September Poetry News

I am very happy to have a couple of items of poetic interest to post.

• My Lovely Friend and very talented poet Naomi Thiers has a new chapbook coming out from Finishing Line Press, publishers of her previous book In Yolo County and my own Drinking Weather. It's titled She Was a Cathedral and contains poems honoring women, some famous, some the author's friends and family, some observed with the poet's keen eye. It can be pre-ordered here: Finishing Line Press. Please order by October 10 if you can so Naomi can get sufficient pre-orders to assure the largest possible press run. The book should ship in late November.

• Naomi will no doubt be reading some of the poems from the new book, along with old favorites, when she joins me and two other poets TBA at the opening reading of the 2014-2015 Third Thursday Series in Takoma Park, MD, on Thursday September 18 at 7:30 p.m. Hit the link for details and a map. This is my second time reading in the series, her first, and our first time as featured readers on the same bill. We hope those of you in or near the DC area will join us.

UPDATE 09-04-14: Unfortunately, the Takoma Park folks have rescheduled Naomi's reading to Thursday October 16. Time and place are the same as mine and I hope those of you who can will come to both readings.

Uncommon Happiness

I continue to be pleased and honored by a number of publications. The 2013 issue of Commonthought Magazine, a fine journal published by Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, contains three of my poems. Follow the link to get a copy; buy one if you can and support the publisher. I have other poems forthcoming in Broadkill Review and Northern Virginia Review. I will post details when they have appeared.

Stepping Away

I am very pleased to announce that Issue 9 of Stepaway Magazine, containing my poem "On the Green Line," is now available for your reading pleasure. This very fine UK-based journal celebrates the experience of walking around (or, in some cases such as with my poem, being conveyed) around and exploring the urban environment. As the editor puts it, "This is flânerie for the twenty-first century." Having greatly aspired to be a flâneur ever since my first reading of Walter Benjamin, I am naturally thrilled.

Publication Roundup

Not to brag (well, maybe a little), but I've had a pretty good string of publications over the last few months, with two recent ones that I haven't yet documented here yet. So to bring everyone up to date, besides my latest book, I have a poem in the latest issue (#3) of Cactus Heart and one in the Winter issue of Rising Tide Review (which also contains a poem by the lovely Naomi). The latter is an interesting journal that is especially interested in publishing the work of writers over 40 and is published in Atlantic, VA, not far from my beloved Chincoteague. Check out these fine magazines!

It's Out!

In record time from acceptance to publication, my new book is now available on Amazon. If you are in or near D.C., you will be able to purchase a copy from me soon, should you prefer to get it that way. I will of course happily sign and personalize your copy if at all possible.

I am hoping to start arranging readings soon, some I hope in conjunction with my lovely friend, Naomi, as she promotes her own collection (which you should also order if you haven't already: In Yolo County. (Use the pull down and find Naomi Thiers.) It promises to be an exciting Spring!

Publication News

My first pub of the new year (and the first of several pending) is up at the very fine online journal Faircloth Review. Be sure to browse the site for some excellent poems, stories, and other items of interest.

I have more poems appearing soon in print and/or online in Cactus Heart,Rising Tide Review, and The Rusty Nail. Watch this space for details.

Finally, I want to congratulate my dear friend and muse Naomi Thiers for attaining 70 pre-orders for her upcoming book In Yolo County. There's still time to order, so if you haven't, please visit Finishing Line Press and do so.

2013 is shaping us a very good year for Naomi and me as regards our writing and publishing endeavors. Wishing everyone a happy Martin Luther King/Inauguration Day!

Back in Print!

When my first book Signs of Small Grace was published in 2010, it was the culmination of many years' effort and the fulfillment of a long-time dream. The quick follow-up of my second, Drinking Weather, only added to the thrill of book publication at last. So I was deeply disappointed and sad when Pudding House, the publisher of Signs, abruptly and mysteriously disappeared late last year. I had given away or sold all the copies I had received and was down to my one personal copy.

It now gives me great pleasure to announce my book's resurrection, thanks to the great generosity and practical help from several of my colleagues at National Geographic. If you never acquired a copy or need another, please contact me (click on my profile pic to the right and find my e-mail if you need it).

Thanks again to all of you who have been so generous and warm in supporting me and my writing over the years. It is a bit of a cliche but true and heartfelt that you help me keep going and growing as a poet.

Time to Order

At the end of August, I announced the very happy news that my dearest friend Naomi had her chapbook accepted for publication by Finishing Line Press, the same fine press that published my Drinking Weather. I am now pleased to report that the book, In Yolo County, is now available for preorder. As many of you will remember from my experience, it is critical to get a good number of preorders in order to assure a good print run. So please try to order one (or more—it would make a great gift!) between now and January 11; it will ship on or about March 9, 2013. I do hope you will support Naomi as warmly and enthusiastically as you did me. The book tells the fascinating and moving story of the courtship of her paternal grandparents against the backdrop of the Great Depression in the American West. I had the privilege of offering feedback on most of the poems and I can assure you that you will derive great pleasure and interest from reading them.

Order from Finishing Line. Thanks and continued warm holiday wishes to all!

