Description: Prisoner to Poet is about a transition. I went from a college campus to the dormitory of a correctional institution. It was shocking. While inside the institution I had to figure out how to pay my debt to society as well figuring out a path to redemption.
Brief description: Devin D. Coleman is an author, poet, and public speaker whose work embodies the art of turning tragedy into triumph. Born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, Devin's life took an unexpected turn while he was a student at Florida A&M University. An act of poor judgment landed him in prison his senior year causing him to squander what he worked so hard to accomplish. It was during this time that Devin chose to redirect his life by harnessing his talent for writing. He subsequently published his first volume of poetry titled Prisoner to Poet: Thoughts of an Incarcerated Soul. Upon his release, Devin went on to complete his education at Edward Waters College in 2008. He serves his community in various ways by utilizing his skills and passion for civic engagement. Devin is a former Executive Board Member of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), a Volunteer Board Member for the Duval Regional Juvenile Detention Center Advisory Council serving in the role of Secretary, and he serves on the Client Advisory Board (CAB) of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. Devin served as a member of the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Team as a part of Responsible Fatherhood -An Initiative of the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition as well as Chairman of the Fatherhood Initiative Task Force in Jacksonville, FL. He has contributed to a wide range of publications (Promoting Purpose Magazine, Urban Image Magazine, and Folio Weekly). Devin has created his several blogs revolving around inspiration and increasing fatherhood engagement as well as launching the first blog for the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. Devin's mission is to encourage and enlighten youth to prevent them from making similar mistakes he once did. This passion has created opportunities for Devin to speak at various events such as the Magnolia Leadership Academy Graduation, JA Boy$ (Junior Achievement Florida) program, Hooping 4 Hope's 2nd Annual event, Better Justice Florida Forum, to name a few. He is currently working on several workshops with the intent of adding a visual context to his presentations. Also, November 11, 2018, the 2nd Edition of Prisoner to Poet was released. For more information visit www.devindcoleman.com.
Review Quotes:
"I enjoyed this book to the fullest. it gave me an insight of a man that has gone through his journey through life. This book showed raw emotion of a human being, a man. Very touching a must read." -Remy
"I purchased the book and as a fellow returning citizen I can empathize with his rhetoric and perspective. Everybody should read the thoughts of society's disenfranchised to fully grasp the integral role we play having lived in the underworld and now making our mark productively with no room for error." -Amazon Customer
"Devin has taken the time to share his insights which is a very strong beginning to a prosperous future for him. I am looking forward to watching him expand on his ideas! Thanks for sharing with us Devin!" -Dr. Johnson
"Devin Coleman is a great up and coming author. Having known he was incarcerated when he drafted the poems makes me appreciate it even more. Some poems touched different aspects of my life and provided me with the inspiration and motivation I needed to keep on pushing. I admire the determination that is displayed in his poems. Although imprisoned he let his thoughts run free using a pen and paper. I highly recommend this book. I loved it!" -Twyler
"If you like poems, well this book is for you. The poems are very personal and gives a glimspe in poet's soul during his most personal trials. This book will capture your attention through the end. I couldn't put it down and read the entire book in one day. Very inspiring, awesome read for poet lovers! Enjoy!" -Nique
"Prisoner to a Poet is a very inspirational book for people from all walks of life. There are poems inside to make you laugh, cry, contemplate life, and get motivated. I would recommend this book a thousand times, which is just about how many times I have referred back to it. This is a must have in any book collection." -Contessa Jones
"Prisoner to Poet is an awesome read. I throughly enjoyed reading it. As I read the poems I began to feel connected to Devin. There are poems to get you through tough times and make you think about your actions. My favorite poems are titled My Grandma, Reminiscing About My Granma, and the entire section VI. It's very captivating and you can feel what he went through. I highly recommended getting this book for your collection." -Tini J