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 september annogram

What’s cookin’ at Gracie’s Diner?

On Thursday, September 12, at 7 pm, it’s poetry! A big thank you to all of you who are planning to attend the Go Cat Go Reading Series, where I will read.  Bring your diner-food cravings and poetry to read to Gracie's Corner Diner, 352 East 86th Street.  Hope to see you!

Princeton’s Inventory

I am thrilled that Inventory, a literary translation project run by Princeton graduate students across disciplines, has accepted Chapter 3 from Le Héros (Flammarion, 2008).  That makes four journals within a few months’ time!  Publishers, what are you waiting for?  This translation manuscript needs a home.

A Slant of Light
 

Codhill Press Editor Larry Carr reports that he is into the second printing of A Slant of Light: Contemporary Women Writers of the Hudson Valley.  This gorgeous book makes a lovely gift this time of year.  The first of many readings will take place Saturday, September 21, 4-6 pm, at The Golden Notebook, 29 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY (845-679-8000). 

Cefola double rainbow in Astronomy

Congratulations to my multitalented spouse, Michael Cefola, on his double-rainbow photo which appears in the current Astronomy Magazine.   When Michael, former president of the Westchester Amateur Astronomers, took the amazing shot in Santa Fe, he had no idea that the space between the rainbows is called Alexander's Dark Band.  Thanks to Stephen James O'Meara's instructive column in the June Astronomy!

Primary Lessons

Avid readers, book clubs, and history buffs, please take note:  Primary Lessons, a stunning memoir by Sarah Bracey White, debuted days ago from CavanKerry Press.  You can read my review on Amazon, see this Journal News video of the author discussing the March on Washington, or attend what is expected to be a huge book party on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 7 pm, at the Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Road, Elmsford (NY).

Rosalind Solomon at Fridman Gallery

Curator Beth Gersh-Nešić invites you to the opening reception for Rosalind Solomon: Selected Works, on September 10, 6-9 pm, at Fridman Gallery.  The renowned photographer will speak at 7 pm and then screen her film, A Woman I Once Knew, named Best Experimental Short at the 2010 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.  I plan to attend and hope you will too!

Poetic insights from Neal Whitman

Pulitzer Remixer Neal Whitman, a docent at Robinson Jeffers’ Tor House, lives and writes in Pacific Grove (CA).  His wonderful book, The Poetry Prof: Rooted in Belief, collects two years of essays from www.shortpoems.com.  Neal’s award-winning haiku has blessed him with an expertise that applies to all poetry, as demonstrated by this chapter from The Poetry Prof:

Dieter Rams Principles of Design

Dieter Rams was a German industrial designer whose motto was Weniger, aber besser – “Less, but better.”  Chief of Design for Braun from 1961 to 1995, he designed kitchen appliances, audio-visual equipment, wrist watches, clocks, and shavers today in many museums.  When I attended an exhibit of his work, Less and More, at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, I was struck how his principles of good design apply to writing short form poems.

Haiku should be …

1. Innovative. Possibilities for innovation in design will never be exhausted. Try different forms and find a form that fits the individual poem. This does not mean that innovation should be an end in and of itself.

2. Useful. The poet should disregard anything that detracts. Haiku poets offer up their concrete experiences so that someone else can re-experience them.

3.  Aesthetic. Well executed haiku can be beautiful – keep in mind its effect on people and their well-being. There is a reason why some poems are lyrical – poetry can be music to the ears.
 

4. Understandable. At best, a haiku poem is self-explanatory. Plus, it allows for the user’s self-expression. The reader finishes the haiku.
 

5. Honest. The poet should not try to make the haiku seem more than it is. Avoid manipulation that I call the “snow storm and drifting conversation” trick. Sometimes I can “see” the haiku poet showing off how clever he or she can be.

6. Thorough down to the last detail. Leave nothing to chance, e.g., articles, pronouns, punctuation. Experiment with different variations of the same haiku. It helps to read your haiku out loud – if a word sounds wrong, it is wrong.
 

7.  Lean. Use as little design as possible. “Less, but better,” means do not burden reader with non-essentials. Test each word for its value.

‘Round the Net

Thanks to the following who graciously shared news, invites and/or links:

·       Literary translator Lisa Carter for her translation of “An Ordinary Penance,” by Argentine author Fabián Casas, which appears in Bad Luck/Mala Suerte  (Traviesa, 2013). 

·       Mindful Skills’ George Chen for passing along novelist Matt Haig’s writing tips

·       Found Poetry Review editors for alerting us to their new website and new issue dedicated to David Foster Wallace

·       Historian Neil Ginsberg for this thoughtful article on Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech

·       Pulitzer Remixer Gary Glauber for news of published poems, "Tribal Rite," in Dead Flowers, Volume 2, Number 1; and “Collusion” in Four and Twenty

·       Poet Bob Holman for the good news that the Bowery Poetry Club has reopened

·       Congratulations to poet Janet Kaplan on her new chapbook, Chronicles (PressBoardPress, 2013) and the newest Red Glass Books publication, A Theory of the Vowel by Beth Frost

·       Katonah Poetry Series on the upcoming reading by David St. John, Sunday, September 29, 4 pm, Katonah Village Library Garden Room, 26 Bedford Road, Katonah (NY).

·       Poet Robert McDowell for his new ebooks on writing haiku and sonnets, overcoming writers’ block and the first novel in a new mystery series.

The late Ruth Stone

·       Poets&Writers for this great video on poet Ruth Stone’s former Vermont home

·       Poet James Sherry for the invitation to his new book party, Monday, September 23, 6:30-8:30 pm, at Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, New York (NY) – phone 212-505-3475

·       Cellist Jay Shulman for Paul McCartney and the Kronos Quartet performing “Yesterday”

·       Poet Neal Whitman for this hilarious New York Times essay about a poet at an upper crust event

 

We mourn the passing of two greats, poet and translator Seamus Heaney, and poet John Hollander.  Look for tributes to them in your next annogram.  And if you're a poet, honor their great body of work by advancing your own.

Until next time,

Ann