{"product_id":"hold-what-makes-you-whole-9781734673722","title":"Hold What Makes You Whole","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRest like the sun does: \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSchedule some time\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eto stay out of sight\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ewhen too many people\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003epraise warm energy ...\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE BOOK.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePoet Laureate \u003cstrong\u003eMarcus Amaker\u003c\/strong\u003e's (he\/him) tenth book, \u003cem\u003eHold What Makes You Whole\u003c\/em\u003e, is a pocket-sized full-color collection of new and selected works from an award-winning opera librettist, musician, and graphic designer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHold What Makes You Whole\u003c\/em\u003e is a 200-page compilation of jazz, Blackness, self care, fatherhood, Star Wars, social justice, music, and memory. Along with the audiobook and e-book, the \u003cem\u003eHold\u003c\/em\u003e project also features short films, two full-length albums, and an interactive website.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the cover of the book is Amaker's great-great aunt Ruth Robinson, a poet and community leader who published her first book at the age of 65. Robinson passed in 2020 when she was 94 years old.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \"It's an honor to introduce you to her Spirit,\" Amaker said.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE AUTHOR.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarcus Amaker is a husband, a dad, a son, a music nerd, and a \u003cem\u003eStar Wars\u003c\/em\u003e obsessive. He served as the first Poet Laureate of Charleston, South Carolina, from 2016-22. In 2021, he became an Academy of American Poets fellow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis work has been recognized by \u003cem\u003eThe Washington Post\u003c\/em\u003e, The Kennedy Center, \u003cem\u003e American Poets Magazine\u003c\/em\u003e, Chicago Opera Theater, The Portland Opera, Button Poetry, NPR, \u003cem\u003eThe Chicago Tribune\u003c\/em\u003e, Edutopia, \u003cem\u003eTown \u0026amp; Country\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e PBS NewsHour\u003c\/em\u003e, South Carolina Public Radio, \u003cem\u003eCharleston Magazine\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCharleston City Paper, Post and Courier\u003c\/em\u003e, and more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe's also a prolific performer, the award-winning graphic designer, a musician, an opera librettist, the creator of a poetry festival, a teaching artist, and an advocate for youth poets. His poetry was used by the Washington National Opera for its Presidential Inauguration Day Concert in 2021.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn addition to more than 40 independent electronic music albums, Marcus' poem \"The Rain\" is on two Grammy-nominated records. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe lives in North Charleston, SC, with his wife, their daughter, and a cat named after Wu-Tang Clan.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Free Verse Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50697555181842,"sku":"9781734673722","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_be70610a-632d-4432-8ffd-b9009881eafb.jpg?v=1734304655","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/hold-what-makes-you-whole-9781734673722","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}