The creative force of Clem Stambaugh
The Poetry of
Clem Stambaugh
Praise for Clem Stambaugh
Robert Lamb
Author of “Six of One, Half Dozen of Another (Stories & Poems)”
“I was moved by the poems in Clem Stambaugh’s first public flight in Queen of the Letters, Poetry. In line after line, I saw the sensitivity required of good poetry and the courage to face both unrequited love and love sublime. Like to explore your inner self? You’ll love this book.”
– Robert Lamb, PEN/Hemingway Award nominee, author of Striking Out; Atlanta Blues; The Ties That Bind (A Family Saga); and Six of One, Half Dozen of Another (Stories & Poems + One)
Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.
Author of Gay Poems for Red States
“Clem recognizes the role of images, of beauty, in drawing in others. His work paints with similar brush strokes: drawing in, demanding to be seen, creating beauty where we might not have anticipated it. In his book, ‘The Ghosts of Gold,’ Stambaugh mines the past, or perhaps he lives with ghosts, until they give up their treasures. He readily shares, living in the reality of the moment, however sweet or painful, but always showing us its gold. Clem Stambaugh knows that truth cannot be destroyed. Clem Stambaugh will make you look at it. And you will like what you see.”
– Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.,
author of Gay Poems for Red States
Donna Ison
Author of “The Miracle of Myrtle: Saint Gone Wild”
“Clem Stambaugh’s third book of poetry, ‘Hisses Like Whispers’ manages to combine the suspense, atmosphere, and morally complex characters of a gothic horror novel with the lyricism and imagery of poetry. … ‘Hisses Like Whispers’ is a truly gorgeous collection of poetry.”
— Donna Ison,
author of The Miracle of Myrtle: Saint Gone Wild and the forthcoming poetry collection My Imaginary Therapist Says I’m Perfectly Sane
Liz Newall
Author of author of “You Don’t Have to Tell Everything You Know”
“The poet continues his journey into the heart’s darkness and light, but in this new collection, he lasers in on loss. From songs of love, to promises of revenge, to knotted family ties, Clem Stambaugh’s poetry, both lovely and frightening (“The Kind of Bird I Am”), touches fibers in us all and offers, if we listen, the salvation of understanding.”
— Liz Newall,
author of You Don’t Have to Tell Everything You Know
Clinton W. Waters
Author of “(UN)Bury Your Gays & Other Queer Tales”
“Clem Stambaugh’s ‘Hisses Like Whispers’ is a macabre modern fairy tale filled with fangs, blood, and romance. … Stambaugh’s work stitches together elements of southern gothic, vampire fiction, eroticism, and modern-day drama into a delicious, fascinating kind of poetic creature. … Clem Stambaugh’s ‘Hisses Like Whispers’ is the perfect read if you find yourself with a dark craving for the stylings of Anne Rice or Edgar Allan Poe!”
— Clinton W. Waters,
author of (UN)Bury Your Gays & Other Queer Tales
Katherine Hale Stringfield
Author of “The Mary Luck Tales: Witch’s Curse”
“With a mastery of words, Clem Stambaugh has managed to revive the vampire genre. … To put it simply, I was blown away by the intensity and yearning brought to life by prose. These poems have reached a part deep in my mind and soul. I haven’t been this moved by poetry since reading Poe’s ‘Ligeia.’ Clem Stam- baugh’s portrayal of melancholy is unmatched.”
— Katherine Hale Stringfield,
author of The Mary Luck Tales: Witch’s Curse
Get to know Clem Stambaugh
Since 2020, Clem Stambaugh has pushed the boundaries of what poetry can be and, in doing so, has garnered high praise.
Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr., the acclaimed author of Gay Poems for Red States, says, “Clem recognizes the role of images, of beauty, in drawing in others. His work paints with similar brush strokes: drawing in, demanding to be seen, creating beauty where we might not have anticipated it.”
Stambaugh’s first collection of poetry, 2020’s In Black and Light, quickly rose to be an Amazon No. 1 seller upon release. Likewise, his second volume, The Ghosts of Gold, released in 2023, skipped quickly to No. 1 and was tapped by the New York-based Independent Press Awards as a Distinguished Favorite.
He lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his spouse, Ben Kincer, and an ever-growing number of cats. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Fine Arts.
Poetry is his passion.
Clem Stambaugh appears
on Eurythmics podcast
Clem Stambaugh says the music of Annie Lennox, Stevie Nicks, and Dolly Parton has inspired him. Here he appears on a podcast dedicated to Eurythmics, the iconic duo of Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox.
No. 1
On Kindle
The Ghosts of Gold
Hisses Like Whispers
No. 1
Amazon Hot New Releases
In Black and Light
The Ghosts of Gold
Hisses Like Whispers
No. 1
LGBTQ+ Poetry
In Black and Light
The Ghosts of Gold
Hisses Like Whispers
Honored
Independent Press Award
2024 Distinguished Favorite
for The Ghosts of Gold
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Clem Stambaugh dares us to look. And when we do, what we thought might be weird or terrifying really isn’t. It’s just more love.”
Mary Knight
/
Author of Saving Wonder, What the Seahorse Told Me and Core Empathy
Frequently Asked Questions
How long has Clem been a poet?
Clem has written poetry most of his life, but it was only about five years ago that he started publishing it on social media, at the urging of a friend. The response to his poems – what he referred to as PopArtPoetry – was so positive that he was asked to pen a book, which developed into “In Black and Light.”
When was your first book published?
“In Black and White” was published in December 2020 by Big Small Town Books and MAS Communications and received 5-star reviews on Amazon. It was later released, in October 2022, in a special edition that features 10 previously unreleased poems.
What is the title of his second book?
Clem’s second book, “The Ghosts of Gold,” was published by MAS Communications in 2023 and immediately made its way to No. 1 on Amazon’s New Poetry Releases. It was named a Distinquished Favorite in the New York City-based Independent Press Awards. A special edition of TGOG was released as a Barnes and Noble exclusive.
Is his latest book a novel or a poetry collection?
Clem’s third book, the intriguingly titled “Hisses Like Whispers” is a combination of prose and poetry and tells the story of a South Carolina vampire. Published by MAS Communications in 2024, the book was top seller on Amazon not only in poetry but in vampire mysteries, as well.
Are there events where I can meet the author and get a book signed?
Absolutely! Clem has appeared at a number of events, most recently, at the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning for a special Halloween event. Watch this space for future events.