Spring is Here, Poems in French on RealPoetik and in StorySouth, Where I’ll be at AWP and those AWP jitters

Cherry blossoms

First Week of Spring

The first week of spring here has blossomed suddenly and I’ve been trying to lug my camera everywhere. Daffodils, plum blossoms, early magnolias and cherry trees – every doctor’s and apartment building parking lot is lit up with beauty. I’m trying to get my readings together for AWP and write my remarks for the panel on Poetry and the Body, but the flowers keep distracting me wherever I go.

Poems in StorySouth and in French in RealPoetik

I’m happy to say I have a poem “They Say You Can’t Go Home Again” in the new issue of StorySouth. (Follow the link to read the whole issue which has poems and fiction by a ton of great writers.)

I’m also happy to say my poems have been published in a second language – the first was Japanese – and this time it’s French. Paris Lit mag RealPoetik has published three of my poems in French (with English translations.) Two are new and one is from Field Guide to the End of the World.

Where I’ll be at AWP and Those AWP Jitters

I’ll be coming in Thursday night, reading at the Disability Literature Consortium at the Courtyard by Marriott at 6 PM.

Friday, I’ll be signing PR for Poets (and She Returns to the Floating World) – and passing out some swag – at the Two Sylvias Booth (in the 9000’s, I think) from 2-3 PM. I hope to see a lot of you there!

Then Friday night, I’ll be doing a reading that night with Spoon River Poetry Review, Obsidian, and Noemi Press at Beulahland at 8 PM.

Then Saturday, I’ll be speaking on a panel:

Poetry and the Body at 3 PM in B116, Level 1. S252. Poetry and the Body: Writing the Corporeal. (Peter Joseph Gloviczki, Alex Lemon, Jeannine Hall Gailey)  In this poetry craft and criticism panel, we aim to have a meaningful dialogue about how the corporeal and related elements enter into our creative processes and how they also inform the delivery of our work in public settings. Drawing from history, memory, and geography, we aim to more fully place the corporeal among the elements that guide our work. We hope poets in the audience will be inspired to consider how the corporeal informs their own creation, forms, content, and delivery.

Then, that night, I’ll be reading at the Moon City Press offsite reading at the White Owl Social Club, 6-8 PM.

Whew! I’m feeling beat just looking at that schedule! I’m having last minute jitters, just like I bet a lot of you are. At least now they’re saying we’ll have nicer weather, no (or just a little) rain, mid sixties. Maybe even a day of sun! I’ve been seeing people on my Twitter feed saying they can’t make it to AWP because they’re getting sick (still flu season, people! Take that vitamin C!) I’ve also seen my female writer friends stressing out about what to wear. Guess what? People there will be happy to see you no matter what you’re wearing, I swear! Although these days with the intimidating number of selfies, yeah, I get it. I’ve been having a hard time sleeping – waking up with panic attacks about, say, dental work or whether the hotel I’m staying at will have an elevator not working so I’ll be trapped there. The joys of travel!

But for real, I’m looking forward to seeing so many old friends – I’ve been going to AWP since I was in my fresh-faced late twenties, and it’s such a wonderful chance to see editors and publishers who have done nice things for you in person, and to see friends you remember from that one party in 2008, and to see writing heroes and mentors. I want to celebrate! I don’t want to waste my energy worrying. I hope you get a chance to celebrate too. Looking forward to seeing you there!