Mar. 2026 - Poetry & Music Series - Join M.B. this month for a Lenten celebration of her poetry and the music of organist Dr. Su Lee at the Community Church of Vero Beach. All are welcome.

When: March 19, 11am - noon.  Details here.

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Feb. 2026 - M.B. is honored to announce that five of her latest "teaching" poems will be featured in an upcoming publication titled Fictional Classrooms: Reflecting on Teaching through Literature and Film. The  publication explores "how fictional representations of teaching in universities and colleges can serve as a lens for reflecting on our own practices as faculty, educational developers, and higher education professionals." Thank you to editors Robin Sutherland-Harris & Matthew Dunleavy.

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Jan. 2026 - M.B. is thrilled to start off 2026 with the release of "Palinode", published in the current issue of Neologism Poetry Journal. Thank you to editor Christopher Fields for his search of "ways to feel something new from old words and poetic forms".

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Dec. 2025 - M.B. is delighted to announce that her poem "Illuminator" has been published in Porcupine Literary. Thank you to editors Jared Beloff and Melissa Fite Johnson.

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Oct. 2025 - Poetry Workshops. The Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach will be celebrating National Poetry Month again next year by sponsoring a four-part series of poetry workshops hosted by M.B. every Wednesday in April from 4:15pm until 6pm.  Signup details coming soon.

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Oct. 2025 - M.B. is delighted to announce that her poems, "Grading on a Curve" and "Last Lecture" will be appearing in the next issue of Saw Palm: Florida Literature and Art. Thank you to Managing Editor Ben Sperduto and the Creative Writing Program at the University of South Florida.

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Oct. 2025 - M.B.'s poem "Academic Calendar" has been published in The Soliloquist, a newly founded journal whose mission is "to provide a platform for poets to share their innermost thoughts, emotions, and reflections." Thank you to their editor, Martha.

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Oct. 2025 - M.B. 's poem "Palinode" has been accepted by Neologism Poetry Journal and is scheduled for publication next February. Thank you to Editor Christopher Fields for his comment: "I appreciated [the] carefully-measured style in these poems."

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Oct. 2025 - M.B. is delighted to announce that her poem "Dream Song" has been published in the Fall issue of Teach. Write. - A Literary Journal for Writing Teachers. Thank you to Editor Katie Winkler for her dedication to teachers and their writing.

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Sep. 2025 - M.B.'s poem "Illuminator" has been accepted for publication in Porcupine Literary: A journal by and for teachers.

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Sep. 2025 - Poetry & Music Series - All are welcome to join M.B. and other nationally recognized poets throughout next year's Lenten season at the Community Church of Vero Beach. Poetry readings and music will be held every Thursday at 11am. See pages 18-21 in the online brochure for details and a list of other  poets. M.B. will be reading on March 19, 2026.

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Aug. 2025 - M.B. has announced that after completing two five-year terms as Poet Laureate of Volusia County she is respectfully declining a re-appointment to the position so that the honor can be passed along to a new well-deserving poet of the county. Details coming soon.

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Jul 2025 - M.B. is honored to announce that her poem "We Leave the Beaches for the Tourists, Mostly" will be appearing in an upcoming Florida-focused anthology being edited by Dr. John Fleming for University Press of Florida. The anthology is tentatively called Pushpins of Paradise.

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May 2025 - M.B. is delighted to announce that her poem "Trojan Horse" has been accepted for publication in an upcoming issue of Amherst College's literary journal, The Common. Thank you to poetry editor John Hennessy for his reach from "there to here."

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Apr. 2025 - M.B. will be joining Sean Sexton and Brian Turner as speakers next Fall in Lake Wales at the Florida State Poets Association's annual convention. The event will be held October 24-26 at the beautiful Bok Tower Gardens.  Details here.

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Apr. 2025 - M.B. poems "Ethos, Logos, Pathos", "Plan B", and "Is There a Final Exam?" have been published in the newest issue of  Azure: A Journal of Literary Thought.  The poems were awarded First Place last fall in the Lazuli Literary Group's Fall 2024 Writing Contest. Thank you to editor Sakina B. Fakhri for her kind review of the collection.

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Mar. 2025 - While visiting Portugal this month M.B. and her husband had the good fortune to talk poetry, travel and politics over dinner with American poet Alfred Corn during his extended travel abroad. M.B. first met Alfred at Goddard College while completing her MFA back in the 90's.

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Feb. 2025 - Poetry Reading. M.B. will be guest reader at the Crazy Wisdom Poetry Circle event via Zoom next March 26th. Open to all, the reading will be followed by an open mic; participants are welcome to read a poem of their own or a favorite. Details here.

 

Jan. 2025 - Poets for Peace.  Join M.B., local area poets, and musician Ray McNiece on Thursday January 23 at 7pm for Poetry & Music in Support of the Orphans in Ukraine. The event will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 56 North Halifax Drive, in Ormond Beach. Free admission; donations welcome. For more info, contact Joe Cavanaugh, jcavanaugh1@gmail.com.

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Jan. 2025 - M.B. is delighted to announce that her Spring semester poem for teacher friends, "Full Disclosure", has been spotlighted by The Missouri Review as their Poem of the Week. Thank you to editor Kylan Rice​.

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Jan. 2025 - M.B. is happy to announce that her poetry has been included in the recently released book Chameleon Chimera: An Anthology of Florida Poets. Thank you to editor Lenny DellaRocca for  celebrating Florida poets this way. Available now on Amazon and other bookstores.

