FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: April 10, 2003

Contact: Nancy Genevieve Perkins, 206-6595

UIS faculty member to read original works for National Poetry Month

SPRINGFIELD – Nancy Genevieve Perkins, assistant professor of English at the University of Illinois at Springfield, will read from her original poetry at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, in the Carnegie Room at Lincoln Library’s main branch, 326 S. Seventh Street, Springfield. The program is part of activities in observance of National Poetry Month and is free and open to the public.

Better known locally as educator Nancy Perkins than as poet Nancy Genevieve, she is the author of two books of poetry -- NYX: Mother of Light (published in 2001) and NYX: Daughter of Chaos (published in 2002). The third part of the trilogy, NYX: Sister of Erebus, is forthcoming. The NYX trilogy is named for a goddess in Greek creation mythology who was the personification of Night. Each of the three books focuses on one of the many aspects of that character.

In addition to completing her third book of poetry, Perkins is currently working on a historical monograph on the first settlers of Woodford County, Illinois, as well as several children’s books. She has published poetry and fiction in numerous literary journals and last year one of her stories, “Grad. Ass.,” was nominated for an Illinois Arts Council Award.

Inaugurated 1996, National Poetry Month brings publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools, and poets from around the country together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture.

For more information, contact Perkins at 206-6595 or Lincoln Library at 753-4900.

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