Where I’ll Be at AWP, Almost Valentine’s, the Poetics of Wrongness, and Flare Corona Makes Its Way into the World – and a First Review

Spring books from BOA Editions

Where I’ll Be at AWP

AWP is just around the corner, and I think this must be the busiest AWP I’ve ever had! The new book is out, I’ll be doing signings at the BOA table, I’m doing an offsite reading, and two panels.

What are you doing in preparation for AWP? I just got my eye exam (needed a new prescription, thanks aging!) so I’ll have new (properly working) glasses for AWP, I’m trying on clothing and making sure things fit, I’ve booked a hotel, and am trying to get as healthy as possible beforehand.

Tulips, new book, and Antagonist wine from J. Bookwalter’s winery

Almost Valentine’s Day and the Poetics of Wrongness

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which this year will fall on a snowy Tuesday. I am ready for spring, not more snow! Glenn got me some beautiful tulips and put together a little tableau with my new book. Wine, tulips, a good book—what more could I ask for on a winter’s day?

Speaking of which, I got an advanced copy of Rachel Zucker’s The Poetics of Wrongness, which is a series of essay/lectures about things that are wrong—for instance, even the idea of a lecture! It’s thought-provoking and enjoyable reading, especially if you’ve read some of Zucker’s other prose (or follow her podcast).

The cats decided spontaneously to pose with her book and our little tableau, here:

Also upcoming this week: J. Bookwalter’s Read Between the Wines Book Club, 6 PM Wednesday the 15th, the Day after Valentine’s Day! Prepare to get cozy and discuss this literary spy thriller, The Secrets We Kept, about the origins of Dr. Zhivago! So if you don’t have any post-Valentine’s plan, come in for some wine and book talk on the 15th.

Mom with my book

The Book Makes Its Way into the World

Since I got my author copies early, I was able to send out a few copies pre-AWP, including to my parents in Ohio. You can see my mother (isn’t she cute?) holding the book to the left. A few other people let me know they received the book safely as well, so it’s making its way all over the place. Here’s a lovely early review from my friend Lesley Wheeler: Flares, small and celestial—LESLEY WHEELER!

I’m starting to book readings and things into June! I’m up for virtual class visits (or in person, in the Seattle area) as well. If you want a signed copy, I’ll be signing them at the BOA table on the Thursday afternoon of AWP! And you can order your signed copy now here: Flare, Corona @ Webbish6.

I hope you will have a good week ahead! Stay warm and take good care out there! Here’s a deer visitor to our yard to remind you – spring is ahead! Soonish!

The Early Arrival of Author Copies of Flare, Corona (!!!), Celebrations with Poet Friends, Fun Videos, Imbolc/St. Brigid’s Day/Groundhog Day and the Sun’s Slow Return

Me with box of Flare, Corona copies and Charlotte and Sylvia

Surprise! Early Arrival of Flare, Corona Author Copies!

Well, this week held a happy surprise: three boxes of books arrived at my door yesterday morning! Since the book’s official release date is several months down the line in spring, I was happy but also felt that I was suddenly behind on everything related to the book.

The book is bigger and more square and substantial feeling than all of my previous books (which should make shipping more interesting), but it felt absolutely terrific to be holding a book that was six years in the making—and contains some of my most vulnerable work, from the most challenging time in my life.

I tried my hand at making videos again (this time, a short unboxing video) and took pictures of the cats with my book. I was so overwhelmed I felt literally light-headed! If you want a copy, it’s still early, but you can get a signed copy from me here or order directly from BOA Editions here.  I’ll also be signing copies at AWP and of course there will be launches in Seattle and Woodinville later in the spring.

Celebrating with Poet Friends

I was lucky enough to be able to celebrate with my poet friend Kelli Russell Agodon. We had been meaning to get together for a while, so we also celebrated her (January) birthday along with the new book! We had champagne, strawberry cupcakes, a huge plate of veggies, and just generally had a great time catching up. I was thinking about the importance of having other writers who support and encourage you along the way—the rejections, the reviews, the acceptances and (occasionally) prizes and publications. Someone who knows exactly what you’ve been through and has gone through a lot of the same things.

