Melanie Simms

Poet

Arab, AL
Alabama US
Email: 
melanie.simms46@yahoo.com
Website: 
poetmelaniesimms.wordpress.com/

Author's Bio

I am a widely published poet, and former poet laureate of Perry County. I currently reside in Arab, Alabama and am pursuing my MFA in Creative Writing. My BA is in Creative Writing  from Bloomsburg University in PA. I was born into a family of award winning authors/poets. I am the author of four books of poetry including Remember the Sun (Sunbury Press) and Waking the Muse (Outskirts Press)  My third book, Life Signs and Fortune Cookies (Brown Poesy Press) is a collection of poems and short stories. My fourth book is an anthology which I titled "Poets with Masks On." It is a collection of poetry by some of the nation's finest poets and includes the art work of New York artist Christine O'Connor.  The book was just accepted for publication by Finishing Line Press. I am presently working on my fifth novel, "Alien Prophecy" my first science fiction novel; I hope to have it adapted for screen. I have also begun sending out my first collection of science fiction short stories.  I am a huge fan of Ray Bradbury one of our greatest science fiction authors and gifted American poets.

 I am the proud mother of a 30 year old son who served in the US Army and currently works for TSA.

Publications & Prizes

Anthologies:
Poets with Masks On (Finishing Line Press, 2021)
,
Adelaide Voices Anthology (Adelaide Books, 2018)
,
Ancient Heart Magazine Anthology (Ancient Heart Press, 2018)
,
Piano Press (Elizabeth Axford, 2003)
Books:
Poets with Masks On (Finishing Line Press, 2021)
,
Life Signs and Fortune Cookies (Sunbury Press Books, 2018)
,
Remember the Sun (Sunbury Press Books, 2014)
,
Waking the Muse (Outskirts Press, 2007)
Journals:
,
Adelaide Literary Magazine
,
Angel News Magazine
,
Artella
,
Ascent Aspirations
,
Baby Clam Press
,
Blood and Thunder
,
Boloji.com
,
BOMB Magazine
,
Free Xpression
,
Illogical Muse
,
Jerry Jazz Musician
,
Language and Culture.net
,
Nuvein
,
Penn Review
,
Peshekee River Review
,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
,
Poetic Voices
,
Poetree Magazine
,
Poetry Bay
,
Poetry International
,
Poetry Motel
,
Poetry Soup
,
Poetry Super Highway
,
Private
,
Red Coral
,
Reflections Literary Journal
,
Santa Cruz County Sentinel
,
Soul Fountain
,
Splizz
,
Steel Point Quarterly
,
The Galway Review
,
The Other Voices International Project
,
The Patriot News
,
The Poet's Haven
,
The Stray Branch
,
The York Dispatch
,
Three Cup Morning
,
Ygdrasil
,
Zillah
,
Zuzu's Petals Quarterly
,
ZZ Baggins Poetry Victims
Prizes won: 

Perry County Poet Laureate Award, Sophie Award, Cambridge Who's Who of Women in Publication, Marquis Who's Who of the World, A Vermont Writers Studio Scholarship, A finalist in the Richard Savage Poetry Award (Bloomsburg University), Pushcart prize nomination,President and Founder, Association of Pennsylvania Poets' Laureate. Listed in the prestigious Pennsylvania Center of the Book(PSU)Poet of the Month (Poetry Superhighway), Evvy Nomination for Best self-publication of a book. A finalist in the Adelaide Literary Magazine Fiction and Poetry Competitions.  A winner of the Poetry in Transit Award (Kings College), Pennsylvania.

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Eugene Field, Ray Bradbury, Gary Young and H.G. Wells.
What I'm reading now: 
In The Buddha Factory by Alan Soldofsky, The Complete Poems by Elizabeth Bishop, The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
White
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Hartford, CT
Connecticut
Raised in: 
Santa Cruz, CA
California
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Feb 11, 2022