At the intersection of creativity and community building
Jonetta Rose Barras is the kind of writer who inspires, both through her words and through her works. I had the pleasure of interviewing her about the MidnightRose reading series, a project she started in 2024 (or perhaps resurrected, as she organized an earlier incarnation in the 1970s). Jonetta doesn’t work alone—that’s not her style—and while I would say that MidnightRose is her brainchild, it is also the product of many voices coming together to build something special.
Foundation of a community
At last, with his remarkable book No More Worlds to Conquer: The Black Poet in Washington, D.C., Brian Gilmore brings this rich history to life. D.C. native, attorney, and, above all, poet, Brian Gilmore is one of the DMVs most important poets and literary activists.
The nation’s river
One of the best books of 2025, included in our list of holiday book recommendations, is Potomac Fever, a compelling and sweeping history of the river that both connects and divides all of us in the DMV. Written by Maryland author and historian Charlotte Taylor Fryar, this volume delves into the natural and human history of the Potomac, exploring the plant and animal life in and around the river’s banks, as well as the story of racially unequal access to and white privilege in natural spaces.
Celebrating 50 years of works that feel urgent and necessary in this cultural moment
Did you know that the longest continually operating non-profit, cooperative literary organization exists right here in the DMV? Washington Writers’ Publishing House (WWPH) has been publishing poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction by local authors for 50 years. To celebrate this anniversary, WWPH has launched a massive, comprehensive, and timely anthology entitled America’s Future
A dark comedy about the opioid crisis
Edward Belfar’s debut novel casts a scathing spotlight on the destructive, short-sighted greed currently prevailing among so many of the powerful in our county. A Very Innocent Man focuses on those exploiting the opioid addiction crisis, but could apply just as well to many other ongoing manifestations of corruption and cruelty.
Drawn, Papered, and Taught
Trying to stay current and always looking for new ways to get my kids writing and thinking has certainly influenced my own work. Teaching and writing play off each other in interesting and unpredictable ways.
Building community through poetry
Dan Brady wears multiple hats, but all are indicative of his service to poetry. First, he is a poet himself, with three books and numerous journal publications to his credit. His most recent collection, Songs in E––, won the Barclay Prize for Poetry. Second, he is a long-time editor of D.C.-based Barrelhouse magazine. Finally, he is the Literary Specialist for Arlington County Department of Cultural Affairs.