Matthew Birdsall:

April is celebrated as National Poetry Month by poets and poetry lovers alike.

Established in April 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, its goal is to celebrate and encourage both poetry and poets. Learn more about it at www. poets.org.

Another way to celebrate is to explore poetry yourself — either find or nurture your inner poet with a free poetry writing mini-seminar on April 9, 2-3:30, at Books & Co. at The Greene. The seminar, a program of the Antioch Writers’ Workshop at University of Dayton (www.antiochwritersworkshop.com), will be led by local poet Jamey Dunham. Jamey is an instructor at Sinclair Community College, author of the poetry collection “The Bible of Lost Pets,” and co-editor of the text, “An Introduction to the Prose Poem.”

Also, celebrate that the greater Miami Valley is replete with wonderful poets. Here are other area poets who have published collections of poetry; there are many others who publish in journals and/or give readings. Matt’s debut collection is “The Long and Short of It;” he is also the managing editor of the Mock Turtle Zine, published in Dayton. Discover more about matt at www.matthewbirdsall.com.

Heather Christle:

Heather is the author of “What Is Amazing,” “The Difficult Farm,” and “The Trees The Trees,” which won the 2012 Believer Poetry Award. Her poems have appeared in publications including The New Yorker and The Best American Poetry. Follow her on Twitter @heatherchristle.

Grace’s chapbook, “The Surly Bonds of Earth,” was the 2010 winner of the Lettre Sauvage chapbook contest; her full-length collection is “The Shape of a Box.” Learn more about Grace and explore the world of poetry through her blog, N2 Poetry, https://n2poetry.com.

Grace Curtis: Ed Davis:

a novelist and poet, Ed’s full length poetry collection is “Time of the Light.” Learn more about Ed at www.davised. com.

Chris DeWeese:

Assistant Professor of English Language & Literatures at Wright State University, his poetry collections include “The Father of the Arrow is the Thought,” “The Black Forest.” Follow him on Twitter @chris_deweese.

David Lee Garrison:

The title poem from David’s book, “Playing Bach in the D.C. Metro,” was feature on the American Life in Poetry website; two poems from his “Sweeping the Cemetery” were read by Garrison Keillor on The Writer’s Almanac. Learn more about David on The Greenville Poets website, www.greenvillepoets.org. While there, discover the other poets and writers of the group: Cathryn Essinger, Suzanne Kelly-Garrison, Aimee Noel, Belinda Rismiller, Lianne Spidel and Myrna Stone.

Betsy Hughes:

her sonnet collection “Breaking Weather” was published as the 2013 winner of the national Stevens Poetry Manuscript Competition sponsored by The National Federation of State Poetry Societies; www.nfsps.com/ publication.htm.

Herbert Woodward Martin:

Dayton’s Poet Laureate, Herb’s most recent collection is “Inscribing My Name.” He is also well known as a performer of the poems of Dayton’s own Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the first African-American poets to gain national recognition. Learn more about Herb at www.jumpbackhoney.com.

T.J.’s debut collection, “Mid-Life Chrysler,” released earlier this year. Learn more about him and his book at www.kelsaybooks.com.

Julie publishes widely in many literary journals; her most recent collection is “Particular Scandals.” Learn more at www.julielmoore.com.

Finally, experience the poetry scene for yourself at a poetry reading on Saturday, April 15, 2-4 p.m., at Blue Jacket Books, 30 S. Detroit St., Xenia. Featured readers are poets T.J. McGuire, Karen Howard, Fred Kirchner, Matt Birdsall and Joan Harris.

T.J. McGuire: Julie L. Moore:

Monday, April 10, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sinclair Community College, Dayton Campus, Building 7, Library Loggia

— the 43rd Annual Writers’ Workshop is free and open to the public. The event will feature authors and poets Melody Moezzi, Omope Carter Daboiku, and Grace Curtis. For more information, email the workshop director Furaha Henry-Jones at furaha. henry-jones@sinclair .edu or call 937-512-3078.

Tuesday, April 11, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Wright Memorial Public Library, 1776 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood

— Wright Library’s Book Club is reading the Miami Valley’s Big Read, “The Wright Brothers,” by David McCullough, and will host a discussion of the book. Everyone is welcome at this free, public event.

Tuesday, April 11 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Oakwood Starbucks, 2424 Far Hills Ave.

— Word’s Worth Writing Center (www.wordsworthdayton. com) offers “Description” with author and creative writing instructor Katrina Kittle. This class will examine the classic writing advice, “show, don’t tell,” and provide examples and exercise to help writers do just that and make their descriptions come to life. See the website to register.

Wednesday, April 12, 7 p.m., Books & Co. at The Greene

— Greg Iles will introduce the concluding book in his “Natchez Burning” trilogy, “Mississippi Blood.” Line numbers begin at 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 15

is the deadline to apply for scholarships to the summer program of the Antioch Writers’ Workshop at University of Dayton. Learn more and apply at http://www.antiochwritersworkshop.com/scholarships—summer-workshop. html

Saturday, April 15

is the deadline to apply for scholarships co-sponsored by Heavy Feather Review to the summer program of the Antioch Writers’ Workshop at University of Dayton. These scholarships are for fiction. Best in show recipient wins a full scholarship, plus publication in Heavy Feather Review and Antioch Writers’ Workshop scholarship collection book. Other prizes will also be awarded. Learn more and apply at https://heavyfeatherreview.com/aww/