This year marks the 30th anniversary of National Poetry Month!
Come celebrate with this free, generative workshop at the Queens Public Library, Broadway branch on Saturday, 4/25, from 2–4 pm inspired by the launch of the Prom Queens: Celebrating Prom Poems & Stories by Queens Writers anthology from Poets of Queens Press.
Open to writers of all levels. RSVP here.
Cover reveal! Check out the amazing artwork by A King McCarty for the forthcoming Prom Queens: Celebrating Prom Poems & Stories by Queens Writers anthology from Poets of Queens Press. Launching May 8!
No, YOU Tell It!, in partnership with Poets of Queens, is proud to announce the forthcoming anthology, Prom Queens: Celebrating Prom Poems & Stories by Queens Writers, coming in the spring of 2026.
Prom Queens team. Photo credit Sachyn Mital.
Sharing stories about going or not going to prom allows us to find commonalities within each other’s unique cultures and identities. This anthology aims to help people, including future prom-goers, celebrate each other’s prom stories instead of feeling pressured to live up to what pop culture has taught us prom is supposed to look like.
What better place to give voice to a diverse range of prom stories than The World’s Borough!
Learn more about the anthology here.
Happy Halloween! Fun preview of our forthcoming Prom Queens: Celebrating Prom Poems & Stories by Queens Writers from Poets of Queens in spring of 2026.
WATCH anthology contributor and artist A. King McCarty perform “Zombie Prom Queen” at Grove 34 as part of our “Prom Queens” Bookend Event.
Follow us (and tell a friend!) @noyoutellit for updates.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The second half of our “Prom Queens” show marks an important No, YOU Tell It! first.
Story coach, social media savant, and forthcoming Prom Queens: Celebrating Prom Poems and Stories by Queens Writers anthology editor, Tim Lindner, took on a new role as storyteller, trading tales with the fabulous Ricki Richards.
Give a listen as story coach Pichchenda Bao gets to know our storytellers before they perform each other’s true prom tale.
Ricki Richards and Tim Lindner. Photo credit Sachyn Mital.
Stories were directed by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons and performed live on September 17, 2025, at Grove 34 in Astoria.
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THIS IS AN OFFICIAL 2025 BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL BOOKEND EVENT.
This project is made possible (in part) with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.
This organization is funded in part by the Howard Gilman Foundation administered by Flushing Town Hall
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Everyone has a story about going (or not going) to prom.
For this special Bookend Event for the 20th Anniversary of the Brooklyn Book Festival, four contributors to the forthcoming Prom Queens: Celebrating Prom Poems & Stories by Queens Writers anthology from Poets of Queens stepped into each other’s prom stories.
Before we hear the first pair, give a listen as story director Erika Iverson gets to know the storytellers a bit better.
Jane Frances and Vegas K Jarrow. Photo credit: Sachyn Mital
Stories were performed live on September 17, 2025, at Grove 34 in Astoria. Full show program here.
***
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL 2025 BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL BOOKEND EVENT.
This project is made possible (in part) with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.
This organization is funded in part by the Howard Gilman Foundation administered by Flushing Town Hall
Save the date for our next show: 9/17. This is going to be a super fun one! Get your tickets here.
Plus, other PROM QUEENS surprises! Save the date and see you in September.
***
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL 2025 BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL BOOKEND EVENT.
This project is made possible (in part) with public funds from the
Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council
and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.
This organization is funded in part by the Howard Gilman Foundation
administered by Flushing Town Hall
