your november annogram

Ann works hard on her pumpkin

All Hallows’ Eve

Sculpted my way into it at my friends’ house, and received the ultimate compliment at home from seven-year-old trick-or-treaters, a witch and baby bear, who pronounced my pumpkin “Very cool!” “Carved it myself,” I beamed. Costumes seem traditional this year, with a renaissance princess and Oz scarecrow my favorites. On the Internet, I found a treat—a poem of mine from last summer.

My "very cool" pumpkin

Lit Crawl Portland

Opossum Lit made its debut yesterday at an evening reading during the Portland Lit Crawl.  I'm excited that two of my favorite poems devoted to music, "Revolution," and "Ring of Fire," will appear in the inaugural issue.  Break a leg, or as my friend Meredith Trede says, break a line, Opossum Lit!

Audrie and Daisy

Concerned about the prevalence of sexual assault? Come see the documentary Audrie and Daisy, at Scarsdale High School’s Little Theater, November 30 at 7 p.m. A panel discussion, moderated by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, will feature Kristen Bowes, General Counsel, Mercy College; Katie Cappiello, activist, founder of The Arts Effect NYC; and Anna Utsinger, activist.   Reserve your seat online at bit.ly/audriedaisy.

Ruby Silvious at Riverrun

Come see Ruby’s painted tea bags—yes, you read that right.  Curated by New York Arts Exchange, Ruby Silvious’s art will be at Riverrun Books and Manuscripts to celebrate her book, 363 Days of Tea: A Visual Journal on Used Tea Bags.  Opening reception, December 2, 6-8pm; artist talk, December 3, 3-5pm; December 4, 2-4pm, talk on collecting by bookseller Tom Lecky.

Realms of the Mothers

 

Dos Madres Press will inaugurate its anthology celebrating its first decade of poetry, Realms of the Mothers (Dos Madres Press, 2016), on December 7, 6:30pm, at the Mercantile Library in downtown Cincinnati. Dos Madres published my first book of poetry, Face Painting in the Dark (Dos Madres, 2014) and will include “Dance in the City” and “Velocity” in Realms.

Calls for work / workshops

AMP, Hofstra’s digital literary journal, is open for submissions

The Manhattanville Review is open for submissions

Katonah Museum of Art, poetry/drawing workshop, November 6, 10am – 12noon, $50

Readings / events

Laurie Ann Guerrero

National Arts Club, November 9, 7pm, Max Ritvo Tribute, Kaveh Akbar, Timothy Donnelly, Dorothea Lasky, Sarah Ruhl, Jean Valentine, Cynthia Zarin

Book Court, November 10, 7pm, Amanda Nadelberg, Anselm Berrigan

Fordham Lincoln Center, November 14, 7pm, Beth Bachman, Laurie Ann Guerrero

Paul Muldoon

HVWC, November 11, 7:30pm, Poets on War and Peace ($10)

Zinc Bar, November 12, 4:30pm, Rickey Laurentiis, Miller Oberman ($5)

HVWC, November 13, 4:30pm, Paul and Anna Nugent in Seamus Scanlon's "The Long Wet Grass"

Irvington Public Library, November 13, 3-5pm, Homer’s Odyssey, poetry in the round

Fordham Lincoln Center, November 14, 7pm, Beth Bachman, Laurie Ann Guerrero

Camille Rankine

Lillian Vernon Creative Writing House, November 17, 7pm, Patrick Rosal

Zinc Bar, November 19, 4:30pm, Sasha Banks & Alex Cuff ($5)

Katonah Village Library, November 20, 4pm, Paul Muldoon ($10)

HVWC, December 2, 7:30pm, Columbia, Manhattanville, Rutgers MFA poets ($10)

HVWC, December 9, 7:30pm, Amy King, Camille Rankine ($10)

Spanish Shrimp and Rice

This recipe comes highly recommended from our resident music archivist, Jay Shulman, via the Food Network.  Sounds delicious. Olé!

 

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1 medium tomato, chopped

1 small carrot, diced

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 1/2 cups converted white rice

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed

Hot sauce (optional)

Heat oil in deep skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, turmeric; cook until onion is soft, 3 minutes. Add tomato, carrot and bell pepper; cook, stirring until tender, 5 minutes. Sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Add shrimp and cook, stirring, until they begin to turn pink, 1 minute. Add rice, 2 cups water, and 1/2 tablespoon parsley; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice is tender, 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat; sprinkle in peas and remaining 1/2 tablespoon parsley. Cover 5 minutes. Fluff with fork; add peas and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with hot sauce.

