#058 - How I Wrote an Award-Winning Poetry Book ft. José Enrique Medina

What's the secret to writing award-winning poetry?

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In this episode of The Poetry Vessel Podcast, Malibu Poet Laureate Emeritus, Nathan Hassall, sits down with award-winning contemporary poet José Enrique Medina to discuss the making of his award-winning poetry chapbook, Haunt Me, published by @RattlePoetry

José shares insights from his 2025 Rattle Chapbook Prize-winning collection, Haunt Me, which was his first poetry book he published at 55 years old. Tune in as we dive deep into the philosophy of writing books versus individual poems, bilingual poetry, the mechanics of grief and humor, and how memory and ghosts shape contemporary verse.

LEARN MORE ABOUT JOSÉ ENRIQUE MEDINA:

- Website: https://medinawrites.com/

- Buy Haunt Me: https://rattle.com/publications/haunt-me/

- Follow José on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medinawrites/

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📌 CHAPTERS:

0:00 Introduction to the Poetry Vessel podcast and guest José Enrique Medina

1:38 - Reading the title poem "Haunt Me"

3:17 - Designing the Cover Art and Imagery for Haunt Me

7:38 - Winning the 2025 Rattle Chapbook Prize

9:55 - The Metaphor of Ghosts and Memory in Contemporary Verse

14:48 - Discussing the new book Man without a Skirt and writing an epic poem

19:38 - Using Humor to Balance Grief and Heavy Subjects in Poetry

25:48 - Reading the poem "My dream name is Sinfalda"

28:19 - Bilingual Writing, Translation, and Built-In Editors

50:54 - Childhood Memories, Private School, and Feeling Like a Phantom

58:15 - Poem Reading "Even Without a Body"

01:01:22 - What Chickens and Poetry Residences Have in Common

01:08:00 - My First Lesson as a Poetry Mentor

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