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Midwest_poetry_tour

About this project

Okay, I'm going to make this simple, as I have been trying to think for a very long time about what to say, and I've decided not to let myself go to the bathroom until this is finished.

What I want to do: I want to tour the Midwest, reading my original poetry at various locations/venues. I feel the Midwest in particular has an amazing creative population that is waiting to be unleashed. That's where I come in (and that's where you come in). I will be using this tour as publicity to get my first book of poems published. The working title is "My Adamant Refusal to Believe It's Not Butter."

How I plan to do it: with your dollars! If the funding turns up, I plan to tour the Midwest in my wonderful Buick Century, asking other poets and bands from the Midwest to perform alongside me. (If you are living in the Midwest and know someone who would want to participate, or you yourself want to participate, please contact me at brett.e.jenkins at gmail.com.)

What the money is for: gasoline, which makes cars go these days. There are also venues that require booking fees, and other various travel costs. Though I did get gold member AAA for Christmas, so, you know, I have a safety net.

That's about it. I don't want to sound like one of those guys that says "If you really love me you'll sleep with me," but if you really love the arts...

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$2,200
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Funding Successful

This project successfully raised its funding goal on June 17.

Pledge $1 or more

Access to all behind-the-scenes posts and updates, and my undying love and affection.

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Pledge $10 or more

You'll get your name mentioned in the Acknowledgements section of the book.

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Pledge $30 or more

You will be mentioned in the Acknowledgements section of the book. You will also recieve a postcard, on which will be a specially written poem addressed to you.

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Pledge $50 or more

You will recieve a free copy of the book, as well as have a poem in the book dedicated to you or a made up name that you provide me with.

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Pledge $100 or more

Free copy of the book, signed, and a poem written about you in the book with information that you provide me with. And you'll have the book delivered to you by hand at a party that you are invited to. Yes, invited to a party! If that's not motivation enough, I don't know what is.

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Pledge $500 or more

I come to your town even if you're not in the Midwest, and we hang VIP style for a night. You get a free book, signed, and you also get the whole book dedicated to you. Though you're going to have to share the limelight with my mom.

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Pledge $1,000 or more

LIMITED REWARD     2 of 2 remaining

All of the above, plus for one month I will work as your own personal writer, writing anything you want. Cards, poems, stories, essays, research papers, haiku, proclamations, declarations, manifestos, rants, raves, reviews, lists, emails to your mom, etc. If you can't think of something for me to write, I will write something I think will please or amuse you. Writing time will be limited to only 3 hours a day or less.

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Project By

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Brett Elizabeth Jenkins

Straightpin , IN

Brett Elizabeth Jenkins was born in Port Clinton,
Ohio in March 1986. Her mother lost a shoe in the snow
on the way to the hospital; it was later found.

Since then, she has aged some years. She graduated
from high school in May of 2004. The commencement
speaker made a comment about cheese that was not
a joke. She laughed. No one else did.

Brett graduated from Huntington University with
a bachelor’s degree in English, some debt, and a recurring
nightmare about timed underwater basket weaving.

In June of 2010 she received her MFA from
Bennington College. The degree is hidden away in her
closet, next to her undergraduate degree. She thinks
often of putting them on the wall but never does.

In January of 2015 she won a very prestigious award.

In May of the same year, she awoke to the smell
of smoke, but curiously nothing was on fire.
She never found out the cause of the smell.

On two separate occasions in August of 2018 she hit
red winged blackbirds with her car, and has yet
to forgive herself.

In February of 2025 she bought a small farm and lived
there happily for some years. She is still alive today.

Look for Brett's poems in Anderbo, PANK, The Medulla Review, The Orange Room Review, GUD, Denver Syntax, Writers' Bloc, ditch, and elsewhere.