John Pursley of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is the winner of our 2006 national chapbook contest for his manuscript When, by the Titanic. At age 29, he is our youngest chapbook competition winner and our first author living in the south. He will receive $200, publication of his chapbook, and 30 free copies.
As judge Helen Marie Casey wrote, "When, by the Titanic is an exciting manuscript for several reasons: the poet's command of language and sense of the ear's pleasures, the deft technical skills that allow the poet to move from one poetic form to another with equal craft and ease, and the utter originality and nimbleness of mind at work in each and every poem." In 2003 John Pursley received his M.F.A. degree from the University of Alabama, where he is presently an Instructor and an editor of Black Warrior Review. He has published in many literary journals and won several prizes.
All entrants will receive a copy of John Pursley's chapbook When, by the Titanic for no additional fee later this year (retail value $8).
A panel of three judges, all published poets, judged the finalists anonymously. They were Helen Marie Casey of Massachusetts, John Surowiecki of Connecticut, and Judith Taylor of California. All of these poets volunteered their services.