your see-you-in-september annogram

 

Dear annogrammers, Welcome to fall, although not officially here…we all feel the promising coolness in the air! Hope you had a great summer. I spent it editing the Spanish translation of my first book, Face Painting in the Dark, gorgeously rendered by Ligia Yamazaki. There’s more good news to read and savor as always.

 

 

New Chapbook from Trainwreck Press

 

Trainwreck Press will publish my chapbook, When the Pilotless Plane Arrives, next month. The Canadian press, which has published Gertrude Stein’s Tender Buttons, Christopher Smart’s Jubilato Agno, and most recently Mary Newell’s Re-SURGE, celebrates “the innovative, the non-conforming, the radical, the alternative, the avant-garde, the non-linear, the abstract, the surreal, the visual, the concrete, the experimental.”  I am deeply honored to be a Trainwreck author!

 

 

New from Chen Du and Chax Press

 

The work of Yan An, one of China’s premier poets, is readable in English thanks to Chen Du and co-translator Xisheng Chen. They have translated his A Naturalist’s Manor (Chax Press), and the John Dryden Translation Competition has longlisted another Yan An translation. Chen Du’s poetry also appears in Art in the Time of COVID-19 (San Fedele Press) and Rappahannock Review, and a wonderful interview in the latter. Hear Yan, Chen, and Xisheng read October 24 at 9pm in the Chax Press reading series. Congratulations to all!

 

 

Newell and Chernicoff Reading

 

Last month, Mary Newell debuted Re-SURGE (Trainwreck Press) at the Desmond-Fish Library—poetry that tracks a delightful friendship between a mermaid and gardener/poet, and their issues of awkward embodiment and ecological distress. Birgit Huppuch ably read the mermaid's part. In a perfect complement, Billie Chernicoff whose Amoretti (Lunar Chandelier Collective) explores a mermaid theme, also read. A wonderful outdoor and Crowdcast event!

 

 

‘Come and Get Your Love’

 

Redbone

This 1974 song hit No. 5 on the pop charts. Written and performed by Redbone, “one of the first Native-American rock bands in the album era” (WSJ), the song begins with tribal chanting and dancing. Michael, who saw Redbone at Fillmore East, said additional teepees and smoke drove the audience wild. The drum-driven tune anticipates disco’s arrival a few years later and its message—to a girlfriend—is “you are fine just as you are.” Sign this petition to help get them into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

 

 

New and Recent Releases

 

Yan An, A Naturalist’s Manor translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen (Chax Press)

 

Big Bang Poetry Summer 2021 Newsletter

 

Chax Press Fall 2021 Newsletter

Jim Daniels, Gun/Shy (Wayne State University Press)

 

Kaleidoscope Summer/Fall 2021

 

Mary K. O’Melveny, Dispatches from the Memory Care Museum (Kelsay Books)

 

Natalie Safir, In the Guesthouse of My Body (Dos Madres Press)

 

 

Creative Calls

 

Mid-Atlantic Poetry Chapbook Series – for first-time poets from District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, or Pennsylvania – by October 1

 

The Poet – open call on adversity – by Sept. 30

 

Presence: A Journal of Catholic Poetry – open submissions until October 1

 

Pure Slush – call for anthology Appointment at 10:30

 

Rhino Founders’ Prize Poetry Contest – by September 30

 

 

Creative Workshops

 

Estha Weiner

All-Genre Writers Group, 6:30pm, Thursdays

 

John McMullen Poetry Workshop, 6pm, fourth Wednesdays 

 

Mahopac Poetry Workshop, 6pm, second Wednesdays

 

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

 

Navigating the Literary Journal Submission Process with Katy Carl – September 27, 8pm (7pm CT)

 

Norwalk Poetry Workshop, first and third Mondays, 6:30pm; email poet_laureate@norwalkpl.org to register

One-on-One Poetry Workshop with Arthur Vogelsang, register by September 20

 

Poetry Pollinator Workshop with Mary Newell and A. Anupama, September 25, 10am-1pm

 

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

 

