your all hallows annogram

More Treats than Tricks

Woo-hoo! My Halloween bag features “Excision” in Cliterature, “The Beauty of Distorted Vocals” in Amsterdam Quarterly, and “Invisible Man” in Poetry Salzburg. Women’s Studies Quarterly, the winnow, Adanna, and the anthology Keep Texas Salty have accepted more. Ed Ahern and I are in Nocturne – Poetry of the Night (CultureCult, 2019); Bateau Lit and Tentacular will shortly publish more Sanguinetti translations.

Translation for Writers in Garrison

Ann Lauinger, Beth Gersh-Nesic and me

If you know a bit of another language, you can enrich your publishing credits through literary translation. Poet Ann Lauinger, art historian Beth Gersh-Nešić, and I will share about opportunities in the booming field of global literature at the Desmond-Fish Library in Garrison, on November 2 at 1:30pm. Thanks to Mary Newell, founder and coordinator of the Hudson Highlands Poetry Series, for inviting and hosting us.

Sundays with George – mais oui

The Hudson River - Photo
by Sarah Bracey White

You can also catch Translation for Writers at the Shames JCC on the Hudson, November 10 at 1:30pm. This poetry series this fall featured Natalie Safir and Tony Howarth reading new work—a pleasure to hear in the JCC’s intimate library. Our gratitude to George Kraus PhD for both practicing and supporting literary translation.

Poetry and Translation at Curley’s Diner

Thanks to poet Ralph Nazareth for inviting me to read at Curley’s Diner in Stamford on November 19 at 7pm. I look forward to sharing both poetry and translation, and secrets for publishing both, with some of Fairfield County’s finest poets. Come be nourished by comfort food and the spoken word!

Picasso’s Unlikely Friendship

Who witnessed the birth of modern art? One observer was poet André Salmon, Picasso’s long-time friend, who critiqued modernism in a way that converted those scandalized by it. In Pablo Picasso and André Salmon: The Painter, the Poet and the Portraits (ZaMir Press, 2019), a compelling narrative, intimate photos, and sketches track the intrigue between friends. Translator Beth Gersh-Nešić makes Jacqueline Gojard’s scholarship accessible in this must-read jewel of a book. If you liked Bonnard/Matisse: Letters Between Friends (Abrams, 1992), you will treasure this too.

Play It Loud at the Met

Photo by Michael Cefola

Michael and I loved seeing Bo Diddley’s “Twang Machine” or box guitar, Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum kit used with the Beatles, Jeff Beck’s 1954 Fender Esquire featured in the Yardbirds, a seminal 60s British Invasion band; and Van Halen’s “Frankenstein” guitar built from various parts—known as “one of the most recognizable guitars of all time.” You can see me in the background inspecting it.

CRWROPPS Goes Blog

Allison Joseph

Thanks to poet and writer Allison Joseph for bringing us glorious submission opportunities in her famous CRWROPPS Yahoo list-serve. Last week, she wrote that Yahoo is ending this service. In December, Allison will make the listings available three times a week on her new CRWROPPS blog. annogram salutes Allison, and especially extends condolences on the death of her husband, poet Jon Tribble.

New Releases

Patricia Carragon, Meowku (Poets Wear Prada, 2019)

Llyn Clague, Up Close and Nuclear (Twigs Press, 2019)

Jim Daniels and M.L Liebler, editors, RESPECT: The Poetry of Detroit Music (Michigan State University Press, 2019).

Jim Daniels, The Perp Walk (Michigan State University Press, 2019).

