your holiday annogram

Dear annogrammers, Take a deep breath—we are about to enter the holidays! It’s a wild ride in the US, starting with the fun and fanciful if sugar-loaded Halloween. We pause before the intensity to celebrate new translations, poetry, plays, and yes, one mel-rock (“melodious rock”) band. Congratulations on another year of outstanding creativity, and remember to refresh your hard-working muse with some solitude.

 

Coming Full Circle with Circumference

 

Circumference, one of the first journals to publish my Hélène Sanguinetti translations, has posted my translation from her latest, Domaine des Englués (La Lettre Volée). In December, Exacting Clam will publish my translation of Hélène’s poem “I took 3 cows to the country.” Hélène and I look forward to the debut of Alparegho, like nothing else from Beautiful Days Press as part of its inaugural 2024 lineup.

 

More Good News and a Mystic

 

Thanks to editors Cindy Hochman and Karen Neuberg for accepting my poem “After the Curator Leaves” for the upcoming January issue of First Literary Review-East. I am also excited to share my latest poetry video, recorded for the international online launch of All Shall Be Well: Poems for Julian of Norwich (Amethyst Press). My gratitude goes to editor Sarah Law for this beautiful and inspiring book.

 

Manet and Degas at the Met

 

Friends and rivals Édouard Manet (1832–1883) and Edgar Degas (1834–1917) would have generated vastly different work without their creative exchanges. This exhibit juxtaposes their paintings, drawings, and prints, and reveals contrasts, conflicts, and divergent paths that shaped modern art. Note the virtual queue in visitor guidelines; $30 adults; $22 seniors; $17 students; through January 7.

 

Something to Remember Him By

 

Congratulations to Sarah Bracey White on the SRO performances of Something to Remember Him By, her second play, at Westchester Collaborative Theater. The fictionalized work spins off the end of Sarah’s best-selling memoir, Primary Lessons (Cavan-Kerry Press). The incredibly moving play allows a dead (!) and maligned father to share his truth, and his three daughters come to peace with it. Above: Actors Brian Bagot, Dameon Reilly, Maiysha Jones Reilly, MC de la Cruz and Chastity Perez Vargas take a bow.

 

The Mysterious Sarah Bernhardt

 

Sarah Bernhardt, Carol Ockman,
and Beth Gersh-Nesic

Who was the magnetic Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923)? Art historian Beth S. Gersh-Nesic, PhD, director/owner of the New York Arts Exchange, and Carol Ockman, professor emerita, Williams College, will discuss the French actor’s life and legacy on November 30, at 4pm. This free Zoom event, hosted by the Fédération d'Alliance Française (AFUSA), requires attendees to register online. 

 

Unleashing The Effect

 

The Effect

So exciting to discover The Effect, a new band featuring Steve Lukather’s son Trev, Phil Collins’s son Nic, Toto's own Steve Maggiora, and extraordinary vocalist Emmett Stang. The band made its debut last month at The Knitting Factory, and are building an album with their breakout single, “Unwanted.” Their sound is described as “stadium rock energy with pop palatability.” Woo-hoo! Carry on, young rockers!

 

Creative Opportunities

 

OpenDoor Magazine, call for work on frost and firelight, by November 15

 

The Pedestal Magazine, call for poems November 6-December 3

 

Pure Slush and Truth Serum Press, call for work on loss, by December 31

 

Route 7 Review, call for nonfiction, poetry, fiction, art, by November 15

 

Southern Arizona Press, call for poems for Home for the Holidays anthology, by November 15

 

Wild Librarian Press, 250-word proposals for personal essays on gardens, November 15-December 15

 

New and Recent Releases

 

Eric Tyler Benick, the fox hunts (Beautiful Days Press)

 

Llyn Clague, Coming of Age (Twigs Press)

 

First Literary Review-East

 

Michael Gottlieb, Collected Memoirs (Chax Press)

 

Pedestal 92.5

 

Christina Rau, How We Make Amends (MOONLOVE Press)

 

Serena Solin, The Stay Behind (Beautiful Days Press)

 

Joe and Steve Winhusen, C. S. Rafinesque (Dos Madres Press)

 

Creative Workshops

 

Nadine Sures and Rachel Cohen improvise

Racoco Productions, Tuesdays (Zoom) and Thursdays (Live), improvisation classes; email info@racoco.org

 

24 Pearl Street Workshops, November 13-17; Jennifer Franklin teaches the short poem, $550; register here

 

Mahopac Poetry Workshop, 6pm, second Wednesdays

 

Mahopac Writers Group, 6:30pm, Thursdays

 

ModPo, University of Pennsylvania’s free poetry course and global community

 

Norwalk Poetry Workshop, first and third Mondays, 6:30pm; email 

poet_laureate@norwalkpl.org to register

 

The Peekskill Writing Table, serious critique for writers, second and third Tuesdays via Zoom; email tpwritingtable@gmail.com

 

The Poets Salon, led by Ed Ahern and Alison McBain of Fairfield Scribes Press, 10am, every second Saturday

 

Writers and Artists Lunch Conversation, second Fridays, noon

 

Yorktown Poetry Workshop, 6pm, fourth Wednesdays

 

November Events – ET

 

Central NY YMCA, Nov. 3, 7pm; Susana Case reading via Zoom; register here

 

Black Spring Books, Nov. 4, 7pm, launch for the fox hunts (Beautiful Days Press) with Eric Tyler Benick, Jameson Fitzpatrick, Emily Bark Brown, Sarah Ahmad

 

River Arts Studio Tour, November 4-5, featuring studios in Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-On-Hudson, Irvington, Sleepy Hollow, and Tarrytown (NY)

 

