Sunday, April 23, 2006

History, a Round



I feel so techno-savvy when I can upload photos. But when the text stays in one place--THAT will be a real success. So another experiment: my pal Al sent this photo to me which he took with his camera phone. (Those words "camera phone" don't even look right together yet.) It's Juliet, Sarah, and me reading a poem as a round at the book launch at Bryant-Lake Bowl. Have I mentioned what a huge fan I am of both their work? Huge.

Thursday, April 20, 2006



This photo is from a few days before the book launch last month, at the home of Dobby and Kathy Gibson. Dobby caught the signing of my very first copy -- which is wonderful since I hate and avoid photos, then later wish I had more than memory as documentation of...everything.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Most of What I Read

I always keep a list of books I've read in the back of whatever journal I'm filling. Seemed fun (for me) to put the info all in one place. It's a bit skewed; for example, I generally read a Russian novel every winter, but I've been stuck halfway through The Idiot for two winters running now. Also, I forget to add things if my little journal's not handy, and I also reread so very much more than I relist.

June 2005 through October 2006

1. Franz Wright: Walking to Martha's Vineyard
2. Edmund J. Bourne, PhD. The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
3. James Tate: Return to the City of White Donkeys
4. Charles Simic: Selected Early Poems
5. Ha Jin: Waiting
6. Flannery O'Connor: A Good Man is Hard to Find (millionth reread)
7. Shakespeare: Hamlet (millionth reread)
8. Gabriel Garcia Marquez: The Leaf Storm and Other Stories (reread)
9. Bitter Fame: the life of Sylvia Plath
10. Sophie's World
11. Dante: The Inferno
12. Dan Brown: the da Vinci Code
13. Sarah Fox: Because Why
14. Juliet Patterson: The Truant Lover
15. Tomas Salamun: the Four Questions of Melancholy (millionth reread)
16. Carol Bly: Beyond the Writers' Workshop
17. Barbara Ehrenreich: Nickel and Dimed: on (not) getting by in America
18. Joshua Poteat: Ornithologies
19. Nick Flynn: Another Bullshit Night in Suck City
20: Charles Simic: Aunt Lettuce, I want to peek up your skirt
21. James Tate: Absences
22. DJ Dolack: The Sad Meal
24. Anna Moschovakis: I Have Not Been Able to Get Through to Everyone
25. Amanda Nadelberg: Isa the Truck Named Isadore
26. David Sedaris: Dress Your Family in Courduroy and Denim
27. David Sedaris: Me Talk Pretty One Day

November 2006 through June 2007

28. Wicked
29. Chuck Palahniuk: Fight Club
30. Striving Towards Being: The Letters of Thomas Merton and Czeslaw Milosz
31. Augusten Burroughs: Running With Scissors
32. Amy Sedaris: I Like You
33. Dainis Hazners: (Some of) the Adventures of Carlysle, My Imaginary Friend
34. Cynthia Cruz: Ruin
35. Jeffrey McDaniel: The Splinter Factory
36. Joshua Marie Wilkinson: Lug Your Careless Body Out of the Careful Dusk
37. Steve Healey: Earthling
38. Gertrude Stein: Tender Buttons
39: Tenaya Darlington: Madame Deluxe
40: Gretchen Mattox: Buddha Box
41. Ralph Angel: Exceptions and Melancholies
42. Kate Greenstreet: case sensitive
43. Hart Crane: the Bridge
44. Paige Ackerson-Kiely: In No One's Land
45. Matt Hart: Who's Who Vivid
46. Zachary Schomburg: The Man Suit
47. Nick Hornby: How to be Good
48. David Sedaris: Naked
49. David Sedaris: Holidays on Ice
50. Felstiner: Selected Poems and Prose of Paul Celan
51. Samuel Beckett: Happy Days
52. Mary Ruefle: Indeed I was Pleased with the World
53. Nick Hornby: A Long Way Down
54. Cintra Wilson: Colors Insulting to Nature

