“After an Older Man…” in Kahini Quarterly

My poem “After an Older Man from Church Drunk-Texts to Tell Me I Looked Good Topless in His Dream Last Night” has been published in Kahini Quarterly.

I’m especially glad that this deeply personal poem found a home in Kahini Quarterly, which is the most selective and highest paying literary journal I know. I was so shocked when I got this acceptance last week; I responded by going to sleep for 12 hours! I’m grateful to the editors for choosing my work and for placing such value on writing, and I’m overwhelmed by the messages of affirmation and solidarity I’ve received.

 

Dolly Tribute

My poem “Dolly, When I Met You There Was Peace” was included in the Dolly tribute issue of Limp Wrist that was released today (her 75th birthday)! Check out this whole amazing issue. I’m honored to be in such company!

As if this tribute issue weren’t enough, tonight we brought the pieces to life via Zoom at the Wild & Precious Life Reading Series. What a joyful way to celebrate a wonderful human! Thanks to Dustin and Julie for including me.


Whale Road Review’s 5-Year Anniversary Reading

On January 9, 2021, I got to host the 5-year anniversary reading for the journal I started in 2015. I’m still stunned that this journal exists, and it was such a joy to get to celebrate with so many contributors from across our 5 years!

The reading is now available to watch on our YouTube channel if you’d like to join us a bit late. 🙂 We plan to hold more virtual readings in the coming months.

Our grand finale: Luci Shaw!

 

Thimble Prize & Pushcart Nominations

Now that I’ve finished grading for the semester (hooray!), let me take a moment to share an award and some nominations here…

Last month, the wonderful Thimble Literary Magazine awarded one of their first ever Thimble Prizes to my poem “Don’t Repeat This,” an honor with an honorarium that they gave to one prose piece and two poems from the previous year.  I’m still so surprised and pleased by this! Thank you, Nadia Arioli and staff!

Also, after a seven-year drought, four of my poems received Pushcart Prize nominations from two publishers. Origami Poems nominated “When Your Granny Panties Saved Me” from The Best of Kindness 2020 anthology, and my incredible chapbook publisher, River Glass Books, nominated three poems from 28,065 Nights.

In the midst of this impossible year, I’m grateful for these bright spots of affirmation and encouragement to keep going.

Tasty Other: A Dramatic Song Cycle!

I’ve had trouble sharing this because I get too excited about it, but here goes: Victor Labenske has made a song cycle from poems in my book Tasty Other! 

In May, we met via Zoom so we could talk through poems and plans.

In June, we met again so Victor could show me his first complete draft, and he sang through the whole thing for me, which was amusing and wonderful!

This past Friday, Victor recorded the song cycle with two sopranos, Elda Peralta McGinty and Judi Labenske. I can’t wait to hear the final version! Having my poems turned into a song cycle is such a dream for this choir girl for life. 🙂

Thank you, Victor!

“How to Use Vanilla” on Poetry Sunday

What a lovely surprise today to hear Jo Angela Edwins read my poem “How to Use Vanilla” from 28,065 Nights for Poetry Sunday on Poetry Across the Pee Dee. According to the page description, “Poetry across the Pee Dee is a page dedicated to spreading knowledge about and enthusiasm for poetry across the Pee Dee region of South Carolina and the entire state. It is curated by the Poet Laureate of the Pee Dee region.”

I also enjoyed hearing her talk about the history of chapbook making, and I appreciated the yowls (of appreciation, no doubt) from her cat, Eliot.