your june annogram

We begin June with this wondrous photo taken by a friend at a wedding in Australia.  If ever I needed an image of muses, it would be these young women in sparkles fluttering against a strong offshore breeze.  May your muses move with the wind too!

Our winged Dodge and a sweet donkey

Do you remember cars with push-button gears, plaid-fabric bench seats and chrome fins?  My poem, “At the County Airport,” recalls such space-age designs.  To my delight, Main Street Rag has accepted it for a car-themed anthology.  I’m also thrilled that issue 46 of Sugar Mule features two of my poems.  Thanks again to guest editor Alyse Knorr.

Karin Miller

Anthology awards / readings

Congratulations to editor Karin Miller, whose Cancer Poetry Project 2 (Tasora Books, 2013) was named Best Poetry Book of 2013 at the Midwest Book Awards Gala on May 15 and is a National Indie Excellence Award finalist.

A Slant of Light (Codhill Press, 2013) has won First Prize in the 2014 USA Book Awards for Anthology and the 2014 da Vinci Eye Eric Hoffer Book (Cover) Award; and is a finalist in the 2014 Beverly Hills International Book Awards for Anthology, 2014 NextGeneration Indie Book Awards in Women’s Issues, and 2014 International Book Awards in Chick Lit/Women’s Literature.

Martin Espada

Hear fantastic poets from St. Peter’s B-List (Ave Maria Press, 2014) on Wednesday, June 11, 6-8:30 pm, read at Poets House, 10 River Terrace, NYC, across from Battery Park.  Poets include Kate Daniels, Martin Espada, Brett Foster, Gerry LaFemina, Jamison Lee, Susan L. Miller, Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, Susanna Rich, Nicholas Samara, and Lauren Schmidt.

The Widow’s Handbook (Kent State University Press, 2014) continues readings: June 5, 7 pm, Iona Senior Services, 4125 Albemarle St NW, Washington, DC;  June 7, 2 pm, Swarthmore College, Trotter Hall 301; June 8, 7 pm, Stonehenge Studios, 3508 SW Corbett Ave., Portland, OR; June 10, 2 pm, East Castle Place, 2505 E. Bradford Place, Milwaukee, WI; June 26, 7 pm, Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 S. Main Street, Concord, NH,  and July 9, 11 am, Shorewood Senior Resource Center, 3920 N. Murray Ave, Shorewood, WI.

Petra Lewis

Petra Lewis at WORD

WORD - A Caribbean Book Fest will celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month on Sunday, June 8, 2 – 8 pm, at Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue, in Brooklyn.  Petra Lewis, author of The Sons and Daughters of Ham: Book I, A Requiem, will join 35 writers from 18 countries celebrating the storyteller in all of us.

Dianalee Velie Poetry Workshop

Dianalee Velie

If you’re in southwest New Hampshire this summer, you can join the Monday Night Poetry Group the second Monday of the month at 7 pm, at the Newbury Library .  Poet Dianalee Velie encourages everyone to come, listen, or read.  Next session Monday, June 9.  All levels welcome. 



Paul Harding

Canaan Meetinghouse Reading Series

In the same NH neighborhood, stop by these readings which feature nonfiction writer Douglas Bauer and author Sue Miller on July 10, poet Jeffrey Harrison and novelist Deb Harkness on July 17, natural historian Bernd Heinrich and novelist Rachel Urquhart on July 24, author Abigail Carroll and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Paul Harding on July 31. Readings start at 7:30 pm at the Meetinghouse, Canaan Street, Canaan, NH.

New books

Tanya Chernov is delighted that her anthology, The Burden of Light (Smashwords, 2014), is live on Amazon.

Dancing Girl Press announces a new chapbook, Borrowed Logic, by Alison Stone.

Petra Lewis announces that the EBook version of her novel, The Sons and Daughters of Ham: Book I, A Requiem, is live on Amazon.

James Dean

Mindmade Books has published Bernat Manciet’s Ode to James Dean in a bilingual edition translated by Pierre Joris and Nicole Peyrafitte.  This 1958 hallucinatory meditation on the actor’s death, captures “brutal, sharp, abrasive, wily, loutish, irascible, burning, rash, fighting, aggressive” qualities that Manciet (1923-2005) prized as a major latter 20^th-century Occitan writer.

Red Glass Books is beside itself with joy to announce the publication of Café between wars, a chapbook by Karen Garthe and designed by Janet Kaplan.  Available from the author—please email her at macminch2@gmx.com for details.

