Youth's Joyful Noise by Robert Cooperman

Five-Two alum Bob Cooperman tells me his latest Kelsay Books release, Youth's Joyful Noise, is a "last love letter to The Grateful Dead."

Some Site News

Though I had drastically cut back using Twitter the past five months, it still appealed to promote The Five-Two and my other projects to a larger audience than similar social networks—until the recent news that its algorithm makes a secret list of VIPs more visible than everyone else. With that I deactivated my Twitter account.

Now I do promo on my Mastodon account. Of course, you can also keep up with The Five-Two by visiting regularly, and you can contact me with the form in the sidebar.

I also want to mention I received a notice from Blogger last Monday that a Five-Two post was placed behind a sensitive content warning. The notice didn't say which post, and I haven't seen a warning sifting through the archives myself. To limit future warnings, I've updated the submission guidelines referencing Blogger's content policy and encouraging contributors to be creative, not graphic.

Lastly, I've shortened the sidebar. You can see the five latest Poems of the Week and more by clicking Poem of the Week.

New Year, New Swag

Happy new year, everyone. New in my Zazzle store, I've updated The Five-Two's signature calendar for 2019. As always, Mondays are highlighted to remind you when each Poem of the Week debuts.

You can buy the calendar in various sizes of refrigerator magnet and wall poster. Enjoy, and thanks as always for your support:

CriPoWkly's 52 2019 Calendar Magnet
by CriPoWkly

CriPoWkly's 52 2019 Calendar Poster
by CriPoWkly

Zazzle Review

Previously I detailed moving from CafePress to Zazzle to re-open the Five-Two gift shop. This morning, Zazzle offered me a $5 coupon to write reviews of the samples I ordered gearing up to open the shop. That led me to also post a video review:




And here's frequent contributor Charles Rammelkamp wearing his Zazzle shirt:



Through Monday, July 25, use coupon code JULYXMASDEAL for 20% off.

#5Tuesday

I've started a new Twitter trend, #5Tuesday. Each week, @poemsoncrime will retweet the five latest 5-2 poems. Follow along and help spread the word about the site.

Black Friday Weekend Sale

Today through Tuesday, November 27, get 30% off print orders of The Lineup: Poems on Crime at Lulu.com with code DELIRITAS.

Today and every day, ebooks of The Lineup #3, #4, and The 5-2 Volume One are available for $2.99 each.

New 5-2 T-Shirts

Revamping my CafePress shop, I've made a small line of products for you who enjoy The 5-2 and want to spread the word without breaking the bank. The t-shirt pictured, the main product, is only $11.

Now through June 28, use the coupon code, INDEPEN60, for $15 off orders of $60 or more. (An order of $73 could buy you one of every 5-2 product: t-shirt, cap, tote bag, gym bag, mug, and calendar poster.)

And speaking of spreading the word, feel free to add 5-2 promotional graphics to your website.

Mug Shot

I went through our CafePress shop today and created 5-2 and Poetic Justice Press-branded items. You can get the mug and t-shirt pictured for $12 each.

Get free USPS shipping on a single Lulu.com title

Save up to $4.99 USPS shipping through April 30. Order one book at Lulu.com, enter APRILMAIL305 at checkout, and select Mail as the shipping method.

Drawing Canceled

The drawing for a signed, personalized advance copy of The Lineup #4 is canceled. No entries were received, despite as much promotion as Twitter followers and I were willing to give over the four-day entry period.

We've tried to keep The Lineup affordable at Lulu, but the contest results show that a 20%-Off coupon and chance to win a prize weren't enough to make one sale. I still believe in The Lineup and am looking for believers to keep it going. At some point, though, belief has to meet practicality. If we don't have the sales, we'll need to cut production costs somehow, or call it a day.

The Lineup started with four people willing to help an idea become reality. In that same spirit, I look forward to working with anyone who has ideas for The Lineup's future. I'm only an e-mail away.

Enter to win an advance copy of The Lineup #4

Today through Monday, February 21, you can enter for a chance to win an advance copy of The Lineup #4 signed and personalized by Gerald So.

Purchase The Lineup 1, 2, and/or 3 from Lulu.com and forward the thank-you e-mail you receive from Gerald So to g_so AT yahoo DOT com.

The winner will be drawn Tuesday, February 22 at noon Eastern time and notified by e-mail.

Feel free to use the coupon code HAPPY305 at checkout to receive 20% off your purchase. Best of luck.

20% Off for Lulu.com's Birthday

Today through Monday, February 21, take 20% off any Lulu.com order. Enter coupon code HAPPY305 at checkout.

Gift Shop Update

Around the launch of a new issue, I update the items in our CafePress shop to reflect the nuance John Collis gives the magazine logo.

This year, in keeping with our goal to increase The Lineup's visibility, I've also created Poetic Justice Press items.

The dagger represents our brand of poetry driving its point home in fifty lines or fewer.

Through Thursday, February 3, the coupon code CUPID gives you free shipping on orders $40 or more.

TODAY ONLY: Need a last-minute gift idea?

Enter coupon code DEC21 at checkout to take 15% off Lulu.com orders. Offer expires tonight at 11:59 Eastern.

Lulu.com Holiday Free Shipping Offer

Enter coupon code HOLIDAY305 at checkout to get free ground shipping (up to $45) on Lulu.com orders. Offer expires Sunday, December 12 at 11:59 PM Eastern.

TODAY ONLY: Lulu.com Cyber Monday Extended

Enter coupon code CYBER305 at checkout to take 25% off Lulu.com orders. Offer expires 11:59 PM Eastern.

TODAY ONLY Lulu.com Veterans Day Offer

Take 20.10% off Lulu.com orders of The Lineup using coupon code VETSDAY305 at checkout. Offer expires tonight at 11:59 Eastern.

Lulu.com Halloween Offer

Enter coupon code TRICK305 to take 20% off Lulu.com orders. Expires November 1, 11:59 PM Eastern.

Columbus Day Weekend Deals

Today through Monday, October 11, 11:59 PM Eastern, use coupon code EXPLORE to take 14.92% off any Lulu.com order.

Also, through Monday, October 11, 11:59 PM Pacific, use coupon code COLUMBUS20 to take 20% off any Cafepress Marketplace order (Shirts, caps, bags).

Merchandising, merchandising...

Items featuring the Lineup logo are now part of CafePress's Marketplace. Prices in the marketplace are higher than those in the Lineup Gift Shop (also at CafePress), but marketplace items are subject to coupon discounts more often.

The current coupons codes are 2HOT25 (25% off orders of 3 or more white or light-colored t-shirts) and WHOT30 (30% off 3 or more). Add the items to your cart here and enter either coupon code at checkout.

The coupons are valid for any white or light-colored t-shirts in the marketplace, not just Lineup shirts, until August 22 at 11:59 PM Pacific.

You can also use the non-Marketplace coupon SHIP4LABR for free Economy or Standard shipping on orders over $40 from the Lineup Gift Shop until August 21 at 11:59 PM Pacific.