Well, I think Tim Green and I survived last night’s Barnes and Nobles reading, and even sold a few books. Despite the “shoplifting alarm” going off three times during my reading, and several toddlers screaming their heads off during Tim’s, I think the audience was friendly and welcoming and seemed fairly poetry-savvy. So that was nice. And it was good to hear poems from Tim’s book, “American Fractal,” out loud. I noticed we both read some “science-y” stuff, I believe both with combusting elements, which, you know, I’m for. More science in poetry – that’s what the kids today are into, right? LOL. I’m still not at the peak of my physical game, so standing for the reading was kind of painful (see: random foot/ankle injuries over the past few months,) but other than that, I thought it went pretty well.

Multi-Talented Reviewer

The lovely and talented Serena M. Agusto-Cox has posted a review of Becoming the Villainess at her site, Savvy Verse & Wit, here.
She also posted an interview with me here.
And she reviewed my book on Amazon!
So, really, a very hard-working reviewer and interviewer! Thanks Serena!

My focus now: send some poems out, send some book manuscripts out, get healthy, stay healthy.
Right now: Off to physical therapy for a look at my ankle. Then: More grading. I know, you’re saying, that’s too sexy and glamorous a lifestyle, Jeannine. Slow it down! What can I say? The poetry life is a thrill-a-minute.

Here’s the reading info:

Jeannine Hall Gailey and Tim Green are the featured readers at the Barnes and Nobles at the Grossmont Center in La Mesa. If you’re in the San Deigo area, please come out! Tim will be reading from his new book, American Fractal, and I’ll be reading from my “old” book, Becoming the Villainess, as well as a few from my new “Robot Scientist’s Daughter” series.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: free
Phone: (619) 667-2870
Location: Barnes & Noble–La Mesa (map)
Address:Grossmont Center
5500 Grossmont Ctr Dr, Suite 331
La Mesa, CA

This is only my second real featured San Diego reading, so if you missed the first one, I hope you’ll come out! I get nervous before readings, and even had a reading-oriented anxiety dream (the one where I lose my reading notebook, can’t remember any of my poems, and the audience acts bored. Oh, it’s worse than getting chased by monsters, I tell you!)
Also, both readers might be on crutches (we both sprained our ankles a week or so ago), so there’s more excitement than usual!

Alicia Ostriker discusses the psalms on the Poetry Foundation site…

Tim Green wonders about gender bias… (and I make a comment there.)

Update: John Stewart had a robot scientist on his show tonight – who name-checked Astro Boy! I’m geeking out! Catch it on repeats tomorrow!