My new book, Dread and Splendor: Paintings and Poems for a New Earth (Shanti Arts) has been chosen as a Finalist in General Poetry by the International Book Awards. Irene Christensen is my artist/collaborator.
The 2026 International Book Awards (IBA) is one of the world’s largest international book award programs for mainstream, indie and self-published books. Jeffrey Keen, President and CEO of American Book Fest, said this year’s contest yielded thousands of entries from authors and publishers around the world, which were then narrowed to the final results.Winners and finalists join such past laureates as Pope Francis, George Sanders, Vanessa Williams, Kitty Kelley, Anne Geddes, Daymond John, Mark Nepo, among many others. The awards have been around for 23 years.
Dread and Splendor brings together the poetry of the American poet, Eileen P. Kennedy with the artwork of the Norwegian artist, Irene Christensen. These artists devised this book out of their common interest in natural beauty and opposition to the exploitation of the planet. They met at an artist colony in Costa Rica years ago, began their collaboration, and this book is the final outcome.
“Dread and Splendor is a collaboration between two accomplished women who join their individual art forms to create a many-leveled connection to hearts and minds. Eileen Kennedy’s ekphrastic poems are written in response to Irene Christensen’s surrealistic paintings. They have created a unique and important book for our troubled times, offering insight and healing.”
—Ginger Andro, artist, curator, and Vice President, Sculptor’s Guild, New York
Check out the book at this website:
or at Amazon:
Eileen P. Kennedy Author 