Poetic New Releases at Malvern Books

Spring has well and truly sprung here at the bookstore, and what better way to celebrate the season of growth and rejuvenation than with the release of two brand-spanking-new titles from a couple of poets who are dear to our hearts…

First up, we hosted the launch of Scott Wiggerman’s new poetry collection, Leaf and Beak: Sonnets. Joe Blanda got the evening off to a foot-tappin’ start with some wonderful guitar playing. Our store manager Becky then introduced Scott, who read a selection of sonnets from Leaf and Beak. The collection was inspired by walks Scott took on the trails at Mueller Lake Park, where he often encountered his old friend Paul Licce, a photographer who shares Scott’s fascination with Mueller, and whose photographs were on display on our walls—so it was only fitting that Paul joined Scott on the stage to talk about his work and answer a few questions from the audience. Thanks to Scott, Paul, and Joe for a very entertaining evening of verse, art, and music, and all the best to Scott and David, who are shortly moving to New Mexico. Malvern will miss you, and we hope you’ll come back and visit us soon!

And we were also thrilled to host a release event for Laurie Saurborn Young’s brilliant new collection, Industry of Brief Distraction. Laurie read a selection of poems from the book, as well as a moving new work called “Like A Demon” (which starts at around 1:15 mins in the second video below). It was a fantastic night of poetry—our heartiest Malvern thanks to Laurie, and to the large and lively audience who came by to show their support.