The Authors of PoemSugar Press (in chronological order):
Unique voices, powerful perspectives, fearless poetry
Carla Christopher
Baby, Read Me Something with Rhythm (May 2012)
Below the Belt Anthology (February 2013)
Go Lower; Below the Belt Part 2 (February 2014)
4th Poet Laureate of York, Pennsylvania (2011-2014) and founder of PoemSugar Press, Carla is an Ivy League educated social worker and teacher who has also been writing and performing professionally for nearly 20 years. She currently produces a variety of poetry events, teaches, performs and lectures throughout the tri-state area and hosts the tv show "Culture & Main; York's Weekly Cultural Showcase" on White Rose Community Television. Carla Christopher (the non-poet version) lives the good life in Downtown York with her wife, an excellent world and indie music collection and a motley assortment of rescue animals.
Crystal Charisse
Bipolarity (December 2012)
Crystal Charisse was born in Hanover, PA, but considers where she is going much more interesting than where she came from. Born to a self-made nurse and an infinitely skilled jack-of-all-trades, she grew up everywhere from her soul's nest of Massachusetts to a backwoods trailer with no heat in Gettysburg somewhere and came by her diverse skill set honestly. Inspired from everyone from Ani Difranco to Hau Mulan to Stephen Hawking to Queen Elizabeth I, Crystal is also a painter, singer, chef, occasional actress, welder and mother to "three of the most colorful beings on the planet". She lives in Red Lion, PA, with her wonderfully balancing companion, Don, and her children.
Lori Rosengrant
Bipolarity (December 2012)
Lori Rosengrant was born in York PA and grew up in nearby Dover. After a brief stint at Juanita College and dabbling in southwestern living for a year, Lori returned to her local roots and settled for extensive travel to places like the Czech Republic, Belgium and Holland with the eventual dream of the moon. Along with writing poetry, Lori is also a PS3 addict, dancer, welder of paint brushes and restaurateur. She credits her inspiration to music, paintings, weather, Rumi, Kurt Vonnegut, Nicole Blackman, Jack Kerouac, Ken Levine, Pablo Neruda, Cesar Milan, Johnny Cash and Batman. She currently lives in PA with her beloved pit bull and family.
Shaashawn
Below the Belt (February 2013)
Shaashawn “The Voyce” Dial-Snowden inspires people to “make your passion pay the rent” as a workshop leader, edu-tainer and advocate for self-identified same gender loving people. She is an army brat, wedding coordinator, former radio personality, and co-founder of STUDS Magazine (the publication celebrating Handsomely Beautiful women) with her studsband, Lindsay. Shaashawn released her debut spoken word CD Voyce Mail in 2010 and currently serves as the Lead College Advisor & First Year Experience Coordinator at a college in PA. She is a graduate of Stephens College, Shippensburg University, and Kansas State University.
Debberae Streett
Below the Belt (February 2013)
Debberae Streett is co-host with her husband, poet, Rich Hemmings, of one of South Central Pensylvania’s longest running poetry venues, “Convergence”. She has won numerous awards for not only her poetry but also her short fiction and non-fiction. She currently shares comfy chairs with her adored bulldog in Stewartstown, PA.
Ladi Glori (Glori Morris)
Below the Belt (February 2013)
Glori Morris aka “Ladi Glori” was born and bred in Baltimore, Maryland and is an innovative poet, sassy spoken word artist and powerful poetic emcee. Her journey began with a teenage desire to express silent and taboo thoughts and feelings. Her “boundary-crushing” approach to writing poetry led to appearances with multiple bands, solo artists and poets across Maryland, D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania. Ladi Glori released the EP, Mute the Background in April of 2012 and the self-published collection, Ms. Understood, the Plight of a Poet in 2014. She recently uprooted her home and returned in the fertile grounds of Baltimore, MD where she continues to parade her unapologetic pen and microphone.
Missi McLaren (Mona Sometimes)
Below the Belt (February 2013)
Missi McLaren aka “Mona Sometimes” hails from Minnesota and is a sexy accountant by day and a poetry rock star by night. She is a board member and event host for The Parliament; A Space for Art and Artists and the co-director of PoemSugar Independent Press. She is the mother of a fabulous 10-year-old son, an activist for mental illness awareness and composed much of this work while living above a funeral home in Seven Valleys, PA, which inspires the delightfully macabre twist to her work. She is the author of the poetry collections Chronicles of the Amazing Broken Girl, Bi-the-Way and Low-Fat Love Poems.
