Graywolf editor: Variety key to poetry winning streak

Graywolf Press has had two books win Pulitzers.
Graywolf Press has had two books win Pulitzer Prizes in the last three years: 3 Sections by Vijay Seshadri won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for poetry and Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
Jeff Jones / MPR News

Graywolf Press only puts out about 30 books a year, but is racking up an impressive list of awards for the work it publishes -- especially poetry.

Just this week, poet Vijay Seshadri won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry with his collection "3 Sections."

Last year, poet Mary Szybist won a National Book Award for "Incarnadine." And in 2012, Tracy K. Smith won the Pulitzer for "Life on Mars."

Executive Editor Jeffrey Shotts has had a hand in all of these works. He selects many of Graywolf's poetry collections, and rejects many more. Jeffrey Shotts joined Tom Crann to talk about how he spots prize-worthy poets. Click the audio player above to hear the conversation.

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