Cedric Tillman's Blog - Posts Tagged "cedric-tillman"
Feb. 20 Reading at The New School, NYC
Hey all-
I'll be in NYC for a hot minute reading from FEELINS. Come through!
2/20, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
The New School, Wollman Hall
65 West 11th Street
New York
Come celebrate the recent publications of new work by three brilliant Cave Canem poets. Recipient of the 2019 Josephine Miles Award from PEN Oakland, James Cagney is the author of Black Steel Magnolias in The Hour of Chaos Theory (Nomadic Press, 2019), a debut collection of which poet Connie Post says, “There is much to behold in this masterful book….” Poet and visual artist Xandria Phillips‘ debut collection, HULL (Nightboat Books, 2019), is praised by poet Thylias Moss for being “brilliantly executed. Everything precise. Xandria Phillips is no ordinary architect.” Cedric Tillman is the author of two poetry collections, most recently, IN MY FEELINS (Word Poetry, 2020), praised by author Alan Michael Parker for holding “fabulous poems of candor and jump, muscle and song.” Free and open to the public. Refreshments served. Co-sponsored with The New School Creative Writing Program.
James Cagney is a poet from Oakland, California. He has appeared at venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, including Vancouver, Chicago, and Mumbai. James’ first book, Black Steel Magnolias in The Hour of Chaos Theory (Nomadic Press, 2019), is the winner of the 2019 Josephine Miles Award from PEN Oakland. It is available now from NomadicPress.org More of James’ writing can be found at TheDirtyRat.blog.
Xandria Phillips is a poet and visual artist from rural Ohio. Xandria has received fellowships from Oberlin College, Cave Canem, Callaloo, and the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing, where they are the First Wave Poetry Fellow. Their poetry has been featured in American Poetry Review, Black Warrior Review, Crazyhorse, Poets.Org, Virginia Quarterly Review, and elsewhere. Their first book, HULL was published by Nightboat Books in 2019.
Cedric Tillman holds a BA in English from UNC Charlotte and graduated from American University’s Creative Writing MFA program. He is a Cave Canem Graduate Fellow and a former Nation Magazine (now Boston Review) “Discovery” contest semifinalist. Cedric’s poems appear in several publications including Pleaides, Rove, The Manhattanville Review, Furious Flower: Seeding the Future of African American Poetry, Iodine Poetry Journal and Home Is Where: an anthology of African American Poets from the Carolinas. Between 2016 and 2018, his second collection, IN MY FEELINS (Word Poetry, 2020), received semifinalist recognition in contests sponsored by Saturnalia Books, Cleveland State University, and Fresno State University; and finalist recognition from Press 53, Pleiades and the University of Akron. In 2017, his poem “the flag” received Special Mention recognition for the Pushcart Foundation’s Pushcart Prize. His debut collection, entitled Lilies in the Valley, was published by Willow Books in 2013. Cedric hails from Lilesville and Charlotte, NC. He currently lives in northern Virginia.
I'll be in NYC for a hot minute reading from FEELINS. Come through!
2/20, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
The New School, Wollman Hall
65 West 11th Street
New York
Come celebrate the recent publications of new work by three brilliant Cave Canem poets. Recipient of the 2019 Josephine Miles Award from PEN Oakland, James Cagney is the author of Black Steel Magnolias in The Hour of Chaos Theory (Nomadic Press, 2019), a debut collection of which poet Connie Post says, “There is much to behold in this masterful book….” Poet and visual artist Xandria Phillips‘ debut collection, HULL (Nightboat Books, 2019), is praised by poet Thylias Moss for being “brilliantly executed. Everything precise. Xandria Phillips is no ordinary architect.” Cedric Tillman is the author of two poetry collections, most recently, IN MY FEELINS (Word Poetry, 2020), praised by author Alan Michael Parker for holding “fabulous poems of candor and jump, muscle and song.” Free and open to the public. Refreshments served. Co-sponsored with The New School Creative Writing Program.
James Cagney is a poet from Oakland, California. He has appeared at venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, including Vancouver, Chicago, and Mumbai. James’ first book, Black Steel Magnolias in The Hour of Chaos Theory (Nomadic Press, 2019), is the winner of the 2019 Josephine Miles Award from PEN Oakland. It is available now from NomadicPress.org More of James’ writing can be found at TheDirtyRat.blog.