Stealing from the Poet’s Toolbox: A Fiction Writers Workshop with Estha Weiner (LIVE), October 22, 10am-4pm

 

Writers and Artists Lunch Conversation, second Fridays, noon

 

 

September Readings and Events – ET

 

September 11, 5pm, Lit Balm: DeWitt Henry, Bob Heman, Cindy Hochman, Ralph Culver, Jon Wesick; via Zoom or Facebook

 

September 26, 2pm, Chax Press: Habib Tengour with translations by Pierre Joris and Cole Swensen;  Sarah Riggs with translations of Marie Borel and Jérémy Robert; register here

 

Pamela Hart

Keeler Tavern Museum Gardens, Ridgefield, CT, 6:30pm outside, bring lawn chair or blanket; also streamed via Facebook: September 14, Joan Kwon Glass, James Diaz, Barb Jennes; September 21, Philip F. Clark, Benjamin Grossberg: September 28, Margaret Gibson, Pamela Hart

 

 

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

 

 

No-Knead Bread

 

One of the best cooks I know, Linda Simone, says this is easy and delicious. Give it a try!

 

2 2/3 cups bread flour

1 ½ teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon “rapid rise” yeast

1 cup plus 3 tablespoons warm water

⅛ teaspoon clear vinegar

Extra bread flour, for dusting

 

Mix flour, salt and yeast in large bowl with your hands. Combine water and vinegar; add to bowl. Stir with hand until sticky, shaggy ball forms. Roll ball around bowl 30-45 seconds until most dough is part of the same large ball. Scrape your dough-covered hand to get dough into bowl, then invert a deep medium metal or glass bowl and place large bowl on top, tapping to ensure a tight seal. Let dough rest 12-18 hours at room temperature until it appears bubbly and wet.

 

Wipe out moisture inside medium bowl. Dust dish towel on one side with bread flour, then line medium bowl with towel, floured-side up. Generously flour your work surface. Sprinkle flour around dough edges in large bowl, then tilt bowl over floured work surface, using fingertips to ease dough out.

 

Using one hand, work gently to avoid deflating dough. Reach with fingertips, stretch dough, and fold to center. Repeat more three times until each side has been folded over top. Using sides of your hands, not fingertips, and extra flour to prevent sticking, flip dough over. Gently tuck dough underneath until top is smooth and taut. Place smooth-side up into towel-lined bowl, and dust lightly with bread flour. Cover bowl with large baking sheet and let rise 2 hours until doubled in size and it doesn’t spring back when poked. Meanwhile, wash out large bowl and have it ready.

 

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle and preheat oven to 500 degrees for 30 minutes. Invert bowl and baking sheet so dough is lying on the sheet. Lift off bowl and towel. If it sticks, be gentle to minimize loss of gases trapped inside. Splash water inside the larger bowl, then invert onto baking sheet over dough. Transfer whole thing to oven, reduce temperature to 450 degrees; bake 25 minutes. Using mitts, remove bowl and bake 15-25 minutes longer until loaf is as dark as you’d like. Remove bread, transfer to cooling rack, and cool completely before cutting.

 

 

ʼRound the Net

 

Ed Ahern

Poet Ed Ahern on being interviewed by The Poet Magazine

 

Poet and memoirist Sarah Bracey White on her reading in the Westchester Poet Laureate’s Emergence Poetry Project, interview on Poetry Spoken Here podcast, and Read650 September 9, 2021 podcast

 

Poet Lynn Clague on his poem, “A Reach,” appearing in Grey Sparrow Journal

 

Wish Mavens Barbara Dickinson and Margie Herrick for generous insights on their Wishing Wisdom blog

 

"Chin Support" by 
Margaret Fox

Photographer Margaret Fox on winning the LaRuth Gray, Vanessa Smith and Anonymous KMAA Award at the Cladogram: 2ND KMA International Juried Biennial, at the Katonah Museum through September 19

 

Art historian and translator Beth Gersh-Nesic  for her insightful article on Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon in Bonjour Paris

 

