Free
Ferry gains
momentum
Thanks to everyone who continues to purchase, read, and gift
Free Ferry with such enthusiasm. I am excited to be reading at events this
fall at CUNY and Fordham
celebrating the 75th anniversary of the isolation of plutonium—a largely
unknown history and the bottom narrative in Free Ferry.
Imagine my shock when I walked into this Vermont scene that
matched the cover of the book!
More
good news
Select translations from Hélène Sanguinetti’s Et
voici la chanson (Editions de L’Amandier, 2012) and Le
Héros (Flammarion,
2008) will appear respectively in Transference and St. Petersburg Review. I can’t wait to read Hélène’s latest, Domain des englués (Lettre Volee). In addition, Main Street Rag Press will
publish “Trackside Commissary” in its anthology Of Burgers and Barrooms.
Stamford
Arts Festival
I will be reading Saturday, July 29, at 2pm at the Stamford
Arts Festival. Poets include Edward Ahern,
Alison McBain, Lisa
Pierce Flores, and Roberta
Strom. In the morning, stop by and a poet will write a poem just for you! Or lend your
voice in a group reading of well-known poems. Thanks to Jerry T. Johnson for organizing
the 10am – 5pm event at Harbor
Point, which repeats with more poets Sunday.
Ron
Tanner in the Middle of the Pacific
Ron Tanner’s
youth in the Marshall
Islands led to his wry, politically complex novel, Missile
Paradise (Ig Publishing,
2016). In my
interview with him, he reveals the surprising advice he gives new writers.
The long-time
professor and former AWP head also
weighs in if his multiple interests limit or advance his creativity. I’ve learned from this generous writer and so
will you!
Touring
Vermont backroads
 |
| Rustic Vermont farm |
My amazing girlfriends surprised me with a backroads adventure! In a
comfortable mini-bus, we enjoyed views of Mt. Equinox and one or two
of Manchester’s multimillion-dollar homes. Our guide, Sharon, shared
demographics on today’s Vermonters—everyone from former CEOs and the Chief of
the Abenaki Tribe, to artisans, telecommuters, and farmers.
 |
| Communing with alpaca |
A downpour prevented a hike into the Merck Forest, so we headed to a gift
shop to sample three grades of maple syrup. At an alpaca farm, the camel-like beasts stared
at us with their otherworldly black eyes. Finally, we passed the Cephas
Kent house, considered the birthplace of Vermont, 14th state to
join the union.
Such fun—and thanks to Sharon who epitomizes a Yankee welcome.
 |
| Linda Simone |
Watercolorist
Linda Simone is excited to be
exhibiting artwork at the
Tobin Library in San Antonio with her good and talented friend Vera
Smith. "If you're in
the neighborhood," Linda says, "please stop by and take a look!"
The paintings will be up through the first week in September.
NYC
Poetry Festival
The free NYC Poetry Festival takes
place July 29-30, 11am - 6pm, on Governors Island. Be sure to see annogram friends
Christine Beck, Susana H.
Case,and Gary Glauber Saturday at 1:30pm, and Meredith Trede, Mervyn Taylor, and Estha Weiner Sunday at noon—all on the
Algonquin Stage.
Mad for
ModPo
 |
| Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) |
The Perfect
Wife and the Other Woman
I always mocked the title of this Manchester, Vermont restaurant
until my friends and I dined there after our backroads tour—that is, in the Other Woman Tavern,
on a lovely patio overlooking a wildflower garden. Wow!
Was the meal extraordinary! Chef-owner
Amy Chamberlain has a spectacular menu in a picturesque country
setting. To celebrate this find, I offer
a recipe from her baker.
Amber’s
Strawberry Shortcake
2 ½ cups flour1/3 cup sugar plus extra for dusting
1 ¼ tsp. baking powder
¾ tsp. salt
2 ½ sticks butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1 scant cup milk, whisked with
3 eggs
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 lb organic strawberries, sliced
Preheat oven to 375
degrees. Combine dry ingredients. Cut in chilled butter. Mix in eggs and milk
(leave lumpy). Pour into greased and floured 10-inch cake pan or 12 muffin
tins. Bake 25-30 minutes. Brush with heavy cream and sprinkle with sugar as
they come out of the oven. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out. Serve room
temp or slightly warm with fresh, local, lightly sweetened strawberries.
Creative opportunities
 |
Hélène Sanguinetti |
How a Poem Can Happen (Red Spruce
Press)
Readings / events
 |
| Ruth Irupé Sanabria |
Bryant Park, August 1, 7pm, poets Ruth Irupé
Sanabria, Jose B. Gonzalez, Emanuel Xavier,
HVWC, August
6, 4:30pm, poets Theresa Senato
Edwards, Howie Faerstein, Paul Richmond, Cheryl Rice, Neil Silberblatt, $10
HVWC, August 16, Liz Burk, Carla
Carlson, Gillian Cummings, Anne Graue, Ruth Handel, Caroline Holme, Melissa
Ragsly, $10
 |
| Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib |
Poets House, Kray Hall, August 3, 7pm, Aziza Barnes, Ching-In, Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib, DéLana R. A. Dameron
Prismatic Park at
Madison Square Park, Joshua Bennett in The Envy of the World, August 15-20, 12-5pm
Bryant Park, August 29, 7pm, Cave Canem poets Teri Cross
Davis, Cynthia Manick, Ladan Osman, Iain Haley Pollock
ʾRound the
Net
Poet Gary Glauber
on having two poems in Pamplemousse
Poet Cindy Hochman
for her poem
in Unbroken Journal
Novelist Petra Lewis
for her speech at A Better Chance
on artists prospering in the digital age
 |
| Tracy K. Smith |
The New
York Public Library for its summer
reading recommendations
Poet Linda Simone
for discovering the high art of the
Lamp Shade Lady
Poet Tracy K. Smith
on being named our
new US Poet Laureate
Novelist Ron Tanner
for addressing practical
questions writers have on his website
Ah, midsummer! May
you relax into its deep greens and oncoming August golds. As I close this annogram, I am grateful for your embrace of Free Ferry. So many say it
uncannily reflects our world. If you’ve
read Free Ferry, please go to Amazon
and Goodreads
to review it. Thanks, and wishing you your own summer adventures!
Until next time,
