your midsummer annogram

Here I am enjoying some ice cream generously shared at a client's office–mm-mm good!  And now delicious days after a New York heat wave: The glorious weather has heralded news that three of my poems will appear in Cicada, and the receipt of my beautiful copy of Raising Lilly Ledbetter: Women Poets Occupy the Workspace (Lost Horse Press, 2015).

Go Set a Watchman

Dancer Elyse Faltz asked me today what I thought about  this controversial publication. I had recently seen the PBS American Experience film on Harper Lee, and it reinforced the importance in the American psyche of To Kill a Mockingbird.  I am inclined to think that, with Ms. Lee’s lawyer-sister gone, and Ms. Lee a stroke victim, the publisher took advantage of a pre-Kill draft. After writer Jeanette Briggs shared this NPR review, I decided not to read the “sequel” if it is one. Let the original stand.

New York Poetry Festival

The New York Poetry Festival takes place Saturday through Sunday this weekend on Governors Island–a 172 acre island in the heart of New York harbor, only 800 yards from Lower Manhattan and even closer to Brooklyn. Come hear Kattywompus Press poets Susanna Case and Margo Stever read on Sunday, July 26 at 1 p.m. at the Chumley Stage, and Slapering Hol Press poets on the White Horse Stage at 2:30 p.m.

Little Games at the Eastchester Inn

Little Games will play the Eastchester Inn Saturday, August 1, at 9 p.m. The band welcomes talented guest guitarist Don LaSala, a recording engineer who did sound for NRBQ and Warren Zevon US tours. Join lead vocalist/guitarist Michael Cefola, bassist Larry Schwartzman and drummer Tom Vinton for another great night of rock!

Tribute to B.B. King

Imagine opening for the great B.B. King! That’s what Johnny Moses did with his freshman rock band at Trinity College in 1968.  Here’s his recollection behind this memorable photo:

B.B. King and Johnny Moses, 1968

In my eagerness I tried to show him all the styles of guitar I could in one-minute country bends, R&B chops and, of course, blues. He listened, then smiled. As he reached out to touch my shoulder (the money shot), he said, “Maybe you have a new style there”–his gracious way of saying, “Don’t play too much, keep it simple and soulful.” Then he said, “Treat your guitar like a woman, slow and easy.” Finally, he showed me a high note trick with left hand vibrato he used throughout his career to punctuate a phrase. Wow, what a lifelong lesson!

Meetinghouse Readings in Canaan, NH

Poet and translator David Ferry will read with novelist Megan Mayhew Bergman at the Meetinghouse on July 30, at 7:30 p.m.  Free admission. 

New—one free!—books

Congratulations to these talented authors on new works and one well-deserved reissue:

Rómulo Gallegos’s Doña Barbara, translated by Robert Malloy (University of Chicago Press, 2015) – free e-edition during July

Gary Glauber’s Small Consolations (Aldrich Press, 2015)

JoAnne McFarland’s LOOSE HORSE IN THE VALLEY: A Modern American Lullaby (Red Glass Books, 2015) available for $12 check to from JoAnne McFarland, 20 Henry Street, Apt. 2DN, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hélène Sanguinetti’s Alparegho, pareil-à-rien (reissue - Editions L’Amandier, 2015)

Rosmarie Waldrop’s In Pieces (O’Clock Press, 2015)

Meatless Loaf for Your Next Picnic

Make this loaf in the cool of the day and you can slice and enjoy in a lovely summer sandwich or entrée. A family favorite chez Cefola.

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup your choice of any combo diced celery, green pepper, carrots, mushrooms, olives, favorite vegetables, etc.

1 cup chunk-style peanut butter

1 cup cooked rice

1/3 cup bread crumbs

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in a skillet and sauté the vegetables until limp. Combine the vegetables with remaining ingredients. Mix well, adding some liquid if it seems too dry. Pour mixture into a greased loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes. Serve hot or cold.

