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YellowJacket Press |
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YellowJacket Press (YJP) is pleased to announce that Michael Trammell of Tallahassee is the winner of the 2008 YellowJacket Press Chapbook Contest for Florida Poets. His poetry collection, Our Keen Blue House, will be published in this summer. YJP will also publish the chapbooks of runners-up Robert Carr of Orlando (Mystery of the Root) and Pamela Hill Epps of Tampa (A Glance Back).
This is the fourth year of the YellowJacket Press Chapbook Contest for Florida Poets. Previous winning chapbooks were Florida Straits by winner Gregory Byrd of Clearwater (2005); Music in Arabic by Mary Jane Ryals of Tallahassee and Night Windows by Susan Lilley of Orlando, (co-winners, 2006); Many Loves by winner Michael Hettich of Miami (2007)and Message on a Branch by runner-up Sharon School of Atlantic Beach (2007). This year’s contest opens October 1, 2008 with a deadline of December 1, 2008. |
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Fundraiser for YellowJacket Press: On Friday, September 19th, YellowJacket Press presented The Florida Poets Happy Hour and Prime Time Show at Indigo Coffee, 514 N. Franklin St., Tampa, Florida. The Show featured "two for one" readings throughout the night by YellowJacket Press Poets and well-known Tampa Bay area poets, along with live music. All donations and book sales will supported YellowJacket Press, Florida's only publisher of poetry chapbook manuscripts. |
April 2008 |
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Michael Trammell’s book, Our Keen Blue House, was reviewed in the current issue of GulfStream Online magazine. Michael Trammell and Mary Jane Ryals presented a dual reading on December 8, 2008 at Orlando’s cool and trendy independent bookstore, UrbanThink. The poets broke their poems into two voices and read in tandem, dropping and picking up lines seamlessly and synergistically. The audience was small, but ardent. The evening was arranged by Susan Lilley and Phil Deaver, who graciously opened their home for an after-party. Many from Orlando’s vibrant literary scene joined the festivities—including Billy Collins, now in residence at Rollins. YJP poets read at the FLAC conference In November to an enthusiastic audience. Readings by Michael Trammell, Robert Carr, Pamela Epps, Mary Jane Ryals, Susan Lilley, Gregory Byrd, and Gianna Russo were a highlight of the state’s storied literary weekend. (Pun—get it?) |
November 2008 |
August 2008 |
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The Creative Writing Department at Blake School of the Arts in Tampa is pleased to announce the winner of the 2007 YellowJacket Press Chapbook Contest for Florida Poets. Michael Hettich of Miami Shores has won for his manuscript Many Loves. Mr. Hettich will debut his book when he reads from it in Tampa at Blake's National Poetry Month Reading on Friday, April 13th, 2007. First runner-up is Sharon Scholl of Atlantic Beach. Her book, Message on a Branch will also be published by YellowJacket Press. This is the third year of the YellowJacket Press Chapbook Contest. The contest was created at Blake to acknowledge and support adult poets across the state and to create a means for student writers to interact with established, reputable poets and writers. Blake School of the Arts boasts the most extensive public high school creative writing program in Florida. This contest attempts to raise the level of student involvement in the literary arts community. Previous winning chapbooks were Florida Straits by Gregory Byrd of Clearwater (2005), Music in Arabic by Mary Jane Ryals of Tallahassee (2006), and Night Windows by Susan Lilley of Orlando (2006). In celebration of Mr. Hettich's and Ms. Scholl's books, and in honor of National Poetry Month, a public reading will take place on Friday, April 13, 2007 in Blake's theatre, 1701 N. Blvd. Tampa. A reception will be held at 6:30pm, followed by the reading and booksigning at 7pm. Along with Mr. Hettich, other poets who will participate in the National Poetry Month reading are Mary Jane Ryals, Susan Lilley, Greg Byrd, and Phil Deaver. The event is free and open to the public. |
2007 News |
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The 2008 YellowJacket Press Chapbook Contest winner, Kate Sweeney debuted her chapbook, Better Accidents, at the YellowJacket Press “in Just spring” Poetry Reading on Friday, April 17, 2009. “in Just spring” took place at Indigo Coffee, 514 Franklin Street, Downtown Tampa,. Ms. Sweeney was joined by Florida poets Philip F. Deaver, Phyllis McEwen, Rhonda J. Nelson, Jeff Karon, Susan Lilley & Nola Garrett. Artwork by Phyllis McEwen was also on display. A raffle of Spring items took place throughout the evening. |
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Poet wins 2008 YellowJacket Press Chapbook Contest for Florida Poets: YellowJacket Press is pleased to announce the winner of the 2008 YellowJacket Press Chapbook Contest for Florida Poets. Kate Sweeney of Tampa has won for her manuscript Better Accidents, which will be published this spring. Runner-up Richard Downing of Hudson will also have his collection Four Steps off the Path published by YellowJacket Press. There were 8 finalists whose work was also worthy of publication, had not financial times been so dire. They include Vanessa Blakeslee, Maitland; Michael Cleary, Ft. Lauderdale; Sarah Carey, Gainesville; Nola Garrett, Palm Harbor; Terry Godbey, Maitland; Ruth Moon Kempher, St Augustine; Jesse Millner, Estero; and Barbra Nightingale, Hollywood. Previous winning chapbooks were Florida Straits by Gregory Byrd of Clearwater (2005), Music in Arabic by Mary Jane Ryals of Tallahassee (2006), and Night Windows by Susan Lilley of Orlando (2006), Many Loves by Michael Hettich of Miami (2007) and Our Keen Blue House by Michael Trammell of Tallahassee. This year’s contest opens October 1, 2009 with a deadline of December 1, 2009. |
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YellowJacket Press 2008 Poetry Chapbook Winner reads on April 17, 2009: |
2009 News |