The pandemic has been hard on extroverts like me, and although I’ve made efforts to keep socializing a bit, I am really looking forward to reconnecting with more writer friends, not just at the upcoming AWP in Seattle, but this spring and summer as I start reading and having parties. I am in the mood to celebrate life, and hopefully the pandemic will become less dangerous as scientists develop more effective treatment, so I can actually do that safely.

Kirkland sunset in February

Imbolc/St. Brigid’s Day/Groundhog Day and the Slow Return of the Sun

January was a rough month for me, and for many of my friends, so here’s hoping for the return of the light—celebrated symbolically on Imbolc and St. Brigid’s Day—and better things ahead.

I always look forward to the spring, and never more than this year. I just feel something is changing for the better, besides the earth’s core stopping spinning and whatnot (hey, I can’t stop paying attention to everything!), and I feel thankful—thankful—to be approaching my 50th birthday this April. Really, for someone like me, it’s a surprise and a privilege to have survived this long. The book—Flare, Corona—talks about a time that I really thought—and I had been told by prominent specialists—I wasn’t going to make it past 43. I thought about what I could be thankful for.

Pileated Woodpecker in flight

Groundhog Day is a less old and revered holiday than Imbolc or St. Brigid’s Day, and this year, the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, though he’s correct only 30 something percent of the time. I’m hoping to see flowers, and some later sunsets, and warmer weather so we can get out into nature more frequently. Hoping for less snow this winter, and fewer fires this fall.

This pileated woodpecker is a reminder that if we just pay attention, beauty is right outside our window. The birds are singing now in the morning before sunrise, and we even have tulips and daffodils poking out of the ground, although not close to flowering yet. Some years in February, we get cherry blossoms.

Anyway, let’s look towards the lengthening days, the birds and the trees for hope.

And, for fun, here’s my little 17 second unboxing video. I’ve never done one of these before!

And here’s another one with Kelli and I introducing the book.

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Sad news about a Seattle poet, Red-Winged Blackbirds and Superhero Poems, and Some Vision Boards and Kitten Pics to Cheer Us Up

Juvenile Red-Winged Blackbird

A January Post with Sad News About a Seattle Poet

I meant this to be an upbeat blog post but it’s hard to feel upbeat and I want to be authentic in this blog. I was sick all week (hence the lack of selfies) and it was cold and foggy out, absolutely the kind of weather you don’t want to go out in. I had a strange harbinger—a beautiful juvenile red-winged blackbird at my feeder, which I thought was unusual (they don’t usually visit feeders). Then tonight I learned about the death of a poet/friend/editor of Menacing Hedge, Kelly Boyker Guillemette. She was also a Seattle poet, so it impacts this community that I live in. I was sad I didn’t get to tell her how much I appreciated her, or even get to have coffee with her, just to visit. This pandemic has been so isolating, I realize, that I’ve lost touch with friends I shouldn’t have.  

The news has been pretty relentlessly terrible, too. Outside today we had some sunshine, and I had been in bed, barely leaving the house even to get the mail this week with cold, miserable fog every day, so I took a short walk, but in the end, it was too cold to stay out long. I noticed how fallow everything was—all my usual walks, usually with some flowers or greenery even in winter, looked unusually barren. January is a hard month for many reasons. Anyway, readers, hug your friends and editors, tell them you appreciate them, buy them a coffee. 

Superhero Poems and Being a Poetry Influence

A friend sent me a notice about a poem featured on the Poetry Foundation site this week he thought I would like, a poem called “Chinese Female Kung-Fu Superheroes” by Teresa Mei Chuc that bears a little resemblance to a poem of mine called “Female Comic Book Superheroes” from my first book, Becoming the Villainess. And look at the end of the poem. I was really…touched. It’s cool that a poem you wrote over sixteen years ago could inspire someone now. And it’s a really fun poem, and it was featured on Poetry Foundation’s web site. Anyway, it made me feel simultaneously old and happy that someone had found the poem and been inspired to write their own commentary on kick-ass superheroines in a completely different decade.

