Poetry Poetry Poetry . . .y . . .y . . . y! [monster truck voice] Reading Trifecta

So this Thursday–April 12th to be exact–I’m totally excited to be doing the reading trifecta here in Big Rapids. I’ll be embarking on this endeavor with the one, the only Glenn Shaheen.

We’ll be reading at Crossroads Charter Academy in Big Rapids at 11am. This is a private, school assembly affair–should get around 200 “captive” students–It’ll be like being a rock star (sorta).

Then we’re doing a booktalk/signing at 4:30 at Great Lakes Book and Supply. Come hear us speak awkwardly about our poems. This event’s where you get all the secrets/inside info in preparation for . . .

a READING at 7:30 @ The Old Jail. Scooby, Shaggy, and the rest of the Mystery Inc. gang will be there to watch us read our poems and pull the mask off of Old Man Roberts who’s trying to lay claim to the gold deposits found in the abandoned mine on the outskirts of town.

Glenn, who is a superhero of poetry–he’s faster than a speeding enjambment, able to leap tall Bildungsroman in a single bound (too easy? maybe, but what the hell)–will put the “razzle” back in dazzle, all while reading from his award-winning debut collection Predatory. You can find more info, as well as sample poems at glennshaheen.com. Buy Glenn’s book now.

I’ll be doing my best to put the bizarre back in Bizarro. Up will be down, black will be white, sad will be . . . well, less sad–as I read selections from my own debut collection, Etch and Blur (buy me), as well as from a book-length sonnet sequence about Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers (?).

You really should get out to one of the two public events on April 12th. there will be plenty of spectacle, and lots of below-the-surface-tension.

These events are sponsored by The Literature in Person Reading Series, The Michigan Poet, ArtWorks, & Great Lakes Book and Supply

It’s a Proof . . .

Look what the stork dropped into my mailbox today. It’s the real life-hold-in-the-hands proof of Etch and Blur. Stupendous.

Cover Proof of Etch and Blur

I found this in my email the other day . . .

 

 

Nothing left now but the printing . . . I think it turned out quite nicely.

Behind Schedule, Just a Bit

Though we are behind publication schedule on Etch and Blur, it is getting inevitably closer . . .

I Love the Smell of Poetry in Big Rapids

Hello all, just wanted to chime in to add a nice little reading coming up in the next few days in Big Rapids.

Yours truly will be reading. I’ll be reading from Etch and Blur, my nearly-released collection of poems from Brick Road Poetry Press.I’ll be reading with fellow Ferris State University faculty member, Betty Stolarek, as she reads from her new novel, One Amber Bead (written under the pen name Rebecca Thaddeus–she has a nom de plume, how rad is that.) It should be a good time–there’s poetry for the poet-types, prose for the prosers, and light refreshments for all.

 

The lowdown:

What: Reading: Jamie Thomas and Rebecca Thaddeus (aka Betty Stolarek)

Where: ArtWorks Big Rapids – 106 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids, MI 49307, (231) 796-2420

When: Thursday October 20th at 7pm

How: with our mouths mouthing the words

Why: b/c we love you

 

If you’re near you should come on out. and if you’re far, you should let someone who IS near know the skinny.

 

 

Hecht Prize Anthology – Coming in November

I just got done proofing the two poems of mine that will be included in the Hecht Prize Anthology (2005-2009). Waywiser Press decided that they would release an anthology of poems from poets who were Finalists for the Anthony Hecht Prize over the first 5 years the book prize has existed.

I was twice a finalist/semi-finalist for The Anthony Hecht Prize for my manuscript Etch and Blur (which will be published by Brick Road Poetry Press this Fall), and the Eds. were cool enough to include my work in this boss anthology.

I am extremely flattered to appear next to so many talented poets. Waywiser Press does a very god job promoting poets’ work–even those who advance but don’t win their book prize–each year including selection from finalists on their website, along with biographical material. It’s a nice touch for sure.

The Hecht Prize Anthology is due out in November, and, as I said, it is busting its seams with killer poems by killer poets. Everything kills you these days, but this anthology kills you with lines and verses.

 

 

Update on the Progress of Etch and Blur

Things are moving forward nicely on the new poetry collection. I just sent off the Final (final final, I swear) revisions to Brick Road Poetry Press. Added one poem and subtracted one poem. Hopefully the added poem I shuffled in there will stay “shuffled in there.” It’s a decent poem (and a much better fit to how the manuscript shaped up), so it should be no problem.

Also been working on cover images. A very good situation, in that I’ve got some input into the cover of my book. But it is also a bit daunting. I’ve got a few mocks done up and a few images I’ll be sharing with Brick Road. It is starting to get moving toward an actual, live, hold-in-your-hands book.

Author photo: now there’s something that hasn’t been quite as fun. Nothing like taking a bunch of photos, combing through them, looking for the one that makes you look less like a jackass. hee haw . . .

And last but not least . . . Etch and Blur is ready for pre-order, on Brick Road Poetry Presses website. They’ve got a really cool promotion going that gets you free shipping, as well as a chance to get current Brick Road titles at half off. So all you poetry enthusiasts head to Brick Road Poetry Press and check it out. They have some good  books out right now, like M. Ayodele Heath‘s debut collection Otherness.

Here is some video of his book release reading in Atlanta–Heath is a helluva poet, well worth checking out.