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Dec. 2024 - M.B. is honored to announce that her poem "For a Dying Child" has won the Rhonda Gail Williford Poetry Prize second place sponsored by International Human Rights Art Movement. Thank you to Founding Executive Director Thomas Block for the focus he brings to social change.

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Nov. 2024 - We are saddened today, the last day of November, to report that we have lost one of our own. Dr. David B. Axelrod, who has shared the Volusia County Poet Laureate position with M.B. since August of 2015, has passed away. David is the author of 24 books of poetry and has numerous achievements in Florida, New York, and internationally. We will miss his work and good humor.

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​Nov. 2024 - Thank you all for the wonderful turnout of poets, writers, and dear friends at the New Smyrna Beach Library to hear M.B.'s creative writing presentation showcasing National Novel Writing Month. A special thanks as well to McKayla Howard Ely for organizing the event. Well done!

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Nov. 2024 -  The Healing Power of Poetry. A heartfelt thank you to Sonja Jean Craig for her gracious article showcasing M.B.'s talk at the Women's Health and Breast Cancer Care Event last month in Central Florida. The event was hosted by the Atlantic Center for the Arts and AdventHealth and appeared in the November 2024 issue of Of Poets & Poetry.

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Nov. 2024 - Obrigado!!  Thank you!!... for the beautifully crafted translations of M.B.'s poetry into Portuguese by Brazilian-American friend and writer, Kátia B. de Mello Gerlach. Her translations can be found in the current issue of Quiasmo, a Galician-Lusophone journal. "Obrigada Kátia."

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Nov. 2024 - TBT. Today we throw back to M.B.'s keynote speech at the FSPA annual conference four years ago and to a wildly generous review by Al Rocheleau (then president of FSPA). You can enjoy the speech's celebration of poet Seamus Heaney in this video, adapted from the original keynote.

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Nov. 2024 - M.B. poems "Ethos, Logos, Pathos", "Plan B", and "Is There a Final Exam?" have won First Place in the Lazuli Literary Group's Fall 2024 Writing Contest and will appear in Azure next February. Thank you to editor Sakina B. Fakhri for her kind review of the collection.

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Nov. 2024 - Poetry as a Dream Space - M.B. is conducting poetry workshops at The HUB on Canal in New Smyrna Beach on Wednesdays throughout the month of November. Spots are still available. Sign up soon!  Details here.

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​Oct. 2024 - M.B. is honored to announce that her poem "Full Disclosure" will be featured next January in The Missouri Review's Poem of the Week series. Robert Olen Butler calls The Missouri Review "one of the best literary journals in the world.” Thank you to Associate Editor Kylan Rice, PhD.​

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Oct. 2024 - Women's Health and Breast Cancer Care Event. The Atlantic Center for the Arts is partnering with AdventHealth NSB on October 2 for an evening focused on mindfulness and women's health. As guest speaker, M.B. will explore the healing power of creativity.

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Oct. 2024 - M.B.'s Poem "Invocation Before a Day of Teaching" has been published in the Fall issue of Crab Orchard Review. Southern Illinois University describes its journal as "not just a publication; it's a literary journey that delves into the heart of storytelling." Thank you to editor Allison Joseph.

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Sep. 2024 - FSPA Annual Conference in October. We're only weeks away from Florida's next annual poetry conference, hosted by the Florida State Poets Association. The conference is located this year on the beautiful St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, October 25 - 27, 2024.  M.B. and others will be conducting several writing workshops. Register today!  Details and full agenda here.

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Aug. 2024 - Poetry Workshops at The HUB on Canal. M.B. will conduct a series of her Florida Loves Poetry!!™ workshops on consecutive Wednesdays throughout the month of November at The HUB in New Smyrna Beach. Register soon! Space is limited.  Details and sign up here.

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July 2024 - Upcoming Workshops!  M.B. is excited to announce that she will be offering several workshops this Fall. Locations include: The Hub on Canal (November), The Atlantic Center for the Arts (October), the New Smyrna Beach Library (November), and the Florida State Poets Association's Annual Conference (October).

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June 2024 - Verse Daily has selected M.B.'s poem "Afterlives" for recognition this month! The poem is taken from her latest collection Smiling at the Executioner. Thank you to editor J.P. Dancing Bear.

 

Apr. 2024 - It's National Poetry Month! M.B. will host ACA Poetry Workshops every Wednesday night this month from 4pm to 6pm at the Harris House in New Smyrna Beach. 

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Feb. 2024 - Poetry Night. All lovers of poetry are invited to join M.B. and Orlando area poets on Wednesday evening, Feb. 28, for Central Florida's inaugural Patio Poets event at the beautiful Venue on Lake Lily in Maitland, Florida. M.B. will Guest Poet at 7pm, immediately followed by an Open Mic for all Florida poets until 9pm. Admission is $7. Come help make this new monthly event a huge success and show everyone how much Florida Loves Poetry!!!. 

Location: 641 Maitland Ave S, Maitland, FL 32751

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Jan. 2024 - With over fifty attendees present, The Hub on Canal featured M.B. at this month's Open Mic Poetry Night for a fun night of friends, poetry and wine. Thank you to Pamela and Mary Jane for hosting and to all the wonderful poets that showed up for Open Mic.

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Jan. 2024 - M.B. is honored to announce that her poem “Pop Quiz" has been published in the Winter 2024 issue of Sky Island Journal. A warm and heartfelt thank you to Editors Jeff and Jason.

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