Bronx River Books
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| Mark Fowler and Ann |
Holiday Writing Festival
On December 16, Bronx River Books will host two readings of writers from the Scarsdale Library Writers Center: 6:30 -7:45pm, and 8-9:15pm. The Center, led by novelists Barbara Solomon Josselsohn and Jimin Han, features writers such as my personal favorite, Mary Wasacz, whom you can hear in the second session. Break a line everyone, as my friend Meredith Trede says.The Hero to Debut This Month
Excited that my second book of translation will appear this month from Chax Press! The Hero, by contemporary French poet Hélène Sanguinetti, addresses absurdities of war. Although written more than a decade ago, it anticipates the divisions of our time. See also my three poems celebrating the Bette Davis film “Now, Voyager” in Rabid Oak, and next month look for the Texas-inspired anthology, The Enchantment of the Ordinary (Mutabilis Press), which includes my poem, “Kin.” Award-winning Upper Hand Press
Congratulations to Upper Hand on being a finalist in the American Book Fest Awards in the travel category for She Can Find Her Way: Women Travelers at Their Best(2017). Jump on this or any Upper Handbook, including Free Ferry, half price through January 15. Optional holiday wrap and hand-written note mailed directly to your gift-list recipients. Need writerly inspiration? Herta Feely, author of the award-winning Saving Phoebe Murrow (2016), shares in this video how she pursued her dream.Dickens Christmas and Vintage Holiday Postcards
Charles Dickens gave his first reading of A Christmas Carol in 1853 and brought his reading tour here in 1867-68. The New York Public Library celebrates the US tour’s 150th anniversary with a special installation of Dickens’s annotated prompt-copies of A Christmas Carol and other books with original photographs, first editions, and ephemera. Don’t miss the library’sheartwarming holiday postcard collection on exhibit too.Linda Simone Poetry and Art at the Twig
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| Linda Simone by her illustrated Tricentennial poem |
Sarah Bracey White on Race in America
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| Sarah Bracey White with James Baldwin's family at film debut of If Beale Street Could Talk |
Upstream Gallery in Hastings
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| Copyright Cecily Spitzer |
Amal and the Amazing Falafel Wrap
Our morning on the riverside included a visit to Irvington Delight, a deli that creates homemade Mediterranean falafel, baba ganouj, and hummus. Thanks to informal Arabic instruction from Herb Hadad, I was able to say, Shukran when the proprietor Amal offered Michael and me samples of her airy falafel. The hummus was equally awesome, creamy without a bean aftertaste. Highly recommended!What Did I Accomplish This Year?
Have you reached year-end and feel desperate that you didn’t accomplish what you wanted? Barbara Dickinson and Sandy Jahmi Burg, gifted workshop leaders, are once again offering their enormously popular free webinar, January 26, 2019, 12-1:30pm Eastern Time (US and Canada). Register her to participate: New Releases
Spicy Brussels Sprouts
This is my vegetarian version of a recipe from Pati’s Mexican Table. Everyone seems to be eating Brussels sprouts these days, and this is a delicious Mexi-Asian fusion.
Sauce:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic finely minced
1/3 cup organic tamari sauce
4 tablespoons sherry vinegar
4 tablespoons agave or maple syrup
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 habañero chile (optional)
Brussels sprouts:
1 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 pounds Brussels sprouts trimmed and halved
Kosher or coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Add butter to saucepan over medium-low heat. Once melted and bubbling, add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add soy sauce, sherry vinegar, agave syrup and orange juice; mix well. Poke holes in habañero with paring knife and add it to sauce whole. Bring to simmer and cook 8-10 minutes until sauce thickens and coats back of a spoon.In large cast iron pan over medium-high heat, heat the oils. Add Brussels sprouts, salt and pepper to taste, and cook for 12-15 minutes until crispy and browned on outside and tender inside. Plate Brussels sprouts on a large platter and drizzle with the sauce.
Poetry Readings / Literary Events
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| Linda Simone |
HVWC, December 14, 7:30pm, Kerry LeVielle, Sundance Ignite Fellow; film showing and discussion with Sean Weiner, director of Creative Culture at Jacob Burns Film Center
St. James the Less Church, January 13, 11:15am, Sarah Bracey White on Race in America
HVWC, January into 2019, Every Third Friday Open Mic, January 8, February 16, March 15, April 19, May 17, and June 21; Open Write Saturdays, January 12, February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11 and June 8
HVWC, January 27, 4-5pm, Young Adult Children’s Book Agent Panel, Penny Moore, Rebecca Sherman, Susan Hawk, $15
Round the Net
Poet Gary Glauber on work in Breadcrumb, Piker Press, Sheila-Na-Gig, and Vita Brevis
Poet and NEA recipient Pamela Hart for her great work with military families as profiled in O Magazine
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| Laurel Peterson |
NEA ArtMatters on Joan Mitchell’s “How to Be an Artist”
Norwalk Poet Laureate Laurel Peterson for a superb job, and announcing the search for a new laureate—email clahey@norwalkpl.org if interested
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| The New York Public Library on Fifth |
Poet and artist Linda Simone for her Poetry Spoken Here podcast, interview on the JohnMac Radio Show, and for sharing with us publishing markets that pay
Poet Arthur Russell on his poem, “Burning Garbage,” appearing in Copper Nickellast month
As we end the year, I celebrate our wonderful communities of poets in New York’s backyard. Thanks to George Kraus of Sundays with George, the Shames JCC monthly reading series; Bill Buschel of the Hudson Valley Writers Center; Yorktown Heights Poet Laureate John McMullen; Norwalk Poet Laureate Laurel Peterson; and Fairfield County’s poetry impresario Jerry T. Johnson, for creating opportunities for poets to develop and read their work.
Wishing everyone holiday joy and, for the new year, fierce creativity!
Until next time,