Making October Brighter: Oct 15th Open Books Reception, Mythic Delirium Poems, Other Poetry Business and More

October can be a rough month for us in the Northwest. The days get shorter, colder, and much, much wetter, all at once. We did have a brief sunbreak during which Glenn and I ran around taking pictures to prove that sun and autumn leaves could happen at the same time, see below! Otherwise, we’ve been trying to stay positive while going to looong cancer doctor appointments (right now, my main two cancer specialist folks don’t agree on next steps, tests, or what exact kind of cancer I have…which makes all the appointments emotional and exhausting), doing dental work, getting feet x-rayed (I had a nerve contusion, not a break, yay), and of course, trying to avoid getting the flu as I recover from pneumonia. (Finally, my oxygen levels are back to normal. Yay! Oxygen=good!) Having pneumonia and having to deal with complicated diagnoses and tests at the same time are not my recommendation for fun times. It’s been rough trying to do enough to promote the new book (at least in my mind) but then I remember that the Bronte sisters’ first book of poetry sold two copies. So maybe I’m doing okay. In general I’ve just felt a little tired and down. I need an espresso shot for the spirit!

I’m doing some things to counter my tiredness and bit of discouragement – tomorrow I’m attending Ada Limon’s SAL reading, I’m doing a few online class visits to talk about my various books – I think I’ll be talking about The Robot Scientist’s Daughter, Becoming the Villainess, and Field Guide to the End of the World for the different classes –  in the next couple of weeks, and visiting with some other writers to talk poetry next week. I love doing online class visits as long as my technology cooperates, and it’ll be nice to hang out with other writers for a bit. I’ve mostly finished my review of Dana Levin’s Banana Palace. I’ve written a few new poems, and plan to do some more fall submissions. It is the season for that!

Then, the big news – I’ve got a reception/reading thing coming up – my second event for Field Guide to the End of the World – at Open Books in Seattle on October 15 at 4 PM. It’s not a formal reading, more of a book signing plus with fun, I’m so excited that I can bring cupcakes and sparkling drinks and can make it a real sort of celebration with all my friends down in Seattle who couldn’t make it out to Woodinville last month. Plus, I’ll actually have a voice this time, and no coughing, I promise! It should be fun! I’m kind of glad now I spaced the two main events for Seattle a month apart – who knew it would take me almost that long to get all the way better? And it’s never bad to be at Open Books – still one of my fave places in Seattle, now with a new owner, a new coat of paint and a children’s corner.

Also, thank you to Mythic Delirium because their new issue features a poem from Field Guide to the End of the World, “To the Ends of the Earth.” Mythic Delirium has always been one of my fave speculative publications.

What are are you guys doing to keep your spirits up now that October and fall are here? We’re already started making little gluten-free pumpkin cheesecakes, checking out all the new fall shows (what do you like so far? Timeless seems promising…) and stocking up on new reading material…including the new Maria Semple novel (whose main character is a poet!) and the issue of APR with Marie Howe AND Beth Ann Fennelly!