National anthology of best 140 cancer poems, selected from 1,000+, by patients, survivors, spouses, family, friends & health advisors.
When my husband, Thom, was diagnosed with cancer while I was pregnant with our first child, writing poetry helped me cope.
As a full-time writer and editor, I guessed others would, like me, find their cancer experiences best expressed through poetry. So began The Cancer Poetry Project—a national effort to collect poetry that captured the cancer experience.
More than a thousand poems poured in, and the resulting, award-winning anthology included the best 140 entries, covering a range of themes, including grief and anger, hope and recovery, even humor. Poets—both frequently published writers and first-timers—included patients and survivors, spouses and partners, family members and friends, doctors and nurses.
Since then, the book has been featured on talk shows and in books, magazines and blogs. Book clubs and cancer support groups select it for study. The book's poems have been performed on stage multiple times and even used as the basis for study in a university class. Most importantly, year after year, readers say that the poems let them know they are not alone.
Now we're ready to publish The Cancer Poetry Project 2, a second national anthology. Amazingly, again we received more than 1,000 poems, and again we chose approximately 140 poems for publication. We know this book is just as powerful as the first—complete, as before, with a mini bio of each poet, from Pushcart Prize winners to novelists, brassy retirees to children wise beyond their years, fiber artists to bank executives, and many, many more.
Today, we're looking for your help in taking the poems from manuscript to published book. We've done this before, but publishing costs have jumped significantly since last year. Your gift of $1, $18 or $100 will mean the world to us. Thank you for your generosity!
(To learn more about The Cancer Poetry Project, you can read sample poems on our website, visit us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.)
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We know that publishing can be fraught with challenges. But we've done this before and we're nearly ready—copyediting the final chapter, finishing a few poet bios and completing the cover. And so, barring other challenges, the book will be printed just in time for April, National Poetry Month. How thrilling it will be to share that news—and the book—with you!
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Feb 11, 2013 -
Mar 13, 2013
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- Website: cancerpoetryproject.com
Pledge $1 or more
1 backer
A huge thank-you for supporting The Cancer Poetry Project 2.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Pledge $18 or more
18 backers
A copy of The Cancer Poetry Project 2 (paperback, approx. 8.9 by 5.9 inches, approx. 300 pgs.).
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Add $25 to ship outside the USPledge $25 or more
18 backers
A signed copy of The Cancer Poetry Project 2.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Add $25 to ship outside the USPledge $35 or more
10 backers
A signed copy of The Cancer Poetry Project 2 with a bookplate dedication in honor of or in memory of a loved one. Wrapped specially and sent to you, a loved one, or your favorite oncologist, physician, nurse, chaplain, clinic, etc.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2013Add $25 to ship outside the USPledge $50 or more
6 backers
A signed copy of The Cancer Poetry Project 1 and a signed copy of The Cancer Poetry Project 2.
Estimated delivery: May 2013Add $35 to ship outside the USPledge $70 or more
0 backers
A signed copy of The Cancer Poetry Project 1 and a signed copy of The Cancer Poetry Project 2, each with a bookplate dedication in honor of or in memory of a loved one. Wrapped specially and sent to one address: for you, a loved one, or a favorite oncologist, physician, nurse, chaplain, clinic, etc.
Estimated delivery: May 2013Add $35 to ship outside the USPledge $100 or more
8 backers
Five signed copies of The Cancer Poetry Project 2 sent to one U.S. address for your cancer support group or your book club.
Estimated delivery: May 2013Ships within the US onlyPledge $125 or more
2 backers
Your name—or the name of your loved one—in the acknowledgements section of The Cancer Poetry Project 2. Plus, a signed copy of The Cancer Poetry Project 1 and a signed copy of The Cancer Poetry Project 2. Both shipped to one address.
Estimated delivery: May 2013Add $35 to ship outside the USPledge $200 or more
3 backers
Your name—or the name of your loved one—in the acknowledgements section of The Cancer Poetry Project 2. Plus, five signed copies of The Cancer Poetry Project 2 sent to one U.S. address for your cancer support group or your book club. Plus, a Skype session with the editor and/or a poet included in the book.
Estimated delivery: May 2013Ships within the US only
