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...]
The Next Big Thing: Is There Still a Novel in This Poet’s Future?
February 13, 2013 By 8 Comments
When my writing friend Candace White of aintgotenoughgravy blog fame asked if she could tag me for "The Next Big Thing" blog hop, of course I said yes. After all, 2012 was a good year for my writing life. Decent Pan of Cornbread, my spoken word and old-time music CD with Kelsey Wells, came out, and I had a bit of other poetry and nonfiction published in various places. Similarly, 2013 is off to a good start. I've been writing almost every day and am looking forward to a couple of publications … [Read more...]
Southern literature fan? You need this app!
February 5, 2013 By 4 Comments
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
November 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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...]
Cooking That Cornbread
September 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
We're excited to announce that our first album, Decent Pan of Cornbread, has been officially released. You know you're hungry for it! While you're waiting on your copy to arrive, preheat the oven, so to speak, with a little bit of DPOC trivia. Where can you get a Decent Pan of Cornbread? Buy the CD direct from Kory's shop, or sample the tracks and buy digital downloads or physical CDs here on CDBaby.com or here on Kory and Kelsey's Facebook page. You'll also find downloads on iTunes and … [Read more...]
Books, gifts, spirit: the shop at Scarritt-Bennett
July 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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...]
