A Long December, a few bits of news, and a panel on poetry and technology

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!

Shopping List? A few recommended Poetry Books of 2012

If you are looking for poetry books from 2012 to buy as gifts (or for yourself) I do have just a few must-buys and recommendations. It’s always hard to pick exactly what I enthusiastically endorse each year, because I get so many books as a reviewer, and so many of them are worthy of praise. However, these are books I have read closely, already given to others myself, and can truly say – this book was a great read more than once! So, this is a short list, I’m leaving out a ton of other great poetry books, but rest assured these would all be great books to give as gifts or keep for yourself.
Yes, I’m including links to these books on Amazon, with the caveat that if you can buy them directly from the publisher or from your local independent bookstore (Seattle’s Open Books is a nice place that I’d like to see stay open!) that is probably the best way to support your publishers and bookstores.

Annette Spaulding-Convy’s In Broken Latin
I blurbed this book but I’ve been a fan of it (reading it in different iterations) for years. Annette writes with compassion, grace, and a surprisingly sharp and humorous eye about her experiences as a nun. This is not your grandmother’s nun poetry – expect a wonderbra or two flying at you from these pages. I can genuinely say Annette is not only a friend but probably one of the best poets I’ve ever read. You will not regret buying this book.

Juliana Gray’s Roleplay
This book of poetry has “geek cred” written all over it. You can read my review up at The Rumpus (http://therumpus.net/2012/10/roleplay-by-juliana-gray/) but suffice it to say that if you enjoy any combination of formal poetry, zombies, and Hitchcock trivia, you will enjoy this book. Juliana’s poetry is funny and smart and the kind of “gateway drug” that will get your comic-loving little brother to believe that poetry can be fun.

Kathleen Flenniken’s Plume
It’s not every book about America’s nuclear history that you can say: the author has actually lived that history. Kathleen worked at Hanford as an engineer, her father worked at Hanford, and she grew up in Richland cheering on teams with names like “The Bombers.” (For sci-fi geeks, a little trivia: Orson Scott Card was also born in Richland, WA.) This book is an amazing and dynamic combination of history of the Manhattan Project, Memoir, and Poetry. This is one book of poetry I could give to my engineer father that he actually read and enjoyed. (My formal review of the book is up at The Rumpus: http://therumpus.net/2012/05/lie-down-patriot-dont-ask/)

Eduardo Corral’s Slow Lightning
Sure, he’s everybody’s literary darling now, and his book won the Yale Younger Poets Prize, etc..but Eduardo has been writing insanely good lyric poetry for years now. He’s one of those poets I was begging other poets to read the minute I after I read his first poem seven or eight years ago. Besides some sensitive and keen-eyed tributes to his mother and father – those are my favorites in the book – Eduardo manages to address issues of immigration, sexuality, language, and being the “other” in a way that few other poets could pull off. (Not for anyone who would be put off by a blow job reference or three – these are definitely poems for adults.)

Also want to give a shout-out to: Poet’s Market 2013, a must-have for aspiring and beginning poets and Anything from Kitsune Books: This wonderful small publisher is closing at the end of the year due to the editor/publisher’s serious illness. Please go and buy a title before they go away and do what you can to support them- http://www.kitsunebooks.com/catalog-genre.html. I know you won’t be disappointed with any of their poetry books, but they also have Young Adult, Geek-friendly lit crit, and fiction.

Black Friday Poetry Deals!

In case you’re in the mood to shop – for poetry!

Black Friday through Cyber Monday, get a special deal – receive both of my books (Becoming the Villainess and She Returns to the Floating World with free (Domestic) shipping and a free gift (surprise!) for $20! Remember, She Returns to the Floating World is about to go out of print at the end of December, so get your copy now! To get this deal, e-mail me at jeannine dot gailey at live dot com with the subject line “Black Friday Poetry.”

Happy Thanksgiving Week – Is it really almost December?

OK, I know everyone probably says this every year, but Oh my God how did it get to be almost December? Have I been asleep in some sort of time machine? Is everyone else ready for the holidays now? Because I am not. Yesterday there was flooding around town, some downed tree branches, but nothing big enough to use as a Christmas tree.

Thanksgiving will mean Osso Bucco and crustless cranberry meringue pies this year. We’re adjusting to my new dietary restrictions and plus, meals made in a Dutch oven rule for going out to the movies on Thanksgiving! (James Bond perhaps? Why isn’t The Hobbit out yet?)

I actually felt really good about the last Redmond Poet Laureate event, Kathleen Flenniken’s reading (for a summary and pictures here: http://redmondpoetry.blogspot.com/2012/11/kathleen-flennikens-redmond-reading-and.html) and loved meeting people interested in poetry. I mean, maybe I feel like I’m starting to have a little bit of a community out here in the tech-center-outskirts of Seattle. Yes, I might even say I feel optimistic. I’m looking forward to Kelli and Annette’s talk on December 6th on E-publishing and social media for poets at Redmond Library (7 PM.) Did I mention how great our library system is? Well, I feel thankful for that too.

I’m starting to get a little nervous/stressed/excited about getting all the book stuff for Unexplained Fevers ready by the end of December for a spring launch with New Binary Press – like, getting a new author photo, working with the artist to get cover art, starting to (eek!) think about setting up readings for the new book next year. Maybe a book trailer? (I do not currently have the skills to make a book trailer, so if you ever see one, it’s because someone helped me out. Maybe more than one person.) I may work with a PR service for the book this time around (YouDoPR is a very affordable PR service that is creating services for poets!) This is all new territory for me. Does having a book coming out seem lie it requires a lot more skills than it used to? But I am so thankful to have a publisher and a publishing date for this book.

So Happy Thanksgiving, you guys, however you celebrate, I hope you are warm and safe and loved. I’m going to decorate for Christmas early this year. We don’t have much money to spend – paying mortgages and car repairs and such has really curtailed our usual spending festivities – but we can start the celebration whenever we want.

Washington State Poet Laureate Kathleen Flenniken visits Redmond!

Today I have the chance as Poet Laureate of Redmond to host the Poet Laureate of the whole state of Washington, Kathleen Flenniken, as she reads at Redmond Library from her new book, Plume, at 3 PM. Afterwards I’ll host a short Q&A, and we’ll serve refreshments, and Kathleen will sign books! I’m really looking forward to hearing Kathleen read poems from Plume again – this is one of my favorite books of 2012 – I liked it so much I bought one for myself and one for my father!

It’s a stormy day out, perfect for curling up with a good book at the library, so come by if you can! (Refreshments include sea-salt-and-cocoa-dusted almonds and peppermint-chocolate cookies…)