Our winged Dodge and a sweet donkey
Do you remember cars with push-button gears, plaid-fabric bench seats and chrome fins? My poem, “At the County Airport,” recalls such space-age designs. To my delight, Main Street Rag has accepted it for a car-themed anthology. I’m also thrilled that issue 46 of Sugar Mule features two of my poems. Thanks again to guest editor Alyse Knorr. |
| Karin Miller |
Congratulations to editor Karin Miller, whose Cancer Poetry Project 2 (Tasora Books, 2013) was named Best Poetry Book of 2013 at the Midwest Book Awards Gala on May 15 and is a National Indie Excellence Award finalist.
A Slant of Light (Codhill Press, 2013) has won First Prize in the 2014 USA Book Awards for Anthology and the 2014 da Vinci Eye Eric Hoffer Book (Cover) Award; and is a finalist in the 2014 Beverly Hills International Book Awards for Anthology, 2014 NextGeneration Indie Book Awards in Women’s Issues, and 2014 International Book Awards in Chick Lit/Women’s Literature.
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| Martin Espada |
The Widow’s Handbook (Kent State University Press, 2014) continues readings: June 5, 7 pm, Iona Senior Services, 4125 Albemarle St NW, Washington, DC; June 7, 2 pm, Swarthmore College, Trotter Hall 301; June 8, 7 pm, Stonehenge Studios, 3508 SW Corbett Ave., Portland, OR; June 10, 2 pm, East Castle Place, 2505 E. Bradford Place, Milwaukee, WI; June 26, 7 pm, Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main Street, Concord, NH, and July 9, 11 am, Shorewood Senior Resource Center, 3920 N. Murray Ave, Shorewood, WI.
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| Petra Lewis |
WORD - A Caribbean Book Fest will celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month on Sunday, June 8, 2 – 8 pm, at Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue, in Brooklyn. Petra Lewis, author of The Sons and Daughters of Ham: Book I, A Requiem, will join 35 writers from 18 countries celebrating the storyteller in all of us.
Dianalee Velie Poetry Workshop
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| Dianalee Velie |
Canaan Meetinghouse Reading Series
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| Paul Harding |
In the same NH neighborhood, stop by these readings which feature nonfiction writer Douglas Bauer and author Sue Miller on July 10, poet Jeffrey Harrison and novelist Deb Harkness on July 17, natural historian Bernd Heinrich and novelist Rachel Urquhart on July 24, author Abigail Carroll and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Paul Harding on July 31. Readings start at 7:30 pm at the Meetinghouse, Canaan Street, Canaan, NH.
New books
Tanya Chernov is delighted that her anthology, The Burden of Light(Smashwords, 2014), is live on Amazon.
Petra Lewis announces that the EBook version of her novel, The Sons and Daughters of Ham: Book I, A Requiem, is live on Amazon.
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| James Dean |
Red Glass Books is beside itself with joy to announce the publication of Café between wars, a chapbook by Karen Garthe and designed by Janet Kaplan. Available from the author—please email her at macminch2@gmx.com for details.
Calls for work
Red Booth Review is accepting poems on celebrity and art and photos on isolation through June 30. Include 4-10 poems within an email and/or 3-5 digital images no greater than 720px. See current issue for editorial preferences in poetry.
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| Watercolor by Isabelle Fuller |
Beatrix Potter Redux
Thanks to artist Isabelle Fuller for sharing this delightful spring watercolor which pays homage to classic Beatrix Potterillustrations.
Racoco on the go-go
SOAK: A torrent of AcTS and Training molded by LEIMAY at CAVE will take place June 19 at 8 pm. Racoco Productions will show a new collaboration with visual artist Stephanie Beckand composer Lynn Wright, Paper Work, which charts ideas of "progress," territorial expansion, discipline, and disorder.
Beck and Racoco will follow up this premiere with an installation and series of performances at Harlem’s Chashama Performance Space, 1351 Amsterdam Avenue. The installation will be open to the public Saturday, June 21, from 3 - 9 pm, Sunday from noon - 8 pm, and Monday from 10 am - 9 pm.
Benefit Harp Concert
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Beck and Racoco will follow up this premiere with an installation and series of performances at Harlem’s Chashama Performance Space, 1351 Amsterdam Avenue. The installation will be open to the public Saturday, June 21, from 3 - 9 pm, Sunday from noon - 8 pm, and Monday from 10 am - 9 pm.
Benefit Harp Concert
On Sunday, June 15, at 4 pm, harpist David Holton and flutist Pamela Sklar will perform, accompanied by tenors Michael Hull and Robert Puleo at Trinity St. Paul’s Church in New Rochelle. This benefit will raise funds to send David Holton to the Philippines as part of the Episcopal Church Young Adult Service Corps. Reception to follow concert. Suggested Donation: $15.
Send Sam to Ghana
Sam Russell, a recent Trinity Collegegraduate with an economics degree, is going to volunteer in Ghana where he will help WomensTrustimprove their operations, focus on micro lending to women to eliminate poverty, and raise awareness how scholarships can improve life for girls. Help Sam get to Ghana by contributing to his IndieGoGo campaign.
Cool Ginger LimeadeWhen the heat rises, I thirst for something delicious. I created this recipe as an alternative to chemical- and high fructose-sugar-laden ginger ale. Ginger has an astringent quality that cleanses the digestive system, and lime is alkaline to counteract acidity. Great after a big meal!
1 cup bottled natural spring water
1 quarter-size quarter-inch slice of ginger root, peeled
1/2 lime
2 Tablespoons (more or less to taste) organic raw honey
This refreshing drink calls for a strong blender. Combine water and ginger root in blender and process on the highest setting about a half minute. Using a tea strainer over a tall glass, strain the ginger water into the glass. Rinse out the blender to make sure it is free of any ginger.
Return the ginger water to the blender and squeeze the juice of one-half lime into blender. Add two tablespoons of raw honey. Blend again on high. Pour back into glass. The drink will be a lovely cream color and develop a foamy head. Drink right away. Serves one.
Round the Net
Translator Jeffrey Angles for sharing this article by the great Persian translator Dick Davis on translating Hafez.
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| Contemporary poets discuss poetry hosted by UPenn Prof Al Filreis |
Belated birthday wishes to Gary Glauber, whose poems “Anthem” and “Refrain” appear in The Citron Review; and has three more poems in The Blue Hour, and two in East Jasmine Review, purchasable at the East Jasmine Review Store.
Writing mentor Robert McDowell for letting us know about his new workshop, Flash Writing for Fantastic Exploration, starting June 11—to register, email rmcdowell@mind.net
Congratulations to Laura Morelli on winning a silver IPPY Award for Best Adult Fiction Ebook for her debut novel, The Gondola Maker, also been shortlisted for the Eric Hoffer Award, the da Vinci Eye Prize, and the National Indie Excellence Award
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| The Offbeats |
Thanks to Linda Simonefor alerting us to the passing of the beloved civil rights activist and poet, Maya Angelou
Thanks to filmmaker Frank Vitale for sharing Episode 5 of the Metropolis Organismand this fascinating look back at his role in the PBS children’s program, Shining Time Station
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| Maya Angelou |
Until next time,