The Cinnabar excellence in Poetry Committee has decided to award the 2021 Cinnabar Moth Literary Collections Excellence in Poetry Award to Leia John for her poem “Cognac” included in her chap book Fuck It. This poem is a paradox of subtlety and audacity. Cognac exposes the causal acceptance of the grotesque obscenity inherent in a much older man attempting to entice an underage girl into having a casual drink with them. The matter-of-fact delivery of this revelation reflects how far too often our youth are exploited through the sharing of forbidden fruit only to then have a piece of their innocence shattered and their sense of safety destroyed. We hope everyone will take the time to read Fuck It in its entirety, paying special attention to “Cognac”.

Leia was awarded first place in the 2020 Anita McAndrews Poets for Human Rights contest for “Beloved”.

You can read more of Leia’s work in the following.

“Dope Fiend”, “Pissed”, and “W.W.B.D?” are featured in the Bukowski 100th Birthday Vol. 2 by Newington Blue Press

“October Maple” is featured in Poetica 2 by Clarendon House Books.

“The Shit You’ll See in Paris” is featured in Once Upon a Crocodile Vol. 7

“A Pool Skimmer” is featured in Anti-Heroin Chic, Issue 19.

“Rim Job” and “Dear Ol’ Dad” are featured in The Things We Carry by Outcast Press

Fuck It: An Explicit Chapbook of Poetry, published by Newington Blue Press (July 2021)

“Child Locks” (flash fiction) featured in A Thin Slice of Anxiety

To Swallow the Summer with Budget Press (October, 2021)

You can get to know Leia by checking out her interviews.

Interview with Punk Noir Magazine (September 2021)

Budget Press Review Podcast (October 2021)

The Writers Triangle Podcast (January 2021)

 

You can stay current with Leia’s works:

Find her website here.

Find her Twitter here.