Michele and I have been working like dogs in the background of life to bring this new opportunity to the small press. As you may know, our dear friend Brian Fugett passed away suddenly in March of this year. Both Michele and I knew him for about 20 years. He was a fixture in our lives both personally and professionally as writers and publishers.
Brian influenced and helped a lot of new writers in the small press get a foothold in the community. He gave people chances to show their work, to make something of themselves. We thought there would be no better way to keep that idea going than to have a chapbook contest dedicated to all the work he did in the small press. You can find more information on how to enter your chapbook for this contest here.
If a chapbook contest wasn’t cool enough, the Literary Underground will be hosting another Lit Fest in Toledo, November 8, 2025. There are not a lot of details floating around just yet, but we will have poets from all corners of the country there celebrating poetry, Brian Fugett, and the winner of the above mentioned chapbook contest will be announced at this gathering. There are other surprises too but you’ll just have to wait to hear about them. If you are interested in this lit fest, you can go the the FB page that was created for it. Let us know if you are considering attending and keep up to date with what will be happening at the event.
Last but not least, my beautiful chapbook “Little Graveyards” is due to release in June from Roadside Press. It is a collection I have worked on for 20 years and chronicles what it feels like to be a nurse in the quiet moments many don’t get to witness. It is available for pre-order through Magical Jeep Distributing.
Read. Write. Make art. Support the small press and independent book stores. Gather and share community. It’s more powerful than you think.
Aleathia
Aleathia Drehmer 