A Mad Air

Along with the many usual things I am thankful for (health, family, a lovely trip to Texas for the holiday), I am delighted to report a new publication, my second appearance in Mad Rush. I also have a poem appearing soon in a fine journal located in the Eastern Shore of Virginia (very near my beloved Chincoteague) called Rising Tide Review. As always, watch this space for details.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!

Publishing and Reading News

Before I get to my own news, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate my dear friend, Naomi Thiers, on the acceptance of her chapbook, In Yolo County, by Finishing Line Press (publishers of my Drinking Weather). The book relates the story of her maternal grandfather's adventures during the depression and his courtship of her grandmother, told in the voices of the protagonists and others. I have read the poems in their various stages of creation and revision and I can guarantee that it will be a lovely and fascinating book. Watch this space for ordering information; it should be available sometime early next year.

Regarding my own work, I am happy to report that the September print edition of The Rusty Nail is now available. It contains the two poems previously published online (as announced in my post of June 18). A copy can be had for a quite reasonable $8 or for a digital copy, the even more reasonable $2.

And finally, I am pleased to announce that I will again be reading at IOTA at 6 pm on Sunday September 9 as part of the 18th Anniversary celebration of the series. It is an honor to be invited back and I hope many of you will come and hear me along with other fine local poets. Visit IOTA online for directions.

Ode to Watermelon

My poem "Melon" has just been posted on Deep South. It's my second childhood reminiscence to appear in that excellent journal. Have a look and then browse the site for more poems, stories, recipes, and all good things Southern.

Update 08-08-12: The poem now also resides on its own page: "Melon."

Snapshot

I am pleased to announce a new publication, my poem "Saturday Snapshot" in the fine online journal Zouch. I am particularly delighted about this one in that it documents a visit to one of my favorite neighborhood hangouts.

I also have a poem forthcoming in Deep South magazine; I'll post the news and link when it is posted.

Old Fires

Happy to report that a recent poem has found a home online with a very fine journal called Cactus Heart. It's entitled "Gerhard and Fern," and was inspired by a brief encounter with a charming couple I met at my Iota reading in January.

I am also delighted to have just received the acceptance of two poems for the journal The Rusty Nail. I will post details and link when the time comes. I hope everyone had a happy and poetry-filled National Poetry Month!

Enthralled

I am, as always, very pleased to announce that my poem "Thrall" has been published in Issue 14 of Innisfree Review. This is my second appearance in Innisfree, a local publication with a national reputation, edited by the very fine poet Greg McBride. I am especially delighted to appear in an issue containing work by such notable local poets as my lovely friend Naomi Thiers, Merrill Leffler, Michele Wolf, my recent Iota reading partner Ann Harding Woodworth, and Mr. McBride himself.

Be sure to look through the back issues for many poetic treasures, in addition to my previous appearance.

A Fine Madness, Bourgeoning

My latest two pubs are now available, one for sale and another just a click away.

It's extremely gratifying to have a poem in a print journal after many have recently appeared online. Mad Rush Issue One has just been published; it contains my poem "A Picture of Flowers. The magazine has an wide variety of poems and short fictions and is very nicely designed and produced. Click the link to order a copy.

I am also please to report that the title poem of Drinking Weather has been posted on Bourgeon, an online journal covering DC arts.

As always, thanks to my many readers who provide the support and encouragement to help me keep going!

Unburdened

My poem "Burden: 2 am" has been published in the January 2012 issue of Foundling Review, now online. I am especially pleased about this publication because it is a poem I have especially wanted to see published in a journal. It first appeared in my chapbook, Signs of Small Grace, and I am delighted it has now found a wider audience.

In other poetry news, my Iota reading went splendidly and I am happy to announce another one upcoming on Thursday March 15 in Takoma Park, part of the Third Thursday series there. I'll post full details when the time draws closer.

Bigger Still

Apparently the readership for Bigger Than They Appear is bigger than it might have appeared. The first print run is almost sold out and a second printing is starting up. So this is a good time to remind you to order this fine anthology from Accents Publishing. I would recommend this even if I didn't have a poem in it. Especially for those who like their poems short, terse, and intense.

Famous

By the kind invitation of Ilse Munro, I have become a contributor to the online version of the very fine journal, Little Patuxent Review, published in Columbia, MD. My first contribution is a review of an excellent collection of poems by Maryland poet Bruce Sager, entitled Famous.

Ilse and LPR have been very supportive and welcoming of my work in both poetry and prose. My poem, "A Decent Happiness," you may recall, was featured in the Winter 2010 issue. I encourage you to follow their blog and acquire copies of some of their issues.

Miscellaneous Poetry News

I am delighted to share this recent profile by Joshua Gray in the Washington Examiner's online edition. Once you're read it, please browse around for some of his other profiles of DC-area poets. Joshua is an accomplished poet himself and you should also visit his website.

I am also happy to announce that the lovely Fiona Robyn has accepted two more of my "small stones" for publication in the near future. I'll post links as they appear, but you should start following a handful of stones now.

UPDATE 10-27: New "small stone is posted. Scroll to October 25 post at a handful of stones.

Another Stone

My second "small stone has" been posted at a handful of stones. Once again, I encourage you to look around the site; there are many gems to read and contemplate.