Tag: Spillwords Press

My Interview: Q&A Author of the Month for April 2025 at Spillwords Press

On By Mike U.In Poetry46 Comments
Image © Spillwords Press

Hi, friends. Recently, editor Dagmara K. at Spillwords Press was kind enough to interview me after I was named Author of the Month for April 2025 for my poem “The Bonfire.” I’m deeply grateful to Dagmara and her team for this opportunity to share a little of myself. If you’d like to discover a bit about my writing background and creative inspiration, you can find the interview here:

Q&A Author of the Month 2025 Interview with Michael L. Utley at Spillwords Press

Thank you, Dagmara, for your kindness in sharing my poetry with your readers. It’s always a thrill to see my writing published alongside that of so many talented authors at Spillwords Press. And thank you, my fellow WordPress friends, for your constant support and encouragement. I appreciate all of you more than you can ever imagine.

Update: I’ve Been Selected as Author of the Month for April 2025 at Spillwords Press

On By Mike U.In Poetry83 Comments

Hello, everyone. It is with a humble spirit and much gratitude that I let you know I have been named Author of the Month for April 2025 at Spillwords Press for my poem “The Bonfire.” I’m sincerely grateful for your wonderful support and for showing your kindness that is so indicative of this little writing community of ours. It was a surprise to receive the nomination, and even more so to read the notification from Editor Dagmara K. that I had been selected. So, please know I’m indebted to all of you for your constant support and friendship. This is an honor for me, but it’s more a reflection of the amazing people who populate this community and truly care for one another. I like to say we’re all in this together, and when an individual achieves some form of recognition—no matter how large or small–it’s a team achievement. Your generous support is cherished.

Also, thank you so much, Dagmara, for this opportunity and for publishing my poetry at Spillwords Press. I appreciate all you’ve done for me and hope to continue sharing my writing with your esteemed readers in the future.

I’m especially delighted that my good friend Maggie Watson’s stunning poem “The Forest” was also named Publication of the Month for April 2025. I’m so happy for her, and she is totally deserving of this honor. Huge congratulations, my dear friend!

Thanks again, everyone, for your graciousness. It means a lot to me. 😊🙏❤️

Voting for Spillwords Press April 2025 Awards ends April 29

On By Mike U.In Poetry28 Comments

Hey, everyone. Just a quick reminder in case you missed it. I’m honored to be nominated for Author of the Month for April 2025 for my poem “The Bonfire” at Spillwords Press. I’m grateful to editor Dagmara K. for this wonderful surprise, and just wanted to post a brief reminder that voting ends April 29 in case anyone would like to check out my poem and lend a vote. Also, my good friend and absolutely brilliant poet Maggie Watson has a poem nominated for Publication of the Month titled “The Forest.” It’s sublime poetry from an amazingly talented writer. So, please cast a vote and support Maggie, too. She’s very much deserving of this award. You may find links to Maggie’s poem, my poem and the Spillwords Press voting page here:

“The Forest” by Maggie Watson

“The Bonfire” by Michael L. Utley

https://spillwords.com/vote/

Also, do visit Maggie’s blog if you can. Her poetry is poignant, intense and deeply moving:

Ephemeral Encounters by Maggie Watson

Your kind support would be greatly appreciated. I hope you enjoy the poems.

I’ve Been Nominated for Author of the Month at Spillwords Press for My Poem “The Bonfire”

On By Mike U.In Poetry49 Comments

Hey, everyone. I’m excited to let you know I’ve been nominated for Author of the Month for April 2025 at Spillwords Press for my poem “The Bonfire.”  Many thanks to Dagmara K. and her staff for publishing my poem and for this wonderful honor and opportunity.

I’m especially thrilled as this poem speaks out against fascism and censorship, which have now taken over our government here in America as right-wing extremists tear our democratic institutions apart and kidnap and deport citizens who exercise their First Amendment right to freedom of speech. It’s one of the most important pieces I’ve ever written, and it would mean a lot to me to expand the reach of this poem so more folks could read its crucial message. As writers, our words are our swords in our fight against fascism and tyranny, and we must not remain silent against this existential threat to our democracy and our way of life.

If you’d care to cast your vote for my poem, all you need to do is register at Spillwords Press (it’s free and takes only a couple of minutes). Voting is open from April 26th-29th. You may cast your vote by following this link:  

https://spillwords.com/vote/

Self-promotion is not my strong point, and I don’t have any social media accounts to solicit votes, so this sort of thing is a bit awkward for me. It’s my sincere hope you’ll take a few minutes to read my poem and cast your vote. I’d be beyond delighted to have your support. I’ve always believed my poetry should do the talking, not me, so if you find my poem worthy of your vote, I’d appreciate it so much.

Congratulations and all the best to the other nominees. 

“The Bonfire” published at Spillwords Press

On By Mike U.In Poetry48 Comments

Hey, friends. I’m excited to let you know my poem “The Bonfire” has been published at Spillwords Press. Many thanks to Dagmara K. and her team for sharing this piece. I truly appreciate this opportunity.

