Poet Chris Mattingly Explains How Vulnerability Is His Greatest Strength

Dave Torneo, J.D. Gray

In this interview recorded last summer, poet Chris Mattingly talks with Dave Torneo about how his poetry is informed by everything from a cult in California to “a freak culture” in Evansville. Also posted are poems from each of the Ledge Mule Press co-founders: Mattingly, Torneo, and Ross Gay. Click here to read the full story.

November 20, 2015

Among the Finalists for the National Book Award is "Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude," a collection of poems by Indiana University professor Ross Gay. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

Book by Local Poet Ross Gay Selected as Finalist for the National Book Award

Brian Hartz, Natasha Komoda

The National Book Foundation just announced the Finalists for the National Book Award. Among them is Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, a collection of poems by Indiana University professor Ross Gay. In this profile by Brian Hartz, Gay reflects on his work, on the powerful influence Bloomington has had on his poetry, and what this national recognition means to him. Click here to read the full story.

October 14, 2015

Sponsorship

David Torneo is the co-founder of Ledge Mule Press, which produces intricate, bespoke, limited-run poetry books and is set to launch a 7-inch vinyl record featuring spoken-word performances by Matt Hart and Rachel McKibbens. | Photo by Natasha Komoda

David Torneo: Bloomington’s Ambassador of Poetry

Brian Hartz, Natasha Komoda

Publisher, poet, playwright, promoter — all of these describe David Torneo, but you could just as easily call him Bloomington’s Ambassador of Poetry. Torneo may spend more time promoting the work of other poets than he does his own, whether by organizing book launches and public poetry readings for local and national poets or interviewing poets for podcasts. He also publishes Ledge Mule Press, a quarterly publication made in limited editions with handmade techniques. Click here to read the full story.