PRESS RELEASE 23rd April 2020 PRESS RELEASE 23rd April 2020

Poems from The Lockdown

Poetry anthology available Amazon and elsewhere from 18^th April.2020

Every country on the planet has been affected by Coronavirus Covid-19, with many countries in Lockdown; where social distancing and self-isolation are now the new normal.   

We at, Willowdown Books, believe this anthology, and other poetry, as well as fiction, oral history, documentary, and reportage, will contribute to the historical document of these unprecedented times that will give an not only an honest and true perspective, but also a greater understanding of our experience of the global pandemic of 2020.  

146 poems from 115 poets

Poetry is part of our core of expression, a mode of communication, socialization, civilization; it a way to show our love and empathy for our fellow human beings.

One of the major influences in putting together this book was the poem “Silence” by Mariangela Canzi which, along with a growing number of voices, was posted in the LinkedIN group POETRY, REVIEW, AND DISCUSS.   Her poem is included in the Foreword, and is dedicated to her friend, Doctor Norman Jones, who died on the 27^th March 2020.

Poetry is the very soul of humanity

The key phrases of the NOW are “social distancing” and “self-isolating” BUT THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN “social disintegration” and “solitary confinement”. This NOW is a world of social media, of virtual interaction, of ideas shared through social and professional networking. We can be together, we are in this together, this is one world. There can be LOVE not FEAR.

The anthology, “Poems from The Lockdown” was initially refused publication by Amazon on the basis of their guidelines as it frequently referenced Covid-19. However, clearly Covid-19 is the key theme to this book, and with some explanation, and a third revision, it was released on 18^th April 2020, and is available across the Amazon platform. 

People are kind, people are good

This anthology is dedicated to Doctor Samantha Steele (the daughter of the editor), all the other medical staff and key workers, as well as those who have been kind and supportive of their fellow human beings in this global time of crisis. 

It is in memory of Sara Cupp Smith (20th Nov 1946 to 14th April 2020), who contributed the poems “Sheltered in Place” and “Intubation”; much missed by her husband Richard Glen Smith, who contributed a poem “Intubed”.

Stay Safe.  Love, light, peace.

Editors notes and contact details

1. Press contact Trevor Maynard at poetry@trevormaynard.com.  +44 7966 079968. 

A press only pdf is available on request for certified press outlets

2. The Poets of “Poems from The Lockdown” are:  Aaluk Edwardson   Abby DeSantis   Alyssa Kreikemeier   Amelia Bostic   Amy Walker   Andreas Fleps   Anna Delamerced   Anne Carly Abad   Annmarie McQuee   Anthony Mirarcki   Barbara Reynolds   Barbara Schwegman   Bartholomew Bolander   Benjamin Champagne   Bethany Johnson   Blakelee Harmon   Brandon SC Brewer    Brian M Falconer    Bridget Noel   Camille Hill   Cary Barney   Carol Flake Chapman   Catherine (Lee) Felty   Catherine Bull   Christa Lubatkin   Cigeng Zhang  Cindy Lynn Brown   Claire Taylor   Conrad Spenser Clark   Danielle Solo   David Cleveland   Diane Burrow   Dori LaRue   Emma Gibson   Eric Machan Howd   Felucia Zuniga   Gemma Webster   Geraldine Moorkens Byrne   Hannah K Walizer Cook    Heather Sanderson   Heikki Huotari   Helen Sheppard   Henry Bladon   Hugh Findlay   Isabel Hinchcliffe   Jacky T   Jane Ellen Glasser   Jennifer Finstrom   John Pietaro   Johnnie Clemens May   Judit Katalin Hollos   Julia Gordon-Bramer   Justin Moir   Kat Milberger   Kayla Matheson   Kim June Johnson   Kohl Neal  Kristen Corbisiero   Kristin Kowalski Ferragut   Kristina Moriconi   Kurt Cole Eldsvig   Laurie Rosen   Laura Saint Martin   Loretta Tobin   M Zaman   Maili Woods    Mari-Carmen Marin   Mary K O'Melveny   Maxine Nodel   Megha Sood   Michael Belmore    Michael Hatchett   Micki Blenkush   Mike Dunne   Mitzi Dorton   MK Punky   Monica Raymond   Mysti Frost   Nan Williamson   Nancy Santos   Natasha N. Deonarain   Neetu Malik   Nicole Hospital-Medina   Nicole Williams   Nida Sahar   Pam Fox   Paola Caronni  Parul Bhargava   Patricia Williams   Peter Bruno   Peter Pritzel   Richard Glen Smith   Rob Hardy   Robert Eugene Rubino   Roisin Boyle   Samantha Smith   Samantha Stone   Sara Cupp Smith   Shane Leavy   Susan Manchin   Susan Sanders   Susana H Case   Susana Molinolo and Pamela Yuen-Elkerbout   Syble Heffernan   Tanya Fraser   Tonia Kalouria   Trevor Maynard   Vox Pop Max Pax   Wen Wen Lin   Wendy Grossman   Linda Stryker   Susan Fleming   Sophie Scolnik-Brower, and anonymous.

3. Trevor Maynard, UK based poet, writer and editor. He is owner/manager of Poetry, Review and Discuss Group, a major poetry group on LinkedIn (20,800 members). His latest poetry collections include THE PATH NOW KNOWN, GREY SUN, DARK MOON, and KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON.  Trevor is also the author of several plays. Further information at http://www.trevormaynard.com

4.  Willowdown Books is also the published of The Poetic Bond series, now in its tenth year, and calling for submission for The Poetic Bond X www.thepoeticbond.com 

 

END PRESS RELEASE