Here’ where I’ve spent much of my summer, with my basset hound who thinks he’s a lap dog, and a stack of good books!
Jane Austen once wrote in a letter, “What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.” As I write this, we’re having a heat and humidity spike in middle Tennessee that’s typical for August, and I feel quite inelegant indeed. For the most part, though, it’s been a remarkably lovely, oh-so-temperate summer here. Consequently I’ve been doing a lot more porch-sitting than blogging (and looking quite elegant in my beloved wicker porch swing, I’m sure. Uh-huh.)
So, that’s my excuse this time. But I’m back, and expect to be back again soon, and often, through the fall. Here’s what’s going on:
First, I’m honored and delighted to be featured in an interview on William Kelly Woolfitt’s Speaking of Marvels, a blog project dedicated to “chapbooks, novellas, and other shorter forms.” Will sent over a passel of great questions for me to choose from. I’m very grateful to have the chance to share some thoughts about
- the genesis of my chapbook
- how I organized my chapbook
- my experience – and advice – with regards to publishing and promoting a chapbook
- the relevance of the chapbook in an increasingly digital world
Second, I’ll be having more poetry book giveaways soon!
- Watch for opportunities to learn more about – and win a copy of –
- Love and Other Hungers by Susan O’Dell Underwood, from the new Sapling Grove Press
- Abiding Appalachia: Where Mountain and Atom Meet by Marilou Awiakta – originally published in 1978, republished by Pocahontas Press, and with forthcoming distribution by Iris Press
- Something Solid To Anchor To by Rita Sims Quillen, from Finishing Line Press
- I recharged my creativity in a recent poetry workshop with Jeff Hardin through The Porch Writers’ Collective (check their site – he’s got another one coming up later in August)
- I’m looking forward to reading (with my favorite fiddler, just back from her summer tour with Turnip the Beet) at Martin Methodist College
- I’m excited to have a teaching artist gig with the Poetry & Prints project through Watkins College
- There’s also the Creative Writers Conference of Middle Tennessee (by MTSU Write, formerly The Writer’s Loft) to look forward to in September, and the reading by one of its alumni and one of my former mentees, Walker Bass, at Poet’s Corner at Scarritt Bennett in October.
- And of course Southern Festival of Books!
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