Brothers in Verse: Five Essays on Black Masculinity in American Poetry

I stumbled upon this on the web and found all five of these essays to be amazing.  I figured that some other African-American poets (and maybe poets of other races, too) may find these to be interesting reads, so I am sharing.  Enjoy.

Brothers in Verse: Five Essays on Black Masculinity in American Poetry
http://pbq.drexel.edu/archives/issues/issue75/content/verse/index.html

To Make a Man - Camille Dungy
http://pbq.drexel.edu/archives/issues/issue75/content/verse/man.html

Meditation on a Black Male Poetic - Tyehimba Jess
http://pbq.drexel.edu/archives/issues/issue75/content/verse/meditation.html

Maybe You should be an Emcee: Black Poetry as Has-Been Protest - Adrian Matejka
http://pbq.drexel.edu/archives/issues/issue75/content/verse/emcee.html

A Way of No Way: Toward Constructing a Black Male Poetic - Gregory Pardlo
http://pbq.drexel.edu/archives/issues/issue75/content/verse/away.html

Masters and Master Works - Afaa M. Weaver
http://pbq.drexel.edu/archives/issues/issue75/content/verse/masters.html

Tell Me Lies in a Dead Language

My poem Tell Me Lies in a Dead Language will be in the October 2008 edition of The Shine Poetry Journal, an online journal that showcases flash fiction, poetry, art, and photography.  The Shine Journal was voted by Writer's Digest Reader's Poll as one of the "Best Websites for Writers" and also placed in the top ten of the 2007 Preditors & Editors Poll.  Needless to say I am excited for this chance to contribute - thanks to editor Pamela Tyree Griffin for this opportunity.

One Writer's Nightmare

If you are a poet who is actively submitting manuscripts to contests and/or open reading periods, take a few minutes and check out this very scary story about the actions of an (allegedly) unethical press and a debacle of a contest.  I can definitely empathize with this writer's cautionary tale.  It could almost make someone paranoid to send out their manuscript, if it wasn't for the urge to find success and to share an artistic vision with the world.  An interesting read.

Upcoming Publication - 95Notes

My poem Personal Errata will appear in an upcoming edition of 95Notes. 

95Notes is an independent Literary Magazine started by Chicago State University writing students to represent creative writers within the literary community.  Many thanks to the editorial staff for including my work in their literary vision.

Acceptance to miniStories + upcoming reading

Just found out my microfiction piece What is Between Us was selected by mnartists.org to be included in the miniStories series. I appreciate this opportunity; a big thanks to miniStories coordinator Geoff Herbach and everyone else involved with the competition.

miniStories is a quarterly flash fiction competition coordinated by Electric Arc Radio's Geoff Herbach (author of The Miracle Letters of T. Rimburg, Three Rivers Press). This literary series showcases previously unpublished short stories by Minnesota writers which are selected by authors, editors, and publishing industry veterans from across the country. Winning stories are then published on mnartists.org and in the e-magazine access+ENGAGE. I’ll post something here on my blog once my story is unveiled on the internet.

As part of the whole miniStories shebang, I’ve been invited to read my story at the miniStories reading on Monday, July 27 at 7 PM. The reading will be at the Ritz Theater, 345 13th Ave NE, in Minneapolis . If you are in the Twin Cities and have a craving to experience literary ecstasy, stop by…the lineup of authors reading their stories looks amazing and it is sure to be a great time.

The Poetics Noire: Volume I

Great news - I recently found out one of my poems titled Survival Tactics is slated to be part of an anthology called The Poetics Noire: Volume I.  Much thanks to editor Britany Elise Rickett for deciding to include my piece.

The Poetics Noire: Volume I is an anthology dedicated the promoting the minority point of view.  This book is not dedicated to only portraying how minorities feel on given issues; it is about helping to rid stereotypes of ALL people through art.  Sounds like an ambitious book that our world really needs, which is why I am excited about the chance to contibute.

According to the website, submissions are still being accepted for this anthology.  Click here to check out more info on this future publication if you are interested.

Electronic Copyright Office

Some good info for US writers who choose to copyright their work...

As of July 1, 2008, the US Copyright Office has a new online registration system, electronic Copyright Office (eCO), which offers lower filing fees and quicker processing as compared with traditional paper applications.

Check it out (if you want) at:
http://www.copyright.gov/eco/index.html