Author Wins National Poetry Award

Ted Kooser, University of Nebraska Press author, Pulitzer prize-winner, and former U.S. poet laureate, has won the Hall-Kenyon Prize in American Poetry.  A recent article from Poets & Writers Magazine discusses why Kooser was chosen.  The award is named after poet Donald Hall, and the late poet Jane Kenyon.  The honor is awarded by the New Hampshire Writers’ Project and daily newspaper the Concord Monitor.  Kooser is the first recipient and will accept the award in October at the Concord City Auditorium. 
Kooser’s most recent book of poetry is Valentines.  Beginning in 1986, Kooser wrote a poem for Valentine’s Day and mailed it to 50 of his female friends.  Continuing the tradition for the next 21 years, while adding more than 2,000 women to the list, Kooser reflected on love, friendship, and all other aspects of the holiday.  To experience the national award-wining poetry, you can read an excerpt from our web site.
Kooser has published many books with the Press, including: Lights on a Ground of Darkness, The Blizzard Voices, and Writing Brave and Free with co-author Steve Cox.