SuNn
Below the Belt (February 2013)
heART (March 2013)
Tamika “SuNn” Johnson, a Baltimore to York transplant, was always told that she had the light in her. SuNn grew to embrace the power she holds as woman and as a student of life. Rebel in spirit and lover of feminine energy, she was born in a musical family from R&B musicians to gospel singers, raised in Hip Hop and now lives in art & poetry. She dropped a mixed tape of original hip hop, Behind Bars which afforded her the honor of working with artists from all around the world. She is author of the poetry chapbook, heART, and is currently writing it's sequel, eARTh.
Rich Hemmings
Orbits Around A Lightless Star (April 2013)
Richard Hemmings currently resides in Stewartstown, PA, with his wife Debberae Streett. He was born in New York City. He has been writing poetry for thirty-eight years and has been published in Nimbus, A Year of Voices, Digges Choice, Fledgling Rag and Mad Poets Review. Further, he has appeared in Bill Diskin's Somewhere on George Street and Dana Sauers' My Letter to the World (which were both compilations of poetry that appeared in local newspapers). Rich appreciates the various poetic forms and enjoys applying them to his work. Host of too many venues to speak of, his real passion is seeing new poets bring their work out to shine. Rich is also a full-time postal history and stamp collector preparing a scholarly book and exhibit on the area of New York City he calls the Towers District (sometimes known as Ground Zero).
Joslin Love Kearse (SoulCry)
Passing Bi (May 2013)
J. Love Kearse, also known as Soul Cry, began writing and performing spoken word in 2005. The “love child” of a musical mother and literary father, she has featured in numerous venues and slams across the East Coast. She was awarded Poet of the Year for 2007 and 2008 at the Central PA Hip Hop Awards and currently has two CD’s to her credit entitled “Destiny’s Calling” and “The Love Chronicles”. Ms. Kearse also holds an Associates Degree in Business Management from Yorktowne Business Institute, a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University and a Master’s degree in Business from Eastern University in 2014. Also an amateur visual artist and an accomplished singer/songwriter, Joslin lives with her family in York County, Pennsylvania.
Elijah Pearson
Ash (July 2013)
Elijah Pearson was born and raised in York, Pennsylvania. From a very early age he struggled with severe depression and anxiety. Writing is his main coping mechanism.
TJ Gagliardi
Processing (November 2013)
TJ Gagliardi grew up in Chambersburg, PA, and while he has seem much of the country as a truck driving poet over the last 10 years, he is most proud of facing himself, his flaws and "asking the hard questions of myself that will hopefully someday yield a better me". TJ is active in Theraputic Poetry as is an accomplished chef, avid reader and even crochets. TJ currently lives in Rouzerville, PA with his wife, two boys, Zach and TJ (III), a daughter, Zoe, two dumb cats, one dumber dog and a very clever turtle.
Jacki King
Below the Belt 2; Go Lower (February 2014)
Jacki King is a saucy Southern comedy writer who wants to sex you up. Since winning the Amber Heat competition with the erotic short story “She Who Laughs Last” in 2005, Jacki King has been sharing stories with sizzle and sass; after all, what's more entertaining than what two people will do to get into one another's pants (or hearts)? Her releases include the paperback collection Jacki's Jewels (available online via Amazon, Barnes and Noble or AmberHeat.com). She currently lives in Central PA where she writes, lectures, teaches, loves, and laughs. You can reach her at xJackiKing@aol.com or follow her on Facebook or on Twitter @ReadJackiKing.
Jade Darling
Below the Belt 2; Go Lower (February 2014)
Jade Darling fell in love with poetry as a painfully shy 2nd grader and started writing poetry in 7th grade as an outlet from all the crazy emotions of a teenager. “When I write I don't have to hold anything back. I can be vulgar, sexual, vulnerable, hurt, or angry. I can say what I need to help me let go of emotions I use to hold in. I write what I know, what I've seen, what I've experienced!” She is currently working on her first book, a collection of short stories about kink & erotica. “What else is there to say about me...I am finally living an authentic life. And it’s amazing!”
