January News

Happy New Year and Happy New Century, friends! The 20s are off to a roaring start in my little corner of the world. 

I am thrilled to share that my fourth collection of poetry, LANGUAGES, FIRST AND LAST, will be published by Cyberwit Press. Here is the cover, with art by Julie Tyner:

Book description: Seven years later, Lauren Scharhag delivers this follow-up to her debut collection, West Side Girl & Other Poems. Again, she focuses on family, femininity, and Latinx identity, as well as bodies, illness, and caregiving. These poems come from a more mature perspective, exploring what it’s like straddling divides—white and non-white, American and foreign-born, healthy and unhealthy, middle-class and barely scraping by. Most of all, these poems explore what we inherit and what we leave behind.

I am working with the publisher on finalizing everything now, so hopefully it will be available for purchase soon. I will keep you posted.

I am also simply thrilled to share that a poem and accompanying photo I submitted to the Antarctic Poetry Exhibition have been selected to appear in the 2020 exhibition! Only 11 poems were selected, so this is a huge honor! My work is going to be on display at an Antarctic research station for scientists and other base workers to read over the coming year. The poem accepted is called, "No Bees in Antarctica," with photos taken at the Messner Bee Farm in Raytown, MO. The project's goal is to raise awareness of climate change. The 11 poems displayed represent the number of years we have left to take action on this important issue.

Currently, at their website, the 2019 exhibit is still up. The 2020 exhibit is tentatively scheduled to go up soon, but obviously, weather conditions will determine when the exhibitors can get to it.

Other publications over the past month or so include:

“The Macaws,” “Epigenetics,” and “Inheritance” at the Gasconade Review, Ladies’ Night edition. It is also available at Barnes & Noble.

“Christmas Eve” appeared in the Inverse Journal (India).

“Spirit Death" appeared in the Millennial edition of Sleet Magazine.

And finally, if you’re going to be in the KC area, I will be one of the featured readers at the Speakeasy on Sunday, Feb. 9. Seating is limited, so please be sure to reserve a spot. I will be sharing the stage with Jeanette Powers, spoken word performer, poet, visual artist, and generally rad human.

Thank you, as always, for reading! I appreciate having someone to share my words with.