For those unfamiliar with the controversy, here is a short recap, as I understand it: In the 2015 edition of the Best American Poetry anthology, this year’s editor, Sherman Alexie, unwittingly included a poem by “Yi-Fen Chou,” a person whose name I put in quotes because he doesn’t exist — “Yi-Fen Chou” is, in fact, a penContinue reading “A suggestion for Sherman Alexie and the Best American series (and publishers in general)”
Tag Archives: poetry
Hagridden’s birthday and the Burning River West Coast Tour
A few days ago, Hagridden turned 1 year old. It’s walking around and eating solid food and everything. (More tomorrow on Hagridden at one year old!) To celebrate, I took the novel on the road, joining Hagridden‘s older, smaller half-sibling, Box Cutters, and my sunnyoutside pressmate Christopher Bowen on his Burning River Prose and PoetryContinue reading “Hagridden’s birthday and the Burning River West Coast Tour”
The Jersey Devil lost its head
You guys, I think I need a hug. The April issue of Jersey Devil Press has a lot of our usual shenanigans — wild art, Vikings, cigarettes, even poop. Lots of poop, right out of the gate. The first story has a lot of poop. And I love it. But that last story? The one about theContinue reading “The Jersey Devil lost its head”
Brianna Pike, National Poetry Month, and Tupelo Press’s 30/30 Project
I love poetry. I love reading it, I love studying it, I love teaching it. I’m not very good at writing it. But that shouldn’t stop me from practicing it. So I’ve been planning for a while to spend April — National Poetry Month — writing a poem a day, just for the exercise ofContinue reading “Brianna Pike, National Poetry Month, and Tupelo Press’s 30/30 Project”
Hey poets, be good literary citizens. No more excuses.
My friend — and one of my favorite poets, which is why I’m friends with her — Brianna Pike has some deceptively simple but necessary advice for all us writers, especially as we all head off to the literary smorgasbord that is AWP (where I’m looking forward to seeing Bri at her panel discussion!): HeyContinue reading “Hey poets, be good literary citizens. No more excuses.”
Brilliant books by brilliant writers
And all these writers are women. I spotted this list of 30 books by women in my Facebook newsfeed — the always-glorious Lidia Yuknavitch shared it — and I loved the first line of the intro: “Let’s be real: You should be reading books, and books by women, every month of the year.” Amen! But yes, it’s Women’s HistoryContinue reading “Brilliant books by brilliant writers”
Your 2015 indie lit shopping list
Last year, I was honored to see Hagridden previewed in The Great 2014 Indie Press Preview, dreamed up and wrangled by the amazing Michael J Seidlinger and published at Electric Lit. (And many thanks to David S. Atkinson for his enthusiasm about my book!) So this year, it seemed only proper that I return the favor and previewContinue reading “Your 2015 indie lit shopping list”
March shrieks in like a Jersey Devil
It’s March. And it’s not roaring in like the lion — hell, here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s been spring for weeks, while back in Jersey, everyone is hibernating under several feet of snow and ice. The climate done changed, and the old axioms just don’t work anymore. But within the pages of Jersey DevilContinue reading “March shrieks in like a Jersey Devil”
The Jersey Devil puts the lotion in the basket
The February issue of Jersey Devil Press has been out for a few days now, so surely you’ve read it by now. If you haven’t, get over there for the awesome: we ride roller coasters (of love), we do a little native (love) magic, we play with a (love) snake, we erect epic, long-lasting monuments (this isContinue reading “The Jersey Devil puts the lotion in the basket”
Booklist 2014
It’s time again, gang, for my annual reading list. This year’s been quite light, actually — I felt like I’d read quite a bit, but turns out I managed just under 60 books. Does it count that I reread my own novel something like seven times in revisions before it came out in August? My summer months were slowest, whichContinue reading “Booklist 2014”
Samuel Snoek-Brown 