Calls for work

Red Booth Review is accepting poems on celebrity and art and photos on isolation through June 30.  Include 4-10 poems within an email and/or 3-5 digital images no greater than 720px.   See current issue for editorial preferences in poetry.

Watercolor by Isabelle Fuller

Beatrix Potter Redux

Thanks to artist Isabelle Fuller for sharing this delightful spring watercolor which pays homage to classic Beatrix Potter illustrations.

Racoco on the go-go

SOAK: A torrent of AcTS and Training molded by LEIMAY at CAVE will take place June 19 at 8 pm. Racoco Productions will show a new collaboration with visual artist Stephanie Beck and composer Lynn Wright, Paper Work, which charts ideas of "progress," territorial expansion, discipline, and disorder.

Beck and Racoco will follow up this premiere with an installation and series of performances at Harlem’s Chashama Performance Space, 1351 Amsterdam Avenue. The installation will be open to the public Saturday, June 21, from 3 - 9 pm, Sunday from noon - 8 pm, and Monday from 10 am - 9 pm.

Benefit Harp Concert

On Sunday, June 15, at 4 pm, harpist David Holton and flutist Pamela Sklar will perform, accompanied by tenors Michael Hull and Robert Puleo at Trinity St. Paul’s Church in New Rochelle.  This benefit will raise funds to send David Holton to the Philippines as part of the Episcopal Church Young Adult Service Corps. Reception to follow concert.  Suggested Donation:  $15.

Send Sam to Ghana

Sam Russell, a recent Trinity College graduate with an economics degree, is going to volunteer in Ghana where he will help WomensTrust improve their operations, focus on micro lending to women to eliminate poverty, and raise awareness how scholarships can improve life for girls.  Help Sam get to Ghana by contributing to his IndieGoGo campaign.

Cool Ginger Limeade

When the heat rises, I thirst for something delicious.  I created this recipe as an alternative to chemical- and high fructose-sugar-laden ginger ale. Ginger has an astringent quality that cleanses the digestive system, and lime is alkaline to counteract acidity.  Great after a big meal!

1 cup bottled natural spring water

1 quarter-size quarter-inch slice of ginger root, peeled

1/2 lime

2 Tablespoons (more or less to taste) organic raw honey

This refreshing drink calls for a strong blender.  Combine water and ginger root in blender and process on the highest setting about a half minute.  Using a tea strainer over a tall glass, strain the ginger water into the glass.  Rinse out the blender to make sure it is free of any ginger. 

Return the ginger water to the blender and squeeze the juice of one-half lime into blender.  Add two tablespoons of raw honey.  Blend again on high.  Pour back into glass.  The drink will be a lovely cream color and develop a foamy head.  Drink right away.  Serves one.

Round the Net

American Literary Translators Association list-serve for this article on publishers fighting Amazon

Translator Jeffrey Angles for sharing this article by the great Persian translator Dick Davis on translating Hafez. 

Contemporary poets discuss  poetry
hosted by UPenn Prof Al Filreis

Professor Al Filreis for sharing this early greeting from his celebrated teaching assistants preparing for September’s ModPo class

Belated birthday wishes to Gary Glauber, whose poems “Anthem” and “Refrain” appear in The Citron Review; and has three more poems in The Blue Hour, and two in East Jasmine Review, purchasable at the East Jasmine Review Store.

Writing mentor Robert McDowell for letting us know about his new workshop, Flash Writing for Fantastic Exploration, starting June 11—to register, email rmcdowell@mind.net 

Congratulations to Laura Morelli on winning a silver IPPY Award for Best Adult Fiction Ebook for her debut novel, The Gondola Maker, also been shortlisted for the Eric Hoffer Award, the da Vinci Eye Prize, and the National Indie Excellence Award

The Offbeats

Congratulations to Jay Shulman (second, right) of the Offbeats, especially guitarist Michael Cefola (far left), on another tremendous Night of Rock benefit for the Scarsdale Teen Center

Thanks to Linda Simone for alerting us to the passing of the beloved civil rights activist and poet, Maya Angelou

Congratulations to Ellen Steinbaum on her guest entry on The Best American Poetry Blog

Thanks to filmmaker Frank Vitale for sharing Episode 5 of the Metropolis Organism and this fascinating look back at his role in the PBS children’s program, Shining Time Station

Maya Angelou

We close this annogram with a Maya Angelou quote, “All great achievements require time.”  Angelou overcame racism, poverty, and sexual assault, only to find a higher purpose in civil rights activism and powerful poetry and prose.  All it took was time.  Eighty-six years of extraordinary courage—which annogram celebrates today.

