56 º ~ night falling over Denver

Day Three at AWP, more, more, more.

Here’s a photo of my loot from Day Two: several button from various journals, a little blue plastic policeman that I won from the Barrelhouse table, and one of the Easter eggs the folks at Redivider hid around the conference. A week or so ago, the editors of Redivider sent out a call for poets to submit a line of one of their poems for this project. The editors printed out the individual lines and put them in the eggs with other fun stuff. I sent them a line, and then, while at the Sarabande table, picked up an egg and opened it. I picked up my own line. No lie. What are the odds?

Stacey Lynn Brown

Suzanne Frischkorn

First stop today was the bookfair. On the way over, I ran into Stacey Lynn Brown, and once in the fair, we stumbled on Suzanne Frischkorn and Susan Rich.
Since I didn’t get pictures of Stacey or Suzanne yesterday, I snapped them up while they signed copies of their books for each other. Even with 8,000+ writers swirling all around, these chance meetings happen over and over all day long. Lovely.

Oliver de la Paz

My original reason for stopping at the bookfair was to buy a copy of Requiem for an Orchard during Oliver de la Paz’ signing. He was gracious enough to let me take a photo as well, although he’d only met me the night before.

Chelsea Rathburn

Another lucky bookfair moment: running into Chelsea Rathburn, great poet and fellow University of Arkansas grad. I have really grown to enjoy the bookfair, not something I would have said the last few years. I didn’t have time to take pictures of all the wonderful journal editors I chatted with the past two days, but they were numerous and to a fault kind and generous, even when I fumbled.

Sherman Alexie

Next stop was the Beloit Poetry Journal reading, featuring: Karl Elder (new to me and a delight), Albert Goldbarth, Janet Holmes, Susan Tichy, and one of my writing heroes, Sherman Alexie. All of the readings were wonderful and the house was packed. I only wish the time had been longer so we could have heard more.

Then, I stopped in at the AWP Award Series reading and heard Beth Bachmann read from Temper, which I’ve already written about here. Sadly, no photo op presented itself.

Jason Lee Brown

Back at the bookfair, I just had time to catch Jason Lee Brown and get him to sign my copy of his new chapbook, Blue Collar Fathers. I was honored that Jason asked me to blurb his chapbook.

Adrian Matejka

Onward to the From the Fishouse reading, which was a real highlight to a day when everything was amazing. Here’s the lineup: Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Oliver de la Paz, Major Jackson, Adrian Matejka (pictured here), Erika Meitner, and Jeffrey Thomson. Given the mission of From the Fishouse and its focus on the sound of poetry, it’s no surprise that each reading was electric. The poets each read two of their poems featured in the From the Fishouse Anthology and two poems by other folks in the book. A very cool way to multiply the event.

Finally, I was going to join some of my new writer friends for an off-site reading, but my brain was full and my body was all done in. I crashed and slept for two hours. I know some will find it lame that I’m in my hotel room blogging while more readings are going on all around me, but this is who I am. I need some space and time alone each day. So far, I have no regrets about the trip save one…I left my Birks at home because I thought it’d be too cold for sandals, and now I wish I had them. 🙂

Now, more sleep before Day Four.

44 deg ~ mountain sun and blue sky, 17% less oxygen in the air here than at sea level according to one online source

I’m starting Day Three at AWP with a little me time in the hotel room, enjoying the view of the mountains and the quietude.

Day Two (yesterday) at AWP was awesome.  I made it to about 2/3 of the events I wanted to make.  Every year I say that I’m going to be more realistic about what I can do, and every year, I overplan.   I started out the day by attending a panel on grant writing and got some good advice.  After that it was off to the book fair.

Rachel Contreni Flynn

 I finally got to meet wonderful poet Rachel Contreni Flynn and she signed a coy of her new book, Tongue, for me!

There’s an auto show sharing the convention center with us, the smell of oil and tires mingling with ink and paper. Gearheads and writers mingling at will.

Suzi Garcia and Robert Bruno

 After a quick lunch with traveling buddy Antoinette Brim, I went to my next panel ~ Poetry & Memorability ~ and ran into former PTC students Suzi Garcia and Robert Bruno.  I’m so excited that they are here representing the University of Arkansas Little Rock. Rock on Rob and Suzi!

Mary Biddinger & Me

  Back to the book fair and a quick stop at the Barn Owl Review table to enjoy a little time with Mary Biddinger and buy a copy of the new issue.  You should buy one too!

Susan Rich & Dennis Maloney

Susan Rich was signing copies of her new book, The Alchemist’s Kitchen at the White Pine Press table.  I’d held off on buying the book a few months ago b/c I wanted to meet Susan, fellow blogger, and get a signed copy here.  As a bonus, I also met Dennis Maloney, editor and publisher at White Pine.

Jon Tribble & Allison Joseph

Finally, a stop at the SIU Press and Crab Orchard Review table to see the incomparable Jon Tribble and Allison Joseph, some of my most favorite poetry people in the world.

Suzi G., Robert B., & David Jauss

Walking outside, I ran into Rob and Suzi again, this time with UALR prof, David Jauss, writer of both prose and poetry.  I’d been wanting to meet him ever since I’d moved to Little Rock, and in true, AWP fashion, I met him hundreds of miles from home.

I grabbed a bite and sat in on the first two readers of the Poetry Society of America’s 100th Anniversary reading.  I had time to hear Cyrus Cassells and B.H. Fairchild.  Both read super poems, but the comment that stands out to me came from Fairchild.  He talked about being thankful for Alice James Books, who published The Art of the Lathe.  Fairchild had been submitting the manuscript for quite awhile without success and, in fact, was ready to give up poetry all together.  The submission to Alice James was his last and had they not published the book, he would not have written again.  Wow.

