Mike has been hanging around the poetry scene of Portsmouth and the Seacoast for over twenty years. He’s been participating in Beat Night, for 20 of its 25 years and hosting it for the last 10. Mike was 11th Poet Laureate of Portsmouth from April 2017 to April 2019 during which time he produced the first four issues of Good Fat Poetry Zine. Mike was Chair of the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program from 2022 to 2024 where he helped produce two more books for two other laureates: Poetry as a Bridge to Japan and Bread and Poetry Anthology. Mike was also on the board of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire for two years as the Editor-in-Chief of their Touchstone poetry journal putting out Issue 65.1 and The Charles Simic Tribute.
Mike started Bee Monk Press as a way to publish his own work, but over the years has published others authors and it slowly became a real business. Mike is also the founder of Hive Poetry Project and Space Bee Studio
Purchase Divorced Dad’s Laundromat in paperback and hardcover and Kindle on Amazon
Divorced Dad’s Laundromat is Mike’s first new book in ten years. His last book, Another Forty Years, touched on divorce, but this new 196 page volume starts there and takes you through the next fourteen years of his life, fumbling his way through single fatherhood, the dramatic rom-com of midlife dating, and love’s unexpected sequel. The book also takes a trip back in time to revisit Mike’s childhood and other hazardous things.
Click to read the title poem from the book
Listen to 18 poems from the book put to music by David Tonkin of The Beat Night Band for free on Soundcloud.
Purchase Another Forty Years in paperback on Amazon
Another Forty Years is Mike’s third collection of poetry published in 2014 covering the initial stages of divorce and dating and other midlife musings.
Click to read the title poem from the book
Listen to the album recorded for this book with the Beat Night Band on Soundcloud for free
Purchase Sometimes at Night on Amazon
Mike’s second book Sometimes at Night published in 2007. A collection made from poems written after he started attending monthly readings all over the seacoast earlier in the 2000’s. The feedback Mike received from the audience and the many poetic individuals he was becoming friends with became invaluable and changed Mike’s approach to poetry all together.
Click to read the title poem from the book
Purchase Gina the Bee on Amazon
Gina is a bee that’s been through a lot, but with the help of some new friends, she confronts her fears and learns some valuable lessons about trusting herself and listening to her heart. And she learns that family is so much more than she ever knew.
This is Mike’s first children’s book. The paintings and story took three years to complete and he’s excited to finally share it with everyone!
Check out Mikes Tarot Deck of the major arcana with Poetry at Space Bee Studio.