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Hereverent Launches!

Hereverent has been thoroughly and lovingly launched!

My poetry & jazz book launch was fantastic on April 20 at PLNU. We had poetry, music, drinks, and dessert in this little parlor that makes me feel like a wealthy great aunt has invited me to tea. 😁 I’m so grateful to Brenda Martin for her gorgeous music and her fun improv collaborations! (And thanks to Emma McCoy for the photo!)

Then my virtual book launch for Hereverent on April 21 was also lovely. What a gift to hear poets I adore read my poems alongside theirs. I’m so grateful to Agape Editions for publishing and celebrating my book! ❤️ (And thanks to Nicelle Davis for this shot!)

Finally in this countdown to launch, 15 of my favorite local poets read with me in my church’s sanctuary this past Saturday night, and I brought my favorite brownies (a recipe from my beloved dissertation advisor, Marthe Reed), and many more dear friends and delightful people came to celebrate my new book too. (And thanks to Margarita Pintado for this picture!)

My heart is full. Thank you to all who read with me, attended, and made these events possible!

Launching Hereverent!

My first two launch events for Hereverent have been announced!

My publisher is throwing me a virtual launch on April 21 that will be part of the Favorite Poems series! Each poet will read a favorite poem or two from my new book in addition to work of their own. Join me with Fox Henry Frazier, Diane Glancy, Charles Jensen, Tania Runyan, Nicelle Davis, Jen Grace Stewart, Charnell Peters, and Jane Muschenetz!

Register in advance at this link.

And if you’re in San Diego, you can join me in person for a very special Poetry & Jazz book launch celebration on April 20 at 3 p.m. in Cooper Music Parlor at PLNU. I’ll read poems, my friend Brenda will do some jazz piano improvisation in response, and we’ll have dessert! I can’t wait!

In the mean time, you can still pre-order Hereverent! The book officially drops on April 3.

Shows & Publications

I’m spinning too many plates right now. Some plates that should be spinning are actually still packed in the box, but I’m limited, and between the ongoing pandemic and the violence in Ukraine, it’s hard to continue on as usual.  Even so, here are some poetry highlights from the past month…

In early March, I got to be a virtual featured poet for Wednesday Night Poetry, the longest running weekly open mic in the country, and it was a joy to share some of the poems for my spouse from How to Play.

Also in March, I received my contributor’s copy of Dear Vaccine, the print anthology created from the global poetry project of the same name. It’s fun to see work by friends in here with me, and I was excited that Naomi Shihab Nye was one of the editors.

At the end of March, I got to release the new spring issue of my journal, Whale Road Review, and it’s amazing. Even when the rest of life is chaotic, I love doing this editing and publishing work.

Yesterday, John Compton hosted me on the jojo show, and it was so fun to talk with him about How to Play, all things poetry, and whatever else we stumbled upon.

To anyone reading this, I hope you’re safe and well.

Three Poems in Limp Wrist

I’m so honored to have three poems in the new issue of Limp Wrist! My poem “In Praise of Spouse” was a finalist for the 2021 Glitter Bomb Award.

Fun fact: I wrote this poem after listening to Pádraig O’Tuama read “Bone of My Bone and Flesh of my Flesh” by Ellen Bass on the Poetry Unbound podcast. I adore that poem, but Bass so quickly dismisses my favorite public term for my love, so I had to write this poem for my spouse. 

You can also read my poems “Con Pane” (named for my favorite bakery!) and “Temporomandibular Prayer” (named for my TMJ!) in this issue. Thanks to editor Dustin Brookshire for affirming and publishing my work.

Poem in Lucky Jefferson

Lucky Jefferson is the coolest journal! Every poem in this issue riffs on the same opening and closing line. There are blank pages to respond or compose your own poem between sets, and there’s a Spotify playlist from contributor recommendations at the end. I’m so thrilled to be part of this!

I’m grateful to the editors both for the prompt that led me to create “Sometimes I Shake Too” and for the gift of this stunning issue! You can buy a copy here.


Dolly Tribute

My poem “Dolly, When I Met You There Was Peace” was included in the Dolly tribute issue of Limp Wrist that was released today (her 75th birthday)! Check out this whole amazing issue. I’m honored to be in such company!

As if this tribute issue weren’t enough, tonight we brought the pieces to life via Zoom at the Wild & Precious Life Reading Series. What a joyful way to celebrate a wonderful human! Thanks to Dustin and Julie for including me.