Marcel Fable Price: New American Monarch
Kalamazoo Public Library presents Writers Block, a forum where independently published local writers can tell the world about their work. This edition features Marcel Fable Price, author of New American Monarch.
About the Book: In New American Monarch, Marcel Fable Price weaves a compelling tapestry of poetry, prose, and stories that chart an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, resilience, and transformation. This deeply personal collection, years in the making, captures the essence of change with the precision and beauty of a monarch butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Marcel, a celebrated Michigan poet and former Grand Rapids Poet Laureate, delves into the complexities of identity and growth, reflecting on his experiences growing up in Kalamazoo. His words resonate with raw emotion and vivid imagery, drawing readers into a world where adversity and triumph coexist, celebrating the human spirit’s capacity for renewal. “New American Monarch” is not just a book; it’s an experience. Each piece is a stained-glass window into the author’s soul, offering perspectives on themes like grief, gentrification, and becoming unapologetic. The collection’s strength lies in its ability to connect with readers from all walks of life, inviting them to find pieces of their own stories within its pages. The collection includes an audio component with each piece meticulously mixed and mastered by talented local Michigan artists, bringing Marcel’s oratory brilliance to the forefront and enhancing the reader’s engagement. New American Monarch is a testament to the transformative power of art and the enduring strength of the human spirit. It challenges us to confront our past, embrace our present, and strive for personal evolution. This must-read celebrates the release of Marcel Fable Price’s first full-length collection—a body of work that promises to leave an indelible mark on the literary world and beyond.
About the Author: Marcel Fable Price is a multi-hyphenate, self-directed, intuitive creative whose primary medium resides somewhere between oratory expression and creative writing. Fable is the 2016 recipient of a Community Advocate Award, 2017 40 Under 40 Honoree, was the 2017-2020 Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, MI, a 2020 Grand Rapids area Black Businesses “Black Bottom Community Builder” Award winner, 2021 Michigan Humanities Impact Partner of the Year, 2022 Newsmaker of the Year, and was given the “Imagination Award” by the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology in 2023. Fable was the youngest, first person without a college degree, and the first person of color to hold the title of Poet Laureate in Grand Rapids, MI. His work is a kaleidoscope of personal experiences, crafted into stained glass examples of transformation intended to connect with readers in a painstakingly beautiful way, regardless of their own lived experience. Fable truly believes that the mortar to our humanity is shared experience, and without intentionally searching for ways to connect, our individual gospels will only remain surface hymns. His work has previously been used by PBS, The Frey Foundation, Mental Health America, and Habitat for Humanity. He has graced the cover of Grand Rapids Magazine, and his poems have appeared in The Missouri Review, Button Poetry, and Write About Now. He has also been a “Month Main Stage” Storyteller, and his poems have been used for the inauguration of state representatives and even a Senate Majority Leader. Marcel’s first full-length collection New American Monarch is available for pre-order and releases to the public in October 2024. This work promises to be a transformative experience, blending poetry, prose, and stories in a way that reflects his unique creative vision.
Recorded 08/09/2024
Categories: Writers’ Block: Local Authors