Congratulations to Bibliophoria 2011 poetry contest winners Lin Max, John Johnson, and Susan Adams. Their work will be printed by Eric Johnson of Iota Press. Gwynn O’Gara, Sonoma County Poet Laureate, was the final judge for the blind submission contest.

Lin Max, a Santa Rosa artist and poet, won for “What the Flowers Dream.” Gwynn O’Gara described the work as “transcendent, exciting, and beautifully crafted.”  First prize is an edition of 100 letterpress-printed chapbooks of her poetry.

John Johnson from Petaluma won for “My Father Forgets Himself” from his chapbook “California Knockdown and Other Poems.” He receives an edition of 20 letterpress-printed broadsides of his poem.

Susan Adams, an artist and poet from Petaluma, won for the title poem in her chapbook submission, “What We Keep.” She receives an edition of 20 letterpress-printed broadsides of her poem.

All three poets have been invited to visit Iota Press where Eric will advise them on design and font choices, and they may assist in printing and binding. Iota prints literary and graphic work by hand, using wood and metal type on old presses.

The poets will participate in a reading, moderated by Gwynn O’Gara, at Sebastopol Copperfield’s on Friday, June 10, at 7 p.m.

The poetry contest was open to Sonoma and Marin County, California, poets, and is part of Bibliophoria ~ Celebrate Book Arts in Sebastopol, June and July 2011.