Academy of American Poets Puts Flare Corona on Their Summer Reading List, Writing Retreats with Friends and Working on a New Manuscript (with Supermoon)

Academy of American Poets Puts Flare, Corona on Their Summer Reading List!

Got a little bit of good news after the holiday week. Very grateful to have Flare, Corona appear on the Poets.Org 2023 Summer Books Reading List—some people received it in their Academy of American Poets mailing, but you can read the whole list here:

https://poets.org/2023-summer-books-list

Every little bit of PR really helps with poetry books. I also got my print copy of Foreword Reviews in the mail today, so it was a good poetry book day. If you haven’t gotten a copy of Flare, Corona yet, remember you can order a signed copy direct from me here or order from BOA. And if you want a review copy, you can send your review copy request directly to Kathryn Bratt-Pfotenhauer, Director of Development & Publicity, at bratt@boaeditions.org.  I’ve been a poetry book reviewer for 20 years, so no one more appreciates a good poetry book review than me!

Kelli took this picture of me with my new manuscript all over my hotel bed

Writing Retreats with Friends and Working on a New Manuscript (with Supermoon)

So, over the holiday weekend, my friend writer editor and publisher Kelli Russell Agodon and I snuck away for a few days at a local lodge to work on our manuscripts, talk poetry, goof around a little bit but mostly try to make some dents in our work on both of our next books. And I think it was very productive! In just a few days, Kelli and I both had updated versions of our manuscripts (mine hadn’t been touched for about eighteen months) and we got cocktails, went out for sweet potato fries, visited Woodinville’s awesome lavender garden, visited the Lodge’s resident pot-bellied pigs, stayed up late/got up early, and talked poetry. I did that thing where I spread out all the poems on my bed to see how they went together. I think I talked Kelli into putting mermaids in her book (you’ll have to see when it comes out!), and she talked me into putting less plague in my book and more spells.

July’s Thunder Supermoon at Moonrise, no filter

This also made me feel empowered as a disabled person, because I was able to pull off a trip with a friend without any major illness/disability crises. Sometimes people like me with chronic illnesses and disabilities can feel shut out of the traditional residencies because they’re not particularly handicapped-friendly or they’re someplace far from doctors or the difficulties can just be overwhelming, so I want to suggest this kind of alternative.

I felt so motivated, got so much done, and had such a good time. Grab a friend, find a place to stay for a couple of days (hopefully you’ve scouted out its ADA appropriateness and it has some local attractions around to visit and a good fireside lounge)—you don’t need two weeks or anyone’s permission—try it!

Happy Disability Pride Month!

Hummingbird hovering over bird fountain

The next two weeks are going to be challenging so I’m glad I had a little break! Sunday is Glenn and my 29th (!!) Wedding Anniversary, then his birthday is Thursday, then my older brother, his wife and three kids are coming out for their first visit to see us out here in Seattle, so I will be busy busy busy the rest of the month! There is usually something hectic about Seattle (and Seattleites) in the summertime, which is so gorgeous and short-lived—the need to get outdoors and appreciate the ocean, the mountains, the flowers and all outdoor venues becomes almost impossible to resist! Of course, with the wildfire smoke and MS flares being more common in the heat, I have to force myself to take it a little easier than most. Here’s wishing you a wonderful and productive July!