Poet Cindy Hochman for her poetry in the great weather for MEDIA anthology Paper Teller Diorama

 

Author J. Chester Johnson on being interviewed on LitHub’s Keen podcast about his book, Damaged Heritage; and his Bar Crawl Radio podcast, “Poetry: What Is It Good For?” with Cornelius Eady on 9-11 poetry

 

Writer Lisa Krohn on her new article in Ageist on eight steps to move forward after failure

Maria Lisella

Queens Poet Laureate Maria Lisella for this lovely tribute to her late partner, poet Gil Fagiani

 

Yorktown Poet Laureate John McMullen for this video of Benedict Cumberbatch reading Kurt Vonnegut’s letter to 2088, Ralph Nazareth videos (below), and this remembrance of journalist Pete Hamill

 

Ralph Nazareth

Poet Ralph Nazareth for his poems, “Centerpiece,”  “Sunday Morning with Walt,” “Victor Jara’s Hands,” and “On Missing My Brother in Nazareth”

 

The New York Public Library for this list of contemporary retelling of cherished classics and 15 books to celebrate disability pride

 

Poet Christina Rau on being named a full professor of English at Nassau Community College

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)

The Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University for screening this great Frida Kahlo documentary

 

Music archivist and cellist Jay Shulman on the MusicWeb International review of his father’s film score CD, “Alan Shulman - The Tattooed Stranger” (Bridge Records, 2021)

 

Poet and artist Linda Simone on her essay which will appear in Diane Lockward’s The Strategic Poet: Honing the Craft (Terrapin Books) next month—already an Amazon #1 poetry book in pre-order!

 

Poet Margo Taft Stever on her third book, The End of Horses, forthcoming from Broadstone Books

 

Translator Judy Tsai on the launch of her new website

 

Neal Whitman

Poet Neal Whitman on his poem, “Marc Antony and Me,” in Open Door Poetry Magazine’s August issue on war

 

 

Remembering Stephen Dunn

 

Stephen Dunn (1939-2021)

My first significant commitment to poetry was attending the Mt. Holyoke Summer Writers Conference as a thirty-something; registrars suggested a workshop with the future Pulitzer Prize winner. Dunn got into poetry a little late too, so he understood my self-consciousness. When I shared I was clueless about the canon, he slid his copy of Poulin’s Contemporary American Poetry across the table to me.

 

Some memorable teachings: Don’t be a dilettante—a “sometime” poet; don’t write the expected, i.e., pity for a homeless person—turn that upside down by suggesting maybe the person deserves the worst; and combine sensorial detail with the abstract, i.e., “cinnamon and despair.” He comically called on the “the poetry police” to arrest overused words. 

 

A former basketball player, he shared his friend Larry Levis’s “The Poem You Asked For” to show how poems can have their own physicality and willfulness. Forever grateful to this wonderful poet and teacher, I see Dunn slam-dunking golden spheres—and lyric.

Until next time,

Ann

your firecracker annogram

Dear annogrammers, Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are able to celebrate with joy, barbecue, and some fireworks for a memorable post-Covid holiday.

 

annogram Anniversary

 

Thanks to Darrell Laurant for “The annogram Keeps Growing,” (scroll down) on the phenomenon of this newsletter. It’s been 15 years, and if you would like to promote your events, publications, or readings, email me the month before we go live. I’m honored to share the stellar recognition the following writers have received—each has been personally generous to the creative community, including me among many, and that may be one vital secret behind their success.

 

Charles Alexander Wins Coveted CLMP Award

 

Publisher of my translation, The Hero (Chax Press, 2018), Charles Alexander received the Lord Nose Award for lifetime achievement in literary publishing at the CLMP Firecracker Awards Ceremony. The extraordinary Charles—book designer, poet, and poetry advocate—is also a kind person who has brought dignity and grace to our field for more than 40 years. Upon receiving the award, Charles thanked his family, and Chax authors and supporters, adding “I'm feeling very fortunate today.” So are we, Charles!

