White Whale Bookstore event: Saturday April 6, 7pmET

The staff of the White Whale are so excited to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Vox Populi, a curated webspace for Poetry, Politics, and Nature. The site was started by Pittsburgh poet Michael Simms as a way to connect with his peers in letters, and what better way to ring in ten years than with other Pittsburgh poets, on a date that also coincides with Michael’s 70th birthday! 

Vox Populi, founded in April 2014, is a community of writers, artists, teachers and activists who share a vision of what American life is and what it could be. By exposing problems and proposing solutions, we are part of a growing movement in America that believes in environmental responsibility, empowerment of the disadvantaged, peaceful co-existence, and reform of the corrupt institutions that put the short term interests of the few over the long term needs of the many. These topics, which are interdependent, are explored through poetry, journalism, personal essays, videos, music, and visual art that display a love of craft and a dedication to truth. In short, we look for the poetry in everything.

MICHAEL SIMMS is the founder/editor of Vox Populi, an online forum for poetry, politics and nature, as well as the founder/editor emeritus of Autumn House Press, a nonprofit publisher of books. He’s the author of three full-length collections of poetry published by Ragged Sky Press: American Ash, Nightjar, and Strange Meadowlark. Simms has three novels published by Madville: Bicycles of the Gods, The Green Mage and Windkeep, and another novel The Blessed Isle is scheduled for release in late 2024. His poems have appeared in Poetry (Chicago), Poem-a-Day published by The Academy of American Poets, The Southwest Review, Black Warrior Review and Plume Poetry. In 2011, Simms was awarded a Certificate of Recognition from the Pennsylvania State Legislature for his service to the arts. He lives with his wife Eva, a philosopher and psychologist, in the historic neighborhood of Mount Washington overlooking the city of Pittsburgh. 

JUDITH SANDERS’ poetry collection In Deep was published by Kelsay Books.  Her work appears in numerous journals, including Pleiades, Calyx, The American Scholar, and Modern Language Studies; on the websites Vox Populi, Humor Darling, and Full Grown People; and in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  She taught English at universities and independent schools, and in France on a Fulbright Fellowship.  She lives with her family in Pittsburgh.

ROBERT WALICKI’S work has appeared in over 50 journals, including Vox Populi,  Pittsburgh City Paper, Fourth River,Chiron Review and Evening Street Review. A two time
Pushcart and a Best of The Net nominee, Robert’s latest full length collection, Fountain, was released from Main Street Rag Press.

SHARON FAGAN McDERMOTT is a poet, essayist, and teacher of literature at Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh, PA. Her published book of essays, Millions of Suns: On Writing and Life, (University of Michigan Press, Nov. 2023) was recently named a “Best Book for Writers” by “Poets and Writers Magazine and a “Book of the Month (for March)” by the show “Talk Pittsburgh” on KDKA TV. Additionally, Fagan McDermott has published four collections of poetry, most recently Life Without Furniture (Jacar Press, 2018).

This event will be in-person at White Whale Bookstore, 4754 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA USA, 15224. Masks are required. The location is wheelchair accessible. If you’re not able to make it to the store, we will also be livestreaming the event via Zoom. Click here to sign up for the livestream.