Every year I have so much fun at the Annual Awards Banquet for the Poetry Society of Texas. In 2025, it was no different. Most of my poet friends live not so close, so it’s always a great chance to hang out with my poet people and share perspectives.

This year, I managed to win six awards for my poems, which turned out to be the most of anyone attending. There was one poet who lives in another state and won eight awards this year. I had two winning poems about astronomical phenomenon (from my, as of yet, unpublished poetry collection of the same theme), and two winning poems on the topic of kindness. Of the other two wining poems, one was about parenting and the grand canyon, while the other was a short one about city architecture. Lastly, in my favorite bit of news, my manuscript Roots Through Stone won second place in the Catherine Case Lubbe Manuscript Contest. So close! Maybe next year.

My fellow poets and friends of the Denton Poetry Assembly did quite well, winning numerous awards among them (including the winner of the manuscript contest, Cade Huie).