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Ressmeyer guest on “Pink Chair Sessions”

Georgia Ressmeyer, author of the forthcoming book of poetry, Leading A Life, was a guest on Mental Health America’s Pink Chair Sessions, a place for community conversations in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Many of the poems in Ressmeyer’s book come from her experience as a public defender, where she often represented people with mental illness.

The following review of Leading a Life comes from Julie L. Preder~Executive Director, Mental Health America Sheboygan County

“Georgia Ressmeyer takes us on a journey from the courtroom to a woman reflecting through the looking glass. Each poem provides historical memories with profound emotion. Her lyrics set the stage for owning our story and bringing forth inner peace. Ressmeyer demonstrates through words that compassion, empathy, and transparency can set us free.” 

Watch the video:

Leading a Life is now available for pre-order. Publication date: September 2021.

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Daniel and Austin Smith: father and son talk poetry, life, and connections to the land

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Arcadia Books (Spring Green, WI) hosted Daniel and Austin Smith for a conversation about poetry, the influence of writers like Tobias Wolff, Lucien Stryk, Michael Mott, and Gary Snyder, and how growing up in a community of writers shaped them both. Daniel and Austin both share selections of their work.

Consider this video to be a free course in how to read, craft, and appreciate poetry from two fine American poets who happen to be father and son. The two discuss origins of their poems, their interdependent growth as writers, the impact of place in their writing, and how effective it is to blend genres.

Ancestral by Daniel Smith is the newest book from Water’s Edge Press, due out June 1. We agree with Austin’s assessment that his father’s book “Conveys emotion via the physical world.” Rooted in a Midwestern landscape, Ancestral’s sense of place is never “claustrophobic,”

Austin says, adding that the poems “remind [him] of the poets [he loves], like Ted Kooser, who writes so beautifully about Nebraska. There’s a universality to the poems despite their placedness.”

Enjoy the video and pre-order Ancestral. Austin’s books are available here.

Arcadia Books celebrates National Poetry Month with Daniel Smith & Austin Smith
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Elzinga signs The Distance Between Stars

Observing Covid-19 safety, Jeff Elzinga met with interested readers at Literatus & Co. yesterday and personally inscribed copies of The Distance Between Stars. If you missed this event, you can still buy copies at the store. And, of course, you can always order from us. Use coupon code HAPPY until December 14 to save 10% on your order from Water’s Edge Press on Jeff’s book (and all of our books).

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Award Winner: Kathryn Gahl

When we agreed to publish Kathryn Gahl’s poetic memoir, The Velocity of Love, we knew Gahl was an exceptional writer. With her recent dual awards–poetry and fiction–from Door County Pulse, the coveted Hal Prize, we’re even more proud of our partnership.

You can read her winning fiction and poetry online.

The Velocity of Love is available now. We hope you’ll order from us, but the book is available to order wherever books are sold. Libraries are also beginning to shelve this book, but if yours has not, we hope you will ask them to do so.

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Columbia University School of the Arts Features ‘The Distance Between Stars’

Jeff Elzinga’s novel The Distance Between Stars was featured on the website for Columbia University School of the Arts on September 17, 2020 in an article by Nicole Saldarriaga. Elzinga is an 1978 alum of the university.

We’re happy to see news of Jeff’s excellent novel reaching a wider audience.

Purchase copies signed by the author.