Places We Return to
An anthology of poems & prose pieces, edited by Joan Cusack & Gabriel Cleveland. Founded twenty years ago by poet, memoirist, and clinical psychologist Joan Cusack Handler, CavanKerry Press has published fine literary work by established and emerging writers who explore the emotional and psychological aspects of what it is to be human through insightful, accessible writing. This unique collection features excerpts from each of the over 100 books in CavanKerry’s twenty-year publishing history and represents the deeply resonant writing for which the Press is known. Several authors in the CavanKerry library have gone on to find acclaim as poets laureate, Pushcart recipients, and winners of national prizes. Places We Return To is a collection of work of the highest caliber.

Eric Hoffer Awards
Named an Honorable Mention in the Eric Hoffer Awards (2021)

Da Vinci Eye
Named a Finalist for the Da Vinci Eye, recognizing excellence in book design (2021)

The Montaigne Medal
Named a Finalist for the Montaigne Medal, honoring books, books that illuminate progress, or redirect thought (2021)
Joan Cusack Handler
Founder and senior editor of CavanKerry Press, Joan Cusack Handler is a poet, memoirist, and psychologist. Her poems have received the Sampler Award from Boston Review and five Pushcart nominations. She is the author of four books, most recently, Orphans, and the editor of two additional collections. A Bronx native, she lives in Brooklyn and East Hampton, New York.
Gabriel Cleveland
Gabriel Cleveland is a poet and fiction writer with an MFA from the Solstice MFA in Creative Writing program and the current managing editor of CavanKerry Press. Along with Joan Cusack Handler, he co-edited Places We Return To, a 20th Anniversary retrospective on the publishing history of the press. An avid video gamer and music lover, he hosts The Andover Special, a weekly internet radio program on HomeGrownRadioNJ, featuring music and poetry.






