Poetry Friday: One Step Forward Updates
Carol at Beyond Literacy Link is hosting this week. Hop on over there for the roundup.
One Step Forward News
Pre-Orders for One Step Forward
If you’d like a signed copy of One Step Forward, please order through my local indie, One More Page Books. I’ll sign books and they’ll ship them to you!
If you are a Barnes and Noble premium or rewards member you can get 25% on pre-orders of One Step Forward through Friday, February 7. It’s a very short window.
Signed Bookplates
If you are buying through B&N or other online retailer, you can sign up to receive a free signed bookplate. Sign up here and I will mail them out in March.
Booklist Review
I’m thrilled that Booklist had such a lovely review in their February issue.
“Atkins’ excellent novel in verse brings the 15 days Matilda spends in jail to vivid life, dramatizing the inhumane treatment the suffragists received. [She] has done a superb job of research, bringing her material to life in an important book.”
Save the Date
If you are a local Poetry Friday reader, you are invited to my book launch at the Lucy Burns Museum. It’s scheduled for March 29. More information to come!
Haiku of the Week
ceiling ruffles
an undulation
of jellyfish
Photo Taken: February 1, 2025 at the Folger Shakespeare Library
Haiku Written: February 3, 2025
25 New-to-Me Poets in 2025
In her essay “Ten Things About Poetry,” Patricia Smith challenges the reader to “discover one new poet every week.” (in The Practicing Poet: Writing Beyond the Basics edited by Diane Lockward). I’m setting out to discover 25 New-to-Me poets in 2025. Join me as I read at least 5 poems by a new-to-me poet.
Janine Joseph
In January there was a poetry event in DC that I couldn’t attend. One of the poets involved caught my attention—Janine Joseph. She’s a professor at Virginia Tech and her most recent collection, Decade of the Brain, won the Virginia Literary Award for Poetry. In it, she writes about post-concussive memory loss after a major auto accident.
None of the my local libraries had this new book, so I read some excerpts online.
One of the things that struck me about her writing is the way that she staggers her lines. I’m always interested in the way poets use white space in their poetry.
After reading a bunch of her poems here, I’m going to request my local library purchase her new book.
RECREATE
- Zoom with a Maryland garden where Camille Dungy spoke. She talked about her book Soil. If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend!
- I visited some museums in DC (more on that in my February roundup).
- I’ve been replotting a novel with sticky notes and now I’ve moved to Scrivener with a plan in place.
32 Comments
Irene Latham
Ooh I WISH I could attend your book launch, Marcie!! Excellent novel, indeed! Congratulations on another beautiful review! xo
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Irene!
Cathy Stenquist
Congratulations on your new book! Wish I was closer to come to the launch. I like you haiku and how beautifully it pairs with the art. Art and poetry are definitely inspiring to me.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Cathy!
Susan Thomsen
Marcie, that’s very exciting about your book and the reviews coming in! And I so enjoyed Camille T. Dungy’s “Soil.” Great book.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It’s SUCH a great book! She’s an amazing speaker as well.
Linda Baie
When it’s closer in time, I’ll request your book at my library, Marcie, though they may already have it on their lists! Congrats for the review, & love the extra look you gave in your haiku, Jellyfish AND ruffles!
Linda Baie
I’m wrong! I went straight to my library (Denver) site to request your book & it’s already on order – 3 copies! Hope others are finding out about the book, too!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Hooray! That’s great news! I love it when libraries order and patrons check out. It’s good all around!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Linda!
jan
Marcie, Kudos! The excitement & plans for your verse novel about the brave suffragette in jail are wonderful to read. Much goodness that will flow from your launch.
The museum haiku is great :
“ruffles” to describe jellyfish! You have me looking again/reading again.
Thanks for all the generous sharing here.
Jan
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Jan!
Denise Krebs
Marcie, congratulations on the wonderful review for _One Step Forward_. It is such a striking book, and I love that Booklist called it an important book. Have a wonderful book launch! That ceiling at the Folger Shakespeare Library does look like jellyfish.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled that reviewers have been receptive to the book.
Rose Cappelli
An undulation of jellyfish – just WOW. Congrats on the great reviews of One Step Forward.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! I so rarely take pictures of non-natural things that I had to connect it to a natural thing. 🙂
Karen Edmisten
Just pre-ordered through your local indie, Marcie! Congrats!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Karen! They and I both appreciate it.
jama
Congrats on the new book and the good review! Sounds like you have some exciting launch plans. Enjoyed your haiku, and thanks for mentioning Janine Joseph this week. Looking forward to hearing more about your 25 new-to-you poets this year. 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Jama!
Laura Purdie Salas
A new poet every week–wow. That’s ambitious! Marcie, thanks for taking us along for the ride. I look forward to meeting some new poets through you!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It will likely not be one per week, but 25 throughout the year. 🙂 But still hoping to get to know some poets’ works a bit.
Heidi Mordhorst
So exciting, Marcie! I didn’t know about the Lucy Burns Museum/Workhouse Prison and look forward to your book launch–the date is on my calendar! I went to read some Janine Joseph poems and got very interested in Ariana Benson’s work too. Thanks for the signposts.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Awesome! The Lucy Burns museum is really awesome!
Mary Lee
I’m happy to report that TWO copies of your book are on order in the Columbus Metropolitan Library system and both are now reserved! So excited for you! This is truly a book for These Times. (And just based on the anthem from the Broadway play, I am as determined to see it as I am to read your book!)
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
This makes me so happy that Columbus Libraries have already pre-ordered. 🙂 That’s awesome! And yes to The Suffs! It’s already coming to Cleveland and Cincinnati! I know still a drive for you, but closer than NYC. https://suffsmusical.com/tour-schedule
Jane
Congratulations on the wonderful review, and enjoy this moment so much!! It is such an exciting time, to launch a new book, and such a wonderful-sounding (and sadly still very timely) story!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I definitely didn’t expect (or hope) that this book would be timely. But it is…
Carol Varsalona
Marcia, I am so excited for you – another book published! I know you have worked long and hard to write your book about a determined suffragist. I look forward to reading more about your new book. Kudos!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Carol!
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