’Round the Net

Congrats and thanks to the following for links and news:

Poet Joel Allegretti on the new Wikipedia reference to Rabbit Ears (NYQ Books, 2015) and his quotes at length in The Writer on the anthology

My friend Donna for this hilarious video of a cat watching horror flick

Fast Company on why creativity requires community and a scientific look at creativity

Art historian and curator Beth Gersh-Nesic for a great part 1 intro to the NYC fall art scene, and part 2 too

Poet Gary Glauber for work appearing in Leaves of Ink and Scarlet Leaf Review

Dylan

DV activist David Kroenlein on the outing of the Harvard male soccer team

Huffington Post for these cool Scottish murals and how making art reduces stress

Poet Mary McCray for article on Amy King’s urging Dylan return his Nobel

Bassist Larry Schwartzman for sending me more authentic blues in the form of Buddy Guy, who NEVER gets "old"

Buddy Guy

Music archivist Jay Shulman on Dylan releasing his 1966 tour recordings on November 11 after November 1 release of his lyrics

Jay, also our resident undertaker, on passing of Phil Chess, Zacherly, and Bobby Vee

Poet and artist Linda Simone for this fascinating article on dreams

Poet Meredith Trede on her reading today at the Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library

Filmmaker Frank Vitale for releasing Episode 26, "Skin," and Episodes 27-30 of the Metropolis Organism on YouTube

Poet Neal Whitman and photographer Elaine Whitman on the joint publication of Elaine's photo, "Sand Dollars," and Neal's haiku "I-Ching and Change: Sand Dollar Cinquain" in Poets and Artists Around the World (Imagine & Poesia, 2016)

While this annogram promised to herald a new US president, I decided to get it to you beforehand.  Instead, I leave you with the enormous creativity of poets, artists, and musicians we salute here, and challenge you to contribute to this world--with your heart, your genius, your original soul.

Until next time,

Ann

your october annogram

Free Ferry available for preorder

I am excited to share that my second poetry book, Free Ferry, is available for preorder.  Ray Peckauskus, Sarah Lawrence Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, calls it “a fascinating take on the plutonium story,” and Nathalia Holt, best-selling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us From Missiles to the Moon to Mars, says it is “a time capsule, sublimely combining the experience of a suburban family with the production and isolation of plutonium.” Intrigued? Order now for delivery next spring.

Kickstart She Can Find Her Way

You can put UPPER HAND PRESS and twenty-four women authors on the map by kickstarting a special publishing project. In She Can Find Her Way: Women Travelers at Their Best, women from several generations tell true stories of their most memorable and challenging travel experiences.  Discover the many unusual gifts in exchange for your Kickstarter donation, while helping a wonderful indie press and fantastic publisher.

Boo at the Zoo

Gigi and adoring fans at the zoo

There’s one more weekend to see Gigi and the Lend-Me-a-Hand Band at the Bronx Zoo’s Halloween event.  This adorable family band features songwriter/vocalist Gigi O’Keeffe Schwartzman, husband Larry on bass, son Evan on electronic drums, my husband Michael Cefola on guitar, and longtime friend Paul Rutkowski on sax.  See them, and amazing magic performed by David Levitan, at three daily shows on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30.  Bring li’l ones yearning to sing and dance!

Let All Voices Be Heard

Writers of different faiths share their stories Saturday, October 15, 7-9 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Montclair, NJ.  The Writers Circle and Tiferet Journal co-host this interfaith panel moderated by Linda K. Wertheimer, author of Faith Ed (Beacon Press, 2015). Panelists will explore how writing and other creative pursuits can lead toward a more compassionate perspective on religious and cultural differences.

Jay Milder's WHITE LINES

You are invited to the opening reception of Jay Milder’s WHITE LINES at the Bogardus Mansion, Tuesday, October 18, 6-8pm.   The exhibit, curated by Beth Gersh-Nesic, PhD, features Old Testament and Kabbalah-themed work by Milder (born 1934), an American artist and a figurative expressionist painter of the second generation New York School. 

Vegetarian Chili

I made this recipe this week—a wonderful meal to welcome the cool weather!  You may have seen this in an earlier annogram. This is my version of Chili con Elote in The New Laurel’s Kitchen (Ten Speed Press, 1986), my first vegetarian cookbook.  We ate the chili in bowls the first night, and the second, spooned it onto corn chips, covered with cheddar cheese and popped them under the broiler for memorable nachos.  Tastes better the next day as flavors meld.

 

1 organic onion, chopped

1 organic clove garlic

2 tablespoons oil

1 or 2 organic green peppers, diced

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin powder

2 cups V-8 Juice

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons salsa

1 cup frozen organic corn

3 cans Trader Joe’s Organic Kidney Beans

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon oregano

  

Sauté onion and garlic clove in oil until onion is soft. Crush garlic clove. Add green pepper and spices. Sauté another 2 or 3 minutes. Add V-8 Juice and corn. Drain all three cans of beans and add whole beans from two cans to the pot.  Mash beans in the third can with a knife until you have a thick paste; add to pot along with salt and oregano. Simmer 30 minutes or more; stir to avoid bottom burning.