 

Sarah Bracey White’s Stage Debut in “Transcendence”

 

Sarah Bracey White

Last month, in two sold-out performances, Sarah Bracey White starred in “Transcendence” based on her much-loved memoir, Primary Lessons (Cavan Kerry, 2013), at Peekskill’s Paramount Theatre. Sarah wow’d her audience in this premiere featuring classical/rock violinist Daisy Jopling, the Peekskill High School City Singers, and a gospel choir. The musical, produced by a well-known Hollywood director, may be developed into much more. Stay tuned, and congratulations to our radiant Sarah!

 

“Camp Cook” Premiere in Voices of Color Festival

 

If that wasn’t wonderful enough, Sarah’s play, “Camp Cook,” also taken from Primary Lessons (Cavan Kerry, 2013), made its debut the same weekend as “Transcendence.” Directed by Misha T. Sinclair, “Camp Cook” featured a sensitive and vulnerable performance by Maiysha Reilly as Sarah—alert for someone to “discover” her! The ensemble cast worked seamlessly to tell Sarah’s compelling story of racial divisions at a New England summer camp in the 1960s.

 

Darrell Laurant and We Who Create

 

Darrell Laurant

A 30-year veteran journalist, Darrell designed We WhoCreate to counteract creative isolation
and increase our promotional opportunities. Curated from 100+ newsletters, WWC combines stories about creatives with event listings. In this space, creatives may converse, local art galleries and bookstores will be featured, and—if Darrell’s dream comes true—an annual convention. Help his generous mission by clicking the website’s “follow” button—which simply quantifies how many of us visit.

A Happy Trans Girl

 

Fran Sisco

Congratulations to filmmaker Fran Sisco on these festival selections: “It’s an Italian Thing. No, It’s a Black Thing!”, Miami Indie Film Awards; “Carousel Girl”, New York Lift-Off Film and International Film Festivals; “Stonewall Thanks” International World Film Award and Paris International Short Festival finalists; and “Our Friend Wendy, It’s Her Birthday!” and “Happy Trans Girl Like Me”, 4^th Dimension Independent Film Festival finalists. In June, Fran also performed “Happy Trans Girl,” with Baron Raymonde on sax, at The Stonewall Inn (NYC) in an Imperial Court of NY show benefiting Hudson Pride (NJ).  

New and Recent Releases

Leah Johnson, Bindweed (Cherry Grove Collections)

 

John F. McMullen, My Life in 26 Poems (Independently published)

 

Laura Morelli, The Stolen Lady (William Morrow) (pre-order)

 

Pedestal 88

 

Jay Shulman, producer, “Alan Shulman - The Tattooed Stranger” (Bridge Records, 2021)

Frank Vitale, “The Erotic Fire of the Unattainable” (Amazon Prime, Google Play, You Tube Movies)

 

Creative Calls

  

Bordighera Press Lauria Frasca Poetry Prize – by July 11

 

Mom Egg Review open call on “mother figures” – poetry, fiction, prose, hybrid – by July 15

 

Open Door Poetry Magazine – call for poems on war – by July 11

 

Pure Slush Press – call for poetry, fiction, and essays on love – by August 31

 

VIA: Voices in Italian Americana – open for submissions

 

Creative Workshops

Mahopac Poetry Workshop, 6pm, every second Wednesday

 

Mini Tutorial on Poetic Meter thanks to Yorktown Poet Laureate John McMullen

 

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

 

Under The Microscope: A Poetry Workshop at Maine Media College featuring Kevin Pilkington, July 19-23

 

July Readings and Events – ET

 

"Dragonfly" by  Meg Lindsay

July 1-31, Irvington Public Library, virtual gallery exhibit, “Painting and Poetics” by Meg Lindsay

 

July 1-31, Upstream Gallery, 2021 Juried Paperworks Show

 

July 8, 8pm (7pm Central), Mutabilis Press poets Chip Dameron, Patricia McMahon, Gregory Maguire, Scott Chalupa, Michael Baldwin, Carla Hagen, Leroy Sorenson, Gabrielle Langley, Maria King Illic; register here

 

