Melissa I. Hassard

It has been a deep honor and pleasure to work on The Gathering of Poets the past two years with Richard Krawiec and Jacar Press. A couple of weeks ago, Jacar Press announced that Lynn Emanuel will be on the faculty for the Gathering of Poets to be held March 24, 2018 in Winston-Salem, NC […]

I’ve just gotten back from the 2017 National Finals for Poetry Out Loud, held on April 25-26, 2017 in Washington, D.C. at the Renaissance Dupont Circle and Lisner Auditorium on the GWU campus. What an incredible event. Our North Carolina state champion, Iman Dancy, did an excellent job performing her poems. (“Learning to Love America” […]

In the car rider line with a book of poetry, I find the world shifts into a slightly better frame for me. The beautiful Gnomon today, by Cynthia Huntington (Jacar Press, 2017). A gnomon is “the projecting piece on a sundial that shows the time by the position of its shadow.” From the title poem: “The apples […]

I’m really honored to have had the opportunity to work on this project, and proud of the book. An important and timely issue — though not an easy one, to be certain — this is a beautiful book and I hope you’ll consider picking up a copy. If you’d like a copy for review, please […]

I’m thrilled and honored to have a poem included in the latest issue of the North Dakota Quarterly. NDQ is a fine journal with a sterling reputation — please subscribe to them here. This issue’s cover features starkly beautiful photography, and the content within is equally gorgeous yet harrowing. North Dakota Quarterly is pleased to announce […]

Deep, deep appreciation and admiration goes to Abigail Browning and Ray Crampton, for the tremendous job you guys are doing over at Tate Street Society, and for inviting me to come by last month and talk about Women Writers of the Triad, Sable Books, and some of the projects and work I’ve been honored to be a part of.  (You […]

Join us June 27th at 3:00pm-5:00pm at the Chapel Hill Library for this community fundraiser event to benefit our global tribe. Scheduled is a poetry reading by NC Literary Hall of Fame inductee Jaki Shelton Green, along with music by Godi Godar and Dean Deboer.  A silent auction will take place to raise money for […]

Today’s the official book launch for Richard Krawiec’s Women Who Loved Me Despite (Press 53), and next Saturday April 11, Women Writers of the Triad is thrilled to host Richard‘s reading over at Tate Street Coffee House (7:00-9:00p.m.) along with Crystal Simone Smith. Bios and poetry will be posted over on the event page– please make plans to join us for a wonderful reading. If […]

SOLD OUT This January, spend a Saturday afternoon working on your chapbook or collection of poems, essays, or short stories with Richard Krawiec, Danny Krawiec, and Melissa Hassard of Jacar Press and Sable Books.

A wonderful way to support a local, independent press this holiday season. Three beautiful anthologies, featuring hundreds of celebrated poets- from Pulitzer Prize winner Claudia Emerson, to Macarthur Foundation Genius Awardee Thylias Moss, to National Book Award finalists Alan Shaprio, Sarah Lindsay and others.  (Plus recipes!) GET ALL THREE for under $10 When you order The […]