A Long December, a few bits of news, and a panel on poetry and technology
- At December 03, 2012
- By Jeannine Gailey
- In Blog
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Yes, it’s already December. The solstice with its apocalyptic overtones is creeping nearer. I watched the disturbing apocalypse-by-water movie Beasts of the Southern Wild recently, which reminded me alternately of Miyazaki’s Ponyo and Princess Mononoke, but Miyazaki manages to make his apocalypses slightly less depressing. A lot of my recent poems have end-of-the-world-type references in them, I’ve noticed, and I believe the YA section of the local Barnes and Nobles is nothing but apocalyptic dystopias now. Margaret Atwood should be watching her back!
The Winter 2012 issue of Rattle is here, with a special section of speculative poetry, which I’m happy to be part of. The poem, “Elemental,” is part of my “Robot Scientist’s Daughter” manuscript. Also present in the spec section are Kristin Berkey-Abbott, Deborah P. Kolodji, Noel Sloboda and Lesley Wheeler, among others. Definitely worth a winter’s night read.
Thanks to The Pinch journal, which nominated another poem from that same MS, “Lessons in Poison” for a Pushcart. I am always thankful for these little boosts, even though I know the chances of actually getting into the Pushcart anthology are slim.
As I prepare for next year’s Unexplained Fevers book launch, I realize I am already a bit behind the eight ball on scheduling readings. How is that possible? Also, setting up a book is even more complicated now than it was a couple of years ago – there are more social media options (and therefore responsibilities,) more e-book options, more places for us to remember to set up for review. I have to redo my web site to look a little bit more modern and reflect the mood of the new book (wintry fairy tale landscape?)
So, if you’re interested in how technology is affecting poets, from e-book publishing to social media use for poets, and you live around Seattle, come out to this Thursday’s panel on Poetry and Technology, hosted by me at the Redmond Library and featuring special guests (and e-book publishers) Kelli Russell Agodon and Annette Spaulding-Convy. More here!
Jeannine Hall Gailey served as the second Poet Laureate of Redmond, Washington and the author of Becoming the Villainess, She Returns to the Floating World, Unexplained Fevers, The Robot Scientist’s Daughter, and winner of the Moon City Press Book Prize and SFPA’s Elgin Award, Field Guide to the End of the World. Her latest, Flare, Corona from BOA Editions, was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. She’s also the author of PR for Poets, a Guidebook to Publicity and Marketing. Her work has been featured on NPR’s The Writer’s Almanac, Verse Daily and The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror. Her poems have appeared in The American Poetry Review, Poetry, and JAMA.
Kathleen
Congrats on your Rattle poem. Found it, enjoyed it, and it scared me!