Saturday, February 23, 2013

The Next Big Thing


Thanks so much to Kiala Givehand for tagging me in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop! Here are my responses:

What is the working title of your book (or story)? Starlight and Error

What genre does your book fall under? Poetry

What songs would be in the soundtrack for your book? The book really takes all of its cues from musics, so this is just a partial list:

East River Drive -- Grover Washington, Jr.
If It's Magic -- Stevie Wonder
Fast Car -- Tracy Chapman
All At Once -- Whitney Houston
Lonely Teardrops -- Jackie Wilson
Missing You -- Diana Ross
Adore -- Prince
I Want to Spend the Night -- Bill Withers
Some Nights -- Fun.
That's Why They're Beautiful -- Beyonce
You Bring Me Joy -- Anita Baker
Round Midnight -- Chaka Khan
Music and Me -- Michael Jackson
Baby Be Mine -- Michael Jackson
Love Is Stronger Than Pride -- Sade
Be Good -- Gregory Porter

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Starlight and Error is a book of love poems that spans my life, my parents' lives and the lives of other lovers who've taught me.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? I'm looking to find it a press/home.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? Four years and counting

Who or what inspired you to write this book? My husband and my children

What else about your book might pique a reader’s interest? It's the most autobiographical book I've ever written and it's not nearly as melancholy as my other work. It's part homage and part mirror.

My tagged writers are:

Nicole Hardy
Patricia Smith
Joel Dias-Porter

Click the links to find out about their Next Big Things!

Monday, February 18, 2013

Spring Readings!


Well, the What We Ask of Flesh Book Release Party was a hit (despite the rain and snow) and now we're off to the races. If you couldn't make it to Norfolk for the first event, I hope you'll be able to make it to one of the readings I have set  up for the spring. Here are the details:

FEBRUARY

2/19 -- YOUNGSTOWN, OH

What: YSU Poetry Center What We Ask of Flesh Reading

When: 7:00 PM

Where: McDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown State University (YSU)

Cost: Free and open to the public

More Info.: YSU Website


MARCH

3/7 -- BOSTON, MA

What: Carolina Wren Press and Etruscan Press AWP Off-site Reading with L. Lamar Wilson, Tim Seibles and Lee Ann Brown

When: 6:00 PM

Where: Church Restaurant, 69 Kilmarnock Street, Boston, MA 02215

Cost: Free and open to the public


3/17 -- WASHINGTON, D.C.

What: Sunday Kind of Love Reading with Jericho Brown

When: 7:00 PM

Where: Busboys and Poets, 14th and V streets

Cost: $5


3/28 -- NORFOLK, VA

What: Spring Writing Conference, Alumni Reception Reading

When: TBA

Where: Old Dominion University Main Campus

Cost: $20 conference registration fee

More Info.: Conference website


APRIL

4/2 -- PORTSMOUTH, VA

What: Tidewater Community College (TCC) Literary Festival

When: 7:00 PM

Where: TCC Portsmouth Campus

Cost: Free and open to the public


4/18 -- NEW YORK, NY

What: Cave Canem/NYU New Works Reading with Roxane Beth Johnson and Colleen McElroy

When: 7:00 PM

Where: Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, 58 West 10th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues

Cost: Free and open to the public

More Info.: NYU Reading Series


I'm looking forward to seeing folks on the road!