If you'd like to pre-order Shanan Ballam's book, First Poems After the Stroke, visit Finishing Line Press: finishinglinepress.com/product/first-…

I support Utah Libraries. If you do too, please sign and share this petition! fightforthefirst.org/petitions/i-su…

The winners of the Lyrical Language Lab Free Verse Poetry Contest for kidlit are in! Congrats to the winners & thank you to Renee LaTulippe & the judges. My poem "Raspberry Storm" received an Honorable Mention. reneelatulippe.com/poetry-contest…

Each day I'll be posting poems from the Lyrical Language Lab Free Verse Contest: reneelatulippe.com/poetry-contest… Congrats to @KDRHowley for her poem "Freedom" (2nd place).

Here's "Belly of the Summer," Heidi Mordhorst's third place poem. Such great metaphor! reneelatulippe.com/poetry-contest…

One of my favorite Honorable Mention poems, by @elizabethkuelbs. reneelatulippe.com/poetry-contest…

Another lovely Honorable Mention poem. Definitely still feeling--and wishing I could flee--the heat in SLC! reneelatulippe.com/poetry-contest…

Today's sweet summer snapshot:

This poem brought back memories. I loved weaving potholders when I was young.

My favorite line: "across the cotton candy sky."

This might be the first time I've seen "southpaw" used in a poem. (As a southpaw, I think I'd remember!)

Finally, here's my poem. Proud to be in the top 10!

I just finished this delightful middle grade novel by Allie Millington. Half of the chapters are narrated by Olivetti the typewriter. I cried at the end. Highly recommend!

Happy National Poetry Day to the UK! With thanks to The Dirigible Balloon 🎈 Balloon for including 2 of my poems: dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Sky-Garden dirigibleballoon.org/poem/What-Feet…

Just entered my poem in this fun contest Little Thoughts Press. Winners announced next week.

The Trib has reported that a 14th book has been banned statewide in Utah - Living Dead Girl, by Elizabeth Scott. sltrib.com/news/education…. Send an email to USBE Board members today and tell them to vote to overturn the ban and restore local control: letutahread.org/localcontrol

Two of my poems are up The Dirigible Balloon 🎈. Thanks, Jonathan Humble 🎈. dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Lost-in-S… dirigibleballoon.org/poem/Where-Dro…

Poetry peeps -- I'm in need of recommendations for animal persona poems (ones with distinct voices) for an upcoming workshop with high school students. Thanks in advance!

An Ekphrasis Adventure, the latest issue of Little Thoughts Press, is available for preorder in print! Ekphrastic writing responds to art and I'm proud to have a poem in this exciting issue. littlethoughtspress.com/issues