’Round the Net

Congratulations and/or thanks to:

Publisher Steve Brannon for the great Spring/Summer 2015 issue of Small Print Magazine

Essayist Jeanette Briggs for this sobering NPR review of Go Set a Watchman (HarperCollins, 2015)

Publisher Libby Hodges on the publication of issue 2 of the translation journal SpringHouse

Publishing guru Jan Kardys for letting us know that the must-attend Unicorn Writers Conference takes place next month

Publisher Simon Lewis for this memorable speech by the Rev. Pinckney, one of the Charleston nine, honoring the Civil War dead

Actor Tony LoBianco on his marriage to Alyse Best Muldoon on June 27, 2015

Fiction writer Maureen Pilkington for her essay, “Stuck in an Elevator with Sixteen Republications,” appearing in SohoNYC

Computing pioneer David Schwartzkopf

Poet Hélène Sanguinetti on this fantastic podcast on FranceCulture (the “PBS” of France) on the reissue of Alparegho, pareil-à-rien (Editions L’Amandier, 2015)

Disabilities activist David Schwartzkopf on his profile in the US Department of Labor’s 25-year tribute to the Americans with Disabilities Act

Bassist Larry Schwartzman for this optical illusion

Music archivist Jay Shulman for this tribute to Dylan’s “Like a rolling stone” recorded 50 years ago this summer

Poet Linda Simone on joining the San Antonio Poet Source

Poet Margo Stever and son, James Taft Stever, on publication of Looking East: William Howard Taft and the 1905 U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Asia, The Photographs of Harry Fowler Woods (Orange Frazer Press, 2015)

Photographer Joe Vericker for this sport-legend photo (left to right) Mets pitcher Tom Seaver, Yankee shortstop Phil Rizzuto, Giants’ Lawrence Taylor, Yankee catcher Yogi Berra, Jets Super Bowl III QB Joe Namath, and Daily News sports cartoonist Bill Gallo

Here's hoping you knock it out of the park in your creative pursuits!

Until next time,

Ann

your advent annogram

Poet Ron Butlin

A Herald Scotland Book of the Year

Poet Ron Butlin has selected Face Painting in the Dark as a Herald Scotland Book of 2014.  Butlin, Edinburgh Makar (2008 to 2014), calls Face Painting “quite simply a stunning debut.”  Thanks to this distinguished poet for awarding my book this unique honor!

Further reviews

I’m grateful to art historian Beth Gersh-Nesic for reviewing Face Painting in her blog.  A Picasso scholar, Beth is the executive director of the New York Arts Exchange.  I took her amazing Cubism class in order to complete “Demoiselles 7” which first appeared in Feminist Studies and parts of which I read at the United Nations.

Les Demoiselles D'Avignon

That poem blew the mind of Mary McCray, according to her review in Big Bang Poetry.  Mary, author of Why Photographers Commit Suicide (Trementina Books, 2012), an Indie Excellence Award finalist, is one of the most intelligent and gifted poets I’ve ever met.  Her Big Bang Poetry blog is so good it makes me angry—nothing could be that good!  It is.

More good news

Thanks to artist Deborah Coulter for promoting Face Painting on Facebook!  I am equally happy to report that an untitled poem of mine will appear in A Common Thread.  My poem, “Velocity,” will also be published in Rabbit Ears, an anthology of TV poems to be published by NYQ Books.

Sculptor Nebula by Doug Baum

‘Furious Stardust’ at the Bruce Museum

What a pleasure to present Furious Stardust: Poems of the Night Sky at the November meeting of the Astronomical Society of Greenwich!  Thanks to the many Westchester Amateur Astronomers who crossed state lines to attend, especially Douglas Baum and his family.  Doug shared his extraordinary images of the night sky which formed much of the backdrop to my reading.

Little Games at Foley’s

Anthony Nisi, Michael Cefola, Tom Vinton, Larry Schwartzman

Sure enough, the blues-rock beat of my husband Michael’s band, Little Games, inspired a crowd—including me—to hit the floor dancing at Foley’s last month.  Photographer Margaret Fox and illustrator Tim Grajek captivated all with their awesome swing moves.  I had a great time dancing with friends such as Deborah Coulter and pianist Neil Sullivan.  Next time, y’all come, you hear?

