Michele McDannold
Author's posts
Jan 10
Richard Modiano reviews A MATTER OF TASTE: POEMS OF HUNGER AND THIRST by Deborah Ketai
first published at IN CONVERSATION by The Literary Underground A Matter of Taste: Poems of Hunger and Thirst by Deborah Ketai Citizens for Decent Literature Press 2026, Winner of the Brian Fugett Memorial Prize Deborah Ketai’s A Matter of Taste is a collection obsessed—in the most productive sense—with appetite: for food, for sex, for meaning, for language, for …
Jan 09
Now Available — A Matter of Taste: Poems of Hunger and Thirst by Deborah Ketai
NOW AVAILABLE! The Winner of the Brian Fugett Memorial Prize, A MATTER OF TASTE: Poems of Hunger and Thirst by Deborah Ketai is now available for purchase at https://www.amazon.com/Matter-Taste-Poems-Hunger-Thirst/dp/B0G7H4XSHF Edited by Michele McDannold & Aleathia Drehmer, Published by Citizens for Decent Literature Press. The Brian Fugett Memorial Prize is awarded to work that embodies the …
Nov 19
the 1st Annual Brian Fugett Memorial Prize Winner
This year, “A Matter of Taste: Poems of Hunger and Thirst” by Deborah Ketai was chosen as the winning manuscript. This will be Deborah’s first ever published collection at the age of 72. Thank you again to all the entrants for participating this year. Deborah Ketai (she/her) writes from the intersection of bipolarity, bisexuality, and …
Oct 03
2025 shortlist
Citizens for Decent Literature Press is happy to announce the shortlist for the Brian Fugett Memorial Prize. Sincere thanks to all the entrants. The winner of the contest will be announced on November 8, 2025 at the Underground Lit Fest in Toledo, Ohio. Top 6: Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal, Westley Heine, Deborah Ketai, Len Kuntz, Zak …
Jul 22
Cover reveal & pre-order link
Compiled after Brian Fugett’s sudden passing, this collection casts his work in a new light—read as both legacy and insight into his life and perspective. Fugett’s poems often spring from everyday observations, revealing the strange, uncomfortable, and darkly humorous sides of human behavior and social interactions. This is evident in pieces like “Saturday Morning Cartoons,” …
May 25
In Memoriam
Citizens for Decent Literature Press is honored to announce the forthcoming publication of a powerful new collection of poetry by our dearly missed friend, Brian Fugett. Spanning work from the late 1980s through 2024, this posthumous collection gathers over 150 poems that reflect the breadth of Fugett’s voice and vision. Edited by Aleathia Drehmer and …
May 20
The Brian Fugett Memorial Prize Opens for Submissions September 1
In honor of the late editor, poet, and publisher Brian W. Fugett, The Literary Underground is proud to announce the launch of the Brian Fugett Memorial Prize, an annual award recognizing an outstanding poetry chapbook manuscript. Best known for his irreverent voice and unwavering support for indie lit, Fugett was a driving force behind many …