Until next time,

Ann

your may annogram

Reading "Andromeda at Midlife"

Slant of Light reading

I loved reading last month with friends from A Slant of Light: Contemporary Women Poets of the Hudson Valley (Codhill Press, 2013).  This Hudson Valley Writers Center (HVWC) event featured really fine Westchester poets, and an insightful talk by editors Larry Carr and Jan Schmidt, who announced that the anthology had received a Beverly Hills Book Award.



Proud poets and anthology editors

I caught up with Dos Madres Press author Ruth Handel; NEA recipient Pamela Hart; Against Butterflies (Little Red Tree Publishing, 2013) author Ann Lauinger, and HVWC founder and poet Margo Stever, among many other friends.  When Mervyn Taylor read his tribute to Brenda Connor-Bey, I knew she must have been there.  It was too magical an evening!  Thanks to Meredith Trede for organizing a great event and Sarah Bracey White for taking wonderful photos.

St. Peter’s B-List at Cornelia Street Café

My favorite place to read in New York is Cornelia Street Café, whose underground venue could encourage people to break out black berets and snap their fingers.  Last month, I had the honor of reading alongside the lovely Mary Ann B. Miller, editor of St. Peter’s B-List (Ave Maria Press, 2014), and contributor poets Dean Kostos, Susan L. Miller, Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, Christine Redman-Waldeyer and Susanna Rich.  St. Peter’s B-List makes a great gift for any spiritually attuned friends.

Sarah Lawrence Poetry Festival

What a pleasure to read at my alma mater with MFA alum and Red Glass Press Publisher Janet Kaplan, current undergraduates and MFA graduate poets!  Festival organizer and Dancing Girl Press poet Katie Longofono kept us to one or two poems, which created fun, speed-dating exposure to nearly 20 poets.  Our reading was followed by Kim Addonizio and Eileen Myles.

Scarsdale Inquirer interview

Thanks to Debra Banerjee, arts editor at The Scarsdale Inquirer, for recently interviewing me.  Debra and I had a great conversation about poetry, and she managed to capture all the important points in a fabulous Arts Section cover story.  Enjoy the interview here.

The Burden of Light

Congratulations to editor Tanya Chernov (right) on the release of The Burden of Light: Poems on Illness and Loss (Smashwords, 2014).  This multimedia project, which includes three of my poems, weaves together a tapestry of inspiration, support, and hope.  You set the price for the book, which will directly benefit the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance. 

More good news



Regi Claire

My translation of Chapter 8 of Le Héros by Hélène Sanguinetti is in Exchanges, the University of Iowa’s translation journal.  My poems, “Wildlife” and “Vermont: Midnight,” go live May 15 at Sugar Mule.  Lummox Press has accepted one of my poems for its 2014 anthology, and my Small Print Magazine interview with Scottish novelist Regi Claire is now online.  

Seshadri wins Pulitzer

Congratulations to Vijay Seshadri on winning the Pulitzer for his poetry collection3 Sections (Graywolf, 2013).  Vijay began his education in the sciences, and, as a result, brings startling clarity to all things literary as both poet and critic.  In engaging talks, he has the gift for making a complex poet like Wallace Stevens simple, and a seemingly simple Robert Frost complex.  Annogram rejoices in this much-deserved Pulitzer Prize!

Iaconetti watercolors

Joan Iaconetti’s first solo exhibit imagines post-graffiti subways in dark, deliciously sinister angles, platforms, and riders.  Called “evocative neo-noir” by the Curbed NY, her work is on view Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm, at the Bridge Gallery through June 2.    The gallery is on the fourth floor of The New School, 66 West 12^th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

Translate in the City

The City University of London is offering a translation program, June 23-27, 2014. A week of translation workshops will cover a range of literary genres guided by leading literary translators, plus guest speakers and events. Languages: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Polish and Portuguese into English.  To register, email s.hall@city.ac.uk  or call +44 (0)20 7040 0123.

Reid Castle at Manhattanville

Poetry readings

Come hear novelist Terry Dugan, one of 15 Manhattanville MFA graduates reading on May 13, at 7 pm, in the East Library at Reid Castle at Manhattanville College.

Also on May 13, at 6:30 pm, the Go Cat Go Poetry Series welcomes Evie Ivey and Cynthia Toronto at Gracie’s Corner Diner, 352 E 86th St (between 1^st and 2^nd Avenues), New York.



