March 28, 2024

Celebrate Tennessee Poets for National Poetry Month

Yes, it's National Poetry Month, but I'm celebrating closer to home with three delightful Tennessee poets in this article I wrote for April's issue of The Murfreesboro Pulse. Since my space in the article was limited, I wanted to add a bit more here to share how you can learn more about these poets and their recent work - and buy their books, of course! Sandy Coomer, Continuum  Visit Sandy's website at sandycoomer.com Sample one of Sandy's poems here in The Southeast Review Buy her … [Read more...]

Southern literature fan? You need this app!

It's February, and while it's possible we could still get a good snowfall here in middle Tennessee, the worst of winter is probably over. Today was a beautiful spring-like day - the kind that reminds me that vacation and travel season will be here soon. And that makes me think of an app you need to check out if you like Southern literature. The Deep South Literary Trail Guide is a guide to writers' homes, bookstores, festivals, and other literature-related landmarks in the South. For many … [Read more...]

Buy our poetry and music CD, benefit literacy

This week Kelsey and I had the opportunity to warm up the crowd at Read to Succeed's Celebrity Spelling Bee, an annual event in which brave citizens of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County compete in a spelling contest to raise awareness and funds for literacy here in our home county. "Cholera" was the word that won the contest, as reported here by the Murfreesboro Post. More impressive than any spelling feat, over $58,000  - a record amount - was raised to benefit Read to Succeed and its … [Read more...]

Tennessee Joltwagon: Words & Music in Knoxville (and Beyond)

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

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...]