Kitten Charlotte with crossed paws

Vision Boards and Kitten Pictures

Remember when I said up at the top this was going to be an upbeat post? And it was supposed to be! I was going to post pictures of kitten Charlotte as she’s getting bigger and healthier and pictures of the vision board I barely squeaked into January, just under the wire for 2023. You might notice some themes in the visuals—butterflies, foxes, and typewriters, which all feature in most of my vision boards in some way. I am also hoping and hopefully manifesting more parties, more healthy days in the year, and of course, hoping the new book will connect with an audience in a positive way.

I enjoy doing these kinds of artistic/craft projects even though I am no collage artist, because it requires me to do things I don’t normally do, like wield a glue stick with poster board and scissors, to think visually instead of linguistically.

Kitten Charlotte underneath the vision board (it has her teeth marks on it already…)

I am feeling sentimental tonight and playing the song “Turn Turn Turn” by the Birds. The weather report swears the sunset will happen after 5 PM this week. My garden and trees that look bare and brown now will (hopefully) be full of color in spring. The older cat, Sylvia, in sitting on my lap as I type this, reminding me not to be too sad (she is good at picking up on emotional distress). Let’s hope February brings more love, more light, more health, and more hope to us all.

New Poems in California Quarterly, Book Galleys/ARCs, Winery Book Club Report, and Setting Goals for…Poetry Books?

January Deer Visitors

New Poems in California Quarterly

First of all, a big thank you to California Quarterly for publishing two of my poems in their latest Winter 2022 issue, including “Cassandra as Climate Scientist” and “She Learns to Become Fire.”

Here’s a sneak peek at “Cassandra as Climate Scientist:”

Sylvia and Charlotte pose with my ARC

An Exciting Milestone: The Galley/ARC of Flare, Corona is Here!

Yes, as you can see, the cats are equally excited about the new galley/ARC of Flare, Corona, which means the real book isn’t that far out anymore. Eek!

That means I need to start planning events and other things around the book launch and AWP. I’m starting to list readings and events here on the site at the right side of the page. The list will be growing!

By the way, if you want your own galley/ARC for review or academic course adoption, you can contact BOA Editions! Please send your review copy request directly to Genevieve Hartman, Director of Development & Publicity, at hartman@boaeditions.org.

Glenn with Hell of a Book and kitten in lap

Winery Book Club Report – Hell of a Book

On a cold January night, it was a pleasure to cozy up with some wine, cheese, and Glenn’s madeleines to talk about Jason Mott’s terrific book Hell of a Book. We had a great discussion, ending in a lot of laughter, and our next book is the literary spy thriller The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott, and we’ll meet the day after Valentine’s Day at J. Bookwalter’s in Woodinville at 6 PM (in case you want to join us). A spy thriller is the perfect thing to read in the wintertime.

I’ve really enjoyed being part of the local community, learning more about books and wine at the same time (do I like non-oaky Chardonnay? Yes!) This will also be the location of my Woodinville book launch/birthday celebration in April, and I hope I can introduce some of my Seattle friends to a great local winery (with wines named after book things – Double Plot is the name of the Chardonnet I like, for instance).

Anyway, this has been a great way to help make friends in my neighborhood too, and find some people talk books with on a regular basis. I’m thankful to have a little social practice before AWP, too!

Another cats with book post

Setting Goals…For Your Poetry Book?

I was talking to my little brother this week and he asked me what my goals were for my upcoming book. I hemmed and hawed a little bit, because honestly, I hadn’t really thought a lot in those terms. Isn’t creating the book, finding a publisher, and helping the book get into the world enough of a goal? But of course, my little brother is very practical and ambitious and wants to know what I want to happen with Flare, Corona. I guess when I close my eyes and dream, I hope to connect with a bigger audience, hope to have some good reviews in good places (whatever we think those are right now), hope to, yes, have some book sales (part of that whole reaching a bigger audience thing). I hope that people with MS or difficult diagnoses will find some comfort or fellowship in these poems. I hope it wins a big book prize, too! Do we dare to hope for big media coverage—a radio or television appearance, or being picked by a big book club?

