Word for/Haunted Word

Thanks to the seemingly tireless efforts of Jonathan Minton, and a kind invitation to submit from Adam Golaski, I have a poem in the new issue of the ever-excellent Word for/Word, one of the online journals I read even when I don't have work in it. My poem is about ghosts and grammar, but I'm not going to link directly to it because you should read your way through the issue.

More Big Things: Michael Tod Edgerton

... what?

Here you may learn about the brand new right now book of one of my favorite poets and people, Michael Tod Edgerton.

The Next Big Thing

Thanks to Deborah Poe for tagging me for this!

Since I don't have a full-length collection coming out in the next little while (unless I do! do I, presses to whom I've sent work?) and because I'm a smartass, I have done this this way:

The Last Big Thing / The Next Little Thing / The Next Next Big Thing

What is the working title of the book?

The Soft Place / The Ground / The Pass / The Wave / Bad Sentence

Where did the idea come from for the book?

My Social Security statement /a drive through Texas to a wedding / A 1929 grammar textbook

What genre does your book fall under?

poetry / poetry / poetry & essays

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

I hate this question and I'm not going to answer it.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

I attempt to get through my own armor. / Crossing is hard, even crossing together. / These sentences examine and restage the relationships between grammar and power.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

about six months / about two months / still working on it

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

my husband James, Bernadette Mayer and Bhanu Kapil / Lynn Xu, Josh Edwards and a border patrol officer, and James, also /  my students and seven other writers

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Parts of it are kind of funny. / It was once three even smaller books. / Catwoman will make a guest appearance.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

published by Horse Less Press / to be published by Grey Book Press / email me at my gmail address, publiclycomplex, if you think this book might be for you!

I'm tagging Christie Ann Reynolds, Michael Tod Edgerton, and three other MYSTERY PEOPLE -- I'll post links when I have the full list!

Help Lorem Ipsum!

Fellow book-reading humans, please consider making a donation to Lorem Ipsum Books in Cambridge, MA, who are about to lose their premises. You can donate here.

I return

I was busy. I went to New Orleans to see my dearest friend. I worked on some writing, and I got my syllabi together for the teaching semester, which has now started.

Rob McClennan interviewed me for his series 12 or 20 Questions, and he also reviewed The Soft Place. Thanks, Rob!

Don't forget to buy Little Eva, the Insomniac from Mars. Send me your receipt and I'll send you something special!

The first Publicly Complex reading of 2013 is on February 9th at 6 pm: Michael Tod Edgerton, whose amazing new book Vitreous Hide is just out from Lavender Ink, and Rachel Levitsky. If you're in the Providence area, you should come!

Voting

I am going to vote tomorrow.

You should too.

I'm reposting the links below from this article by s.e. smith, which contains even more resources and suggestions than those listed here.

Here is information on how to find your polling place, when it's open and what kind of ID you will need. You can also refresh your knowledge of your local candidates, which I'm going to do tonight.

Here, from Election Protection, is a list of polling place changes due to Hurricane Sandy. If there is a problem with voter intimidation at your polling place, you can and should call this organization at 1-866-OUR-VOTE to report the problem and get suggestions for action.

Bring your camera and/or your phone, because you can also document voter intimidation (of you or someone else) directly at Video the Vote.

Here is the ACLU's state-by-state guide to voting rights.

 Don't forget to vote on your states' ballot measures as well!

I will be voting for the candidates that come closer than any of their opponents to civil, public service: plans and policies that either serve everyone equally or provide more to people who have less; liberties and opportunities that really are for everyone; efforts to, at least, prevent the abuse of existing power, and at best to to even out the distribution of future power. I hope you will do the same.

BONUS READING: Anthony Madrid and David Gorin in Providence!

There's a reading tonight! Come out, come out ...

poetry by
Anthony Madrid
David Gorin
TONIGHT (Friday, November 2nd) at 7 pm
at 186 Carpenter St., Providence

Refreshments will be served. Poems will be great. Please come! Here's the Facebook page, for those of you who do that.