Chris: There's been no official explanation, although I'll follow up on the matter.

I should have been a little clearer in explaining the nominating process, which is cumbersome and makes no allowances for unsubmitted titles. So when a book by a Hoosier author, say for example "A Girl Named Zippy," by Haven Kimmel, becomes a best-seller in the nonfiction category, if several nonreturnable copies of the book were not submitted to contest organizers, it's as if the title didn't exist in the minds of the judges. This tends to limit the pool of worthy entries. That's what I think happened.

Sounds like an elaborate way for some folks to get free books.

A follow-up: It's become obvious that the main problem was a lack of quality submissions. I suspect few, in any of the books I mentioned in the main post, were submitted for judging. And that's too bad.

In defense of the Indiana Center for the Book, the organization, like any other state-supported institution, is strapped for funds that could upgrade the competition. As one local poet, Cheryl Moreland, told me, the "sash, but no cash" method of honoring writers just won't do.

So, what can be done? Well, concerned writers can lobby their state legislators for more funding. Yeah, it might seem like no one will think this is a high-priority issue, but if a handful of people raise a fuss, perhaps it will be in their sights.

Or, perhaps a local philantrophic organization can help fund the competition.

Or, perhaps we as writers can be part of the solution. How about sponsoring events to raise awareness and money for the competition? I would be a part of that effort.

I must agree with you. This is a slap to the face of poetry in Indiana! John, I'm glad that you are bringing this to the surface. Now, this may be troubling to some and not so to others but face it, poetry is quickly going into another dry spell as far as the arts are concerned. For those of us who have been involved with poetry for years, this hurts. However, we knew it was coming. Poetry...let me correct myself, serious poetry has taken a backseat to other, more lazily written, poetry. I am a poet of all backgrounds. I've slammed and feel that I can say, with some earnesty, that with the emphasis being on performance, the art and craft that goes into writing it is tossed to the side. I'm not saying that these younger performance oriented poets aren't talented. they are. but it's easy to get all sing songy and hip hoppy and forget that the written word is what poetry is all about.

as far as the selection committee on the Best Books of Indiana are concerned, when did a committee get to decide what is good or not? Are they artists, fellow writers or just people who are "into the arts?" I, personally, know hundreds of poets with Indiana connections who have published books that are as good as, if not better than, the classic poets of yesterday. Heck, I put a book out a couple years ago that did very well...outside of Indiana. Perhaps there's something wrong with Indiana. Maybe that's why excellent writers move away. I mean, we are a very right wing state and not liberable enough to appreciate the word.

I would completely support an effort to bring poetry in Indiana to the forefront of the arts community. Wait, we have been. every weekly open reading, monthly slam, booksigning event that is had here does well. and alas, nothing is said about it. simply put, poets support eachother. no Indiana Center for the Book can do that honestly.

Now I know I have contradicted myself a couple of times in this but i wanted to hit the points that need to be hit. Ultimately, I love poetry more than I love this state. It's not the end of the world if we don't get whatever accolade we are nominated for. the true appreciation comes when you finish writing a good poem and get to share it at a reading or in a book for someone you care about.

John,

Andrew Griffis, Director for the Indiana Center for the Book, told me, "It is up to the judges' discretion on which titles they choose to be finalists. While I was disappointed they did not nominate a finalist, I had to trust their judgment."

Not that I expected to win (not with such high quality competition), but I must say that I find this incredibly insulting. And I think the Indiana Center for the Book should be ashamed of themselves for not recognizing the quality of poetry in the state of Indiana. All of the books entered have received honors and awards and are highly acclaimed outside the state, how can the Indiana Center for the Book justify "No entries selected"?

Residents of Indiana who read the Best Books of Indiana finalists news release weren't informed of the entrants. To them it appears that no good poetry is being written and published by Indiana poets. Do they know that Mari Evans' book has a forward by Maya Angelou and an afterpoem by Nikki Giovanni or that poems by David Shumate regularly appear on Garrison Keillor's The Writer's Almanac?

These aren't, by any stretch of the imagination, low quality books. It is obvious that the lack of quality is with the Indiana Center for the Book. They obviously aren't qualified to run a contest of this sort.

Sincerely,

Norman Minnick

P.S. I was one of the judges for this competition a few years back and was never informed that we had the option to opt out of choosing a finalist (not that I would have--there was some real quality work that year). I was told to choose my top three favorites and rank them and then compare them with the other two judges.

UPDATE: It dawned on me that after the first year of the Best Books of Indiana Competition, the list of finalists in the poetry category has been shrinking each year.

In 2005, the three fnalists were High Water Mark (David Shumate), Poems: New & Selected (Marianne Boruch), and 103 in the Light (Mary Sexson).

In 2006, just two finalists were named: Metropolis Burning (Karen Kovacik) and Night Highway (Barbara Koons).

In 2007, just one finalist was chosen: Cross this Bridge at a Walk (Jared Carter).

In 2008, no finalists.

So, does this mean in 2009, we start giving back a previous award?

Obviously, the rules for considering poetry finalists needs to be changed.

It is a sad commentary on society when we seem to be deliberately shunning one of the purest art forms out there. So many publishers today have a "no poetry" clause in their submission requirements and I think that is rather sad. Modern poetry needs to be fostered and brought back. Jewel, the musician is a fantastic poet and yet she was slammed for her poetry book a few years back. her lyrics are full of deeper meaning and the poet in everyone should be allowed to sing. I agree with you and I hope something is done...

However, I would like to think there were plenty of quality offerings for this competition over all :-)