**To update: I have given up on this list after discovering goodreads.com.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Past Readings

2006

March 26th: Book Launch Party at Bryant-Lake Bowl, MPLS, w/musicians Peter Schimke and members of Mystery Palace

April 19th: Globe College Library, Oakdale, MN

April 29th: Zandbroz, Fargo w/Sarah Fox and Juliet Patterson

May 10th: Danny's Bar, Chicago, w/Sarah Fox and Cris Mazza

May 13th: The Book Cellar, Chicago w/Carrie Olivia Adams

June 15th: Micawbers Books, St. Paul w/Sarah Fox and Juliet Patterson

June 17th: The Clean Part Reading Series, Lincoln, NE w/ Sarah Fox and Juliet Patterson

October 13th: Pete's Candy Store, Brooklyn with Fred Schmalz and DJ Dolack

October 29th: Benefit for Drew Gordon, Xelias Aerial Arts, MPLS

November 8th: Black Dog Cafe, St. Paul w/Terri Ford and Eric Lorberer

2007

January 21st: Riot Act Reading Series, Turf Club, St. Paul w/ Laura Brandenburg, John Colburn and Paul Dickinson

March 3rd: Apache Cafe, Atlanta GA: 100% Dynamite Blow Up reading: Black Ocean, No Tell Books, Pilot Books and Octopus Books

April 19th: the Pump House Reading Series, La Crosse, WI

April 25th: Globe College Library, Oakdale, MN

May 6th: Jewel Box Theater, Seattle, w/ Anna Maria Hong, Amy Schrader and Kary Wayson, presented by Cranky Magazine

July 29th: Turf Club, St. PaulRiot Act Reading Series w/Sam Osterhout, Laura Brandenburg and Paul Dickinson

August 24: Magers and Quinn, Uptown Minneapolis w/Juliet Patterson and William Stobb!

2008
March 30:
  • The Riot Act Reading Series


  • April 27th:
  • St. Paul Art Crawl Group Reading
  • The Carleton Building

    June 14th:
  • Talking Image Connection
  • The Soap Factory, Minneapolis

    June 22nd:
  • Avol's Books
  • Madison, WI, w/ Rauan Klassnik

    June 23th:
  • Quimby's
  • Chicago, w/ Rauan Klassnik

    June 25th:
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Fine/Maxwell/Rerick house reading w/Rauan Klassnik

    August 1st: Cantabria Coffee Co. Bemidji, MN, 6:00 PM w/ Erin Lynn Marsh

    August 20th: Bedlam Theatre w/Julie Doxsee, Paul Dickinson and Laura Brandenburg and with music by Frances Gumm and Beatrix Jar

    2009

    February 16th: Exploding Swan Reading Series, St. Louis, w/John Gallaher, Vincent Guerra, and Chris Tonelli

    March 8: Final Imaginary Press Reading, Minneapolis, w/Jen March and Jenny Browne

    April 18th: Jeff Skemp's opening reception, Minneapolis, w/Sarah Fox and John Colburn

    June 12: Form and Content Gallery, Minneapolis, w/Rachel Moritz, Sarah Fox, Sun Yung Shin, and Laressa Dickey

    July 22nd: Pocket Lab Reading Series, Rogue Buddha Gallery, Minneapolis, w/ Farrah Field, Jared White, Michael Walsh, Amy McCann, and Lara Crombie

    Tuesday, April 11, 2006

    semi-formal C.V.

