Incoherent babble and upcoming stuff.

Been writing poetry like a madman. About halfway done with my second poetry manuscript, tentatively titled the truth handbook. Hard for me to work on the second book when I have yet to find a publisher for the first one, but I have to push on.

I have yet to learn how to control my muse, so I have not written much fiction lately, but hoping that will change soon. Obviously I let that NaNoWriMo goal slip past me. I didn’t even feign trying. I didn’t even sign up. My bad. I’ll get ‘em next year.

My poem Hello Songs, winner of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire’s August 2008 contest, was recently published in The Poet’s Touchstone. 

My poem Tell Me Lies in a Dead Language, which appeared online in The Shine Journal, has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize – click here for proof. Yay!  I consider being nominated a huge honor, so big thanks to editor Pamela Tyree Griffin.

My poem Prophecy will appear in the online journal Stone's Throw, a literary magazine based in Montana featuring writers and artists from around the world. Sweet. Thanks to poetry editor Tami Haaland for the chance to contribute.

My poem Seasonal Affective Disorder will appear in Main Channel Voices, a literary journal based out of Winona, Minnesota. This is my second chance to be part of this “dam fine” publcation, and I definitely appreciate the opportunity.

Well, it’s past 10 PM. Time to write. Such is the life of an insomniac creative. Be good…

Quick Update

I will have a poem in the new print edition of If Poetry Journal titled Invocation of the Muse. I’m excited about this one because it will be my first published prose poem. Click here to see a list of contributors for this edition of If – it looks like it will be a great read.

I also found out my poem An Abundance of Scarcity will appear in an upcoming edition of inscape. inscape is the literary journal published annually at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. The publication, which premiered in 1972, features poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction and visual art. Happy to have this chance to contribute – big thanks to poetry editors Michelle Lassiter and Leif Anderson or the opportunity.

New Hampshire rocks. And so does the Ouroboros Review.

Honestly, I know little about the state of New Hampshire and whether it rocks or not. What I do know is my poem Hello Songs was awarded first prize in the Poetry Society of New Hampshire’s August 2008 National Contest. From the contest rules I’ve deduced that this entitles me to a nice cash prize and the chance to have Hello Songs published in The Poet’s Touchstone, a quarterly magazine. That’s enough for me to repeat my original statement – New Hampshire rocks. Thanks to the contest coordinator Lynne Birdsall for this opportunity and also to judge Mark DeCarteret for deeming my work worthy of this award.

And I received news of another acceptance yesterday – my poem Truth will appear in the inaugural edition of the Ouroboros Review, a new journal of poetry and art. Ouroboros intends to publish an online review quarterly and will offer a print magazine twice a year. I’m excited for the chance to contribute to this new publication – thanks to editors Jo Hemmant and Christine Swint for the chance to contribute.

It looks like folks can still submit to the Ouroboros Review, and the editors seem friendly and gave a prompt response . Of course, this is a fledgling publication, so the editors will have plenty of time to become overly highbrow, stodgy, condescending, and unresponsive in the future (just kidding). If you are a poet or artist who is interested in this publication, you can check out their submission guidelines by clicking here.

Acceptance to Bent Pin Quarterly

Short note: I just found out my poem An Insomniac’s Lullaby was selected to be included in the October issue of the online journal Bent Pin Quarterly. I really appreciate this opportunity to reach some new readers; a big thanks to the editor for the chance to contribute. I’ll be sure to post a link here when the new issue of Bent Pin Quarterly is live and running.

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.

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.