WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — West Liberty University professor of English W. Scott Hanna announces the release of his debut collection of poems, “The Only House on the Left” (Kelsay Books, 2026).
As described on the author’s website:
“The Only House on the Left is a collection of poetry and prose arranged in five sections that can be read as a memoir in verse. The first section focuses on childhood memories and family portraits; the second section is a longer, metaphorical coming-of-age piece; the third section explores the nuances of relationships and marriage; the fourth section details experiences of fatherhood; and the final section grapples with the grief that results when a son loses a father. Cycling through this chronology of life experience, the book ultimately ends on a note of hope and the kind of redemption that can only be found deep in the roots of home and family.”
West Virginia Poet Laureate Marc Harshman praised the collection, stating, “These are brave poems, unafraid to tackle fear and doubt, unafraid in their many elegiac remembrances that meticulously observe the dynamics of loss and dying with honesty and conviction.”
Poet CJ Farnsworth adds, “With stark imagery of the Ohio Valley and an authentic exploration of all ‘the questions the living keep living,’ [the poems] encourage us to remember, to embody, the truth of this existence, our mutual ‘need for someone to hold us up.’”
“Publishing this book has been a long-time goal of mine,” said Hanna. “It really represents writing done over a nearly twenty-year span of time. To see it come together and to finally take shape and be published is really rewarding.”
Born and raised in the Upper Ohio Valley, Hanna is a professor of English at West Liberty University, where he teaches creative writing and literature. His poetry and creative nonfiction have been published in Pine Mountain Sand and Gravel, Cleaver Magazine, Still: The Journal, Porter House Review, and others. He also served as poetry editor of the Northern Appalachia Review from its inaugural volume in 2020 until 2025.
An official book launch event took place yesterday, and copies of Hanna’s collection are now available online at Kelsay Books (kelsaybooks.com) and Amazon. Additional information and illustrations from cover artist Kathryn Weir are available at wscotthanna.com.
