The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology Book Launch Interviews

Join the conversation as Mama Jill sits down with Colorado's most recent poets laureate and their anthology creator and organizer, dynamic social entrepreneur, Turner Wyatt.  Wyatt conceived of this publication, Begin Where You Are, The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology - the first of its kind!  Turner explains how this idea came to him and how, through his knack for socially responsible entrepreneurship, put the publication to work to help future poets laureate visit the outer corners of our state. Then listen to interviews with past laureates, Mary Crow, Joseph Hutchison and Bobby Lefebre. Each so unique in their approach and what they have added to the program over the years. Mary Crow speaks of a fascination with the West from a young age, growing up in Ohio. Joseph Hutchinson credits teachers from junior high with encouraging him to write and Bobby Lefebre points to the inspiration of his deep roots with the land of southwestern Colorado. Talk about the soul of Colorado, who better than our century's-worth of poets laureate could decipher what that might be.   Did you know Colorado was just the second state in the union to create this post in 1919 after California?  Some might say the West, still in its infancy, was seeking ways to intentionally develop what its unique culture would be by bringing a spotlight to this art form and helping to cultivate the identity of the west.  Heartbreakingly missing from this group was our most recent and beloved poet laureate, Andrea Gibson, who passed away last July. Previously unpublished works of theirs are the first to be included in the publication.  It was a sparkling night boasting, a room full of poetry fans filling the Petals and Pages bookstore in the Santa Fe Arts Arts in Denver early this December. Listen, learn, and then pick up a copy of the anthology, Begin Where You Are.