Teresa K. Miller discusses “Borderline Fortune,” which won her the National Poetry Series, when she was about ready to give up on herself.

Atsuro Riley says he wrote “Heard-Hoard” with a kind of pacing he could feel in his body.

Jackie Kay’s “Bessie Smith: A Poet's Biography of a Blues Legend” is a terrific mixture of memoir and biography.

Jackie Kay’s “Bessie Smith: A Poet's Biography of a Blues Legend” is a terrific mixture of memoir and biography.

Rita Dove’s new book of poetry, “Playlist for the Apocalypse,” goes in many different historical and personal directions.

Rita Dove’s new book of poetry, “Playlist for the Apocalypse,” goes in many different historical and personal directions.

Rabih Alameddine speaks about being in love with the characters in his new novel, “The Wrong End of the Telescope."

Rabih Alameddine speaks about being in love with the characters in his new novel, “The Wrong End of the Telescope."

“Martita, I Remember You/Martita, te recuerdo” is a bilingual new book by Sandra Cisneros.

“Martita, I Remember You/Martita, te recuerdo” is a bilingual new book by Sandra Cisneros.