Fauré’s Requiem at St. James the Less

What a delight to hear Fauré’s Requiem featuring the choirs of St. James the Less and Trinity Churches, accompanied by the Canadian Chamber Orchestra of New York City!  Truly memorable, and I ran into Dos Madres poet and friend, Ruth Handel to boot.  Save February 8, 2015, 4:40 – 6 p.m. for another performance by these impressive choirs at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

Gun violence reading and panel

On December 14, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at 125 Hawthorne Street, 3-G; bell #89, Brooklyn, Petra Lewis will read from The Sons and Daughters of Ham, Book I: A Requiem, which examines a family in the aftermath of violence.  A.T. Mitchell of Man Up! and Leah Gun Barrett of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence will then speak on gun violence.  $20 admission includes Petra’s book—$4.00 of which will benefit anti-violence groups.

Book giveaway

Laura Morelli is offering her award-winning novel, The Gondola Maker, for free – with shipping only.  In 2015, look for Laura Morelli's Authentic Arts, guides for travelers who seek immersive cultural experiences.  Laura is your go-to person for discovering and purchasing beautiful artifacts overseas.  Here’s her free PDF on shopping in Venice!

Neil Young

Neil Young and the Starbucks Boycott

Neil Young is boycotting Starbucks.  Why?  Starbucks is a member of the Grocery Manufacturers Association which has filed a huge lawsuit against tiny, financially strapped Vermont to block a law requiring genetically modified (GMO) food labels.  As a GMA member, Starbucks is consenting to the suit.  Make mine one vente non-GMO latte, please!

Noonday Collection – do good and be stylish

Thanks to a friend’s gift, I discovered the Noonday Collection—fabulous jewelry and accessories. Noonday partners with artisans in the developing world, empowering them to grow sustainable businesses and earn more to support their families.  So gift yourself or others, and support a living wage for families around the globe!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Purple Onion

I recently shared this recipe with two friends, as a great addition to a holiday feast, from You Can Trust a Skinny Cook (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011) by Allison Fishman:

1 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved

1 large red onion, cut into 3/4-inch wedges

8 sprigs fresh thyme

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Place Brussels sprouts, onion and thyme on large rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with oil, and season with salt.  Turn sprouts cut-side down.  Cook until gold brown and soft, 25-30 mins.  If sprouts brown before they soften, cover with foil and continue cooking (I like them brown too).  Remove and discard thyme and serve (great cold too).

̓ Round the Net

Congratulations, and/or thanks, to:

Little Games' Michael Cefola

ALTA list-serve for five tips for editing literary translations and review of an unsanitized new version of Grimms’ Fairy Tales

Colleague Jim Barry for this great video commentary on smart phone madness

Guitarist Michael Cefola for the 50 greatest traditional blues songs and this amazing story about the scientist who invented Corning Ware

Writer Barbara Dickinson for this video of pandas at play

Medical humanities writer Terry Dugan on her upcoming essay, “The Contagion Fabula: How to Narrate an Epidemic,” in Endemic (Palgrave-MacMillan)

Poet Gary Glauber for poems in Brickplight, ExFic, Poetry Quarterly, River Lit and Stoneboat Journal

Author Marilyn Johnson on publication of Lives in Ruins: Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble (HarperCollins, 2014)

Red Glass Books on debut of Suzanne Wise’s Talking Cure and for publisher Janet Kaplan’s “What I’m Reading Now” column in the November 27 Drunken Boat

Poet Robert McDowell for offering his Core Stories Program to jumpstart writers

Kevin Pilkington

Poet Kevin Pilkington on his fascinating interview and new poem in The Worcester Review

Bass player Larry Schwartzman for this heart-warming video on Joe Biden

Poet Linda Simone remembering Pulitzer Prize-winners Claudia Emerson and Mark Strand

Poet Mark Smith-Soto on his new book, Time Pieces (Main Street Rag Press, 2015) available for pre-order and for his poem “Satori” on Rattle

Wishing you anticipation of all the good things to come, this holiday and in the coming year,

Ann

your ripe autumn annogram

Happy September.  I love the gold quality of the light through the trees, and the blue skies.  Good news:  My poem, “Trinity,” based on Shakespearian Sonnet 34, appears in Out of Sequence: The Sonnets Remixed.  Editor D. Gilson is posting about the project, and the Parlor Press book arrives this fall.  Main Street Rag Press has accepted “At the County Airport, 1964,” for its car anthology; and best of all, my interview with translator and poet J. Chester Johnson will appear in Illuminations in June.