July 8, 7pm, Andrew Delbanco, Rebecca Makkai; July 15, Cleopatra Mathis, Matthew Olzemann, Sue Miller; July 22, Benjamin Garcia, Tom Barbash; July 29, Jeff Sharlet, Ivy Pochoda; Canaan (NH) Meetinghouse, LIVE

 

Michael Baldwin

July 10, 7pm, Poetry Box, Meg Lindsay; click here 5 mins before show (id: 915 5122 5053, code: 643061)

 

July 10, 5pm, Lit Balm: Timothy Donnelly, Valzhyna Mort, Danielle Blau, Chase Twitchell; register here

 

July 14, 7pm, Ellen Bass, Arthur Sze; register here

 

July 18, 6pm, The Industry Bar, The Imperial Court of New York Christmas in July Show featuring Fran and Kelly Sisco to benefit Bailey House

 

July 21, 7pm, Katie Farris, Emily Lee Luan, and Isabella DeSendi; register here

Mary Newell

July 28, 7pm, Silvina López Medin, Jennifer Militello, and Jennifer Stewart Miller; register
here

 

August 31, 3:30pm, Garrison Public Library, Mary Newell book launch Re-Surge (Trainwreck Press)

 

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 on third Friday for details

Beth’s Gluten-Free Hurricane Sandy Cake

Art historian and translator Beth Gersh-Nesic shares the recipe she created to use up eggs and butter when she lost power during Hurricane Sandy but still had her gas oven working. This dense chocolate cake is perfect for a picnic—it slices like pound cake and tastes even better. So yummy. Thanks, Beth!

1 stick (1/4 lb) unsalted butter, melted

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup clear sugar

6 eggs

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon almond extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

2 ½ cups (1/2 lb) Trader Joe’s Almond Flour

½ or 1 whole package chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a microwave-safe glass bowl: Melt butter in microwave oven. Stir in sugar. Mix in whole eggs. Add cocoa, vanilla and almond extracts, cinnamon, and salt. Add almond flour. Add chocolate chips to taste. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan and then line with parchment paper. Pour batter into pan. Bake 40-45 minutes. Check with knife for doneness. Bon Appétit!  

 

̓Round the Net

Poet and novelist Regi Claire on having work in The New European, The Best New British and Irish Poets 2019-2021 (Black Spring Press), and issue 96 of The Rialto.

 

Writer Barbara Dickinson and photographer Margie Herrick on the debut of their Wishing Wisdom blog

 

Last month's eclipse

Translators Chen Du and Xisheng Chen on translations of poet Yan An in Interim Poetics and The Momentist

 

Poet Terry M. Dugan for this article on punctuation as a tool in Black activism

 

Editor Larry Faltz for the best amateur astronomy newsletter this side of the Ort Cloud

 

Art Historian Beth Gersh-Nesic on discovering artist Wan-Ting Chiu, who taps her own anxiety as inspiration for “bold, beautiful and poignant” work

 

Artwork by
Wan-Ting Chiu

Poet and memoirist J. Chester Johnson for this Guardian article on the Elaine Race Massacre and gifting Damaged Heritage: The Elaine Race Massacre and A Story of Reconciliation to Johnson House Juneteenth celebrants

 

Yorktown Poet Laureate John McMullen for sharing this post on framing experience in poems

 

The New York Public Library on restoring full service to all of its branches on July 6

 

Cellist and musical archivist Jay Shulman on the release of “Alan Shulman - The Tattooed Stranger” (Bridge Records, 2021), a CD he produced of his father’s 1940s R.K.O. film scores

James Baldwin (1924-1987)

Poet and artist Linda Simone on San Antonio’s new poet laureate, this beautiful reflection by poet Naomi Shihab Nye on her home, and this 1979 interview with James Baldwin that never aired

 

Studio Theater in Exile for Artist Recognition Month

 

Filmmaker Frank Vitale on his award-winning film, “The Erotic Fire of the Unattainable,” now available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and You Tube Movies

  

I will be taking off August, so send me your news for September, and enjoy your summer!

 

Until next time,

Ann