On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, poet Jeanne-Marie Osterman met with Americans for the Arts President & CEO Nolen Bivens at the Yale Club in New York City to discuss her recent poetry book, Shellback. During the meeting, Osterman donated royalties from her book to Americans for the Arts to help support the National Initiative for Arts & Health Across the Military.

From Osterman: “As I wrote the poems in Shellback, which deal with my father’s experiences in combat in the South Pacific during World War II, I realized how deeply the war had affected him. I was moved to donate any share of sales I received from the book to a charity that helps Veterans with post-traumatic stress. I was happy to find Americans for the Arts and their programs for Veterans.” 

Americans for the Arts recently published a video about the meeting. Watch it now to learn more and hear an excerpt from the book.

About Shellback
A daughter recalls her relationship with her father, a World War II sailor, in this volume of poetry...Set against the brutal backdrop of war, this is an emotionally perceptive, poignant, and thoughtfully nuanced examination of the father-daughter relationship. —Kirkus starred review

Learn more about Shellback here.

About the National Initiative for Arts & Health Across the Military
The National Initiative for Arts & Health Across the Military advances the arts in health and well-being across the military continuum for service members, Veterans, their families, and caregivers. The goals of the National Initiative are to raise visibility, understanding, and support of arts, health and well-being across the military continuum; advocate for equitable policies, practice, and research in the use of arts and creativity as tools for health and well-being; and make the arts accessible and widely available to all military connected populations, including Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, Veterans, military families, and their caregivers. 

Learn more about the National Initiative here. 

Pictured: Regina Burgher, Jeanne-Marie Osterman, and Nolen Bivens, photo by Angie LMV Photography (https://angielmv.passgallery.com/client)