The Laura Boss Narrative Poetry Award Readings
In 2021, the Foundation established a poetry prize for an exceptional manuscript that represents the narrative poetry form that was Laura’s chosen style. The Laura Boss Narrative Poetry Award is an annual manuscript competition. The winner will receive $5,000 and publication of their manuscript. A publication launch event and reading are held in the spring at The Poetry Center at PCCC in Paterson, New Jersey.
Publication launch reading for the 2025 Laura Boss Narrative Poetry Award held April 2026. Board members (L-R back row, Kenneth Ronkowitz, winning poet Terry Rae Hall, Jim Gwyn, next row, Christine Redman Waldeyer, Michelle Lerner, Jennifer Poteet, Barry Boss, front row, Maria Mazziotti Gillan, Joe Weil, award judge.
Our 2024 Award group: The winner, Suzanne Cleary, and our 5 finalists (l-r) Colleen Morton Busch, Emily Hyland, Daniel Donaghy, Susan Rothbard
Reading at the Publication Release in Spring 2025 (l-r): Colleen Morton Busch, (finalist) Suzanne Cleary (winner), and Susan Rothbard (finalist).
At the April 2023 publication launch reading with the inaugural 2022 Narrative Poetry Award Winner and Finalists (L-R) Lisa Coll Nicolaou, Edwin Romond (winner), Maria Mazziotti Gillan (seated, Director of the Poetry Center at PCCC & Award judge), Carole Stone, Tony Gloeggler, Jennifer Poteet, Svea Barrett.