Cameron Awkward-Rich will present his new poetry collection An Optimism at Odyssey Bookshop on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 7 PM. The event invites readers to explore themes of identity, resilience, and creativity through Awkward-Rich’s deeply reflective poems.
An Optimism centers on the experience of finding oneself and choosing to live fully in a complex world. Through letters to poet-activist Pauli Murray and reflections inspired by writers such as Audre Lorde, Lucille Clifton, and June Jordan, the collection examines survival, connection, and hope.
Awkward-Rich is an award-winning poet and scholar, currently an Associate Professor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
For details, visit odysseybks.com or contact the shop at (413) 534-7307.