This piece is especially important to me as it reflects America’s new fascist government’s crackdown on freedom of speech and basic human rights. Censorship of any type is oppression, and our current darkness here in the USA is a direct result of the evils of fascist authoritarian ideology, as well as hatred, racism, bigotry and power run amok. We need to fix this soon, my friends, lest it destroys us all.

“The Bonfire”
(c) 2022 by Michael L. Utley

“in our exuberance to burn the words
Bradbury sagely nods and Orwell sighs
as shock-troopers corral the motley herds
and churlish masses watch with sullen eyes

bonfires glow red in every city square
eight thousand million names recited there
black smoke and fetid fumes assault the air
as filthy faces flicker in the glare…”

You can read the rest of my poem by clicking this link. And once you’re there, take some time to check out the work of many other talented writers at Spillwords Press, where you’ll find a treasure trove of good writing.

“Clarity” published at Spillwords Press

On By Mike U.In Poetry30 Comments

Hello, everyone. I’m pleased to announce my poem “Clarity” has been published at Spillwords Press. Sincere thanks to Dagmara K. and her team for publishing this piece. I truly appreciate this opportunity. I hope it finds favor with you.

“Clarity”
© 2024 by Michael L. Utley

“in my twilight world the seasons blur
snow on flowers, freezing summer rain
I seek clarity

dim uncertainty
gloaming settles on this silent vale
neither night nor day exists for me

in the mist beyond the frozen stream
yurei whisper in the burning woods
Yomi’s fey lament

nowhere left to go
hesitance and indecisiveness
stranded on the threshold of the fates…”

You can read the rest of my poem by clicking this link. And once you’re there, take some time to check out the work of many other talented writers at Spillwords Press, where you’ll find a treasure trove of good writing.

My Poem “Snap-beans in a Wooden Bowl” Nominated for Publication of the Month for October 2024 at Spillwords Press

On By Mike U.In Poetry53 Comments

Hey, everyone. I’m excited to announce my poem “Snap-beans in a Wooden Bowl” has been nominated for Publication of the Month for October 2024 at Spillwords Press. To be nominated along with so many other talented writers is both an incredible honor and deeply humbling. I’m grateful to Dagmara K. and her staff for publishing my poem and for this wonderful opportunity.

If you’d care to cast your vote for my poem, all you need to do is register at Spillwords Press (it’s free and takes only a couple of minutes). Voting concludes October 30, 2024. You may cast your vote by following this link:  https://spillwords.com/vote/

People who know me understand that self-promotion is not my forte so this sort of thing is a bit awkward for me. It’s my sincere hope you’ll take a few minutes to read my poem and cast your vote. I’d be beyond delighted to have your support. I’ve always believed my poetry should do the talking, not me, so if you find my poem worthy of your vote, I’d appreciate it so much.

Congratulations and all the best to the other nominees. 

I’ve Been Nominated for Author of the Month for July 2024 at Spillwords Press

On By Mike U.In Poetry57 Comments

Hey, everyone. I like to let you know that I’ve been nominated for Author of the Month for July 2024 at Spillwords Press. What an honor—and a surprise—this is! I want to thank Dagmara K. and her team for this wonderful bit of news. It’s so humbling to be nominated with a handful of other amazing writers, all of whom are deserving of this award.

If you’d care to cast your vote for me, all that’s necessary is to register at Spillwords Press (it’s free and takes only a couple of minutes). Voting begins July 26 and ends July 29. You may cast your vote by following this link:

https://spillwords.com/vote/

I’m not big on self-promotion, so you won’t find any huge billboards or flashing neon signs here. I just love to write and share with all of you. So, if you’d like to vote for me, I’d be truly grateful for your support.

Congratulations and best of luck to all the other nominees. 😊

“Spotlight on Writers” interview at Spillwords Press republished at Gobblers by Masticadores

On By Mike U.In Poetry25 Comments

Hi, everyone. Juan Re Crivello, owner/publisher/editor at Gobblers by Masticadores, was nice enough to republish my recent interview at Spillwords Press for his readers to view. So, if any of you missed it at Spillwords Press and would like to read it, you can find it here:

“Spotlight on Writers–Michael L. Utley Interview at Spillwords Press” republished at Gobblers by Masticadores

Many thanks, Juan, for your kindness in republishing this interview. It really means a lot to me and I’m truly grateful.

My Interview: “Spotlight on Writers” at Spillwords Press

On By Mike U.In Poetry57 Comments

Hey, folks. Spillwords Press has decided to feature me in its “Spotlight on Writers” interview series today, a thrilling and humbling experience for me. I want to thank Dagmara K. and her team for this opportunity to share a bit about myself, my background and what inspires me to create. If you’d like to read the interview, you can find it by clicking this link:

“Spotlight on Writers — Michael L. Utley” at Spillwords Press

It’s truly an honor to have my poetry and this interview published at Spillwords Press, and I’m delighted and grateful for the chance to connect with readers in this way. I hope you enjoy the interview, and please check out the incredibly talented writers at Spillwords Press, where you’ll find some of the best thought-provoking and moving writing anywhere.