Wrap up the old and unwrap the new

I’ve been putting off writing this blog, concentrating instead on the holidays and goofing off. But I wanted to tell you what the contributors have been up to because they have been busy.  And, I wanted to tell you the latest about Solace in So Many Words even though I haven’t been busy, exactly.

First to tell you about my busy  contributors. Arthur Powers (“Jardim Zological”) emailed me back in November to say his short story “Thom” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by the editors of Prime Number Magazine. Have you read Prime Number yet?  It’s an online gem put out by the folks at Press 53. Two of Arthur’s short stories have been accepted for inclusion in an environmentally oriented short story anthology called Being Human: Call of the Wild by Bibliotekos. Arthur’s short story “Come into My House and Stay” was published in Dappled Things. His poem “February” was selected for an anthology of the best poems appearing in Christianity and Literature over the past 60 years and four of his poems (“Workmen Repairing The Flagpole At The Municipal Hall,”  “Trios on a Rose Trombone”  “The Beggar Woman” and “1945”) appear in the Winter 2011 issue hotmetal press. Much of Arthur’s poetry draws on his days in Brazil.

Kathleene Donahoo (“Stops and Starts”) has placed her story “Mr. Frank” in either the winter 2011 or summer 2012 issue of the publication  Muse & Stone, which is put out by Waynesburg College in Waynesburg, PA. Her story “South” will be in an upcoming Pearl Magazine.  And, Kathy’s “A Spot of Certain Darkness” placed in Press 53’s flash fiction contest and appears in this year’s Open Awards Anthology.  BTW, the deadline for this year’s contest is at the end of March.

In addition to writing poetry, Ellen Bass (“And What If I Spoke of Despair,” “Don’t Expect Applause,” “Jack Gottlieb’s in Love” and “The Thing Is”) holds poetry workshops.  For the most up-to-date info, check out Ellen’s website.   From May 29 to June 3, 2012, she is co-hosting 
”Truth & Beauty,”
a poetry workshop with Dorianne Laux and Marie Howe at
Carter Hall in Millwood, VA.

Kathleen Kirk was awarded the 2011 Ekphrasis Prize by Ekphrasis Journal for the poem “Repose” based on the painting Repose by John White Alexander.  She’ll be teaching a class in ekphrasis this winter at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington, IL. Her next chapbook, Nocturnes, is forthcoming from Hyacinth Girl Press, and will be ready in time for the AWP Conference, so look for it at the same booth with Solace in So Many Words!  (Yes, Weighed Words will be sharing a table with Hyacinth Girl Press and Arsenic Lobster–more details to follow.)  Kathleen  has work current or forthcoming in several print and online magazines, including Umbrella, Stirring and YB .  You can always find out what’s new with Kathleen (and what she’s reading) at her blog, Wait! I Have a Blog?!

Kathleen is also poetry editor at a great blog spot called Escape into Life, which is a source for all kinds of good writing and art.  But before you visit the site, make sure you have some time on your hands because it is easy to get absorbed by the many fascinating postings.

Adanna Literary Journal just sponsored a love poem contest and Kathleen’s poem “Waiting for the Revolution” took first place.  Kathleen and more than a dozen contributors to Adanna will read at the AWP on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 7:00 pm in the Private Dining Room of the Hilton Chicago Hotel.  The reading is open to the public – hope to see you there.

U.S. Poet Laureate Philip Levine (“Waking in Alicante” and “Songs”) will be in Chicago for an event sponsored by the Poetry Foundation.  “Poetry off the Shelf: Carol Ann Duffy and Philip Levine” will be held Friday, March 2, 8:30 pm at the  International Ballroom 
North & South, Hilton Chicago Hotel, 
720 South Michigan Avenue.  The British and United States Poets Laureate appear together for a rare joint reading and conversation moderated by Poetry senior editor Don Share.  Free admission on a first come, first served basis.

You can also read a new poem “Pennsylvania Pastoral” by Philip Levine in the Jan 2, 2012 issue of The New Yorker.

Antler (“Stop to Think,” “For All a Baby Knows” and “First Breath, Last Breath”) and Noel Sloboda (“Backyard Burial”) are published in Verse Wisconsin (issue 107) “Earthworks.”   Jeff Poniewaz (“Hearing My Prayers”) has contributed an essay (“The Making of an Eco Poet”) as well as four poems to the issue.  BTW, when Solace in So Many Words came out, I sent a copy to Verse Wisconsin where it waits for review.  Do you know any Wisconsin writers who would like to review it?

I had a poem “Vaya con Dios”  in an ezine out of Listowel, Ireland called thefirstcut (issue 4).

As I have mentioned, Weighed Words will be at the AWP conference February 29 to March 3, 2012.  Also, we have an upcoming reading at Wilmette Public Library on Thursday, January 26.

The other news is Pushcart nominations.  These selections were difficult as I love every piece in Solace in So Many Words.   The six nominations are:

Short Story:  “Details” by Joan Corwin and “Heartbeat” by J. Scott Smith.

Essay: “Alleys” by Michael Constantine McConnell and “Starting to Breathe” by Patty Somlo.

Poetry: “Veritas Premitur Non Opprimitur” by Brent Calderwood and “Faith”  by Ann McNeal.

I have also entered Solace in So Many Words into some contests with the hope the book gets some critical recognition.

Thank you for a wonderful 2011 — Happy 2012 to all!