I actually posted this question on Facebook and heard lots of people’s views on whether or not we should even have goals for our poetry books, what they might be for each person, and how overwhelming it can be for poets (who often want to separate the art from the promotion part) to even think about what they are actually hoping to have happen. It can feel overly ambitious to even dream of some of these things. Some just want to focus on the work, which I totally understand, and totally reject even the idea of having goals for a book. But I think it helps me to imagine a future for my little book, that goes beyond just me and my friends and family. And my little brother’s right in some ways—if you have no goals, do you think you might act differently? Plan differently?

One goal I had for this year was to be more social, to have a 50th birthday celebration with friends, to enjoy more things and worry less. How to balance this with everything else? I want to press the brakes on the things that are no fun—MRIs, blood draws, doctor appointments. How do you inject more fun into a life that feels like for three years it’s been nothing but anxiety? It’s tough. Anyway, yes, poetry goals are hard to crystallize or analyze—and maybe that’s okay. Art for art’s sake is totally fine! But maybe it is worth thinking—hey, what do I want to accomplish with this particular piece of writing? What is in my control and out of my control? For writers, a lot of it is out of our hands—but not everything. Anyway, I will report back with more ideas about goals as I come up with them…

Healthier Kittens and Sicker Me, New Hair and Imagining 2023: Re-Entry Fears

Me with new hair and kitten Charlotte

The Second Week of the New Year: Healthier Kittens, Sicker Me, New Hair and Imagining 2023: Re-Entry Anxiety

So, if you read last week’s blog post, you know I was up most nights taking care of two kitties who both made Emergency Vet Hospital Visits, and then as soon as they were better, I got sick. Not covid or flu, but sick enough. I’m just now getting back to normal so yesterday I got my hair done (a little shorter and blonder?) and thought about 2023 (including making some event plants for my birthday and the book launch).

We did have a rare sunny day yesterday, during which we finally took down our outdoor holiday lights and walked around a little bit around the wineries. Our kitties seem totally recovered and are getting along a little better, thank goodness. And people have been asking for more kitten pictures, so here you go!

The face of anxiety? Me with tulips

Anxieties about Re-Entry: 2023 Edition, Including AWP and Turning 50

I had two goals in 2023, not resolutions, but loose ambitions, one was doing Tai Chi every day (fair to middling), and the other was trying to write a poem a day and do a submission a day (also fair to middling, given the cat drama and getting sick as a dog).

I haven’t been out and about much in the last few years, so here is a list of anxieties I’m experiencing about the upcoming year, AWP, and my 50th birthday and book launch:

• Covid (which I still haven’t gotten) and masking, Evushield’s lack of ability to protect from new variants.
• Clothing – I have been living in sparkly tops, yoga pants, and slippers for three years, and now the respectable clothes in my closet are outdated, too big or too small. I also have a real issue wearing uncomfortable clothing again (pinchy shoes, jeans, don’t even think about shapewear, etc.). And I haven’t shopped in a store for a long while.
• Socializing – How do we do it? I literally can’t remember how to do small talk. Is it harder with a mask? Yes. Is it time to take off the mask? Probably not just yet…
• Turning 50: I’ve decided to celebrate this milestone instead of dreading it, so I’m having a party on my actual birthday. Do I look 50? Am I dressing correctly for a 50-year-old? Also, can I still have pink hair? The rules are different now than they were when I was a kid. I do know that I see living this long as a real victory, for someone who has been told she was going to die by multiple doctors not so long ago. Hey, every year above ground is a good year.
• Launching a book (still) during a pandemic: so, how does one plan a book launch when there’s still sort of pandemic conditions and you worry you’ve forgotten everything about doing book promotion (are there still book festivals, for instance? If so, which are disability friendly? Can I do college class visits virtually? How much travel can I do as someone with MS and a junk immune system before the body crashes? So many questions…and the first phase of 2023’s publicity efforts for Flare, Corona will really start soon. (In the meantime, check out BOA’s new book page for my book, with blurbs and a sample poem!)

What about you? What are you feeling about 2023? Do you feel this weird re-entry anxiety, or is it just me? Some of you have already re-entered. How is it out there? How about promoting books right now? Anyway, use the comments to vent, suggest, etc.