Herbert Hadad, Tender and Tough: 60 Years of Storytelling (Independent Press, 2019)

Pamela L. Laskin, Why No Goodbye (Leapfrog Press, 2019)

Robert Murphy, Among the Enigmas (Dos Madres Press, 2019)

Creative Opportunities

Writer's Retreat at
Good Contrivance Farm

Fairfield Library, Poetry: Writing, Reading, Getting Published, November 2, 1-2pm

Fairfield Library, The A-Z of Publishing Short Writing, November 2, 2:15-3pm

Good Contrivance Farm (Maryland), Writer’s Retreat Loft or Hen Cottage for rent, special 25% discount for writers, email ron@historicfarm.org

The Pedestal Magazine open to poetry through November 24

Vitamin ZZZ, submit poems about sleep

Paraclete Press Inaugural Poetry Prize, submit 60-75 page manuscripts by January 30

John C. Hart Memorial Library, Yorktown Poetry Workshop, fourth Wednesdays, 6pm

Hudson Valley Writers Center Open Mic Nights 7:30-9:30 third Fridays

Mahopac Library, Poetry Workshop, second Wednesdays, 6:30pm (second floor); Writers Group, every Thursday, 6:30pm (third floor)

Moosewood Pumpkin Pie

Yeah, here it is again. I’d rather eat it than write about it. Enjoy!

3 cups pumpkin puree

¾ cup honey

2 tablespoons molasses

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1 ½ teaspoons ginger

1 teaspoon salt

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk

2 frozen 9-inch pie shells, prepared per directions

Mix in order given. Pour into pie shells and bake 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then 40 minutes at 350 degrees, or till set. For a delicious pumpkin pudding, omit pie shell. Bake filling in buttered baking dish and serve with vanilla ice cream or heavy cream.

Poetry / Literary / Art Events

"Bone Scroll" by Maxine Silverman

Studio Montclair (NJ) Gallery, assemblages by Maxine Silverman in exhibit “Everyday Objects”; reception, November 1, 7-9pm

Desmond-Fish Library, November 2, 1:30pm, Translation for Writers; Ann Cefola, Beth Gersh-Nešić, Ann Lauinger

Learning in Retirement, Temple Beth El (Stamford), November 4, 1-3pm, Beth Gersh-Nešić on "American Women Artists”; and November 11, 1-3pm, on "20th Century European Women Artists"

Lunar Walk Poetry Series, November 9, 4:30pm, Andrey Gritsman and Margo Taft Stever

Shames JCC on the Hudson, Sundays with George Poetry Series; translators Ann Cefola, Beth Gersh-Nešić, Ann Lauinger, November 10, 1:30pm

McNally Jackson Seaport, November 11, 7pm, Pamela Hart, Abby E. Murray

Books of Wonder, November 14, 6pm, Pamela L. Laskin launch, Why No Goodbye (Leapfrog Press, 2019)

Tea Bag art by Linda Simone

Katonah Library, November 17, 4pm, Deborah Landau, $10

Greenburgh Town Hall, November 16, 12-2pm, Kids Short Story Connection Reading, free

The Poetry Institute Reading Series Open Mic (New Haven), third Thursdays, 7pm; free, open to public

Kapej Gallery and Cafe (San Antonio), November 22, 6-9pm, opening reception for exhibit of Linda Simone watercolors and Laura Lopez artwork

ʼRound the Net

Greenburgh Arts and Culture Executive Director Sarah Bracey White on interviewing artist Hope Friedland

Art Historian Beth Gersh-Nešić for her fantastic article on digital tours of the great Paris museums and having her new translation reviewed in France by poet Jean-Luc Pouliquen

Norwalk Poet Laureate Bill Hayden for quoting Krista Tippett’s On Being blog: “Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates says he finds it in the choice to simply write ‘as you hear it’ — without hesitation or explanation or apology”

Poet Cindy Hochman for her review of John Fry’s with the dogstar as my witness in The Pedestal Magazine, and this wonderful interview of Cindy by Christal Ann Rice Cooper

Cindy Hochman
on the Walt Whitman tour

Poet J. Chester Johnson for achieving a memorial last month to African Americans slaughtered in the Elaine Race Massacre (1919)

Poet Mary McCray for her review of the American Writers Museum

Yorktown Poet Laureate John McMullen for recommending the amazing online course, ModPo, journals that pay and his poem about a celebrity encounter

Poet Linda Simone for this fun palindrome game

Photo by Michael Cefola

Remember my late bloomer? Still fully launched, two months later, with new blue tips that turn purple, red, and finally pink. Its message is “We can change, we can grow, we are here to stay!” Late bloomers rejoice.

Until next time,

Ann