Feats of Alchemy – Summary

Feats of Alchemy – Cover art and back cover contents.

In his sophomore collection of poems, Donny Winter takes readers on a perilous adventure through a futuristic and dystopian world. His experimental free verse poems use science fiction, natural, and pop cultural images to metaphorically illustrate his experiences as a gay man navigating the different obstacles society presents after coming out. These poems create a cyberpunk inspired, symbolic world centered around the cyborg, Solus Arcane, who seeks to understand their existence free of oppressive forces and strives to unlearn the programming given to them by their oppressive creator. Together, our bodies are welded and soldered by the forces of those seeking to silence, erase, or oppress. Feats of Alchemy acts as a circuit board connecting us with pathways toward a self-sovereignty beyond artifice. 

Feats of Alchemy – Out Oct. 22 – Alien Buddha Press

“Feats of Alchemy” – Cover Art Reveal

I’m excited to reveal the cover art of my upcoming, second collection of poems, Feats of Alchemy. This collection will be released by Alien Buddha Press on Friday, October 22, 2021. Special thank you to my artist and dear friend, Seth Stang, for creating this wonderful piece. Stay tuned for more news!

Feats of Alchemy, poems, by Donny Winter

“The Earth’s Still Breathing,” an Upcoming Poetry Reading

I am excited to announce that the Friends of Roethke foundation has invited me to perform selections from my poem collection, Carbon Footprint, during a weekend-long celebration of the Theodore Roethke House/Museum’s re-opening in Saginaw, MI. It’s an honor to be featured as the first night’s reader considering Roethke has been a significant inspiration in my own work. Additionally, this marks my first live (in person) poetry reading ever. This event is outside and on Thursday, August 12 at 8:00 p.m.

The Earth’s Still Breathing, a poetry reading featuring Donny Winter

Poetry Reading (with Donny Winter)

Special thank you to Pages Promotions LLC for facilitating a poetry reading June 8, 2021 featuring performed selections from my book, Carbon Footprint. Considering it is Pride Month, it was an incredible opportunity reading some of my poems themed around the LGBTQ+ experience. If you are interested in watching the reading, access it through the video link below. Thank you for all the support!

Watch the reading here.

Celebrating Arbor Day – A Virtual Poetry Reading

Celebrating Arbor Day – A Live Poetry Reading from Carbon Footprint

Tune in on April 30, 2021 from 7:00 – 7:45 p.m. on my poetry YouTube channel. I’ll be reading selections from my book of poems, Carbon Footprint, to celebrate Arbor Day. All my personal royalties made throughout the month of April from people purchasing the book will be donated to the Arbor Day Foundation, which is an international tree conservation non-profit. Happy National Poetry Month and let’s help keep this planet green with poetry.

The reading will be held at this live stream link:

5 Poems Published on Lothlorien Poetry Journal

I’m happy to announce that 5 of my poems were accepted and published on Lothlorien Poetry Journal. You can read my pieces here.

One of the main things which elates me about this is that Lothlorien Poetry Journal is a Tolkien-inspired literary journal. As many know, I’m a huge Tolkien fan, so I was eager to submit some of my Tolkien-inspired poems. In fact, my poem “Mordor Heights”, which not only is in my book Carbon Footprint, but has been a popular request at live readings, is one of those accepted by this journal.

Regarding my poems “Mabon Mists”, “Post-Industrial Entmoot”, “Tightrope”, and “Aubade at Moonset”, these will be featured in my upcoming second collection Feats of Alchemy.

“The Alien Buddha Skips the Party” Anthology is Out!

As I work on my next poem collection, Feats of Alchemy, I’ve had some exciting opportunities to do some guest editing work. This past month, I facilitated and edited The Alien Buddha Skips the Party by Alien Buddha Press. The anthology is comprised of poetry, fiction, and art themed around introversion. Here is the official summary:

“The Alien Buddha Skips the Party celebrates the work of poets, fiction writers, and artists who have felt the solace, pressure, and quiet of introversion. Sometimes the silent people at the party have the most to say. Sometimes the person lingering at the buffet table, with no idea how to engage, observes dynamics others seldom recognize. Sometimes the least confident person afraid of speaking in the crowded room is a kaleidoscope of influence waiting for their moment to be heard. This anthology celebrates the power of introversion because a party needn’t always have to be loud. Sometimes sitting at home on the couch is the only party necessary.”

The front & back cover of The Alien Buddha Skips the Party.

Feats of Alchemy – Out Fall 2021

I am happy to announce that my second full-length collection of poems, Feats of Alchemy, will be released by Alien Buddha Press in the Fall. We don’t have a specific date penned down yet, but it’s happening! In the meantime, check out my first collection, Carbon Footprint!

If you’re interested in learning more about my upcoming collection, check out this interview segment from my “Unpacking ‘Carbon Footprint'” series:

Unpacking “Carbon Footprint” – Donny Winter Announces “Feats of Alchemy.”