FIRST COAST POETRY SHOWCASE
March 30, 2024
On March 30th from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Southeast Regional Library in Jacksonville, the First Coast Poetry Showcase will host readings by members of the North Florida Poetry Hub, A Gathering of Poets, and Women Writing For (a) Change in an early celebration of National Poetry Month. Also participating will be members of the staff of Élan Magazine, a student international literary magazine from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.
The showcase will include a presentation of awards to the winners of the third annual First Coast Young Voices High School Poetry Contest, judged from entries by students of Duval and St Johns County High Schools. The award-winning students will read their poems.
Well-known children’s book author, poet, and event participant, Shutta Crum, comments, “Poetry is alive, and well, in the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra area. Each year I am blown away by the quality of the poetry readings at the Showcase. In addition, having the joyful opportunity to hear the winners of the First Coast Young Voices High School Poetry Contest lets us applaud their work and encourage them in their creative journeys.”
Author book signings to follow the awards presentations and readings. Refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public. Please come join us in this early celebration of National Poetry Month!
Featured Readers from North Florida Poetry Hub Profiled below:
Chris Kastle
Chris Kastle is an award-winning storyteller, poet, musician and acclaimed songsmith, author, and educator with a number of recordings and publications to her credit. She is a recipient of the Annette J. Bruce Lifetime Achievement Award from the Florida Storytelling Association and received an honorable mention in the 2023 St Johns County Haiku Contest.
Patricia Krause
Pat Krause lives with her husband of 50 plus years in Ponte Vedra, Florida. As a member of Del Webb’s Riverwood Writes and the Florida State Poets Association (North Florida Poetry Hub, local chapter), she enjoys writing poems, prayers, reflections, and essays often incorporating her photographs. Several of her poems have been featured in their publications. Pat’s faith, love of nature, and personal relationships inspire her writing.
Paula Veloso-Babadi
A happy and valued addition to the North Florida Poetry Hub membership base, Paula Veloso Babadi wrote her first poem, about hope, when she was eight. For many years her writing was dormant while she pursued a career in the health care industry after serving in the Navy Nurse Corps. She is active in the St. Johns Chapter of the Catholic Writers Guild (CWG), and occasional guest writer for the Catholic Writers Guild blog. Her book, "Everywhere Hope", captures life experiences and wraps them in a triple package of prose, poetry and pictures. It can be found on Amazon. Eloquently written, this collection is a journey to be experienced more than once. Book #1 in the "Everywhere..." book series is disarmingly honest, emotionally accessible, and meant to be savored in all ages of life. Her poems have appeared in several anthologies, magazines, and chapbooks, including her North Florida Poetry Hub Poets' Pen limited edition series "Unfluttered".
Sally Wahl Constain
Sally Wahl Constain of Ponte Vedra is a valuable member of our chapter here at North Florida Poetry Hub. She is an accomplished author and an award-winning poet. Her background is that of an elementary school teacher and librarian in Astoria, New York for 34 years. She is also a respected member of the local literary scene, having held the position of president of the Riverwood Writers Group at Del Webb, Ponte Vedra for three years. She is often requested to be a speaker at book clubs and writers' events and to pen ekphrastic poems for artist exhibits.
Sally is a Letters member of the National League of Pen Women. Her debut novel, The Keys to Fanny, a work of historical fiction, was recently selected as book of the month by the Florida Writers Association. She has also published a poetry chapbook, Sometimes I Wonder, and Random Reflections, a memoir in the form of an anthology of essays and poems.
Sally is happiest sharing her creative endeavors with friends and family members, husband, Eddie, son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Nicole, and grandsons, Robby and Greg.
Alternate Reader:
Nancy Murrey-Settle
Nancy Murrey-Settle is a retired librarian and educator who lives in Jacksonville, Florida along the St Johns River. She has written for radio as a journalist at WMNF 88.5 in Tampa, FL and at WBEZ 91.5 in Chicago. Her poetry has appeared on WJCT Square and (a) River Rising Anthology published by Women Writing for (a) Change, Jacksonville.
Alternate Reader:
Kenneth Boyd
Ken Boyd is a native Jacksonville boy and writes under the pen names of K. Lucius Boyd and Bardo Poetry. He published his debut book of poetry, Grasshopper Dreams, on October 16, 2023. Grasshopper Dreams is a stirring series of poems that reflect upon all different stages of life. Grasshopper Dreams is at bookstores everywhere, or online at Amazon, the Apple iTunes store, Google Play, and Barnes and Noble. More information can be found at www.bardopoetry.com Or Mr. Boyd can be contacted at bardo.poetry@gmail.com.
FIRST COAST POETRY SHOWCASE 2022
Photos from the First Coast Poetry Showcase held in April of 2022 at the Unitarian Church in Jacksonville, Florida.
Our Sponsor
North Florida Poetry Hub is a chapter of the Florida State Poets Association and was created by the local nonprofit Hope at Hand, Inc. to support and help the arts flourish for poets, writers and lovers of all things poetic and artistic in the North Florida region.
POETRY. WELLNESS. HOPE ~ Hope At Hand is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides art and poetry sessions to vulnerable and at-risk youth populations. Using creativity, language, art and therapeutic approaches, we facilitate healing and personal growth for children and adolescents.
North Florida Poetry Hub is Funded in Part by Generous Donations From
