SPD TODAY: The Small Press Distribution blog

CONGRATULATIONS TO RUSTY MORRISON! Winner of the 2008 James Laughlin Prize for the true keeps calm biding its story published by Ahsahta Press The James Laughlin Award is given by the Acadamy of American Poets to recognize and support a poet's second book. It is the only second-book award for poetry in the United States. Offered since 1954, the award was endowed in 1995 by a gift to the Academy from the Drue Heinz Trust. It is named for the poet and publisher James Laughlin (1914-1997), who founded New Directions in 1936. Judges for the prize this year were poets Rae Armantrout, Claudia Rankine and Bruce Smith. Morrison, whose book received the 2007 Sawtooth Poetry Prize from Ahsahta Press, lives in Richmond, Calif. She receives a $5,000 award from the Academy, which also purchases the book for its members.