Dear Friends, I hope this finds you warm and resting as we come to the end of 2019. It has been a year! Life brings with it many struggles and challenges, but there is always joy. In the small and big love we share with others and afford ourselves, with compassion and kindness through the difficult times, we are granted moments of light that allow us to see the many shades of this thing called life. It's important to take time to acknowledge that light so we don't forget that it's there. We are here in the light! Above are just a few pictures from the year of places and people who shared their light with me. I'm grateful for all of you - I see YOU - and the light you shine in the world. Thank you for being on this journey with me. Looking forward to the hugs, laughs, and good times to come in 2020 and beyond! Warmly, Amanda |
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Publishers Weekly highlights African-American literary organizations. Read to learn more about Cave Canem and how it serves the Black poetry community and impacts the literary community at large. | | |
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Going to Hedgebrook! I'm excited to announce that I will join the incredible women of Hedgebrook as a writer in residence summer 2020! Hedgebrook is on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles northwest of Seattle. Situated on 48-acres of forest and meadow facing Puget Sound, with a view of Mount Rainier, the retreat hosts writers from all over the world for residencies of two to six weeks, at no cost to the writer. | | |
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Check out the 2020 AWP schedule. For Colored Girls' Fam, Friends, Fans: A Celebration of Ntozake Shange with Tamara J. Madison, Amanda Johnston, Remica Bingham-Risher, Gabrielle Lawrence-Cormier, JP Howard! - See you in San Antonio! | | |
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“What is safe in this burning for survival?” Amanda Johnston turns and turns the question, a high stakes puzzle to unravel, the answers all bound up in love. Tight, spare, minimalist and brimming with mystery, these poems weigh the consequences of every gesture: the opened lock, the raised right hand, the inward reach. “You grip the wheel, knuckles frozen, and press the gas/as clouds drift in and out of your mouth.” With strong resolve, illimitable talent, and a clear reverence for the forebears these poems reach for and find, Amanda Johnston crafts a collection of beauty and daring. Her risks are honest; her voice, vital—I mean absolutely necessary. -Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon | | |
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Want to bring Amanda Johnston to your event? Let's connect! Available for readings, adult and youth workshops, seminars, and speaking engagements. Press Kit | | |
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Cave Canem Foundation is near and dear to my heart. As a fellow and current board member, I know firsthand how Cave Canem supports Black poets with the necessary time, space, and encouragement needed to dream, create, and grow. Thank you for your continued support for this "home for black poetry." | | |
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Get Poetry News & Updates from Amanda Johnston |
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