07 Feb ANOTHER FEBRUARY…

Charles and I returned from a seven-night cruise aboard OASIS OF THE SEAS — one of those lifetime events.  Photos appear on my fb page.

Of course, one comes back to reality to several million emails, mail, et. al. — all of which will probably take up the rest of the month.

At the end of this month the Lee Bennett Hopkins/Penn State University Poetry Award will be announced.

It is hard to believe the Award was established twenty years ago –the first and only Award of its kind for poetry in the United States.  This year’s winner will be the 2lst choice.  A gala event is being planned at State College in late September.

I well remember the first award ceremony held at the Governor’s Mansion in Harrisburg, PA, in 1993, presented to Ashley Bryan for his ever-wondrous SING TO THE SUN (HarperCollins).  Over the years I have seen a first-time-ever award go to an anthology of poems; verse novels have been chosen, serious and light verse abound among the many winners right through the delightful 2012 selection, WON TON by Lee Wardlaw (Holt).

As for my writing life, I am involved — well involved — in several exciting projects — to be discussed an they evolve!

Of course I’m panting to see my latest ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE (Creative Editiions), illustrated by Guy Billout to appear early summer.

As always…onto tomorrows…