Three New Books by Carol Purington

The family of Carol Purington is very happy to announce three new books by Carol. As many of you know, Carol passed away on December 8, 2020, with family by her side in the room where she lived on Woodslawn Farm in Colrain, Massachusetts. 

Carol had several projects near completion and in late November 2020 she asked her family to finish and share her unpublished books. Carol had completed the writing and order of poetry and covers had been designed. Her family completed the formatting and proofreading and added photographs. We think Carol would be pleased with these books.

As a tribute to Carol, we present:

Emerald Flash - A collection of tanka - 129 poems in 15 sequences. Paperback, 91 pages, black & white illustration, 5 1/2” x 8 1/2”.

A Drift of Birdsong - A collection of 394 haiku with a beautiful cover designed by Frances Kidder. Carol worked on this book for many years as a collection of haiku to be illustrated by black and white photographs of birds. As she selected poems and pictures, the direction of the book changed and became Farm Song, which Carol released in mid-2020. Several of Carol's friends suggested that the original Birdsong should be completed as a collection of haiku without the family emphasis. Family photos were removed, the order of some haiku changed to better reflect the seasons, and color photographs of birds were added. Paperback, 171 pages, color photographs, 5 1/2” x 8 1/2”.

In His Presence - a collection of 27 of Carol’s poems - Psalms, Hymns, Christmas Carols, and Spiritual Songs. Paperback, 41 pages, no illustrations or photographs, 5 1/2” x 8 1/2”.

If you are interested in ordering any of the books, see information below.

Prices include shipping/postage costs.
Emerald Flash - $16
A Drift of Birdsong - $16
In His Presence - $8
Farm Song - $28

Contact
Nancy Purington
nanpur33@gmail.com

Checks payable to
Nancy Purington
PO Box 2233
Palm City, FL 34991

Farm Song on the Touchstone Distinguished Book Awards Shortlist for 2020

Carol Purington’s Farm Song is a finalist for the Touchstone Distinguished Book Awards. The Haiku Foundation will announce the final awards on April 17, 2021. [Update April 17, 2021- winners announced: https://thehaikufoundation.org/touchstone-distinguished-books-awards-for-2020/]

“The Haiku Foundation is pleased to announce The Touchstone Distinguished Book Awards Shortlist for books of haiku and related forms published in 2020. The nominees’ work represents a rich variety of English-speaking books from many nations and haiku traditions. Our five panel members read each of the seventy-two books in the first round, and after careful deliberation chose seventeen books for the Shortlist. In the second round the panel members will review the Shortlist and determine which books will receive the highest level of recognition of Awarded and Honorable Mention.”

Read more about the 2020 Touchstone Awards and see the shortlist qualifiers on the Haiku Foundation website: https://thehaikufoundation.org/the-haiku-foundation-announces-its-touchstone-distinguished-books-award-short-list-for-2020/

Farm Song may be purchased by contacting Carol’s sister Nancy at nanpur33@gmail.com. The price is $28.00, including USPS Media Mail shipping.

Farm Song is a 191 page hardcover book, with many color and black and white photos. From Carol’s notes on the back cover:

About This Book - This book began as a collection of haiku written since Family Farm was published in 1999. The original version included a dozen black-and-white photos taken on Woodslawn Farm by family members. But as the project loitered on my computer, it changed, almost metamorphosed. 

I encountered fabulous color photos, taken elsewhere by relatives and friends, and many were irresistible, in subject and color. The guidelines for photos broadened to include anything that might have appeared on the farm or been shared by someone connected to the farm. The organizing theme shaded from birds to family and place. The title morphed from Birdsong to Farm Song. The book became a family album of haiku illuminated by Technicolor!