Poetry Friday: Madness! Poetry returns PLUS the #2020BookLook

Yes, folks, it’s that time of year again; Madness! Poetry – the brainchild of one Ed DeCaria – is the world’s largest bracketed children’s poetry competition (and quite possibly the only one), and it all begins in one month!

Ed is in the process of accepting and sorting through applications, but the premise is still the same as always:  64 “authletes,” as we are called, are paired with one another and given a specific word; we then have 36 hours to write a children’s poem using that exact word.

So 32 words, 32 new poems!

Here’s an example from last year, when I had to come up with a poem using the word “brace” in only 36 hours:

Second Thoughts

This homemade toboggan’s a real dream come true!
A few wooden planks,
…..some twine,
……….some glue,
and here I am racing down Breakyerneck Hill
with goggles and helmet
and sheer force of will.

The one little thing that is worrying me
is that shed near that car
…..near that rock
…..…..near that tree.
I’ve lost all control and my rope is undone –
…..so I’m bracing for impact
……………in three…
…………………………two…
………………………………….one……!

– © 2019 Matt Forrest Esenwine, all rights reserved

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Once the poems have been submitted, the public votes for their favorites and the winning “authlete” of each poem then moves to the next round. This continues until the field is narrowed down to just 2 writers…one of whom is crowned Madness! Poetry champion and wins the “Thinkier” trophy!

If you’d like to apply, begin by filling out the application and then follow the Madness! Poetry Facebook page so you can stay updated and find out if you made it in!

Don’t forget, we have a cover reveal coming for Once Upon Another Time (Beaming Books, 2020), my new picture book written with Charles Ghigna (aka, Father Goose®)!  The book comes out August 18, and author/kidlit blogger Tara Lazar will be hosting the official cover reveal on her blog Feb. 10, as soon as she wraps up this year’s Storystorm!

And speaking of the new book, I’ve teamed up with several children’s authors like fellow authlete Lori Degman (who beat me last year, but I won’t hold a grudge), former fellow Poet’s Garage crit group member Diana Murray, Corey Rosen Schwartz, Michelle Schaub, and many others to promote our upcoming books this year. So be watching for news about this book as well as blog posts and reviews of a whole bunch more – including six in February alone!:

Looking for more poetry? For all of today’s Poetry Friday links and fun, head over to Jone MacCulloch’s blog, Deowriter, for some postcard poetry AND a giveaway!
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Ordering personalized signed copies online?
Oh, yes, you can!

     

You can purchase personalized signed copies of Flashlight Night, (Boyds Mills Press, 2017), Don’t Ask a Dinosaur (Pow! Kids Books, 2018), and nearly ALL of the books or anthologies I’ve been part of!

Just click the cover of whichever book you want and send the good folks at MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, NH a note requesting the signature and to whom I should make it out to. (alternatively, you can log onto my website and do the same thing) They’ll contact me, I’ll stop by and sign it, and then they’ll ship it! (Plus, you’ll be supporting your local bookseller – and won’t that make you feel good?)

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Thank you to everyone for your support!

• NY Public Library’s “100 Best Book for Kids 2017” AND “Staff Pick!”
• KIRKUS Starred review!
• Kansas NEA Reading Circle Recommended Books!
• “Best Reads of 2017,” Unleashing Readers
• Finalist, 2019 New Hampshire Literary Awards
• Positive reviews from Horn Book, School Library Connection, School Library Connection, Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, and Shelf-Awareness!
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  • “Rollicking rhyme!” – Booklist
  • “A wild romp!” – Parenting NH Magazine
  • “Cute…intriguing…4 out of 5 stars”     – Tulsa Book Review
  • “Rhythmic…funny and informative”     – Unleashing Readers

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