My poems can make a difference!

Born in New Mexico, Hank Blackwell has been a teacher since his teens, a jeweler, ballet dancer, mountaineer, writer, fire chief and emergency medical services and technical rescue professional. He has travelled extensively and is an avid outdoorsman, athlete, and volunteer. These diverse and varied opportunities such as observation, gratitude, wonder, emotion, and vulnerability created a diverse recipe for the importance of poetry in Hank’s life.

Hank grew up in the fifties and sixties, earning his bachelor’s Degrees in English and Sociology at the University of Texas/Austin, and his master’s in Public Administration at UNM/Albuquerque. His experiences in other countries, consulting, participating in the arts, teaching and as a first responder at the local, state, and national levels have all deeply influenced his poetry and world views. The gifts of observing and being fully in nature, humanity and creativity have offered him a unique perspective as a writer. Hank’s love of poetry and the breadth of his writing have always been influenced by these varied experiences, the opportunity of his over seven decades of life, as well as the extraordinary company of his daughters and dear friends. He has been writing for almost fifty years and is the author of Halfway, a Collection of Thoughts (Tyler Press, Austin, TX 1977), Silver Chain, a Finalist in the 2021 New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards (Mercury Heartlink, 2021) and was the editor of A Wind Blows Through Us, A Festival of New Mexico Men’s Poetry, a finalist in the 2021 New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards (Mercury Heartlink 2021) and Closer to the Door (Mercury Heartlink 2022). He is also the editor of Man, Alive!, a quarterly men’s poetry and prose Ezine. His poetry has appeared over the years in numerous publications. Two of his poems have been set to choral music, one premiered in late 2022 and another will be premiered later this year.Hank now enjoys retirement in Northern New Mexico.The importance of Tupelo Press’ support for writers and poets cannot be understated.

Your support gives me vital inspiration as I write for thirty days this month.

Tupelo Press provides the canvas; I bring my words, accompanied by a cohort of fine poets, writing thirty poems in thirty days, all ours to edit and submit as we wish. 30/30 poems have been taken by over 200 journals and featured in over 40 published chapbooks, all so Tupelo Press can keep publishing exquisite and diverse voices that might never be heard otherwise.

Every dollar gives me confidence to write more, and helps the press place more poems in gorgeous books. Help me to help this distinguished press. Give today!