WISP Literary Review:
Submissions for WISP Literary Review will be open January 1 - April 15, 2026, midnight (Summer Issue) and Aug 1 - Nov 15, 2026, midnight (Winter issue). Accepting poetry, flash fiction, creative nonfiction/memoir for lit-art postcards and min-chaps. Each piece should be no longer than 24 lines. Artists respond to literary works. Please check WISP page for Guidelines.
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POETRY ON THE PATIO: SUMMER READING SERIES & OPEN MIC
2025 FEATURED POETS:
MICHAEL CROWEY: Later We All Had a Good Laugh (Poetry Loft Press, 2025)
JAMES CRONIN: The Mortal Angels (Book Baby, 2024); World of Shadows (Poetry Loft Press, 2018)
DIANA COLE: Between Selves (cyberwit.net, 2023)
Author Michael Crowley, Later We All Had a Good Laugh.
$10 Available at Books (on Poetry Loft Press page)
Author James Cronin, World of Shadows and The Mortal Angel. $10 Available on Amazon.com
POETRY READINGS ABOUT TOWN
NOTABLE WORKS: poetry book release
- WILLIAM HALL LIBRARY, Cranston, RI
- SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2026 at 11 AM
- Free event
BRIDGING INNOVATIVE BRIDGES FOR TOMORROW:
Readings from the winners of 2025 Notable Works Poetry Contest
WORDS on fire: Monthly open mic
- WILLIAM HALL LIBRARY, Cranston, RI
- 6 PM -7:30 PM
Co-hosts poets Ira Schaeffer and Zach Berger
Held the first Wednesday of every month.
Registration required.
EKPHRASIS : Where poetry and art meet
Presented by ART IN THE ATRIUM at FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH, Providence RI.
- POETRY READING and RECEPTION: JAN 22, 2026; 5:30 PM
- ARTISTS' EXHIBITION: JAN 8 -MARCH 6, 2026
- 17 Poets respond to the work of 17 Artists
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH FUNDRAISER : EXHIBITION BOOKS FOR SALE -- $25
POETRY LOFT EVENTS
providence book festival (2019)
Connecting readers with nationally acclaimed writers and poets, the Providence Book Festival was held in the Renaissance Hotel, Providence RI.
Beatrice Lazarus, Founder/Creative Director, led a team of talented volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the festival a reality.
PBF Authors
75 nationally acclaimed writers attended the PBF including Carolyn Kepnes, Richard Russo, Adam Braver, Marge Piercy, Fred Marchant, Helen Schulman, Jennifer Militello, Mike Stanton, Peter Gizzi, Julia Glass, Jennifer Haigh, Jacob M. Appel, plus many others.
The Providence Book Festival offered a variety of readings and educational workshops in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, young adult & children's lit. Children's authors also gave free readings in the Providence schools in the GAINS program (Great Authors In Schools) sponsored by The Providence Book Festival and LiteraryStars NE (formerly Literary Arts RI).
PBF Keynote Speakers
M.T. Anderson, Thomas Cobb, and poet Denise Duhamel gave keynote addresses at The POETRY BOOK FESTIVAL.
WRITERS GALA
Writers Gala at the PBF
2019 Writers Gala was a great night of literary celebration and dining at the Providence Book Festival. Luminaries reading included Marge Piercy, Denise Duhamel and Richard Russo, among others.
Sponsored by LiteraryStars NE (formerly Literary Arts RI) a sister nonprofit of The Poetry Loft.
NEW England Poetry and ART Writers gala
A fabulous celebration was held in an elegant space of the Providence Public Library, for the book launch of Lay Bare the Canvas: New England Poets on Art Poets from all over New England attended this grand and memorable reception in their honor.
Sponsored by The Poetry Loft. Created / directed by Beatrice Lazarus with much gratitude to our many volunteers.
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