As well as Readings, Zines and Libraries

I mentioned some of my recent doings briefly this morning via a reblog before flying from the library job to the restaurant (Have I told you I got the library job? Sorry, but thank you for being happy for me!), but I wanted to slow down and take a little time to give you an update myself.

You deserve it after all the worry I gave you. I know you’ve been wringing your hands for me, hoping I’d land the library position, and pensively pondering whether anyone might possibly publish more of my poems. I apologize for being so silent, leaving you all those nights of lost sleep, those wee hours you stood awake at the window, staring at the moon, half hidden in the clouds, wishing I would write to let you know if I had finished my first chapbook and to whom I was sending it for publication.

Well the good news is, I am now happily employed at the library right up the street from my home. The original interview was way back in January and it seemed that the opportunity had passed, so to be honest, I doubt I ever even told you about it. Hey, how did you know . . .

Poems

And yes, three of my poems have been published alongside the work of Brian Fanelli, featured poet for June at Contemporary American Voices, where Brian was given the choice of what poets might appear with him. I am honored to have been chosen along with Jason Allen and his fine work about some crazy late night adventures, one of which includes a moonlit ride in the buff. If you enjoy the poems you read here on my blog you will not want to miss five solid pieces of modern Americana by Brian Fanelli. It’s hard to choose a favorite, but “At the Front Door” gets me, and I see my own dad in “My Father Never Carried a Briefcase.”  Read the lot of them by clicking here. 

If you enjoy Brian’s poems like I expect you will, you should buy his chapbook Front Man and his full length collection All that Remains.

Zines and Readings

I’ve been reading Fanelli’s blog now for some time, as we’ve shared comments and compared notes on our concern for and love of poetry and its place in modern life, and this weekend I finally get to meet the guy, as he’s asked me to come read with him and there other poets at Scranton’s ZineFest. While a couple of my poems showed up at ZineFest last year in the pages of Word Fountain, the literary journal of the Ousterhout Library, this is the first time I will get to experience the action in person.

What’s a Zine, you ask? Well, from their homepage:

According to the Anchor Archive Zine Library, “Zines are self-published magazines made outside of mainstream press and media, by all kinds of people about all kinds of things.” Since 2011, the Scranton Zine Fest has become an opportunity for showcasing these little beauties, as well as comics, letterpress prints, stationary, fine arts, and so much more.

But I encourage you to check out the site for yourself. The poet bios are here, and the list of Zine participants are here. Sara Pokorny has a thorough article about the poetry readings in The Weekender.

And if you happen to find yourself near Northeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday, stop in to the Trip Park Community Center in Scranton. Festivities start at 1, the poetry starts at 2. There will also be music and food and general artsy, indie fun by the sounds of it. I’m looking forward to reporting back to you about the whole experience, but if by chance we could meet, that would be dandy!

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