MARC HARSHMAN

MOUNDSVILLE — The Moundsville-Marshall County Public Library will have a poetry reading event to wrap up National Poetry Month at 6 p.m. Tuesday, when West Virginia Poet Laureate Marc Harshman will share poems from his latest collection, “Following the Silence.”

Appointed in 2012 by then-governor Earl Ray Tomblin, Harshman is the seventh poet laureate of West Virginia and the author of numerous volumes of poetry and children’s books. His 14 nationally acclaimed children’s books include “Fallingwater: The Building of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Masterpiece,” co-authored with Anna Egan Smucker. His collections of poetry include “Woman in Red Anorak,” winner of the Blue Lynx Prize, “Believe What You Can,” winner of the Weatherford Award from the Appalachian Studies Association (WVU Press), “Dark Hills of Home” (Monongahela Books, 2022).

Harshman’s newest volume, “Following the Silence,” was recently released by Press 53 of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Harshman has also just been named the Appalachian Heritage Writer for 2024 by Shepherd University’s Appalachian Studies program. He holds degrees from Bethany College, Yale University Divinity School and the University of Pittsburgh. Marshall County knows him as a former longtime resident and teacher.

A selection of Harshman’s latest and earlier works, including poetry collections and children’s picture books, will be available for sale and signing following the program.

This event is free and open to the public and is aimed at adults and students. Support has been provided by the Robert Baker Family. For more information, call the Moundsville library at 304-845-6911.