Good News: Two Poems in Boulevard, Louise Glück Wins the Nobel Prize, Our Book Giveaway Winner, and an October of Uncertainty

Sylvia snuggles with her Fall issue of Boulevard

Starting with Good News – Two Poems in the Fall 2020 Issue of Boulevard

Instead of starting with doom and gloom, as I’m afraid too many of my posts have lately (I mean, lately, like most of 2020,) so I’ll start with some good news. I’m very pleased to have two poems, “Self-Portrait as Murder Mystery” and “They Are Waiting” in the Fall 2020 issue of Boulevard, pictured at left as Sylvia, a true literary kitten, cuddles with it. I’ve included one poem below so you can get a sneak  peek. I’ve been a fan of Boulevard for a long time!

Click on the poem below for a closer look.

My poem in Boulevard

Literary cats love Louise!

More Good News – Louise Glück Wins the Nobel Prize in Literature

Only the 16th woman EVER to win the Nobel in Literature, and an American Poet at that, this can be nothing but good news for American Poetry. Of course, I’ve been a fan every since I saw her read in my twenties in Cincinnati from Meadowlands. I took my little brother, then 17, and a few of his scruffier friends to the reading, and to my surprise, they all enjoyed it. My little brother went up to her after the reading and complimented her shoes. She must have been about the age I am now, 47, at the time, and she just lit up.

Also, think of this what you will, but Louise Glück taught me, along with Margaret Atwood and Lucille Clifton, what it meant to write the villainess. I will always owe them a debt, in my writing and my life.

Also, Shakespeare and Sylvia, to the left, picking their favorite books: Sylvia, predictably, chose Meadowlands, but Shakespeare stands by the somewhat more austere Firstborn.

Posing with late pink roses

October: Pumpkin Farms, Rose Gardens, Uncertainty

Since we cannot spend all our time stressing out over the news, Glenn and I went out in the country and took pictures of a pumpkin farm, sunflowers, red barns, and stood in the cold air in the trees. I thought seriously about maybe purchasing a pumpkin farm briefly. Glenn could start selling pumpkin cheesecakes, and I could start a skin-care line based on pumpkin and sunflower! Sigh.

I notice when we can get out by ourselves in the outdoors in does wonders for our morale. I’m trying to spend my time indoors writing, sending work out, reading, and spending time exercising and stretching, but being outdoors just helps my spirit.

We also took advantage of a brief stretch of sunshine to go to a (briefly, blessedly) empty rose garden, the last roses of the year, probably, seeing as how it’s mid-October. We also admired the dahlias. Flowers in October are kind of an emblem of uncertainty, aren’t they? Somehow the garden seems full of hidden metaphors. The crows and finches, the uncertain weather – sun, then hail, then rain, then clear again – all of them seem to hold more portent than usual. That was probably also the last time this year I’ll be able to get away with wearing a summer dress – it’s back to sweaters and jackets today, cold even between hail and rain.

Winner of The Robot Scientist’s Daughter Book Giveaway!

Congrats to Marianne Mersereau, winner of this month’s book giveaway of The Robot Scientist’s Daughter, from Mayapple Press. I hope you enjoy the book! I’ll get in touch and make sure I have your address so I can get the book sent out. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Next book giveaway will be next month, so keep your eyes open!

Wishing You Well in Uncertain Times – and Be Sure to Vote

I’m wishing you all as much health and happiness as possible as the nights get longer, we stay inside more, and the election drama ramps up. Those of you who can vote early with absentee or mail-in ballots, please do so. Having a decisive victory as early as possible will do a lot of help heal this country. Remember to take your vitamin C, roast some pumpkin seeds and eat them with soup, be extra kind to yourself in every way you can. Heck, you might even think about buying a pumpkin farm!

Vote like your life depends on it. ADA rights and healthcare coverage for pre-existing conditions are just a few things to think about when you cast your vote. And remember, don’t vote for jerks who spread the plague and brag about it. Think about, it won’t you? Thank you.