Linda Opyr was the Nassau County Poet Laureate 2011-13.
She is the author of eight collections of poetry. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies, journals, magazines and newspapers, including The Hudson Review, Poetry Ireland Review, Crannog, Antiphon, The Atlanta Review, The Paterson Literary Review, and The New York Times.
The poet holds a Doctor of Arts degree in English and American Literature from St. John's University, as well as a M. Ed. in Guidance and Psychological Services and a B.S. in Sociology and Psychology from Springfield College.
Linda was a featured poet in the Bailieborough Poetry Festival in Ireland in October of 2017.
Linda facilitates workshops for local libraries, as listed in the Events section of this site.
RECENT PUBLICATION INFORMATION
Where The Eye Wants Coast, Linda's eighth collection of poetry, was published March of 2020 by Writers Ink Press. Copies are available from the publisher for $15; inquiries may be made to this website. Copies are also available at Linda's readings and workshops.
The Hudson Review featured two of Linda's poems in its Summer 2019 issue.
The Seventh Quarry, a literary journal which is published in Wales and edited by award-winning poet Peter Thabit Jones, featured four of Linda's poems in its two issues in 2019.
Antiphon, a web-based literary journal from the UK, featured a poem by Linda is its February 2019 issue.
Tales From The Forest, a web-based literary journal from Ireland, featured Linda's poem "In Noonday Sun" in its November 2019 issue.
Antiphon, a web-based literary journal from the UK, featured Linda's poem entitled "The Empty Well Of Autumn" in Issue Twenty-Three, published in September 2018: http://antiphon.org.uk . You can both find the poem in print and her Linda read it.
Issue #125 of Poetry Ireland Review (Summer 2018), edited by the acclaimed poet Eavan Boland, contains Linda's poem entitled "Where The Eye Wants Coast." This poem was written in Ireland in October of 2017 upon conclusion of the Bailieborough Poetry Festival. Linda was a featured international poet at the Festival.
Crannog magazine, based in Galway, Ireland, published Linda's poem "The Space Between Us" in its Summer 2017 issue (#45).
A review of The Ragged Cedar by George Wallace appeared in Great Weather for Media at www.greatweatherformedia.com .
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Where The Eye Wants Coast, Linda's eighth collection of poetry was published in March of 2020 by Writers Ink Press. Copies are available from the publisher for $15; inquiries may be made to this website. Copies are also available at Linda's readings and workshops.
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
On September 21, 2019 Linda read the poem she was commissioned to write for the 50th Anniversary of Clark Botanic Garden in Nassau County. The poem commemorates the dedication of the new Moonlight Garden within Clark Garden. The poem was read at both the dedication ceremony and evening gala which followed.
The Hudson Review featured two poems by Linda in its Summer 2019 issue.
Antiphon, a web-based literary journal from the UK, featured a poem and its reading, "Grey Clouds," in its February 2019 issue.
Antiphon, a web-based literary journal from the UK, featured a poem by Linda with a recording of her reading that poem ("The Empty Well Of Autumn") in the September 2018 publication (Issue Twenty-Three).
The Seventh Quarry, a literary journal which is pubished in Wales and edited by award-winning poet Peter Thabit Jones, featured four of Linda's poems in 2019.
The fall issue of Poetry Ireland Review, #125, edited by the acclaimed poet Eavan Boland, contained Linda's poem entitled "Where The Eye Wants Coast." This poem was written in Ireland in October of 2017 upon conclusion of the Bailieborough Poetry Festival. Linda was a featured international poet at the Festival.
Linda was a featured poet in the Bailieborough Poetry Festival in Ireland in October of 2017.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
2021
Linda will be a featured in the poetry series hosted by poet Doreen Spungin at Sip This in Valley Stream, Long Island. Date TBA.
2020
Featured poet in the Oceanside Summer Gazebo Reading Series. RESCHEDULED as a Zoom event on August 31, 2020.
From May 14-17, Linda will be workship leader and featured poet at the NEYWC (New England Young Writers Conference) held at Bread Loaf in Ripton, Vermont. Linda has served in this capacity previously a number of times in the past twenty-five years. MOVED TO MAY 2021.
On April 11th, Linda will be a featured reader at All Soul's Church in Stony Brook, Long Island. RESCHEDULED as a Zoom reaing on June 13, 2020.
On March 29th, Linda will host a National Poetry Month Kickoff Open Mic at Clark Botanic Garden in Alberson, Long Island. The event is open to the public, with information about donations available on the venue's website. Poets should bring 4 - 8 poems to share. TO BE RESCHEDULED.
2019
Featured reader of the commissioned poem for the 50th Anniversary of Clark Botanic Garden and the dedication of its new Moonlight Garden (at both the dedication ceremony and evening gala)
Featured poet in the Oceanside Summer Gazebo Reading Series.
Featured poet at the acclamation ceremony for the new Nassau County Poet Laureate, Evelyn Kandel in June.
Host of the Annual National Poetry Month Celebration at Clark Garden.
2018
Featured poet sponsored by the Long Island Writers Guild at the Book Revue.
