oak Press. Visit Suzanne on the web here.

Suzanne O'Connell

Contest Calendar

  • July 1: Contest begins
  • July 6-12: Judges featured as Poets of the Week
  • July 12, 2:00 pm (pacific): PSH Live Judges Event: Live broadcast (Via Zoom and Facebook Live) where Judges will have the chance to read poems and discuss the contest and you can call in live and ask them questions. More info coming soon on how to tune in.
  • September 19: Final deadline for contest entries. (Entry fees must be received by PayPal or postmarked by October 5 or they’ll be returned.)
  • September 25: Judges deadline for returning scored poems.
  • October 2: Second round scoring deadline (in the event of tied scores.)
  • October 4, 2:00pm (pacific): PSH Live Event: “Winners Announced” in a special broadcast. Listen to it live and if any of the winners happen to be listening, they’ll be invited to call in and read their winning entries live on the air..
  • October 5 – 11: Contest Winners featured as Poets of the Week.
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