Kallisto Gaia Press is honored to select “Super Blood Wolf Moon by Gary V. Powell as the winner of the first annual Contemporary Poetry Chapbook Prize. His Chapbook was selected out of 196 entries by 2018 Texas Poet Laureate, Carol Coffe Reposa. Ms. Reposa had this to say about her selection:
I chose “Super Blood Wolf Moon” (on the FIRST reading!) because the poems, all of them, seemed to me so complete. This writer has it all, in my view: wide-ranging themes, absolute mastery of craft (as in “T-Boned Sestina,” “When Wifey’s Away,” and “How to Make a Garden”), honesty, and a refreshing ability to laugh at himself. His work spans a broad emotional range too, from moral outrage (“Basic Training,” “Corporate Warriors,” “Our Thoughts and Prayers”) to poignant reflection (“Crowder Peas”) and disarming humor (“South Beach..”.). I think it was Ethel Merman who said that we grow up the first time we have a good laugh–at ourselves. Most of all, these poems strike me as the work of a person who is absolutely committed to writing good poetry, and I feel honored to have had the opportunity to read his work. Lucky me!
Gary will receive $800 and a stipend toward travel to read from his work at the release event in Austin, Texas. Pre-orders for Super Blood Wolf Moon are open BUY HERE!
Ms. Reposa also named four Honorable Mentions from the entries. These poets will receive $50 each and a selected poem from their entry will be published in the upcoming issue of The Ocotillo Review.
HONORABLE MENTION: John Krumberger – “This Is It”
HONORABLE MENTION: Janet Landman “Weathering”
HONORABLE MENTION: Page Lambert “Heart to the Ground”
HONORABLE MENTION: John Palen “Riding with the Diaspora”
