The Hessler Street Fair is coming up on May 19 and 20. Poetry has always played a role at the Hessler Fair, and this year is certainly no exception. The following poets will have work appearing in the 2012 Hessler Street Fair Poetry Anthology:

Vicki Acquah
Lynne Albert
JP Armstrong
Mickey Bey
Dianne Borsenik
Jeffrey Bowen
Steve Brightman
C.M. Brooks
Skylark Bruce
John B. Burroughs
Shelley Chernin
Joanne Cornelius
Catherine D. Criswell
Katie Cutshaw
Lisa Dabrowski
Christine Donofrio
Kaolin Fire
Elise Geither
Michael Goldstein
T.M. Göttl
Anita Herczog
Dwain Higgins
Christine Howey
Steven Isenberg
Clarissa Jakobsons
Azriel Johnson
Jacob King
Mark Kuhar
Geoffrey A. Landis
Melissa Rose Leach
Cate Mullen
Nancy Nixon
Marilyn Oliveras de Ortiz
Jen Pezzo
Tina Puckett
Michael Salinger
S. Renay Sanders
Kevin Frederick Smith
Wanda Sobieska
J.E. Stanley
Dave Stringer
BM Stroud
Carla Thompson
Sarah Tolfo
Mary A. Turzillo
Paige Ward
Batya Weinbaum
Eva Xanthopoulos

The anthology is edited by Joshua Gage and proofread by Vertigo Xavier. This hefty volume will only cost $8. Poets appearing in the anthology will be able to purchase a copy at a reduced price.

The Hessler Poetry contest reading will be held at Mac’s Backs Books on Wednesday, May 9. A panel of judges will select the winners at the reading, and those winners will get to read their poems on the main stage at the fair on Sunday, May 20. This reading will be broadcast live on the web (and possibly on the radio).

NEOpoets will also be at the Hessler Fair both days, with a booth set up in the courtyard behind the Mandel Center. Crisis Chronicles, NightBallet, Poet’s Haven, and Writing Knights will be there with books and more for your perusal and purchase, and we will have poets performing at the booth through most of the festival. A list of the performing poets will be announced once they are all confirmed.