"The Birches,"
Luigi Lucioni (1900-1988)

Bennington Museum (VT), For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection, thru November 5; Southern Vermont Art Center

 

P&T Knitwear Books and Café, November 6, 6:30pm, Susana Case, Stephanie Laterza, Giorgia Pavlidou, Mervyn Taylor

 

The Kendal on Hudson, November 6, 7:30pm; launch party for Llyn Clague’s Coming of Age (Twigs Press)

 

Katonah Village Library, November 11, 3pm, Arden Levine, Maria Lisella, Dennis Nurkse, Sean Singer; $20

 

Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church, November 12, 8pm, “I Am Angry at a Force I Cannot See,” based on the poetry of Michael Gottlieb; $8, tickets here

 

Poetry Chats for BACCA, Nov. 13 + Dec. 11; Christina Rau hosts; info@babylonarts.org to register

 

Norwalk Public Library, November 16, 6:30pm, Poets in Conversation: Laurel Peterson hosts Rick Magee and Jack Powers

 

Fédération d'Alliance Française (AFUSA), November 30, 4pm, Beth Gersh-Nesic and Carol Ockman discuss Sarah Bernhardt; free Zoom event but you must register online

 

Monthly Readings – ET

 

First Sunday, 4pm, Poetic License (Austin)

 

Every Tuesday, 2pm, Spoken Word World (Paris)

 

Every Tuesday, 7pm, Curley’s Diner

 

Third Fridays, 7pm, Hudson Valley Writers Center Open Mic – click third Friday for details

 

Frequent Saturdays (check Facebook), 5pm, LitBalm

 

Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie

 

With holidays fast approaching, I offer my brother’s favorite if Texas-rich pie recipe here:

 

1 pie crust

¹/₂ cup pure maple syrup

4 tablespoons dark brown sugar

¹/₂ cup light corn syrup

3 tablespoon butter

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups pecans, chopped coarse

3 tablespoons bourbon

 

In a 9-inch pie pan, add pie crust, using your fingers to flute edges along top of pan. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine maple syrup, brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter, and simmer 2-3 minutes. Remove the liquid and add to medium mixing bowl and cool slightly. In small mixing bowl, whisk eggs, vanilla, and salt. Slowly whisk maple syrup mixture into beaten eggs, then add chopped pecans. Pour filling into crust and bake 55-60 minutes until filling is set. Allow pie to cool 30 minutes before slicing.

 

ʼRound the Net

 

Guitarist and songwriter Michael Cefola for introducing annogram to new music like The Effect

 

Poet and novelist Regi Claire on “Writer’s Block” on the Royal Literary Fund’s podcast

 

Art historian and translator Beth Gersh-Nesic for her timely meditation on Mark Podwal’s etching, Jerusalem in My Heart (2001)

Poet Gary Glauber on having poems in Grand Little Things, Panoply, and Visual Verse

 

Poet Cindy Hochman on having work selected by Terence Winch for a recent Best American Poetry Pick of the Week

 

Poet, memoirist, and civil rights historian J. Chester Johnson for sharing this historic Zoom recording of a conversation among the descendants of the 1919 Elaine Race Massacre

 

Artist Linda Lynch on having works on paper exhibited at the Spanierman Modern

 

Poet Mary McCray on her poem in Urthona, work forthcoming in Open-Hearted Horizon: An Albuquerque Poetry Anthology (University of New Mexico Press), and for recommending the Smithsonian’s online courses

 

Yorktown Poet Laureate John McMullen for this animated video on his friend Chickie Donohue, author of The Greatest Beer Run Ever (William Morrow)

Greenburgh (NY) Youth Poet Laureate Asa Miller on stepping into this inaugural post—with a laurel-leaf crown no less—shown here with Westchester County Youth Laureate Harmony Hopwood

Poet Jean-Luc Pouliquen for Prouvènço d'Aro, a newspaper written in Provençal—the language of his region prior to French

Poet Christina Rau on her SRO book launch of How We Make Amends (MOONLOVE Press) and for poetry (at 2:24) in Destinies: The Voice of Science Fiction radio show and Masks Poetry Magazine

 

Albert Camus (1913-1960)
and René Char (1907-1988)

Poet Hélène Sanguinetti for her recent performance reading letters written by mentor René Char (1907-1988) to Albert Camus (1913-1960), performed by Catherine Krajewski

 

Cellist and music archivist Jay Shulman on the insightful People’s World review of his latest CD featuring the work of his father, composer, arranger, and cellist Alan Shulman (1915-2002)

 

Playwright and artist Frankie Sisco on “Frankie Boy,” performed by the Tiger’s Heart Players, winning an Oxford Script Award and Rome World Cinema’s Best Short Script Award; and acrylic paintings exhibited at the Bronxville Library and Pelham Art Center—where Frankie addressed the Artists Club

 

Poet Margo Taft Stever on The End of Horses (Broadstone Books) winning a NYC Big Book Distinguished Favorite Award

Trip Advisor for this guide to Paris neighborhoods

Poet and artist Linda Simone on having a poem accepted for Moonstone Arts’ Pablo Neruda anthology 

Memoirist Mary Wasacz on her SRO book launch of The Frailty of a Butterfly (Independently published)

 

Poet Estha Weiner on Beltway Poetry Quarterly’s glowing piece on This Insubstantial Pageant (Broadstone Books)

 

annogram’s New Schedule

 

As a reminder, annogram has moved to five issues: February, April, June, September, and November. If you email me your news, I can file it for the next issue. For events, please send in the first half of the month prior to publication dates above. It’s that easy. I love hearing from you and rejoice in your good news. Happiest of holidays and best wishes for an uber-creative new year!

 

Until next year,

Ann