    Current Position________________________________________
    July 2005 to Present
    Globe University – Full Time Liberal Arts Faculty

    Primary duties:
    • Teach foundations of writing, composition, literature, creative writing,
    communications, film in society, and humanities courses
    • Serve as faculty advisor for Globe’s literary magazine, the Creative Quill
    • Organize two yearly group readings for faculty and students
    • Participate in inter-faculty mentorship
    • Participate in faculty retention committee

    Education________________________________________
    M.F.A. Creative Writing, 2005
    Vermont College, Montpelier, VT

    Critical Thesis: The Wrong Answers or None at All: Not Knowing and Poetry
    Senior Lecture: In Order to Stop Imposing: A Surrealist Parlor Game Salon
    Creative Thesis: Upon Arrival: Poems

    B.A. English with a Writing Emphasis, 1998
    College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN

    A.A. Liberal Arts, 1994
    Minneapolis Community College, Minneapolis, MN

    Teaching Experience ________________________________________
    The University of St. Thomas: 2006-present: Adjunct Faculty

    • ENGLISH 111: Critical Reading and Writing – Fiction and Nonfiction – 2
    sections
    • ENGLISH 112: Critical Reading and Writing – Poetry and Drama – 1 section

    Globe University: 2005-present: Fulltime Liberal Arts Faculty

    - HU320 World Literature
    - HU150 Introduction to Literature -- multiple sections
    - HU121 Film in Society
    - HU100 Introduction to Humanities -- multiple sections
    - CM050 Foundations of Writing 1 -- multiple sections
    - CM052 Foundations of Writing 2 – multiple sections
    - CM111 Speech Communications
    - CM121 Composition – multiple sections
    - CM210 Introduction to Creative Writing -- multiple sections
    -CM220 The Art of Persuasion
    - CM311 Communication Theory

    The Loft Literary Center: Summer 2005: Creative Writing Instructor

    • The Writer is in the Midst: Allowing Uncertainty, a
    creative process writing course

    Rasmussen College: Summer Quarter 2006: Adjunct Faculty

    • BO97 Foundations of English 1 -- 2 sections
    • E150 Success Strategies -- 2 sections

    Book Publication and Manuscripts________________________________________

    -Ghost Fargo, poetry collection. Nightboat Books, spring 2010.
    -Two Museums, poetry chapbook. MaCaHu Press, 2009
    -Or Else What Asked the Flame, poetry e-chap w/Mathias Svalina. Scantily Clad
    Press, 2008.
    -Upon Arrival, poetry collection. Black Ocean Press, Boston. 2006.
    -How Birds Work, fine press chapbook. Fuori Editions, Minneapolis. 2002.

    Poems in Anthologies________________________________________
    “The Black Suit.” Lush: an Anthology and Cocktail Guide. Spout Press (fall 2006).

    “Daedalian,” “ My Dearest Memory,” “Birds of Appetite,” and “ To A Margin.”
    SHADE: An Anthology. Four Way Books (2004) 76-81.

    “The Moon Pretends He Has A Crush” and “As She Approaches.” Gazelle Poets
    Anthology (spring 1997) 6-8.

    Poems in Literary Magazines________________________________________

    Selections from "Because of the Curses." Handsome, forthcoming

    "Ode to Falling Below the Radar of the Gods." Barn Owl Review #2 (2009).

    Selections from "Because of the Curses." The Laurel Review (winter 2008).

    "Thanks, NE," from "the Poor Choruses," and "Ode." failbetter.com (fall 2008).
    .
    “Something Blue,” “Cape Disappointment, WA,” “Ode to Progress,” “Ode to a Dull
    Ache,” and “Tonight.” Handsome, (Winter 2007).

    “Ode to My Screenplay: Pardon My Welschmerz,” Coconut (October 2007) online.

    Two featured poems in Sharkforum. (September 2, 2007).

    “Telescope Psalm” and “Tyros’ World Tour.” Blackbird (spring 2007) online.

    “Erasures from Home Birth.” Konundrum Engine Literary Review (January 2007)
    online.

    “All the Way Home.” Swink 3(winter 2006).

    “Purgatory, ME” and “Hell, MI.” Pilot (fall 2006) online.

    “Embarrass, MN.” The Café Review (fall 2006) 10.

    “History, a Round.” Hunger Mountain (spring 2006).

