Tag Archives: james p. wagner

Local Gems Press selects my poem “The Secretary” for The Eagle and The Maple anthology.

Wonderful news.  🙂  Local Gems Press has selected my poem “The Secretary” to appear in its upcoming anthology, The Eagle and The Maple.  This will be a special collection highlighting the work of American and Canadian writers — I’ll be delighted to see my writing showcased alongside that of our neighbors to the north.

The Eagle and The Maple is available for preorder here at the Local Gems Press website.

Thank you, Maddie McGivney and James P. Wagner, for permitting me yet again to see my work in another quality literary anthology from Local Gems Press.



My poem “This Windy Morning” will be included in Local Gems Press’ annual Halloween anthology!

I’m thrilled to share here that a poem of mine will be included in this year’s installment of Local Gems Press’ annual Halloween anthology, Ghosts, Echoes & Shadows 2025.

The poem is “This Windy Morning,” and I am grateful to Maddie McGivney and Bards President James P. Wagner for letting me join the holiday fun.  🙂

You can preorder a copy of the book, if you wish, right here at the Local Gems Press website.



Poets Anonymous will publish my work in its upcoming annual Gathering anthology

I am so pleased to share here that Poets Anonymous will yet again publish my work in its annual Gathering anthology; my poem “As Silver as the Stars You Tried to Rival” will appear in Gathering 2025.

You can preorder a copy of the book right here at the Local Gems Press website.  The launch event will be on August 27th in Chantilly, Virginia.  (Details are at the website.)

This will be the third year running that Poets Anonymous has selected my writing for this annual collection.  I am grateful to Lesley Tyson and Megan McDonald of Poets Anonymous, along with James P. Wagner of the Bards Initiative.



Local Gems Press selects “Confession” for its upcoming Bards Poetica anthology.

I’m so happy to share here that my poem “Confession” will appear in Local Gems Press’ upcoming anthology: Bards Poetica: Poems About Poetry.  The anthology posed a truly interesting question to poets — “What is poetry?”

You can preorder a copy of the book right here, if you like.

I am grateful yet again to Maddie McGivney and to Bards President James P. Wagner for allowing me to see my work appear in such an exemplary poetry collection.  🙂



My poem “Like White Plumeria Petal” selected for anthology of New York poets.

Local Gems Press has selected my poem “Like White Plumeria Petal” for its upcoming Empire Poetry Verse collection.  While I am always grateful to be included in the publisher’s anthologies, I am especially happy to see my work in a volume specifically dedicated to poets from New York.

The launch event for Empire Poetry Verse is scheduled for May 18th in Greenlawn, NY.  The book is also available for preorder here at the Local Gems Press website.

Thanks once again to James P. Wagner for allowing me to be a part of this important creative community!



“The Rough, Violet Stone” included in the new “Bards Across The Pond” transatlantic poetry anthology

I’m pleased to announce that my poem “The Rough, Violet Stone” will appear in Bards Across The Pond, A U.S. & U.K. Poetry Anthology.  The upcoming collection is another initiative of Local Gems Press, which has launched many anthologies and events on both sides of the Atlantic.

Bards Across The Pond will showcase outstanding poetry from writers in both America and the United Kingdom.  The official book launch is scheduled for Friday, March 28th, at 7:30PM at The Dog-Eared Bards Book Shop in East Northport, New York.  But you can preorder the book at a discounted price here at Local Gems Press.

Thanks once again to Maddie McGivney and Bards President James P. Wagner for allowing me to see my work in yet another excellent poetry collection!



Poets Anonymous releases its Gathering 2024 poetry anthology

The new Gathering 2024 poetry anthology, which contains my poem “prayer upon an empty hilltop,” is now available over at Amazon.

You can find it right here.

This is Gathering’s second annual publication, and it is once again a joint initiative between Poets Anonymous and Local Gems Press.  I remain quite grateful for this opportunity to Bards President James P. Wagner, as well as Lesley Tyson and Megan McDonald of Poets Anonymous.  🙂



My “prayer upon an empty hilltop” will be published in the second annual “Gathering” poetry anthology.

I’m so happy to learn that my “prayer upon an empty hilltop” poem will be published in the second annual Gathering poetry anthology — due to be released at the end of August by Poets Anonymous!  I will post details and ordering information as it becomes available.

I had my work selected last year for the Gathering’s inaugural issue, so I am especially honored to see one of my poems published in this second annual collection.

Thanks once again to Bards President James P. Wagner, as well as Lesley Tyson and Megan McDonald of Poets Anonymous!



“Smiling Among Inert Shipwrecks” selected for the upcoming Gathering Poetry Anthology

I received some really nice news this morning — my poem “Smiling Among Inert Shipwrecks” has been selected for the upcoming Gathering Poetry Anthology.  The anthology is being developed by Local Gems Press (which I was surprised to realize today is actually based on my native Long Island, New York.)  Gathering is also being created by Poets Anonymous, which has provided a venue for poets since 1991.

This is a wonderful opportunity to share my voice; I am grateful to James P. Wagner, Publisher of  Local Gems Press, along with Lesley Tyson and Megan McDonald at Poets Anonymous.



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