As It Ought Be is mourning the loss of a great writer and friend, Mike James. When I took over as Managing Editor six years ago after the passing of AIOTB founder Okla Elliott, Mike reached out and contributed both his own work and his connections in the literary world to generate submissions. This gave the new AIOTB instant credibility, and it gave me the confidence and encouragement I needed to step into this new role. I’ve had the honor of working with and publishing countless brilliant writers because of Mike’s support. His talent as a poet is surpassed only by his talent for using poetry to build community and bring people together.
When Mike complimented publishers, editors, and other writers who used their platforms to showcase the works of others, he often liked to call them “a force for good.” It’s one of the highest compliments AIOTB has ever received.
Mike James, you were a force for good.
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Below is a catalog of Mike James’ work on AIOTB from the past six years. It was always an honor to feature his work. In addition to poetry, Mike wrote many book reviews and essays that championed the work of the poets he admired. He was a model citizen of the literary world.
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Poems
“Almost Autumn and Time to Go”
“Beyond the Land of Misfit Toys”
“Oh Daddy, Give Me a Quarter for the Time Machine”
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Book Reviews and Poet Appreciations
Tim Peeler and the Life of the Poem
Howie Good’s Path of Most Resistance: An Appreciation
Erotic by Alexis Rhone Fancher
Wave If You Can See Me by Susan Ludvigson
Once Upon a Twin by Raymond Luczak and New York Diary by Tim Dlugos
Beautiful Aliens: A Steve Abbott Reader and Have You Seen This Man? The Castro Poems of Karl Tierney
My Mother’s Red Ford: New & Selected Poems, 1986-2020 by Roy Bentley
Mingo Town & Memories by Larry Smith
“Dead Letter Office: Selected Poems” By Marko Pogacar
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I love you and miss you, Mike.
Chase Dimock
Managing Editor
As It Ought To Be
As It Ought To Be 
Thanks so much for this gathering of Mike’s musical visions; each item is indeed a song.
It’s so hard when those who share memories of/with you leave. Thank goodness you have
these written glimpses to peek back into the glory times.
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Oh my, just learned this. Really feel what a beautiful guy he was and a most generous poet-friend. He was so prolific and will be with us .
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Mike taught how to be.
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