I’m so glad someone pointed me to this review of Hereverent by Jonathan Everitt in MicroLit Almanac! It’s such an honor when someone takes the time to think deeply about my work.
Category Archives: Review
Publications & Reviews & Readings… Oh My!
I just read the last words of this post’s title in George Takei’s voice rather than as the end of “lions and tigers and bears” from The Wizard of Oz, and I’m loving the collision of pop culture references that’s happening in my head!
The last couple of months have been a busy blur, not always in the best ways, but sometimes in wonderful ways. Here are some poetry highlights…
Courtney LeBLanc came to town in September, and I got to read with her at the CHE Cafe! What a brilliant poet, and what a wonderful space!
At the end of September, I hosted PLNU’s 25th Annual Poetry Day. I had the idea to have an ensemble reading of 25 poets for this special occasion, and we pulled it off! San Diego poets and a few guests from LA turned out for this incredible event, and we filled the auditorium. People stayed around talking for a long time afterwards too, and that’s how I know it was a good time. The whole evening felt magical.
In October I was a featured reader for Hafez Day in San Diego alongside some incredible poets. I chose the poems I read that night using Hafez divination: I opened the book of poems and let the lines I landed on point me toward which of my poems I should read. (I loved this! I need to let Hafez choose poems for me more often). This was such a beautiful night of poetry by a gorgeous variety of people.
Jennifer Pollock Michel interviewed me about Hereverent alongside Heather Lanier for The Englewood Review of Books podcast.
My poem “Who Is Like God?” was published in the latest issue of The WIndhover!
Psaltery & Lyre published Jennifer A. Sutherland’s incredibly thoughtful review of Hereverent last week.
The grad students in my Editing & Publishing course in PLNU’s new MA in Writing program are creating a new online literary journal that focuses on longform work, and it’s amazing: Last Syllable. I’m so proud of the work they’re doing. They’ve already had their first reading period and chosen work for the first two issues, and the first issue will be out in December!
I’ve also gotten to be a guest at a poetry salon, attend some delightful readings, receive a couple of exciting acceptances… and I made some fun arrangements that involve licensing “This Poem Is about Dinosaurs” (my Jeff Goldblum poem). More info on that coming soon!
Review of Hereverent in Englewood Review of Books
This week, Englewood Review of Books published a review of Hereverent written by Katie Karnehm-Esh. I can’t explain what a gift it is to have someone spend the time and attention on my book that this kind of thorough, thoughtful review takes. I’m deeply honored and grateful.
Review of Hereverent at Rhino
Donna Vorreyer’s review of Hereverent over at Rhino Poetry gave me chills! What a gift to have such thoughtful attention given to my book!
More Than Mere Play: A Review of How to Play
This is such a beautiful review in an unexpected place for this particular collection. I’m grateful to Adele Gallogly for spending time with How to Play and sharing it with others via the Christian Courier too!
May: The Other Journal, The Canopy Review, Guilty Pleasures, & Forms!
The end of May has found me busy preparing for things that shouldn’t overlap. I always release the summer issue of Whale Road Review during the first week of June, but my university delayed our spring semester’s start, so the first week of June is also our last week of classes. On top of that, the Popular Culture Association national conference (for which I run the Poetry Studies & Creative Poetry area) also moved this year from Boston during Easter week to a virtual platform during the first week of June. It’s absurd that these major roles I play are all colliding this coming week, but I’m as ready to rock as I can be.
Before I jump into this absurd week, here’s a look back at some lovely things from May that I didn’t get a chance to share here yet:
The Other Journal was especially good to me, re-publishing my poem “The Book of Fists” in their newest print issue and also publishing this beautiful review that Tom C. Hunley wrote about my latest chapbook, 28,065 Nights.
The Canopy Review published two of my poems in their second issue, and they’ve featured “The Book of Ear” on their website. (You can find that poem and “The Book of Ash” in the print issue.)
The “Guilty Pleasures” Crystal Field Scholarship Reading was held via Zoom on May 21, and I was honored to read a brand new poem in the company of some Kansas City poetry stars. I received the Crystal Field Scholarship 15 years ago during my time at UMKC, so it’s a special joy to thank the writers who keep this scholarship funded and to give back now.
Finally, I received the contributor copies of How to Write a Form Poem, which includes my ghazal “Time Falling” and my found poem “The Book of Class.” I’m so grateful to Tania Runyan for including my work and feel overwhelmed to have my poems in such stunning company.
Now to let these lovely things fuel me through the wild week ahead!
28,065 Nights Review in MER
This review of my new chapbook is so beautiful. Thank you, Sarah W. Bartlett and Mom Egg Review!
Review of 28,065 Nights
What a beautiful review of my new chapbook by Rick Bailey! I’m grateful for this kind affirmation of my work.
You can get a copy of 28,065 Nights from River Glass Books.
The Poetry Question
I was invited by The Poetry Question to make a list of 5 books or poets, so I listed 5 of my favorite chapbooks to teach. Please check out my brief descriptions and support these poets!
Poetry Rev
In honor of National Poetry Month, I’m starting a video series called Poetry Rev. I’ll be doing 2-3 minute poetry book reviews with a sample poem each and posting the videos to YouTube. Please check out my welcome video for more details and subscribe to my YouTube channel!