Xandria Phillips is a poet and visual artist from rural Ohio. Xandria has received fellowships from Oberlin College, Cave Canem, Callaloo, and the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing, where they are the First Wave Poetry Fellow. Their poetry has been featured in American Poetry Review, Black Warrior Review, Crazyhorse, Poets.Org, Virginia Quarterly Review, and elsewhere. Their first book, HULL was published by Nightboat Books in 2019.
Cedric Tillman holds a BA in English from UNC Charlotte and graduated from American University’s Creative Writing MFA program. He is a Cave Canem Graduate Fellow and a former Nation Magazine (now Boston Review) “Discovery” contest semifinalist. Cedric’s poems appear in several publications including Pleaides, Rove, The Manhattanville Review, Furious Flower: Seeding the Future of African American Poetry, Iodine Poetry Journal and Home Is Where: an anthology of African American Poets from the Carolinas. Between 2016 and 2018, his second collection, IN MY FEELINS (Word Poetry, 2020), received semifinalist recognition in contests sponsored by Saturnalia Books, Cleveland State University, and Fresno State University; and finalist recognition from Press 53, Pleiades and the University of Akron. In 2017, his poem “the flag” received Special Mention recognition for the Pushcart Foundation’s Pushcart Prize. His debut collection, entitled Lilies in the Valley, was published by Willow Books in 2013. Cedric hails from Lilesville and Charlotte, NC. He currently lives in northern Virginia.
May 25th, Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) Open Mic featuring Kevin Dublin
Thanks to Kevin Dublin for reaching out to me to participate in the open mic ahead of his feature at MoAD San Francisco. Kevin and I met back in 2010 at a Cave Canem South retreat, and have kept in touch via social media and a couple of random meetings at conferences like AWP since then. It was quite a surprise and extremely considerate of him.
I was pleased to read with my fellow open micers, including James Cagney, who I had the opportunity to meet and read with through the Cave Canem Foundation at the New School in NYC back in 2020 (literally three weeks or so before the pandemic kicked into high gear...) The evening's lineup follows.
James Cagney
Adrienne Danyelle Oliver
Stephany Welch
MK Chavez
Agua Bracho
Cedric Tillman
Yeva Johnson
Feature: Kevin Dublin
Norm Mattox
A.A. Vincent
Dior Stephens
Raymond Nat Turner
Jermaine Hughes
Zakiyyah G.E. Capehart
Tureeda Mikell
I was pleased to read with my fellow open micers, including James Cagney, who I had the opportunity to meet and read with through the Cave Canem Foundation at the New School in NYC back in 2020 (literally three weeks or so before the pandemic kicked into high gear...) The evening's lineup follows.
James Cagney
Adrienne Danyelle Oliver
Stephany Welch
MK Chavez
Agua Bracho
Cedric Tillman
Yeva Johnson
Feature: Kevin Dublin
Norm Mattox
A.A. Vincent
Dior Stephens
Raymond Nat Turner
Jermaine Hughes
Zakiyyah G.E. Capehart
Tureeda Mikell
August 23 Reading with Isaac Akanmu & Ahvid Harris, Waterbean Coffee, Huntersville, NC
Waterbean Coffee-Huntersville
9705 Sam Furr Road Ste A
Huntersville, NC 28078
7-9 p.m.
Thanks to Leslie Rupracht and Jonathan K. Rice for their invite to the Waterbean Poetry Night reading series up in Huntersville. Leslie & Jonathan are staples on the poetry scene in the Charlotte metro area and have been supportive of my work since we met-it's always great to be in their company. And it was great meeting these guys in person (we linked up on social media beforehand):
ISAAC AKANMU is a Nigerian American from Staten Island, NY. Now living in Charlotte, NC, Isaac is the winner of the 2023 Charlotte GoodLit Fellowship. His poetry chapbook, not belonging anywhere, is available with Bottlecap Press (2022). His words also appear in Jellyfish Review, Posit Journal, Olney Magazine, and elsewhere. Connect with Isaac at https://isaacakanmu.com/ and on social media @insteadofisaac. Learn more about his fellowship and chapbook here: GoodLit Fellowship and https://bottlecap.press/products/anyw....
AHVID HARRIS is an Expressionist residing in Charlotte, NC. Locally, he has performed at The Evening Muse, Starlight on 22nd, Flux Galleries, Common Market Oakhurst, Waterbean Poetry Night, and elsewhere. In 2023, he realized a solo show at the Asheville Fringe Festival, “Musica Poetica,” in which he interweaved classical piano with poetic verse. Known for a range of other mediums including photography, video, and acting, Ahvid plans to continue exploring his crafts, both as an independent and interconnected artist. His self-published debut poetry collection, Peregrinations, was released in 2022 and is acclaimed by Charlotte poet laureate, Jay Ward. Ahvid’s work can also be found at Kalmato.com or more organically on Instagram: @Kalmato.MB
9705 Sam Furr Road Ste A
Huntersville, NC 28078
7-9 p.m.
