Two books of poetry published by Copper Canyon Press have been nominated as finalists for the National Book Award. James Richardson’s By the Numbers and C.D. Wright’s One With Others: [a little book of her days] were announced as two of the five nominees in poetry.

This is the second time in its 38-year history that Copper Canyon Press has received two National Book Award nominations in the same year. The press has won two National Book Awards, most recently in 2005 with W.S. Merwin’s Migration: New & Selected Poems.

“It’s especially gratifying to see two poets, one of whom is new to the press, receive national recognition,” said Copper Canyon Press executive editor Michael Wiegers.

Wiegers, along with the finalists and members of Copper Canyon’s board and staff, will attend the awards ceremony.

“It’s a black-tie event at a hotel in New York,” Wiegers said. “Tom Wolfe is getting a special award, and the place is packed with literati and media. It’s quite the night for books, writers, publishers and readers.”

By the Numbers is James Richardson’s seventh book of poetry and the second time he has been nominated for a national award. In 2005, he was short-listed for a National Book Critics Circle Award. The book cover features a painting by Port Townsend artist John Schaefer.

Richardson teaches at Princeton University and is well known for aphorisms and “10-second essays,” which are short poems that contend with big ideas.

C.D. Wright’s new book, One With Others, blends investigative journalism and poetry. She traveled back to her native Arkansas to examine explosive and little-known incidents from the civil rights movement. She interweaves the voices of witnesses, neighbors, police, activists and especially the voice of her mentor, Mrs. Vititow.

“This history leaps howling off the page,” Wiegers said. “There is nobody writing like C.D. The Village Voice hit the mark when they said that C.D. ‘shrinks back from nothing.’ She’s one of the most fearless writers I know.”

The award nominations have bumped up orders for both titles, though both books are still at the printers.

“These two books were scheduled for release in the fall and will be available within a week or so,” said Joseph Bednarik, the marketing director at the press. “Our printers have been very responsive at speeding the production up. They understand how important it is to make the books available for sale.”

And what if one of the Copper Canyon books wins the National Book Award?

“We’re hoping for a tie,” Wiegers mused.