A poet whose work is published by NDSU Press is scheduled to be featured this week on National Public Radio. Denise K. Lajimodiere is part of pilot program called “Read Diverse. Read Indie!” and she will be included in five two-minute segments scheduled before the 5:30 p.m. news through Friday, April 8.

According to NDSU Press editor in chief Suzzanne Kelley, the Independent Book Publishers Association invited NDSU Press to be part of the program being tested to bring attention to independent publishers. The association is a not-for-profit trade association serving the independent publishing community for more than 30 years. NDSU Press is a six-year member of the organization.

Last year, Lajimodiere’s newest collection of poetry, “His Feathers Were Chains,” was selected as the First Place (Gold) prizewinner of IBPA’s prestigious Benjamin Franklin Award in the category for poetry. 

“I am elated to have our author and her work featured on NPR every day for a week, “ said Kelley, who is a past president of the IBPA affiliate member Midwest Independent Publishers Association. “This publicity would cost publishers several thousands of dollars, but as the pilot project, we are the beneficiary of the benefits for free, and the author and I were consulted for ideas about fine-tuning the process.”