The Lights & Shadows Book Giveaway is a monthly raffle in which I will buy two friends/reading buddies a requested poetry title that they intend to engage and enjoy together.

The giveaway’s name is an homage to the Lights and Shadows poetry column in The Chicago Defender, an historic African American newspaper, which was an early publisher of luminary Gwendolyn Brooks, among others. The name evokes a belief I have that poetry is an instrument of revelation, that it brings what’s in the shadows into the light of recognition in a way that can transform individuals and communities. A good book can go a long way, so the giveaway exists with these goals with it:

  1. To encourage people to read poetry, particularly books from authors of marginalized identities

  2. To make books accessible to people who covet them but may not have the means

  3. To provide the books’ authors with sales. This is a small but meaningful thing, especially for poets and independent presses!

  4. Facilitate people engaging poetry with an element of community involved

With all that being said, I will do a randomized monthly drawing for at least one winning pair of people for a book of their collective choice in poetry, poetic craft/theory or poetry criticism so long as my personal budget permits it. However, I am putting some parameters around the giveaway. Here are the rules of engagement:

  • The book selected must be from an author with a marginalized identity (or identities). This includes (but is not limited to):

    • Black, Indigenous or non-white authors

    • Latinx authors

    • Trans authors

    • Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual authors

    • Women authors and Authors of other marginalized genders

    • Disabled authors

    • authors of a U.S. minority faith community (i.e. non-Christian)

    • Incarcerated or formerly-incarcerated authors

    • Authors who have emigrated and/or authors in political exile

    • Authors who engage working class life and/or poverty

  • Both members of the winning pair must have U.S. mailing addresses

  • The requested book must not exceed $40 per copy

  • The requested book must have an active Bookshop.org link (this is where the books will be purchased from)

  • Anthologies are eligible provided they focus on a marginalized perspective

  • Pre-orders are allowed for forthcoming titles

  • Books solely authored by me are ineligible

If all this sounds good to you, please click here to enter this month’s drawing for your desired book! You can discover what previous winners requested here.