your may annogram

 Spring seems to generate poetry—so I hope you enjoy this packed  annogram! For starters, I’d like to thank editor Richard Krawiec for including my work in the newly released anthology, …and love… (Jacar Press, 2012), alongside poets such as John Hoppenthaler, Doriane Laux and Marge Piercy. Thrilled my poem, “Late Evening,” will appear in the next issue of Ochre: A Journal of Women’s Spirituality. My gratitude also to Alyse Bensel for her New Pages review of St. Agnes, Pink-Slipped (Kattywompus Press, 2011).

Poetry workshop on Wallace Stevens

What a pleasure to lead the poetry workshop at the third annual Unicorn Writers Conference in Portland, CT on April 28! My workshop focused on Wallace Steven’s “The Dove in the Belly,” mining clever tools that Stevens uses—from other languages and self-created words to diction that jumps from elegant to plain. Wish you were there? You can purchase a DVD of my workshop.

Thoughts from a literary agent

More than 20 attended the conference, giving private one-on-one critiques to writers who sent in manuscripts ahead of time. Literary agents are desperately trying to find well-crafted work. One told me, “Either the plot or the characters are well done—rarely both.” When did he give up reading a bad manuscript? “The first sentence.” However, he conceded, “It’s a lot of balls that writers have to hold up in the air.”

Poetry readings / events

10^th Annual New York City Independent Publishers Book Party

Thursday, May 10, 6 - 8 p.m.
ZieherSmith Gallery

Poets Margo Taft Stever and Mervyn Taylor

Saturday, May 12, 3 – 5 p.m.
Beanrunner Cafe, Peekskill NY

 Pulitzer Prize-winner Kay Ryan

Sunday, May 13, 4:00p.m.
Katonah Village Library

Bowery Arts + Science Annual Benefit

Sunday, May 20, 6 p.m.
Tickets for different events here

Poets David Abel and Mark Weiss
Wednesday, May 23, 8 p.m.
St. Marks Poetry Project


Trede wins Political Poetry Contest

Poet Meredith Trede won the Town of Pelham Public Library’s 5th annual James J. Nicholson Political Poetry Contest. Judge Joshua Mehigan calls the winning poem a “smart, surprising poem whose concision and plainspokenness conceal a sharp critique not only of political commentary but also, implicitly, of policy, politics, and political dialogue, in general.” Congratulations, Meredith!

Booth wins Westchester photography award

Photographer Carol Booth won in the adult category of the Westchester County Amateur Photography Contest for "Public Laundry, Antigua" (left). 

Several of the winning photos will be displayed in the Greenburgh Public Libary Howard and Ruth Jacobs Family Gallery May 3 - June 11, and an opening reception held May 14.  Yay Carol!

Denhert wins John Lennon award

KJ Denhert’s “Choose Your Weapon” has won the 2011 John Lennon Song Contest in the World Music category. You can see this dedicated musician and former coworker of mine perform at Smoke on May 12, 19 and 26 (11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) or the 55 Bar NYC (10 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.) May12 and 26. Congrats, KJ!

Summer Poetry Workshop

Award-winning poet and Red Glass Books publisher Janet Kaplan is leading a poetry writing workshop this summer, July 9 - 20 (10 sessions), Mondays - Fridays from 10 AM - 2 PM, as part of Hofstra's 38th Annual Summer Writers Program. Undergraduate and graduate credit is available, as is campus housing. To register and for more information: 516-463-7200; Course #: CRWR 134A.

Call for manuscripts

Have you ever salvaged a relationship of any kind?  If you've written poems, fiction or prose on ths topic, Wising Up Press wants to hear from you by June 1, 2012 for their latest anthology, Daring to Repair: What It Takes, Who Does It, and Why. 

‘Round the Net

· ALTA list-serve for this Daily News article on Yale University Press’s new online forum for translators.

· Poet John Amen for this video of him reading work in Albuquerque.

· Art Historian and NY Arts Exchange Director Beth Gersh-Nesic for this video from "Yorgo Alexopoulos: Transmigrations," a wondrous installation recently at Cristin Tierney Gallery.

· Actor Wayne Joseph for the intriguing short film “This is Tillman.”

· Translator C.M. Mayo for this podcast interview about important figures in the Mexican literary world.

· Poets House for this Wall Street Journal article on the joys of poetry.

· Poet Linda Simone for making us aware of a celebrated poet in need—Diane di Prima is experiencing some challenging times and could use some spiritual and material support.

· Linda also for this tribute to Adrienne Rich, Robert Frost reciting “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” this animation of Billy Collins poetry, and the Top 10 Most Misunderstood Lines in Literary History.

Hope this green season inspires your writing or art!

Until next time,

Ann