Thanks to Leslie Rupracht and Jonathan K. Rice for their invite to the Waterbean Poetry Night reading series up in Huntersville. Leslie & Jonathan are staples on the poetry scene in the Charlotte metro area and have been supportive of my work since we met-it's always great to be in their company. And it was great meeting these guys in person (we linked up on social media beforehand):
ISAAC AKANMU is a Nigerian American from Staten Island, NY. Now living in Charlotte, NC, Isaac is the winner of the 2023 Charlotte GoodLit Fellowship. His poetry chapbook, not belonging anywhere, is available with Bottlecap Press (2022). His words also appear in Jellyfish Review, Posit Journal, Olney Magazine, and elsewhere. Connect with Isaac at https://isaacakanmu.com/ and on social media @insteadofisaac. Learn more about his fellowship and chapbook here: GoodLit Fellowship and https://bottlecap.press/products/anyw....
AHVID HARRIS is an Expressionist residing in Charlotte, NC. Locally, he has performed at The Evening Muse, Starlight on 22nd, Flux Galleries, Common Market Oakhurst, Waterbean Poetry Night, and elsewhere. In 2023, he realized a solo show at the Asheville Fringe Festival, “Musica Poetica,” in which he interweaved classical piano with poetic verse. Known for a range of other mediums including photography, video, and acting, Ahvid plans to continue exploring his crafts, both as an independent and interconnected artist. His self-published debut poetry collection, Peregrinations, was released in 2022 and is acclaimed by Charlotte poet laureate, Jay Ward. Ahvid’s work can also be found at Kalmato.com or more organically on Instagram: @Kalmato.MB
October 29, 2023: Reading with Aruna Gurumurthy, McIntyre's Books, Pittsboro, NC
I'll be reading at McIntyre's Books this Sunday, October 29 at 2 p.m. in Pittsboro, NC with with Aruna Gurumurthy. The reading is sponsored by the North Carolina Poetry Society.
McIntyre’s Books is located at 200 Market Street (Fearrington Village) in Pittsboro. From the Poetry Society's announcement:
___________________________________________
CEDRIC TILLMAN graduated from UNC Charlotte and American University's Creative Writing MFA program. His debut poetry collection, entitled Lilies in the Valley, was published by Willow Books in 2013. His latest offering, In My Feelins, was published by WordTech Poetry in 2019. Cedric lives in Charlotte.
ARUNA GURUMURTHY is a creative thinker and poet who has published seven books since 2015. Her poems appear in Bellevue Literary Review (forthcoming), storySouth, South 85 Journal, Penwood Review, and others. Aruna lives with her loving family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and brings change in the world, one poem at a time.
McIntyre’s Books is located at 200 Market Street (Fearrington Village) in Pittsboro. From the Poetry Society's announcement:
___________________________________________
CEDRIC TILLMAN graduated from UNC Charlotte and American University's Creative Writing MFA program. His debut poetry collection, entitled Lilies in the Valley, was published by Willow Books in 2013. His latest offering, In My Feelins, was published by WordTech Poetry in 2019. Cedric lives in Charlotte.
ARUNA GURUMURTHY is a creative thinker and poet who has published seven books since 2015. Her poems appear in Bellevue Literary Review (forthcoming), storySouth, South 85 Journal, Penwood Review, and others. Aruna lives with her loving family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and brings change in the world, one poem at a time.
Reading with Sandra Beasley, Friday, December 1, 2023
I'm honored and excited to be reading ahead of my American University MFA classmate and dear friend Sandra Beasley on Friday, December 1 at Starlight on 22nd, 422 E. 22nd St., Charlotte.
Among her many accolades, she is the author of the poetry collections Count the Waves (2015); I Was the Jukebox (2010), which won the Barnard Women Poets Prize; and Theories of Falling (2008), winner of the New Issues Poetry Prize. She also published a memoir, Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales from an Allergic Life (2011). Her latest offering is made to explode (2022). In 2015, she received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Sandra has also taught and served as writer-in-residence at several universities, including our alma mater, Davidson, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Tampa, and Ole Miss.
Come check us out-$25 tiks at the link include a drink.
https://charlottelit.configio.com/pd/...
