New Collection of Work Celebrates Poets Laureate of Colorado, Features Unpublished Work by Andrea Gibson

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DENVER ~ Denver, CO - On December 5th, Petals & Pages Bookstore will host a book launch for the highly anticipated anthology, "Begin Where You Are," featuring the work of all 10 of Colorado's Poets Laureate. The event will not only celebrate the profound contributions of these poets to Colorado's vibrant culture and way of life but also raise funds for an endowment for the Colorado Poet Laureate position.

Governor Jared Polis expressed his excitement for the release of this collection, stating that "the arts tell the story of who we are, a narrative that is essential to the Colorado spirit." He also emphasized the importance of supporting and celebrating the state's Poets Laureate.

The anthology will include never-before-published poems by the late Andrea Gibson, who served as Colorado's most recent Poet Laureate. The launch party at Petals & Pages Bookstore will feature book signings, poetry readings, and light refreshments. Interested individuals can register for the event or pre-order "Begin Where You Are" at coloradopoets.org.

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Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), a division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), highlighted that "the release of 'Begin Where You Are' is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Poets Laureate while increasing their reach across the state."

The role of Poet Laureate in Colorado is to advocate for poetry, literacy, and literature by participating in readings and other events at schools, libraries, and literary festivals. Nominations are currently being reviewed for Colorado's next Poet Laureate with an announcement expected in early 2026. In recognition of America 250 Colorado 150 Commemoration, the 11th Poet Laureate will focus on commemorating our shared past and imagining a unified future.

Josh Blanchard, Director of CCI, emphasized that "poets laureate play a unique and important role in uplifting arts and culture in Colorado." He also expressed excitement for the anthology, stating that it will not only celebrate the contributions of past and present Poets Laureate but also support the work of future Poets Laureate.

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The Colorado Poet Laureate program is a partnership between CCI, Colorado Humanities, and The Word, A Storytelling Sanctuary, Inc. The anthology was compiled and edited by The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology, a nonprofit organization formed by five past and present Colorado poets laureate. Turner Wyatt, director of The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology, hopes that readers will not only enjoy the incredible writing in "Begin Where You Are" but also be a part of an important mission to help the poet laureate reach more people in Colorado.

All authors have foregone their royalties for this book to create an endowment for the first state poet laureate. 100% of proceeds from sales will go towards this endowment, which will be administered by 501c3 nonprofit organization The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology. This endowment will fund travel and poetry programming in rural and lower-income communities across the state.

The book is being published by Center for Literary Publishing in Fort Collins and distributed by University Press of Colorado. The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology is dedicated to increasing access to poetry in Colorado through sustainable funding models. To learn more about their mission or to purchase "Begin Where You Are," visit coloradopoets.org.

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