Little Games at the Eastchester Inn

Little Games at the Eastchester Inn - photo by Mike Virsinger

Little Games, a band featuring my husband Michael Cefola, made its debut at the Eastchester Inn on September 6.  The band plays a riveting mix of 1960s British blues-rock, from Yardbirds, Animals and Who to later artists such as Eric Clapton, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac and Gary Moore.  From left to right: keyboardist Anthony Nisi, guitarist Michael Cefola, drummer Tommy Vinton, and bassist Larry Schwartzman.  Be sure to catch Little Games at Foley’s in Pleasantville on November 8 at 10pm.  See you there for more amazing music!
  

Bookbinder Malcolm Summers

Traditional English Bookbinder

What a pleasure to discover the joys of bookbinding from Malcolm Summers, whose sunlit studio above the Chester Bookworm is filled with quality acid-free paper, Scottish leathers, space-age glue and old-fashioned presses.  He binds everything from antique books and dissertations to wedding albums, and his clients span the globe.  You can even take a workshop with him to learn this noble trade.  Aren’t you relieved to know that someone like Malcom is still crafting books?

Linda Simone and new book

Linda Simone and Archeology

Poet Linda Simone is pleased to announce the publication of Archeology (Flutter Press, 2014). Linda’s long-time fascination with archeology led to this collection, which juxtaposes poems about real archeological finds with poems about modern experiences that serve to reconnect people--both living and dead.  I love Linda’s work, and encourage you to purchase this distinctive collection.

Kevin Pilkington Master Poetry Class

National Book Award poet and novelist Kevin Pilkington is holding a Poetry Master Class for five sessions this fall at the Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute for students with an MFA or MA in Writing who would like to get back into a workshop atmosphere, Tuesdays, November 11 - December 16, 6pm-8pm. Here are all of the details.  Kevin's novel, Summer Shares, is now available as a paperback on Amazon.

Ferguson in view of Elaine Race Massacres

J. Chester Johnson

The Task Force Against Racism at Trinity Wall Street will host a symposium on the Elaine Race Massacre today at 2 pm, at St. Paul’s Chapel.  The Elaine Race Massacre, perhaps the deadliest racial conflagration in US history, led to the Supreme Court’s Moore v Dempsey ruling toward equal protection and eventually to the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.  Civil rights activist, historian and poet J. Chester Johnson will speak on this tragic event.  If you miss it, be sure to read his essay.

OSilas Gallery Celebrates Local History

Hotel Gramatan in Bronxville, NY

Legacies, Landmarks & Achievements: Celebrating 350 Years – Eastchester, Tuckahoe, Bronxville celebrates  30+ local historical figures as well as the legacies of the Tuckahoe marble quarry and the famed Hotel Gramatan.  Discover surprising history in your own backyard!  At the OSilas Gallery through November 9; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday: 12-5pm; Thursday: 12-7pm; Saturday & Sunday: 2-5pm. 

Quick Draw returns

John Lehr as Sherriff John Henry Hoyle

Ever wonder whatever happened to the Geico caveman?  John Lehr stars in Quick Draw, a western comedy on Hulu that has just returned for a second season.  Archeologist John McCray inspires the program’s historical authenticity, going as far as Fort Smith, Arkansas to research the notorious Belle Starr for an episode or two.  Bravo to Lehr and McCray for creating a hilarious and authentic comedy!

