Collection Plates & Slot Machines
The debut poetry book from Lawrence Maxwell
Synopsis:
Experiencing the beauty and tragedy of the world through the lens of a restless mind—that is the theme for Lawrence Maxwell's debut book of poetry: Collection Plates & Slot Machines. With references to the natural landscapes and relationships forged in his home province of Prince Edward Island, Maxwell plays on the idea that we are all part sinner and saint with the capacity for both loving kindness and thoughtless malice.
The correlation between a collection plate and a slot machine is that both are vessels through which we hedge our bets for a better life. In this collection, life itself is seen as a gamble. There are instances where humour and brevity are used to cleanse the palate of the heavier subjects, and the sequencing has been crafted in such a way as to move through life—the flow between childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and death. This collection is both confessional and observational in its delivery, dealing with temptation and strength, the mundane and the wonderful, all witnessed through the veil of Spirit.
Writer Bio
Lawrence Maxwell is an emerging Prince Edward Island writer. His joy for writing began in elementary school, penning a series of short stories surrounding a central character, “Oddey the Mouse.” In early adulthood, he began to focus on music, winning the 2019 Music PEI Country Album of the Year for his debut album Not Your Outlaw. His sophomore album, Almost Natural was also a Music PEI award winner and was nominated for an ECMA in 2021. Poetry has always gone hand in hand with Lawrence’s music. His debut poetry collection, Morning Spoon, was shortlisted for the 2022 PEI Island Literary Awards, and his recent poem, “Poppy’s Handshake” was the winner of the Off Topic poetry contest for May 2022. His most recent published works include two poems selected for the Canadian League of Poets “Poetry Pause” edition.