Anna Jane
Below the Belt 2; Go Lower (February 2014)
Anna Jane is a writer with an identity crisis. Caught between labels from Woman and Mother to Ex-wife and Ex-patriot, she has been renamed by society’s conventions several times until Anna Jane become the only part to endure throughout. Therefore as @JustAnnaJane she attempts to explore and explain from the confines of suburbia her fascination as a writer with the contrast between our internal landscapes and the faces we show the world. Born in the shadow of Canterbury Cathedral and raised in an unconventional family on the desolate Kentish coastline, with its roman ruins, wild marshlands and interminable rainy grey days, Anna Jane’s poetry “sneaks inside the space between the words we say and the words we often mean.”
CM Spence
Below the Belt 2; Go Lower (February 2014)
C.M. Spence is a Steelton, PA native and proud member of Central Pennsylvania's poetry collective, I Am Words, Inc. She is the author of two novels, Holy Trinity and Grey Skies, and two poetry books, In Lieu of Child Support and Rent Is Due On the First. She is also the author of Early Monday Moanin', a collaborative erotic series of short stories on Amazon.com. CM Spence is known for raw, gritty spoken word pieces that address issues most people don't discuss and she laces her poetry with zingers and one liners that leave audiences astonished she would say such things!
Emily Purvis
Below the Belt 2; Go Lower (February 2014)
Emily Purvis is a single budding entrepreneur with a passion for life, words, and creating new experiences. Since her diagnosis of a serious mental health disorder she is always in pursuit of skills and tools to help her live her life well; writing is just one of her many talents along with making soup, bread and currently working in the behavioral health field so that others may have a successful recovery journey with quality help and support.
Gary Miller, Jr. (The G Mill)
Here Comes the Son (February 2014)
Born and raised in Harrisburg, PA, or should I say Harriet Tubman Pa...and ALWAYS thinking outside the box now. Believing in the abundant way of life for all. Supporting those who set out to accomplish what drives them to a successful outcome. Through thought and vision, UNITY and all its benefits are being restored in the coded poetry that you have read. Focusing on the strength of my awareness, I bring what the WORLD truly needs. By way of the Most High in all of his divine names, let the energy follow the idea of peace and love for all, because I am Pure Energy. I am a Norfolk State Spartan, I am a Harrisburg Cougar, and I am a Susquehanna Township Indian. I am friend and I am family. I am an author. I write the poems..
Lexi Spino
I'm A Wanderer, NOT A Runaway (February 2014)
Lexi has been writing since she came out of the womb. Having battled with depression most of her whole life, her writing has been a coping mechanism. She is very thankful to have found a group of writers [and all other kinds of amazing artists] who have taken her in as family and helped her accomplish goals she thought she would never reach. This book is just the beginning of Lexi’s many layers.
Thomas Tolbert aka "Kwoteman"
And So I Write... (June 2014)
courtesy of Vulcania Graphics and Fine Art, dg Walczyk, vgfa.com
courtesy of Vulcania Graphics and Fine Art, dg Walczyk, vgfa.com
courtesy of Vulcania Graphics and Fine Art, dg Walczyk, vgfa.com
courtesy of Vulcania Graphics and Fine Art, dg Walczyk, vgfa.com
Dustin Nispel
The Tower (August 2014)
Jim Mills
The North Sea Is for the Bords (October 2014)
Jim Mills is a Navy brat & a recovering southerner. Born in 1963 in Jacksonville, Florida to wonderful parents, Jim dropped anchor in Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Illinois and Maryland before arriving in York, Pennsylvania in 2006. Now he can say ‘Can I get you a drink awhile’ with the best of them. When not writing poems, he has trod the boards in local playhouses, sung in many a cabaret bar, traipsed around the globe and held a full-time job. Jim has been a loyal federal civil servant for 26 years. He lives with Tiger, Bertrand, and Miss Blackie, the three sweetest kitties that have ever lived.
Devin "Hellfire" Cherubini
Below the Belt; Men's Edition (Februaru 2014)