For Better or Verse: Bookstore Says Go, Poet Says No

Joseph-Beth Bookseller in Pittsburgh, PA is gaining national attention for not allowing erotic poet Jan Beatty to perform a reading of her newest poetry over their speaker system.

According to Joseph-Beth marketing director Chad Showalter, the marketing team leader reviewed the manuscript and became concerned that the sound system reaches all parts of the store, including the children's department. Based on those terms, according to Showalter, the marketing team leader decided the store could not host the event as planned.

After Beatty's publicist asked Joseph-Beth to reconsider, the bookstore offered to host either an in-store signing without a discussion or signing plus discussion, but not through the store's sound system. Jan Beatty has not accepted either option and  tells the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, "My position is that the store needs to contact me to apologize and to let me read with no strings attached."

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