Toledo poet John Dorsey was recently nominated for a 2013 Pushcart Prize.
Hydeout Press recently announced the nomination, which recognized his book of poetry “Twenty Poems About Girls.”
“I think it’s an honor,” Dorsey said.
Dorsey has been nominated five times before but this is his first nomination he’s received for an entire book. He said he has his “fingers crossed.” The winners will be announced in the spring.
Dorsey wrote “Twenty Poems” over the summer and it was released in October.
The award is given annually to writers of poetry and short fiction since the ‘70s. The prize is two-fold; if chosen, Dorsey’s work will also be included in an anthology that will be released late next year. Dorsey said he does not know which poems from the selection will be included.
It’s a prestigious award that a number of famous authors have won, Dorsey said.
Dorsey is also busy preparing for levyfest 2014, a Cleveland festival honoring the city’s alternative publisher and poet d.a. levy. This is the first time since 2006 the festival will be hosted and is planned for Oct. 24-26.
Hydeout Press will show its support of levyfest through the publication of “Renegade Flowers: d.a. levy and the Digital Revolution, an anthology of essays, poetry and photography. The anthology will be edited by D.R. Wagner and John Dorsey and will be released at levyfest. Proceeds from the presales will support the festival’s programming.
Hydeout Press, a sponsor of the event, is “proud of its role … and is excited to help bring the community three days of history, poetry and scholarship,” according to a news release.
Alex Nielson, originally from Toledo, is planning the revival of the festival. He moved to Cleveland to work in small press publishing.
“It’s always been really fulfilling for me. It’s something that I wanted to share,” Nielson said. “I don’t think there are a lot of people who move to a city because of the poetry experience. Maybe that was a weird choice, but it’s not one that I regret.”
