Lone Star College-CyFair adjunct faculty member earns Perugia Press Prize

Lone Star College-CyFair adjunct professor Amanda Auchter has been awarded the Perugia Press Prize for her book of poetry.

Amanda Auchter has been awarded the Perugia Press Prize for her book of poetry.

Since childhood, writing for Auchter, an adjunct faculty member at Lone Star College-CyFair, has been like breathing. That love of writing has produced several books, including her now award-winning second book of poetry.

"The beauty of poetry is that it's not hard. It's not meant to confuse or trick, and even if you don't understand what it's about, you are still left with an impression, emotion or feeling," said Auchter in a press release. "The goal is for the audience to have a reaction."

Her book "The Wishing Tomb" is a collection of New Orleans-inspired poems -- a love letter to a city and region, said Auchter. The poetry in the book focuses on transcendence and coming through the worst the world gives.

"We're delighted to see Amanda receive this prestigious award, but we're not surprised to see this strong new voice in the poetry world receive well-deserved recognition," said Michelle Brown, LSC-CyFair English professor, in the release.

Auchter said the honor is wonderful because the Perugia Press is an award-winning press by women for women, but the timing of it all is a bit overwhelming, too.

Her first book of poetry, "The Glass Crib," won her the 2010 Zone 3 Press First Book Award and was published last September. "The Wishing Tomb" has also been nominated for the James Laughlin Award and will be published this September. Auchter will also travel the country with a 10-reading mini book tour, work on her third book and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the independent journal Pebble Lake Review, of which she is founding editor.

Auchter is in her fourth year as an adjunct faculty member teaching creative writing at LSC-CyFair.

"I like learning new things and telling people about them," said Auchter. "I have fun with my classes, and I get really excited at the end of the semester when things start to click in my students' head. It's a process I enjoy."

For information on the Perugia Press Prize, visit perugiapress.com. For information on LSC-CyFair, go to www.lonestar.edu.