Bill Abbott has been involved with Poetry Slam since 1992. In that time, he has been a performance poet, featured poet, emcee, and Slammaster/organizer. He has featured in Boone, NC; Asheville, NC; Johnson City, TN; Chattanooga, TN; Birmingham, AL; Dayton, OH; Columbus, OH; and Atlanta, GA. He is the founder of the current Dayton Poetry Slam and creator/founder of the Rust Belt competitions. In addition, he has hosted the Southern Fried Poetry Slam Festival in 1997 and the Rust Belt Regionals in 2000 and 2001.
Mr. Abbott has previously been published in The Sow's Ear, The Mockingbird (ETSU literary magazine; first place and three honorable mentions, poetry), Failed Seeker (zine), and Monkey (zine). He has self-published seven books of his own poetry, edited and self-published three local or regional books of poetry, was recorded as a member of Team Dayton and as a member of Things You Need To Hear (radio comedy group), been published in two other regional poetry chapbooks, and been published in Java Monkey Speaks Vol II.
Bill Abbott is available for the following:
Press interviews for his book, Let Them Eat MoonPie®.
Press interviews for the history of the Southern Fried Poetry Slam Festival.
Reading his own or other poets' works, focusing on but not limited to Southern poets.
Conducting speeches or workshops on Southern Slam history, how to organize a festival, and other topics.
