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In 2013, I won the Bywords John Newlove Poetry Award. It is a judged award which recognizes the best poem published by Bywords that year. This is what poet Alice Burdick (judge 2013) had to say about my poem:
"[Message in the bottles] is succinct, funny, and disturbing all in one. An irreverent revery about escape, and its potentially dire result. The words are carefully chosen, but not precious, and effectively shaped into a potent little poem."
As part of the award, Bywords publishes a limited edition chapbook of poetry by the winner (126 copies). This book is launched annually at the Ottawa International Writers Festival. It was a wonderful experience and honour. I would not have pursued publication of a book of poetry on my own.
A copy of the book can be purchased at www.bywords.ca or from me directly via the link below.
"[Message in the bottles] is succinct, funny, and disturbing all in one. An irreverent revery about escape, and its potentially dire result. The words are carefully chosen, but not precious, and effectively shaped into a potent little poem."
As part of the award, Bywords publishes a limited edition chapbook of poetry by the winner (126 copies). This book is launched annually at the Ottawa International Writers Festival. It was a wonderful experience and honour. I would not have pursued publication of a book of poetry on my own.
A copy of the book can be purchased at www.bywords.ca or from me directly via the link below.
“Rob Thomas has a hell of a sense of humour.”
— Michael Dennis
“Anyone who has spent time with young children has experienced the roller-coaster of joy, uneasiness, frustration and pleasure that is involved. Thomas captures this feeling in Brood – a good choice of title, since readers will brood about these poems and go back and re-read them.”
—Ruth Latta, Apartment613
“While Thomas' off-centre take on fatherhood is an amusing journey, these fairy tale poems are the best reason to check out Brood. They merit a longer collection of their own.”
—Scott Bryson, Broken Pencil
“Thomas’ language is as direct as his gaps in narrative are precise, meaning that readers will cruise unencumbered by abstract frills but end up pitted against the occasional unknowable."
—Ryan Pratt, Ottawa Poetry Newsletter
“This is one local poet with a lot of effort and energy devoted to his art.”
—Tim Thibeault, News West
