Poetry Friday: Valentine for a Writer
Linda at Teacher Dance is hosting this week. Hop on over there for the roundup.
One Step Forward
I’m so grateful to Patricia Franz, my Nevermores poetry sister, who wrote a poem about my forthcoming book. If you missed it, you can check it out here.
I have a guest post over at HarperStacks this week about the 1913 Woman’s Suffrage Processional (a women’s march). Check it out here.
I received my boxes of author copies of One Step Forward this week. Because I didn’t get a printed ARC, this was the first time I actually saw it on paper. It’s a thrill. A friend and I were texting about celebrating along the way. There are so many disappointments and the waits are so long that any small win–like seeing your books for the first time–seems worthy of celebrating.
Valentine for a Writer
As a librarian, I think it’s HUGE to request books from your public library. It gives a lot of people the chance to read the book. Often larger library systems buy more than one copy of a book.
This week, I have a favor to ask. A Valentine for this writer? Can you check your local library system and see if my book is on order? If not, can you fill out the form to request that it be ordered? Here is the information you’ll most likely need:
Title: One Step Forward
Author: Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Publisher: Versify/HarperCollins
Publication Date: 2025
ISBN: 9780063339316
Reviews: Sometimes your library will want to know if it’s been professionally reviewed. One Step Forward received a starred review from Kirkus. It is also a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Genre or Type of Book: Young adult, historical fiction
If you have a 2024 or 2025 title, leave that information in the comments and I’ll check my library system too. If it’s not there, I’ll request that they purchase it.
Suffragist Valentines
Suffragists, like Matilda Young from my book, wrote tongue-in-cheek rhyming Valentines to members of Congress to get them to vote for the woman suffrage amendment.
You can read more suffrage history here.
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.
- Francis Ponge
- Cynthia Manick
- Mattie Quesenberry Smith
- Janine Joseph
- Gyorgyi Voros
Gyorgyi Voros
I first came across Gyorgyi Voros’s poetry in The Literary Field Guide to Southern Appalachia. I tend to read through the biographies of the contributing poets for anthologies. Voros’s stuck out because she had connections to Virginia Tech and Hollins University, so I wrote her down as a possible poet for this challenge. She’s written a critical work about Wallace Stevens’ poetry and a book of poetry.
Poems to enjoy:
- “Forest Orison” —I have to admit, I had to look up the word “orison” which means prayer.
- “The Unnaming”—She reads this poem on Youtube here. If you love specificity in naming things, you’ll enjoy this one.
- “Single-Sorus Spleenwort”—This is in the anthology The Literary Field Guide to Southern Appalachia. Check with your local library for this awesome anthology.
The three poems I found, I enjoyed quite a lot. My goal was to read five poems by each poet, but I was unable to find that many online by Voros. If you know of any, send them my way.
Haiku of the Week
glass etching
drips from
the rhododendron
Photo Taken: February 6, 2025 in our yard
Haiku Written: February 7, 2025
RECREATE
I took a class about how to start seeds for the garden. I’ve been gardening for two decades and have never been super successful with seeds. My results are hit or miss. So I took a class at one of my favorite gardens in the area from a Master Gardener, and now I’m excited to try again.
One thing the instructor said that really stuck with me was “You will fail.” Kind of like writing—not all of it will work. Not all of the seeds will sprout, or if they sprout, they may not make it into producing plants.
Here’s a picture of my seed viability testing some older seeds I got for free (and some I found that we purchased a few years ago). My husband said it looks like a drinking game.
I have been busy completely rewriting a middle grade novel. I re-plotted it and now I’m writing it from scratch.
I made gluten free sourdough focaccia bread. It’s been the most delicious gluten free sourdough recipe I’ve tried so far.
34 Comments
Susan T.
Marcie, that first suffrage valentine made me laugh. Thanks for including those this week. And congrats on your book! I’ll see if our library has ordered it, and if not, I’ll request it. That certainly is a “glass etching” on your photo above. Nice!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you for requesting it at your local library! 🙂
Linda Baie
Oh, I love the suffrage poems, have never heard of them, Marcie. They are quite clever! And I enjoyed the Voros poem, wow, a compendium of things, then, that end! But most of all, I love your haiku, that “glass etching” & the pic – wow! Also, I’m pretty sure I told you that my library has 3 copies of your book on order! Congrats again! Love that Valentine & the box full!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes! Thank you for letting me know your local library already has it on order. 🙂 That’s wonderful news!
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, this is a celebration for you. Congratulations on Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air for your humorous poems to government officials and your beautiful haiku with those crystalline icicles drooping down. I would love to ask our librarian to add your book to her stacks. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day celebrating your book of historical value. I am sure children will love it knowing how wonderful you write.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much! You can probably request online!