Among her many accolades, she is the author of the poetry collections Count the Waves (2015); I Was the Jukebox (2010), which won the Barnard Women Poets Prize; and Theories of Falling (2008), winner of the New Issues Poetry Prize. She also published a memoir, Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl: Tales from an Allergic Life (2011). Her latest offering is made to explode (2022). In 2015, she received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Sandra has also taught and served as writer-in-residence at several universities, including our alma mater, Davidson, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the University of Tampa, and Ole Miss.
Come check us out-$25 tiks at the link include a drink.
https://charlottelit.configio.com/pd/...
October 11, 2024: Reading with DeShara Suggs-Joe and Sasha Banks
This Friday at 7 p.m. I'll be reading with these talented artists at VisArt Video, 3104 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, N.C. I've been meaning to get by VisArt for a while-I've missed some other readings and events I'd hoped to check out there, so this'll be my first time at the venue. Please stop by if you're in the area!
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DeShara is a queer, Black poet and visual artist. She co-founded Daughter’s Tongue (an all-women writing collective), worked as the Creative Director of Workshops at Winter Tangerine, and is a former member of the Youth Speaks Collective. She received her MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts and fellowships from Callaloo, the Poetry Incubator, and Pink Door. In 2021, she was nominated for “Best of the Net.” She has published poems in Apogee Lit, Voicemail Poems, Tinderbox Journal, The Texas Review, and elsewhere. She has also been featured on Button Poetry’s YouTube platform and has performed on Spotify, Yahoo, and Pinterest.
SASHA BANKS is a Pushcart nominated poet and filmmaker whose work has been published or is forthcoming in THE ATLANTIC, VANITY FAIR, PBS NEWSHOUR, and others. She received her MFA at Pratt Institute. Banks is a 2019 Rhode Island Writers’ Colony Fellow and the creator of Poets for Ferguson. She is the author of america, MINE, writer and director of Oh, Country, and founder of Top Femme Productions.
Cedric Tillman received a BA in English from UNC Charlotte and graduated from American University's Creative Writing MFA program. He is a Cave Canem graduate fellow and a former semifinalist in The Nation magazine's Discovery contest. His poems have appeared in journals and anthologies including RHINO, Pleiades, Barzakh, Rove, The Manhattanville Review, Solstice Literary Magazine, The Florida Review, and Kakalak, among others. In 2017, his poem "the flag" received Special Mention recognition for the Pushcart Foundation's Pushcart Prize.
His debut collection, entitled LILIES IN THE VALLEY, was published by Willow Books in 2013. After receiving semifinalist and finalist recognition in the University of Akron, Cleveland State University, and Press 53 poetry prizes among others, IN MY FEELINS was published by WordTech Poetry in 2020. Cedric lives in Charlotte.
--------------------------------------------
DeShara is a queer, Black poet and visual artist. She co-founded Daughter’s Tongue (an all-women writing collective), worked as the Creative Director of Workshops at Winter Tangerine, and is a former member of the Youth Speaks Collective. She received her MFA in Writing from California College of the Arts and fellowships from Callaloo, the Poetry Incubator, and Pink Door. In 2021, she was nominated for “Best of the Net.” She has published poems in Apogee Lit, Voicemail Poems, Tinderbox Journal, The Texas Review, and elsewhere. She has also been featured on Button Poetry’s YouTube platform and has performed on Spotify, Yahoo, and Pinterest.
SASHA BANKS is a Pushcart nominated poet and filmmaker whose work has been published or is forthcoming in THE ATLANTIC, VANITY FAIR, PBS NEWSHOUR, and others. She received her MFA at Pratt Institute. Banks is a 2019 Rhode Island Writers’ Colony Fellow and the creator of Poets for Ferguson. She is the author of america, MINE, writer and director of Oh, Country, and founder of Top Femme Productions.
Cedric Tillman received a BA in English from UNC Charlotte and graduated from American University's Creative Writing MFA program. He is a Cave Canem graduate fellow and a former semifinalist in The Nation magazine's Discovery contest. His poems have appeared in journals and anthologies including RHINO, Pleiades, Barzakh, Rove, The Manhattanville Review, Solstice Literary Magazine, The Florida Review, and Kakalak, among others. In 2017, his poem "the flag" received Special Mention recognition for the Pushcart Foundation's Pushcart Prize.
His debut collection, entitled LILIES IN THE VALLEY, was published by Willow Books in 2013. After receiving semifinalist and finalist recognition in the University of Akron, Cleveland State University, and Press 53 poetry prizes among others, IN MY FEELINS was published by WordTech Poetry in 2020. Cedric lives in Charlotte.