    “Common Prayer.” Crazyhorse 66 (2004) 95-96.

    “The Motto for Anyone Who Falls into a Black Hole Must Be ‘Think Imaginary’.”
    Forklift,Ohio 13 (2004) 116-117.

    “Mercury Waits Tables at the Macrocosm Café.” Black Warrior Review 30:2 (2004)
    32-33.

    “How Birds Work.” Spinning Jenny 7 (2003) 16-17.

    “Piano Solo.” The Melic Review 20/21 (2003) online.

    “According to Cloud Formations I Will Spend This Day,” “Springtime,” “Ear Ache
    Song,” “News From the Monkey House” and “Here on Somnambulist
    Avenue.” Puppy Flowers 3(2003) online.

    “Passenger Villanelle,” “How to Steal,” “Our Possible Brother” and “Opening
    Remarks.” Fuori 2 (2002) 100-103.

    “Lucky Poem” and “Bank Book.” Spout 26 (2002) 19, 38.

    “Idea For Recurring Dream,” “Below Freezing,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Origami” and

    “Gold Rush Hamlet.” Fuori 1 (2001) 6-10.

    “Peace.” Swerve 7 (2001) 24-29.

    “The Word String Can’t Blister Your Hands.” Conduit 7 (1999) slate ripper.

    “Stella.” Comstock Review 13:2 (1999) 99.

    Academic and Community Service: ________________________________________
    Contributing Editor for Hunger Mountain; the Vermont College Journal of Arts and
    Letters, 2007-present

    Host of the Imaginary Press Reading Series: fall 2006 – present

    Volunteer guest poet: Farnsworth Elementary: spring 2006

    Blake Upper School guest artist: fall 2001
    taught a full day poetry and performance workshop

    Volunteer for several local literary magazines such as Rain Taxi Review of Books,
    Swerve and Fuori: ongoing

    Minnesota Center for Arts Education creative writing mentor: 1998-1999
    corresponded with students through monthly mailed packets

    Co-founder and facilitator of St. Paul Calls quarterly poetry and jazz series: 1997-
    1999

    Frogtown Artists’ Outreach Program creative writing instructor: 1997
    collaborated with artists and held poetry and mixed media classes

    Founder and host of the weekly open mic at The Artists’ Quarter: 1996-2000

    Metro State University guest poet: 1996
    read and discussed work in Sherry Quan Lee’s creative writing class

    Honors and Awards________________________________________

    • 2009 SASE/Jerome Grant recipient
    • 2008 Nightboat Poetry Prize, Ghost Fargo manuscript selected by Franz Wright
      • Upon Arrival manuscript was a semifinalist for the Beatrice Hawley Award
      through Alice James Books, 2005
      • Ruth Lilly Prize candidate of Vermont College, 2003
      • SASE/Jerome Grant finalist, 1999
      • SASE Teacher to Writer Mentorship winner with Roseann Lloyd, 1998
      • Delta Phi Lambda Creative Writing Honor Society inductee, 1998
      • Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society inductee, 1997

      Professional Memberships________________________________________
      • The Association of Writers and Writing Programs
      • The Loft Literary Center

    Monday, April 10, 2006

    Initial Contact

    I'm not convinced that I have the technical savvy to maintain a site like this, but I shall try. For example, every time I tried to type a little message in the previous post, the image....mysteriously went away. I give up and am starting fresh here.

    That image, friends, is my brand new first book of poems which the fine people at Black Ocean were kind enough to publish (www.blackocean.org). I treasure it cover to cover and from the beautiful ISBN to the credit for a ghost poem on the last page. I value it as a made thing -- a loving effort. That said, if you do find yourself with a copy and wouldn't mind crossing out the word characters in the poem "The Motto for Anyone Who Falls Into a Black Hole Must Be 'Think Imaginary'" and replacing it with the word dustjackets, that would be a huge favor.

    Sunday, April 09, 2006