Scarritt-Bennett Center has been one of my favorite places in Nashville for a while. First of all, it's the home of Poet's Corner, a monthly reading series where several of my dear poet friends sometimes read, and where Kelsey and I will be appearing on September 27. Second of all, it's a lovely campus that's great for programs, workshops, retreats, and special events. Its chapel is a popular site for weddings. But now I have a new reason to love SBC: its lovely Gifts and Books shop, now … [Read more...]
Celebrating women in my life with poems – and a little banjo
May 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
With Mother’s Day almost upon us, it seems a good time to share a couple of poems I've recently published celebrating two of the many marvelous women in my life. The first poem is "Our Spirits Shall Sorrow No More." Available in both print and audio here in Deep South Magazine, it's about my grandmother - known as "Mamaw" to multiple generations of my family - but if you grew up in the South or Appalachia, it may remind you of your mama or granny, too. I think Mamaw would particularly … [Read more...]
Your Sun, Manny: A Prose Poem Memoir (and Book Giveaway)
April 15, 2012 By 10 Comments
They first saw him on TV as "Wednesday's Child," a feature on the Boston news. They had already raised two boys - her sons from a previous relationship - when they invited Manny into their lives. "The story of any boy's fourteen years should tumble and trip over dogs and cousins and best friends, baseball gloves and birthday parties, hand-me-down bicycles, stuffed animals, crayoned drawings stuck to refrigerators with alphabet magnets, sports posters and lacy valentines from Guess Who," Marie … [Read more...]
Tennessee Joltwagon: Words & Music in Knoxville (and Beyond)
February 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
After a great trip to Knoxville back in December, Kelsey and I are delighted to be invited back so soon for a new collaboration. Along with poets Dawn Coppock and Susan Underwood, we'll be appearing as the group Tennessee Joltwagon and celebrating our Appalachian roots in words and music for two unique performances in one weekend: At noon on Saturday, February 18th, we'll be on the WDVX Blue Plate Special. The one-hour show broadcasts live before a studio audience at noon EST from the … [Read more...]
Coffee with Erin Morgenstern
January 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Yesterday Chapter 16 published "In Praise of Making Things Up" an interview by Sarah Norris with Erin Morgenstern, author of The Night Circus, who will be reading in Nashville next week at the Nashville Public Library. Being a big fan of Chapter 16 and of The Night Circus, I shared the article - and a reminder of the reading - on Facebook as soon as I read it. "I can’t go that night," a friend commented. "I’m bummed." "I'm not sure I can go, either," I replied. And then, right there … [Read more...]
