Launch Event for Suzanne Cleary’s THE ODDS - 2024 Narrative Poetry Award Winner

Suzanne Cleary
(Photo: David Langley)

As announced last fall, the Laura Boss Poetry Foundation’s 2024 winning manuscript for the annual Laura Boss Narrative Poetry Award is Suzanne Cleary. Her manuscript, The Odds, was selected by our judge for the 2024 contest, Jan Beatty. The book, published by NYQ Books, will be released this month at a book launch celebration at The Poetry Center at PCCC (Paterson, NJ).

This award includes a $5,000 prize, 25 author copies, and a featured reading at the book’s release.

The launch event will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at The Poetry Center with a catered reception at noon, followed by readings at 1 PM.

Besides Suzanne’s featured reading, two finalists will also be reading - Colleen Morton Busch, and Susan Rothbard. The three other finalists are Daniel Donaghy, Subhaga Crystal Bacon, and Emily Hyland.

For details on the event location, parking and directions, see poetrycenterpccc.com/directions

The Foundation was created as a tribute to poet Laura Boss and her mission of supporting poets and poetry. In addition to this award, the Foundation financially supports the publication of Lips poetry magazine which Laura started in 1981 and edited until her passing in 2021. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation, and all contributions to support its work are tax-deductible.