Poet Laureate

Howey-in-the-Hills' very own Jim Steele chosen as the new Lake County Poet Laureate

The Lake County Library System selected the newest Lake County Poet Laureate, Jim Steele. As the chosen poet laureate, Steele will host poetry readings for children, teens, and adults, and direct poetry workshops. He will also write a minimum of one poem specifically about Lake County.

"We're all poets,” said Jim Steele, Lake County Poet Laureate. “As Poet Laureate, my goal is to help awaken the poet that sleeps within us all.”

Steele is a retired government employee and has been writing poetry since college. His work appears in many publications and literary journals. In addition, he has authored six books of poetry and although he has won various poetry contests, his primary focus is to promote poetry, especially through social media.  A longtime advocate of new authors, his efforts have resulted in more than a dozen new books from previously unpublished authors. He recently initiated the publication of a second anthology of children’s authors in his town. His seventh book of poetry, Nightstand Notes, will be published in December 2022. Mr. Steele current serves as chair of the Howey-in-the-Hills Library Board and the Howey-in-the-Hills Parks & Recreation Board.

A county-wide search for a local, experienced poet to serve as Lake County Poet Laureate launched in April. A panel consisting of Lake County Library System employees and the first Lake County Poet Laureate who served from 2018-2020, Laura Sobbott Ross, chose Steele for this two-year volunteer position to help promote poetry in the community. 

For more information about the Lake County Library System or to find out about future programs and resources, call or visit your local library, or go to http://mylakelibrary.org, www.facebook.com/LakeCountyFLLibrary or https://twitter.com/lakelibrary.

For more information about the Howey-in-the-Hills Library, the Marianne Beck Memorial Library, please visit https://www.howey.org/library