Calls for Work

Highland Park Poetry wants poems and photos about grandparents or great-grandparents. Send poems (30 lines max) and jpegs by September 23 to jennifer@
highlandparkpoetry.org.

Vida looking for essays on intersections between gender, race, sexuality, class, physical abilities; misogyny in workshops/publishing/readings/theater/film that illuminate larger social issues; feminist literary successes/innovations; making gender privilege visible in the literary and larger world. 

Evie Shockley

Poetry Readings / Talks

Fall ushers in poetry readings and talks to keep you round and sweet as a Gala apple: 

September 23 – Eleni Sikelianos on mixing genres, Poets House, 7pm

September 28 – Ellen Bass, Katonah Library, 4pm

October 4 – Richard Forman, Tracie Morris; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

October 7 – Octavio Paz Centennial Celebration, Poets House, 7:00pm

October 9 – Evie Shockley, St. Francis College, 4:30 p.m.

October 11 – Kate Berlant, Tony Torn, Ubu Sings Ubu; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

October 12 – Jim Daniels, Katonah Library, 4pm

October 18 – Jomar Statkun, Christopher Stackhouse, Maria Damon; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

October 25 – Malik Gaines, Alex Segade; Zinc Bar, 4:30pm

The Frank O'Hara Chocolate Shake

Frank O'Hara (1926-1966), a premier New York School poet, loved having a daily cheeseburger and chocolate shake for lunch, his favorite meal.  He'd walk around midtown, get some inspiration and type up a poem before starting on his afternoon work.  Those poems ultimately became Lunch Poems (City Lights, 1964).  I love his poetry as much as a good shake, and this one is good for you.  

2 cups almond milk*

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon or more raw cacao powder

1 half of a ripe avocado

1 heaping teaspoon of almond butter

1 tablespoon or more of raw coconut nectar

a dash of cinnamon

Put all ingredients in the blender and blend on high for a few minutes.  Taste to see if the shake is sweet and chocolaty enough, and adjust if you need stronger flavor.  Pour into a tall glass and enjoy!

*To make your own, soak one-half cup raw slivered almonds in filtered water overnight.  Pour water and almonds in blender with teaspoon of vanilla, two cups or more water, and blend on high for three minutes.  Strain almond milk through a tea-strainer into a container with a lid.  Keeps three to four days.

'Round the Net

One of Powell's 25

Cindy Hochman, editor of First Literary Review East, for the latest issue

ALTA list-serve for this article on British readers gobbling up foreign translations, a new bio on Proust translator Scott Moncrief, a French portrait of literary translators, and how to translate an untranslatable book

Francis Battista, Best Friends cofounder, on “Four-Footed Citizens”

Guy Bennett, editor, for publishing Portia Elan’s Ghazals for the Body (Mindmade Books, 2014)

Another Powell's 25

Christopher Brisson, writer, for this wonderful upbeat video for dog lovers

Terry Dugan, poet and filmmaker, for Powell's 25 Books to Read Before You Die

Cindy Dunne, Lakota Kids Enrichment, for beautiful poetry by Lakota children

Dennis Dybeck, translator, on Jerome the patron saint of translators

Gary Glauber, poet, for poems in jmww and 3 Elements Review (page 47)

Ruth Handel, Dos Madres Press poet, on her recent Warner Library reading

Cindy Hochman, editor of First Literary Review East, for the latest issue

And one more

Mary McCray, poet, for this take-off on net neutrality and fabulous fall Big Bang Poetry newsletter

Christina Rau, Dancing Girl Press poet, for "Notes From Her Suicidal Bed" selected by Goodreads in July

Sam and Liz, editors of Circumference, for bringing back this great translation journal

Jay Shulman, music archivist, for this Zombies band documentary and revelation on Jim Morrison's death; and for celebrating the lives of Bob Crewe, Charlie Haden and Johnny Winter.

Tourism Santa Fe, for the Burning of Zozobra (feel sorry for Zozo—what did he do?)

Frank Vitale, filmmaker, for his “Car Driving” and “Traffic Signaling in the Mediated City” videos

Wishing you the ripe creativity of fall,

Ann