Announcing the finalists for the Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook Prize

We had a tough time getting down to our finalists. All the chapbooks at this stage are truly excellent works. Thankfully, the staff is still speaking to each other as various chapbooks were passionately championed and yet, we had to narrow it down to just three.

At the next stage, these three chapbooks will be sent to our poet-judge. While our goal is to have a winner in November, the schedule of our judge will determine when we announce. Finalists, we will be in touch with you every step of the way.

I hope all of you will continue to send your poems out into the world. Our contest will open again in late spring. We're thrilled to have read your work.

And here they are:


Charismata Canticle -- W.F. Lantry

Old News: The Bond Between My Father and Me -- Eva M. Schlesinger

Splitting the Velvet Dark -- Elaine Mott


Congratulations to all of our entrants. It's been a terrific year with 1000 entrants.