The Next Big Thing

 

 

The talented Erin Ganaway tagged me for The Next Big Thing blog hop. Thank you, Erin! Be sure to check out Erin’s forthcoming title, The Waiting Girl, winner of the Texas Review Press Breakthrough Poetry Prize. More about Erin can be found at eringanaway.com.

 

What is the working title of the book?

Sacred Parodies

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I began writing the poems as a series. I did not think at the time they would become a book. I was afraid to send them out for publication because I did not know how readers would response to them. Friend began encouraging me to publish them in a book. The came from a conversation I was having with Duane Locke and Connie Stadler. Duane during the conversation said that the poems felt like sacred parodies and immediately I knew it should be the title of the book.

What genre does your book fall under?

Poetry

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

I don’t think there is a movie that I can compare project with.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

I don’t have a sentence but I can give key words like:

Pain, redemption, love, irony, nature, raw, respect…

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

A little more than 2 years

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The writers I respond to in the book

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

The sketches by Marcus Reichert

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

The book was published by Ziggurat Books International.

Time to adjust

Late last summer I moved to the Seattle area. I am certainly aware that I am not in Georgia anymore. The long summers, wonderful buffets, and soothing woods are a memory. I am surrounded by water here which I love but the weather is too cold to enjoy it. I am a tropical creature to the core.

It is time for me to adjust to my new life here on the West coast. I bought books today and began reading again for the first time in a long time. I smiled and felt liberated. I hope to begin writing again over the next few days.

so it's been a long time....

My book "Sacred Parodies" came out Nov. 7th and is available on amazon.com. I have not been able to write for some time but hopefully things will change soon. I am thinking of working on some of my  prose projects that have been sitting for a time. I am dreaming about those projects so maybe now is a good time to revisit them.

Seattle

Well I have moved from Atlanta to the Seattle area. It is very different here. The good think about this place is that it has an appreciation for the literary arts. My book is due out before the end of this year. I am writing and submitting again the magazines and journals slowly.

direction

Well I am working on a new poetry mss (really 2). Sacred Parodies will come out in September. I will not complete another mss for some time. I am going to spend some time promoting this book before releasing another, besides I need the time to write. I will be leaving blogger soon and releasing a better website soon.

My book is due out Fall 2011

Moving forward

I am feeling strong again. I have completed my poetry mss. The book will be out this Fall. I am involved in some productive projects these days. I am looking forward to running with the horses again.

Something to be proud of

Leaf Garden Press Issue 11 is out

Issue 11 of Leaf Garden Press is out. I am currently the poetry editor. The editorial staff is incredible. Do check it out.

Getting close

Georgia is experiencing the worst snow storm of my lifetime. So with that the building where I work is closed and may be closed for the rest of the week. This means I can catch up writing projects like my new book of poetry. I have been working on it for one year and now it is almost ready. Oh happy day!

End of the year post

This year has been different. I am writing the final poems to my first book of poetry. I plan to submit for publication during the beginning of the year.

I have made some new friends and learned new things about old ones.

I've grown as a woman, artist, mom, human.

Love has a master's class that I so hope to pass someday.

I am grateful for everything I have...and look forward to sharing with others.

November

I am pleased to announce that my poem "Tease" was nominated for Dzanc Books Best of the Web 2011 by Diverse Voices Quarterly.

October

October began with rain, a concert from the Brown Thrashers, and a cool breeze. I am sore from moving this weekend but I do plan to write something later. The weather is getting colder and my suffering will begin.

Turnings

The last few weeks have beem a whirl wind. I am still standing. My computer which holds all of my new work and much of my old died and I am working to retrieve it. I am not sending work out because I am spending the summer working on books. I have several new projects I am excited about.

Next Saturday I Become

Next Saturday, I will be 34 years old. I don't mind getting older because I find honor in becoming an elder. I plan to remain intelligent and beautiful, the way I am now. The writing is going great. I hope to have an amazing manuscript completed by the end of the summer, maybe two. I will keep you posted on everything.

New Steps

I am dedicating this summer to writing books. Although my life is quite busy, I feel it is time. I have several wonderful friends/amazing artists who are all pushing me forward. So stay tuned for news of new books forthcoming.

New Adventures

I would like to announce that I will be co-editor of Differentia Press with the amazing and prolific poet Felino A. Soriano. My post began today. We have several collections to catch up before we will open for submissions again. I will announce when we are open.

I would also like to announce that I will be the new poetry editor for Leaf Garden Press. My tenure will begin with Issue 11. Currently, I am a guest editor with several others for issue 10. I look forward to seeing quality submissions from all of my readers whomever you are.

Life Lesson

Recently, two great poets Lucille Clifton and Ai died. I was planning to reach out to the poet Ai to let her know of the sketches I had written of two of her poems. My life has been crazy and extremely unbalanced. I thought I had time to send her the email. She died in March. I missed an opportunity to converse with an amazing poet. I can't help but ponder what else I have missed that I can never regain. To Lucille and Ai-peace be unto your spirits.

BlazeVox Acceptance!

I have work forthcoming in BlazeVox's Spring issue 2010! This is an honor for me because I love the work that the journal produces as well as their chapbooks. I have friends who have published there and I wanted my name to be added to the list. The day has come! Oh happy day. Writers if you are looking for a choice journal to for your work send it over to BlazeVox. You can check them out at http://www.blazevox.org/.

Guest Editor

I am a guest editor for issue 10 at Leaf Garden Press! If you are a writer please consider submitting.