 Here is Ron, the Pedi-cab cyclist who transported me to Copper Nickel’s off-site 8 Debut Poets reading.  I am now a huge fan of Pedi-cabs and plan to travel this way as often as possible.  A great way to zip through the streets and enjoy the views.

The ceiling of the reading venue

 Just for kicks I took a shot of the ceiling at the reading venue at the Tivoli, an old brewery that is now the student center at the UC Denver Auraria campus.

Those reading at this particular CN event:  Dan Albergotti, Jericho Brown, Stacey Lynn Brown, Michael Dumanis, Farrah Field, J. Michael Martinez, and Allison Benis White.  I was bummed that Alison Stine had to cancel as Ohio Violence is on my to-buy list.

J. Michael Martinez

Here’s J. Michael Martinez signing my copy of his brand-new book (as in 5 days old), heredities, winner of the Walt Whitman Award, published by LSU Press.

Matthew Guennette

At the reception I ran into Matthew Guennette and re-met him…as we discovered we’d met at AWP in Austin and share a mutual friendship with the great Sean Chapman.  I’m looking forward to swapping books with Matthew today. 

Allison Benis White

Another book signed.  This time Allison Benis White signing my copy of Self-Portrait with Crayon, another book I’d waited to buy until now, hoping to meet the author.  The best thing about AWP!

Allison Benis White & Mary Biddinger

Last, but not least, a shot of Allison and Mary at the reception after the reading.  I just realized I have no pictures of amazing poet and new in-person friend Stacey Lynn Brown, but she Allison and I shared a Pedi-cab for the last six blocks of our walk home.  Stacey has pictures of that adventure.  Can’t wait to see them.

32º ~ city lights stretching to the base of the mountains and then a void of night sky~those gods and goddesses in charge of sleep, they do forsake me

I bought a new camera in honor of AWP, a pocket camera that seemed less conspicuous than my hefty one that I never take out of my bag, so I’m trying to take a few snapshots along the way to share.

Day One of AWP was amazing and the expected whirlwind. It happens that my flight arrangements coincided with colleague and friend, Antoinette (I’m using first names only, not to be coy, but b/c I didn’t ask permission to use full names and I’m feeling like I should have), and we had a great talk during our layover in St. Louis. That’s her in the airport photo. She also took this great new profile pic of mine, so many, many thanks, Antoinette! I love Southwest Airlines and their line up by numbers system as we all got to talking to one another, plus the attendants from Little Rock to St. Louis just cracked me up!

On the plane ride from St. L. to Denver, who did I happen to meet, finally, in person, but Stacey and her family. That’s her doing what teaching writers do on the plane to AWP…schoolwork. I admired her dedication as I read some of the back issues of journals that had been burning a hole in my bookshelf at home for months.

Once at the hotel, I managed to check off all of the listings for today on my geeky Excel spreadsheet calendar. I am now more aware than ever that I won’t be saying that for days 2, 3, and 4.

First, there were drinks with Charlotte and Adam~I completely forgot to take their picture, perhaps the peach martini could be to blame? C & A introduced me to some other nice folks, and I look forward to seeing them all soon.

After a brief respite in the quiet of my room, I went out to dinner with Suzanne, as lively and beautiful in person as I’ve known her to be online. Suzanne was a sport about my fumbling the new camera, but I never really got a photo to do her justice. Instead, here’s a scene from our walk back to the hotel after attending the off-site diode/makeout creek reading. While the whole afternoon/evening was wonderful, the great Thai food Suzanne and I had for dinner was divine. Also, of equal divine-ness…I now have a copy of Suzanne’s new book girl on a bridge. Can’t wait to read it on the plane home! The diode/makeout creek reading was a blitz attack of poetry. Fourteen readers, many of whom I was in awe of for their deft use of humor in their work. I do wish I could do that!

Well, gentle Reader, I doubt I’ll post quite so much in the next few days, but I found myself awake in the wee hours after a seriously sound sleep of four hours. I hope to now be able to sleep once more and be fit & trim for Day Two. If you’re at AWP and see me nodding off, please steer me towards the hotel and beg me to sleep.

70 ~ gray and humid, the red-bellied woodpecker has spent the last 3 days creating a nest in the tree outside my window

I seem to have fallen away from being able to read much poetry these last few weeks.  For those of you who might be missing my Monday “What I’m Reading” posts, rest assured that they shall return in May.  May…the month when recovery from April may be possible.

I’ve spent the weekend and the morning trying to take care of as much prep work as possible with AWP festivities on the horizon.  Saturday and Sunday were devoted to school work: grading, quiz creation, and commenting on student poems/stories.  This morning, though, that’s another story.  I have spent 2 and a half hours going over the AWP conference schedule and off-site events list.  I now have 3 and a half days worth of panels and readings and signings carefully plotted out on my embarrassingly geeky Excel calendar.

Here are some things I know:
1.  I both love AWP and experience great anxiety about it.  What is it, like 8,000 writers all crammed into one place?  That’s a lot of ego and who’s who?, especially when the elevators get piled full during the break between panels.  Lots of nametag gazing going on there.  

2.  When I feel anxious about an upcoming event, organizing soothes me. 

3.  While I’ve painstakingly ranked panels and events, I do realize that I will probably change my mind a dozen times between now and then. 

4.  Every year the AWP planners seem to double and triple book me, scheduling panels with writers I want to see at the same time.  Then, there’s always one day when I have a gaping hole in the middle of my calendar where nothing seems to fit.  Feast or Famine, AWP style.

5.  I am vowed to be more brave this year by introducing myself to people I’ve only worked with or met online.  If you notice me fumbling and socially awkward, please be kind.