Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today’s stories.
The winners of this year’s Griffin Poetry Prizes were announced this morning. Valzhyna Mort earned the international prize for her latest collection, Music for the Dead and Resurrected, while Canisia Lubrin won the Canadian category for her second book, The Dyzgraphxst. Each prize comes with a purse of $65,000 CAD. Poet Yusef Komunyakaa was also honored with a lifetime recognition award.
“These stores are more than shops to browse for books; they are hubs for both entertainment and enlightenment, meeting grounds for hearts and minds. They are, above all, vital community spaces.” Michelle Hart has compiled a guide to LGBTQ-owned bookstores, featuring a total of fifty-three stores in twenty-four states and the District of Columbia. (Oprah Daily)
“This memoir really spins together all of the threads that I have been obsessed with my entire life! Poetry, prose, translation, hybridity, postcoloniality, Creole, and Hindu mythology all share space in this book like they do in my own body.” Rajiv Mohabir, the author of Antiman, discusses reclamation, language, and “sensitivity as a superpower.” (BOMB)
Bloomsbury has hired novelist and editor Jonathan Lee to serve as its editorial director. Lee, the author of The Great Mistake and High Dive, most recently served as the editor in chief of Catapult Books. (Publishers Weekly)
Jon Baker of Baker Literary Scouting is launching a publishing incubator program this summer, which will offer a communal work space in Jersey City for new publishing employees who would otherwise be working from home. “New entrants into the literary sphere need the opportunity and space to effectuate their own development and professional network,” Baker told Publishers Weekly.
“Once I figure out the thing I want to say, I’ll go back and try to edit what I’d written so that it makes more sense. The process of discovery is baked into the writing to begin with.” Jonny Sun reflects on the discoveries he made while writing his second book, Goodbye, Again. (Creative Independent)
“I’ve been meaning for some time to write on the subject of writing and procrastination, but there’s always a few other things I just need to get done first.” Amy Sackville reflects on the art of writerly procrastination. (Literary Hub)
Poets Regie Cabico and Tyler French have curated a book of poetry and cookie recipes titled The Queer Cookies Cookbook. (Washington Post)
