Three New Spooky Poems at Barrelhouse, the New Poet’s Market 2018, and more Halloween-y madness

Hey guys! Are you in the mood for some scary, spooky poems? Barrelhouse is hosting them all month and today three of mine are up: “Cancer Scare,” “Self-Portrait as Film Noir Villainess,” and “Lessons Learned From Final Girls.”

Yesterday the new Poet’s Market 2018 came in the mail, which contains 4 articles by me on things like starting a poetry group, promoting your new book, and strange places for poetry readings, and an exclusive webinar – that’s right, webinar, my first! So be sure to go get your own copy. Here’s Sylvia modelling the book! I also picked up my friend Juliana Gray’s new book appropriate for Halloween, Honeymoon Palsy – check out that cover! Sylvia’s modelling that book too.

I’ve been making some headway with my physical and occupational therapy and have more neurologist tests and appointments scheduled in November. In the meantime, I’ve been trying to get out and enjoy some fall activities before the rain permanently descends on us – pumpkin patches, the zoo to see the new snow leopard cub and new giraffe baby, and the last roses of the season. I’m making the transition now to being able to move around the house with a cane, which increases my feelings of independence quite a bit. I’m still having some frustrating neurological symptoms (my legs and hands give out when I’m tired, and I’m sometimes having trouble swallowing) but hoping to be back to a lot of my normal activities soon. These little outings have been positive experiments in getting back to doing fun things instead of just medical things. I also watched “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” to get myself in the mood for the increasingly dark and gloomy October weather that’s coming, and we’ve started baking in advance. I’m looking out at the last sunshine we’re supposed to have for a while…I better try to get out and enjoy it today!