E. J. Antonio

The 12th Annual New York City Independent Publishers Book Party will take place 6-8pm, Thursday, May 15, 6-8 pm, at the ZieherSmith Gallery, 516 W. 20th Street, in New York.

The Hot Poets Collective, Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, E.J. Antonio, Sabrina Hayeem-Ladani, Elizabeth Lara, Anton Nimblett, Jayne Pierce, and Ed Toney will read on May 16 at a private Woodside, Queens home.  To attend, RSVP by May 12 to jgex@Hotmail.com.

The Saturn Series Open Mike will feature Juanita Torrence-Thompson, Ellaraine Lockie and E.J. Antonio on May 19, at 8-10 pm at Revival, 129 E. 15^th Street, New York.

Calls for submissions

Ruth Handel of the Poetry Caravan

If you’re a poet in Westchester County, you can bring poetry to people who might not be able to hear it otherwise.  Contact Ruth Handel (RuthHandel@verizon.net) to learn more about the Poetry Caravan.



Calling all poems on “desire” or “road kill” for the Lummox Poetry Anthology to be published in November.  Donate $15 and your submission will also be considered for the 2014 Lummox Poetry Prize, $100 and chapbook publication.  Send 2-3 poems to poetraindog@gmail.com.

Poets for Living Waters is a poetry project which responded to the 2010 Gulf Oil Disaster.  In light of the highly contested Keystone Pipeline, please send 1-3 poems, brief statement of ecopoetics, and short bio to poetsforlivingwaters@yahoo.com before July 20, 2014. 

Asparagus Soufflé

How I love fresh spring vegetables, like artichokes and asparagus!  Here’s a favorite recipe from The Ayurvedic Cookbook (Lotus Press, 2004) by Amadea Morningstar with Urmilla Desai.

1 cup milk

3 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter you can purchase at Trader Joe’s or Mrs. Greens)

3 tablespoons barley or whole wheat flour

1 pound fresh asparagus (about 1 cup cooked)

1 egg yolk

½ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

4 egg whites

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

Paprika as garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Wash asparagus and chop into 1-inch pieces.  Steam until tender, about 8 minutes.  Melt ghee in medium saucepan; slowly stir in flour. Add milk gradually, stirring constantly over medium heat.  The sauce will thicken as it cooks.  Bring mixture to a boil and stir in cooked asparagus.  Reduce heat to low and stir in egg yolk.  The mixture will thicken a bit more as you continue to cook it for another 1-2 minutes.  Stir in salt and pepper; remove from heat and let mixture cool.

Beat egg whites with cream of tartar in a clean glass, enamel or stainless steel blow (plastic will slow down the process).  When egg whites are stiff enough to peak, fold them gently into the cooled asparagus sauce.  Place whole mixture in an ungreased soufflé or baking dish (one about half as deep as it is wide).  Sprinkle top with paprika. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until soufflé is firm.  The soufflé will keep for a few minutes after taking it out of the oven before it falls, but it is best eaten immediately.  Goes well with salad and bread or rice.  Serves 2-4.

Round the Net

Congratulations to Jeanette Briggs on winning the President’s Award from Purchase College, selected by the faculty for outstanding and dedicated studies.

Congratulations to Ruth Handel on four poems published in Eclectica; on reading from her Tugboat Warrior (Dos Madres Press, 2013) at Dobbs Ferry Public Library, and for Poetry Caravan readings at Armonk, Greenburgh and Scarsdale Libraries.

Congratulations to NEA recipient Pamela Hart, who will be teaching a summer course on ekphrasis at the Sarah Lawrence Writing Institute—register by May 29.



Amy King

Poet Amy King for The Boston Review’s online collection of poetry on surveillance.



Congratulations to Jacqueline Lapidus and Lise Menn, editors of The Widows Handbook (Kent State University Press, 2014), which has gone into its second printing!

Thanks to Poets & Writers for this literary map of New York’s Upper East Side.

Congrats again to Pulitzer -winner Vijay Seshardi, here talking about his poetry on NPR.

“Oh no, me gotta go!  Ai yie yie yie,” writes music archivist Jay Shulman who let us know that April 11 was International Louie Louie Day.

Congratulations to Linda Simone, whose poetry collection, Archeology, will be published by Flutter Press.

Congratulations to Widows Handbook (Kent State University Press, 2014) contributor Chris Thiele on her essay, “Trusting the Process,” which appears in The Best American Poetry Blog.

Thanks to the Times Literary Supplement for this discovery from the poet Sappho.

Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day and successful soufflés,

Ann