Rose Cappelli
So happy One Step Forward is almost here! Thanks for sharing the Valentines from it, and I will certainly ask my library to order it. I love that photo of the ice covered rhododendron – such a gorgeous “glass etching.” And good luck with the seeds. I tried some a couple of years ago and although most sprouted, they never got strong enough to make it in the garden. Maybe I’ll try again.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you for requesting it at your local library! Yes, the seeds have always vexed me, but I learned a lot of things I needed to improve, so my fingers are crossed that they will work this year!
Janice Scully
Congratulations! I would love to read this book and recommend it to my library. So much in this post to return to. Thank you!!(
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you for requesting that your local library order it!
Tracey Kiff-Judson
Yay, Marcie! Congratulations on holding your book in your hands! I am so happy for you. There is so much to love about this post. Your rhododendron photo reminded me of a real-life Salvador Dali painting, and I will be excited to see how your seed sprouting progresses. Happy Valentine’s Day and congratulations again on your book arrival!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Tracey!
Irene Latham
YES to celebrating ONE (and every!) STEP FORWARD. Congratulations, Marcie! Those Suffrage Valentines are so clever! Thank you for sharing. I just checked my library and they already have 2 copies on order. YAY! And yay for seed starting! One of the most reassuring things I have heard since becoming a master gardener is this: you’re not a gardener unless you’re killing plants. 🙂 It’s just part of it! xo
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yay! So glad they have 2 copies on order! That’s wonderful news! And I can’t even tell you how I breathed a sigh of relief when she said “you will fail.” LOL
Mary Lee Hahn
I love that you got in on the fun of the themed Valentines! I saw them from our local library system, and from Dawes Arboretum (nearby…we are members). SO clever! As you know, I’ve already put one of the two copies our library system has on order on reserve. Yay you!!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Woohoo! So glad your library has them on order! Yes, the Valentines are in my book, so I just dressed them up for Valentines day! 🙂
Linda Mitchell
Hooray! I am asking for ‘One Step Forward’ from my local public library! It’s such joy to finally see this book in print and available to the rest of us. The suffrage Valentines are a hoot. I think we might to find ways to write more of those! Good luck on the seeds. I’ve never been able to get to that level of gardening. I will live vicariously through your drinking game. Ha!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes! Thank you! I noticed Prince Williams library system didn’t have it on order yet, so thank you for requesting! The suffrage Valentines are so fun! I’ve been writing to my senators, but the words haven’t been as funny… Wait until you see my whole seed operation. My husband’s eyes bugged out. 🙂
Cathy Stenquist
Congratulations on the lovely book. The cover really catches your eye. And thanks for the poem and photo of your glassy Rhododendron- beautiful. So many fun creative things in this post!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Cathy!
Linda
Congratualtions, Marcie! Sometimes it seems like it takes forever for a book to get published, but now your book is here, and it is beautiful! I can’t wait to read it.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Linda!
jama
My library has five copies of your new book! Can’t wait to read it!!
Love your Suffrage Valentines! Will also check out the Voros poems you linked to. Your haiku is lovely (amazing photo!). Thanks for all.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Wow! This is such great news! I’m thrilled your library bought five copies!
Karen Eastlund
Congratulations on authoring a book!!! This is an achievement well worth celebrating. Woohoo!!! It looks great!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Karen!
Laura Purdie Salas
Love these valentines, Marcie. And I requested your book be purchased at my library through our online form. Brilliant to share that idea. I did that for a couple of books long ago, but I am now going to do it again. Thanks for the reminder!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes! Definitely ask people to request it at their libraries. A bigger system will often purchase more than one copy. And thank you for requesting ONE STEP FORWARD. I love that it will reach more readers through libraries. 🙂
Carol Labuzzetta
Hi Marcie,
My goodness, you are busy! I love the suffragette poems you shared! What a great subject! Congratulations on your new book. I will request a copy of your book for our public library. Can you request your library to order Picture Perfect Poetry, the anthology that you are featured in which I compiled in 2024? Thanks!
After things settle down with my Dad, I want to volunteer at my local library. It is a half-hour away but think I will enjoy it. Thanks for being an inspiration! I love your haiku this week as well. Stunning photo!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Carol–yes, I will put in the request form for Picture Perfect Poetry.
Robyn Hood Black
CONGRATULATIONS, Marcie – So happy this wonderful book is out in the world with two covers & everything! Thanks for the inside info re. book requests, too. (I finally got myself a local library card here after moving year before last; that’s a ridiculously long time without one.) Thanks as well for all the great links, which I hope to get back and follow soon! :0)
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yay for getting a public library card! I’m really fortunate in that I can get library cards from many surrounding counties/systems. I recently renewed my DC public library card. The lady who renewed it said it lapsed in 2019. She gave me some side-eye–like how could I let it lapse for 6 years! 🙂 It’s not my closest library + there was a pandemic which kept me away from DC public libraries for a bit. But the fact that she was shocked made me smile.
Jane
Many, many congratulations!! My library has already ordered two copies, and I’ve just put a hold on one of them. 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Jane, this is fabulous news!!! Thank you so much for letting me know.