end-of-the-semester readings
Tuesday, November 30th–Open Mic Night at Bangkok Jazz, organized by USF MFA students. Signup starts at 6:30pm. Open to all. Please limit your reading to 5-7 minutes. 7pm, Bangkok Jazz, 6840 E. Fowler Ave.
Wednesday, December 8–Katie’s book launch party, to celebrate the publication of my first book of poems, Castaway. Readers will include Katherine Riegel, Kirsten Holt, Sulynn Hago, Ryan Bollenbach, Riley Passmore, and Matt Epperson. Bangkok Jazz restaurant, 6840 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa (Temple Terrace), 7-9pm.
November & December readings in the Tampa area
Monday, November 15–Writer’s Harvest, a benefit to raise canned goods and funds for food for the needy. Readers will include Rita Ciresi, Ira Sukrungruang, Jeffery Thomson, and Katherine Riegel. Ella’s Folk Art Cafe, 5119 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 7pm. Donation is $3 or 3 canned goods, and you get raffle tickets at the door. Prizes include books and gift certificates! We’ll have the whole place to ourselves, so it’ll be a great time.
Thursday, November 18–Fever, An evening of poetry & jazz, featuring Belinda Womack and Amanda Buck. Admission is free with food or cash donation; all proceeds and donations go to Metropolitan Ministries Thanksgiving Food Drive. 6-9pm, The Centre Club, 123 S. Westshore Blvd., 8th Floor, Tampa.
Wednesday, December 8–Katie’s book launch party, to celebrate the publication of my first book of poems, Castaway. Readers will include Katherine Riegel, Kirsten Holt, Sulynn Hago, and Ryan Bollenbach. Bangkok Jazz restaurant, 6840 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa (Temple Terrace), 7-9pm.
Some links to great poems you should all read
Tim Seibles at Eleven Eleven journal
Michael Hettich at Escape Into Life
More to come in future posts…
interesting quotes on writing
”If you don’t feel that you are possibly on the edge of humiliating yourself, of losing control of the whole thing, then probably what you are doing isn’t very vital. If you don’t feel like you are writing somewhat over your head, why do it? If you don’t have some doubt of your authority to tell this story, then you are not trying to tell enough.”
~ John Irving
“Memoir is the intersection of narration and reflection, of storytelling and essay writing. It can present its story and consider the meaning of the story. The first commandment of fiction—Show, Don’t Tell—is not part of the memoirist’s faith. Memoirists must show _and_ tell.”
~ Patricia Hampl
Shane Seely
For those of you who missed last night’s poetry reading, you really missed out. Shane Seely was awesome–genuine, humble, and his poems were knockout. You could have heard the proverbial pin drop when he was reading; we all held our breaths, waiting to see how the poems would end. And if you haven’t read any of his work yet, check it out.