Fiction

“Steve Shell is an old-school, truth-teller of a poet. In Circles of Salt, he plows through a world of killers and saints, school teachers and coal miners, Appalachian mountains and small fires. These are tough poems, completely unafraid to take on the big questions of privilege and violence. At every turn, this poet grapples with what it means to be alive in this world, this country, this moment right now. He takes the world we know and gives it back in the form of these dogwood trees twisting in the forest, misplaced hearts tucked under the bed, gospels hymn shouted over the river for all to hear.” —Matthew Olzmann, author of Mezzanines Steve Shell is a teacher and poet from Asheville, NC. Steve currently serves as the executive director and host of Poetry Slam Asheville as well as the Artistic Director for Homeword Youth Slam in Asheville, North Carolina.