May 15 reading: "Soil and Stars: A Poetic Reflection" (Allison Janae Hamilton exhibit)
I'll be reading at SOCO Gallery's ‘Soil and Stars: A Poetic Reflection’ on visual artist Allison Janae Hamilton's work, currently on exhibit at the gallery. I'll be reading alongside De’Angelo Dia, Cedric Tillman, Jordan Bailey, and Rodrick Minor.
Doors will open at 6:30PM and the performance will begin at 7PM.
Address: 421 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
More on Allison: https://www.allisonjanaehamilton.com/
Doors will open at 6:30PM and the performance will begin at 7PM.
Address: 421 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207
More on Allison: https://www.allisonjanaehamilton.com/
May 28 reading at the Anson County Historical Society, Wadesboro, NC
Hey Anson/Richmond Co. folk (don't think I have more than a few over here)...
1) I'll be doing a book signing at the Anson Historical Society in Wadesboro next week, Wed. May 28, from 5-7 pm. I won't be reading apparently, just selling and signing.
2) I will be reading at the Anson Library on August 18th, 10:30 a.m.-I'll post a reminder closer to the event.
I have to thank Mr. Alton Chewning for his vital role in getting the ball rolling and reaching out to people. Some of you from down home know his family owned a grocery store there and he just happened to be in the audience when I read at Bynum Front Porch up near Carrboro a couple months ago.
Even if you don't want a book (but know my people, perhaps?), come say hello.
1) I'll be doing a book signing at the Anson Historical Society in Wadesboro next week, Wed. May 28, from 5-7 pm. I won't be reading apparently, just selling and signing.
2) I will be reading at the Anson Library on August 18th, 10:30 a.m.-I'll post a reminder closer to the event.
I have to thank Mr. Alton Chewning for his vital role in getting the ball rolling and reaching out to people. Some of you from down home know his family owned a grocery store there and he just happened to be in the audience when I read at Bynum Front Porch up near Carrboro a couple months ago.
Even if you don't want a book (but know my people, perhaps?), come say hello.
July 20 reading with Malaika King Albrecht
I'll be reading with Malaika King Albrecht on Sunday, July 20 from 4-5:30 p.m. I'm grateful to (poet) Cal Nordt for inviting me and for the chance to read with Ms. Albrecht, who I feel like I must've met before now...
Zoom in:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89382608967...
Malaika King Albrecht served as the inaugural Heart of Pamlico Poet Laureate from 2018-2021. She's the author of four poetry books, including most recently The Stumble Fields (Main Street Rag 2020), which was a finalist in the 2021 Eric Hoffer Award. Her book What the Trapeze Artist Trusts (Press 53) won honorable mention in the Oscar Arnold Young Award and was a finalist in 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Her chapbook Lessons in Forgetting (Main Street Rag) was a finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received honorable mention in the Brockman Campbell Award.
An award-winning metal artist, she’s also the founding editor of Redheaded Stepchild, an online magazine that only accepts poems that have been rejected elsewhere. With https://www.redheadedmag.com, Malaika has hosted weekly book launches online since March 2020, and over 150 videos are available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@malaika888).
Zoom in:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89382608967...
Malaika King Albrecht served as the inaugural Heart of Pamlico Poet Laureate from 2018-2021. She's the author of four poetry books, including most recently The Stumble Fields (Main Street Rag 2020), which was a finalist in the 2021 Eric Hoffer Award. Her book What the Trapeze Artist Trusts (Press 53) won honorable mention in the Oscar Arnold Young Award and was a finalist in 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Her chapbook Lessons in Forgetting (Main Street Rag) was a finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received honorable mention in the Brockman Campbell Award.
An award-winning metal artist, she’s also the founding editor of Redheaded Stepchild, an online magazine that only accepts poems that have been rejected elsewhere. With https://www.redheadedmag.com, Malaika has hosted weekly book launches online since March 2020, and over 150 videos are available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@malaika888).
Reading at Anson County Library, August 18, 2025
I'll be reading at the Anson County (NC) Library on August 18 at 10:30 a.m. It's humbling to be reading "down home" after all these years. I'm grateful to Dianne Welch of the library and Alton Chewning, whose family is well known to many of us from the area, for helping to make this happen.
August 18, 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Hampton B. Allen Library
120 S Greene St, Wadesboro, NC 28170
August 18, 2025, 10:30 a.m.
Hampton B. Allen Library
120 S Greene St, Wadesboro, NC 28170
