Come Celebrate the Release of Strung Out Along the Endless Branch May 22 at The Lyric!
We are very excited to announce the release of our 2024 Book Award Winner Wesley Houp’s book, Strung Out Along the Endless Branch. Wesley will do a few readings from the release and since every ticket will receive a book, Wesley will also be doing book signings during the evening.
“Before submitting for the award, very few people, if any, had read these poems,” Wesley states. “To hear Greg Pape (celebrated poet and judge of our first book award during the night of the award) say those things about my work blew me away. It has been a little hard to comprehend at times that something so private will now be public,” Wesley continued. ”When I was young and just starting to write, I set a goal of publishing a book when I was 25. Obviously, that didn’t happen. But winning this award has rejuvenated me. To see it finally happen has built my confidence as a poet.”
And how can this award, an investment from the James Baker Hall Foundation, help a writer?
Katerina Stoykova, author, poet and Senior Editor at Accents Publishing puts it this way: “Winning this prestigious award opens important doors and gives coveted visibility to an emerging author. One might say that it's luck, but in reality, poetry of such quality is a result of decades of work. I am pleased that Wes Houp's book is/will be getting the attention it deserves.”
Back to the party and buzzards. The night, sponsored by Kentucky Monthly, will be a joyful celebration of Wesley, his book, the foundation’s exciting work in the upcoming months and jazz by The Buzzards. Pete Petersen is a well-known Louisville musician and he and the rest of the trio will be providing music for the event. Catering will be provided by Thompson's Catering and there will be a cash bar available. Admission is $35 and includes a copy of Strung Out Along the Endless Branch.
To purchase tickets, please visit https://tinyurl.com/JBHBookAwardLaunchGala to learn more. For questions, contact Ex. Vice President Jeanine Triplett at jeanine@jamesbakerhall.org or (502) 693-3206.
James Baker Hall Annual Book Award Launch Gala
Thursday, May 22, 2025 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
The Lyric Theatre
300 E. Third Street
Lexington, Kentucky 40508