NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

1/13/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES ­Julie Kane, an associate professor of English at Northwestern State University, has been named a finalist for one of the major prizes in American poetry, The Poets' Prize for the Best Collection of American Poetry.

A prize of $3,000 will be awarded to the winner during a ceremony on Thursday, May 19 at The Nicolas Roerich Museum in New York.

Kane, a previous winner of the National Poetry Open Series Competition, was honored for her collection "Rhythm & Booze," which was published by the University of Illinois Press.

"Rhythm & Booze" is set in Louisiana. The book has four sections focusing on New Orleans, Baton Rouge, St. Gabriel and Natchitoches.

Kane says the section on New Orleans has images of the glittery nightclub life the city is known for. The book also contains poetry about Everette Maddox, a poet who died tragically because of alcoholism.

"I was thrilled to be nominated for this award. Being named a finalist is like icing on the cake," said Kane. "Having my book read by the distinguished poets who are on the award committee is enough for me. It is gratifying to know that they voted for my work because they liked it."

The Poets' Prize is awarded annually for the best book of verse published by an American in the previous calendar year. The prize money is donated by 20 U.S. poets, who also serve as judges and nominate works for the prize.

"One of the things that make this prize unique is the level of involvement by poets," said Kane. "They feel so strongly that they are willing to put up their own money to honor another poet."

"Rhythm & Booze" was nominated by a committee member and received enough votes from other committee members to be named a finalist.

Members of the committee include Pulitzer Prize winner Louis Simpson, award-winning poet Colette Inez and past Poets' Prize-winner Leon Stokesbury.

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