Featured poet n the Oceanside Summer Gazebo Reading Series.
Reader in the open portion of the reading given by Jen Rosoff and Barbara Southard in theLive Poets Series at Stony Brook.
Hosted of the National Poetry Month 2018 Celebration at Clark Botanic Garden.
Facilitator of a poetry workshop for the Hillside Public Library.
2017
Featured poet in the Bailieborough Poetry Festival, Ireland.
Featured poet in the Oceanside Summer Gazebo Reading Series.
Host of the Annual National Poetry Month Celebration at Clark Garden.
Featured poet at Book Day at the Shulamith School for Girls.
2016
Featured poet in the Oceanside Summer Gazebo Reading Series.
Keynote speaker/poet at the Writing Festival, the Bellmore-Merrick School District.
Host of the National Poetry Month Kickoff Celebration at Clark Botanic Garden.
2015
Featured poet in the Oceanside Summer Gazebo Reading Series.
Workshop leader or teenage students and local teachers for the National Writing Project atNassau Community College.
Hosted of the National Poetry Month Kickoff Celebration at Clark Botanic Garden.
2014
Featured speaker at a luncheon of the American Association of University Women's NorthShore, Long Island, Chapter.
Judge for a poetry contest sponsored by the Huntington Cultural Affairs Association.
Designer of a writing contest for the National Historic Site at Sagamore Hill.
Host of the National Poetry Month Kickoff Celebration at Clark Botanic Garden.
2013
Facilitator of a Spirituality in Nature poetry workshop at the Emma Clark Library in Setauket.
Featured speaker in a Tribute to Seamus Heaney at the Irish Cultural Society in Garden City.
Workshop leader at Sagamore Hill for fifteen poets.
Staff development workshop leader to teachers in Valley Stream USFD 13.
Keynote speaker and workshop leader at the New England Young Writers Conference at Bread Loaf, Vermont.
Featured speaker at National Park Week, honoring the children's writing contest winners at Sagamore Hill. Organizer and judge of the contest.
Host of the Super Storm Sandy poetry benefit for Clark Botanic Garden in Albertson.
Featured speaker at the Awards Ceremony for the Second Annual Poetry Contest sponsoredby the Nassau County Poet Laureate Society, Inc., Farmingdale
2012
Featured reader in the first "Birth of Royalty" series in Elmont.
Keynote speaker and workshop leader at the annual NYSEC (New York State English Council) conference in Albany.
Workshop leader at the Schiff Scout Reservation, Wading River, for the Nassau County Cub Scouts for Nassau County Cub Scouts.
Featured poet at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the designation of Sagamore Hill as a National Historic Site. Commissioned to write and present a commemorative poem. Attendees received a signed and numbered copy of the poem
Workshop leader and reader at the Nassau Council of Girl Scouts Summer Fun Day Camp at Wantagh Park.
Featured poet at the PTA Poetry Celebration in the Port Jefferson School District.
Featured reader and workshop leader at the New England Young Writers Conference at Bread Loaf, Vermont.
Workshop facilitator on "Creating a Strong Voice" and "The Final Lines" at the Long island Poetry Archival Center in Patchogue.
Contest judge and featured speaker at the awards presentation for the Nassau County Poet Laureate Society's first poetry contest.
Featured poet at the H. Frank Carey High School Annual Poetry Coffeehouse.
Featured poet at the Jericho School District.
Reader at the historic "Luck of the Laureates" reading at the Mid-Island - JCC with other Poet Laureates from Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
2011
Featured poet at Advanced Placement Literature and Composition classes at Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park
Featured Poet with Ed Stever, Suffolk County Poet Laureate,
at the L.I. Poetry Archives, Patchogue
Featured Poet at the Hampton Bays Library, Hampton Bays
Featured Faculty Workshop Leader at Valley Stream North High School
Featured Poet at the Locust Valley Library, Locust Valley
Featured Poet at the Graphic Eye Gallery, Port Washington
Featured Poet and Host of the Poetry Celebration within the
"Christmas with the Roosevelts" annual event at Sagamore
Hill, Oyster Bay
Visiting Poet at Portsmouth Regional High School, Rhode Island
Featured Poet in the Mid-Island Y JCC Poetry Series, Plainview
Poet Laureate Ceremony in which Linda was acclaimed Poet Laureate
Featured Poet at the Sachem Public Library, Selden
Featured Poet at the Wyld Chyld Cafe, Merrick
Workshop Leader at the Boy Scout camp at the Schiff Scout Reservation,
Wading River
Featured Poet in the Oceanside Gazebo Series
Featured Poet at Page One, Glen Cove
Paumanok Poet at the Fringe Festival, C.W. Post Campus
Reader at the Toward Forgiveness Celebration, Molloy College
Featured Poet at Canio's Bookstore, Sag Harbor
Featured Poet at the Hillside Library, New Hyde Park
Featured Poet at the Writer's Guild Reading, The Book Revue, Huntington
Workshop Leader at the L.I. Poetry Archives, Patchogue
"Strong Images, Strong Poem" / "The Poet as Editor"
Copyright 2011 Linda Opyr . All rights reserved.