New releases

Bearing the Mask: Southwestern Persona Poems (Dos Gatos Press, 2016)

“Bridge of Sighs,” a new short story by Laura Morelli, available on Amazon

Cadillac, Oklahoma (Upper Hand Press, 2016) by Louise Farmer Smith

Conversion Table (Mindmade Books, 2016) by A Maxwell

Eyewitness (Dos Madres Press, 2016) by Natalie Safir

Calls for work / classes

Presence, a Journal of Catholic Poetry is seeking poetry and book reviews by December 1

Tarpaulin Sky Press is accepting submissions for its annual book prize contest by November 1

The Hudson Valley Writers Center offers one-day intensives with high profile writers

Cindy Beer-Fouhy’s Writing Workshop for 50+  continues through December 7

Ruth Zaporah workshop on physical theater improv, October 21, 22, 23, in Brooklyn

Readings / Events

CD Wright (1949-2016)

HVWC, October 15, 7:30pm, Jim Tilley ($10); October 16, 7:30pm, Amy Dryansky, Jennifer Franklin, Aideen Henry, Jack Powers; music by Mike Latini ($10)

The New York Public Library, October 18, 7pm, Rebecca Solnit, Joshua Jelly-Schapiro, Garnette Cadogan, Suketu Meht, Luc Sante on their project Nonstop Metropolis: A New York City Atlas.

Queen’s College, October 18, 6:30pm, Kaitlyn Greenidge

CUNY Graduate Center, October 19, 6:30pm, CD Wright Tribute: Lee Ann Brown, Peter Cole, Monica de la Torre, Carolyn Forché, Brecht Gander, Brenda Hillman, Ben Lerner, Deborah Luster, Frances Mayes, Jane Miller, Michael Ondaatje, Brenda Shaughnessy, Arthur Sze, Jean Valentine, Anne Waldman, Michael Wiegers, Richard Leo Johnson, Toni Hall, Eiko

Gregory Rabassa (1922-2016)

Saint Mark's Church, October 19, 8pm, Garrett Caples, Hoa Nguyen

CUNY Graduate Center, October 21, 6pm, Celebration of Gregory Rabassa: Edith Grossman, Peter Constantine, Earl Fitz, Ezra Fitz, Esther Allen, Ilan Stavans, Mauricio Font, Elizabeth Lowe, Harry Morales, Daniel Shapiro, Nora Glickman, Declan Spring, Ammiel Alcalay, Stanley Barkan, Catarina Cordeiro, David Draper Clark, Clara Rabassa, Kate Rabassa Wallen

HVWC, October 21, Open Mic, 7:30pm; October 22, 7:30pm, Beth Hahn ($10); October 28, 7:30pm, Michelle Hoover, Patricia Park ($10)

Pulitzer Prize-winner Vijay Seshadri

Cooper Union, October 27, 7pm, Rae Armantrout, John Ashbery, Peter Balakian, Carl Dennis, Stephen Dunn, Jorie Graham, Yusef Komunyakaa, Sharon Olds, Gregory Pardlo, Philip Schultz, Vijay Seshadri, Natasha Trethewey, and Charles Wright. ($15)

McNally Jackson Books, October 30, 5pm, Kimo Armitage, Alicia Upano

Orchard Cove retirement community, October 30, 2pm, Jacqueline Lapidus, Susan Mahan, Joanne Seltzer, Christine Silverstein, Ellen Steinbaum

Tappan Hill, November 4, 6:00pm, HVWC gala honoring Yusef Komunyaka and Sylvia Nasar

’Round the Net

Congrats and/or thanks to the following for news and links:

Essayist Jeanette Briggs on the nomination of “City Stories” in Diverse Voices Quarterly for a Best of the Net Award

Edinburgh Poet Laureate (2009-2014) Ron Butlin on the nomination of Ghost Moon (Salt Publishing, 2014) for the 2016 International Dublin Literary Award

Guitarist Michael Cefola for recalling “Dance Hall Days” enjoyed at the Ritz

Novelist Regi Claire on having a short story selected for the Weekend Read

Poet Gary Glauber for two poems in Verse-Virtual

John Malkovich as Picasso

Unicorn Writers Conference Founder Jan Kardys for this funny article on www.historygossip.com

Host Phil Pochoda on winning the Complete Hoot 2016 Owl Award for Best Literary Festival

Writer Mike Reiter for this article on “Why Fidgeting is Good Medicine”

Bassist Larry Schwartzman for another bluesman recommendation—James Armstrong

Photo by Joe Vericker

Poet and watercolorist Linda Simone for sharing Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Medal acceptance speech and this funny Malkovich-inspired art

Photographer Joe Vericker for recalling his dream assignment a year ago following the Pope

Filmmaker Frank Vitale on completion of his new work of docufiction, “Anorgasmia”

Next annogram we will finally have a new president here in the US, and believe me, it's been painful! Let's focus on our glorious creative drives to create a better world.

Until next time,
Ann