Poets Wear Prada | PWP Books

Linda Lerner Reviews "the woman who who wouldn't shake hands" by Chocolate Waters for BigCityLit

2012-01-27T21:53:00.000-08:00

Some excerpts from Linda Lerner's review:

"This quirky collection of skinny looking poems, lacking punctuation, belittle the enormous territory they cover: it is nothing less than the human heart — that need for love and a corresponding need that guards against it."

"We hear what we read on the page, and what we hear will linger, like a melody, in our minds."

Linda examines the "unexpected turns [Waters'] poems take" and the author's "playing with a word as in a jazz riff" citing several examples from the book.

Read Linda Lerner's complete review of the woman who wouldn't shake hands by Chocolate Waters (Poets Wear Prada, 2011) online in the Fall 2011 edition of BigCityLit:

http://www.bigcitylit.com/bigcitylit.php?inc=fall2011/reviews/lerner

Ms. Lerner is the author of thirteen poetry collections. Her latest collection, a full-length book titled Takes Guts & Years Sometimes, was published by New York Quarterly Books in June of 2011. Her book reviews have appeared in Small Press Review, Home Planet News, and Chiron Review, among other places.

Fri 2/3 Elaine Shipman Dance Performance w/ Text by Austin Alexis 9PM John Ryan Theater B'klyn

2012-01-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

CoolNY 2012 Dance Festival at DUMBO's John Ryan Theater

presents

Real and Borrowed Personas

A Dance Performance by SITU, Inc.,

Elaine Shipman's dance & media company

(on a program with performances by several other dance companies)

choreographic direction: Elaine Shipman
text and performance: Austin Alexis

music and performance: Jackson Krall
dancers: Miai Ramnath, Marya Ursin, Elaine Shipman

Limited Engagement of 2 Performances:

Friday, February 3, 2012 at 9:00 p.m

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

John Ryan Theater

25 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY

(entrance around the corner on John Street)

718-855-8822

Directions:

F train to York Street

A or C train to High Street

Admission by donation, pay what you wish

Mon 2/6 Poets Michael T Young & Jack Cooper at Nightingale Lounge in NYC

2012-01-27T16:44:00.000-08:00

EVENT: Saturn Reading Series Presents:
MICHAEL T. YOUNG & JACK COOPER
DATE: Monday, February 6, 2012 TIME: 7pm - 9pm.
LOCATION: Nightingale Lounge, 213 2nd Ave.
(NW Corner E. 13th St & 2nd Ave), NY, NY 10003
OPEN MIC: Yes, signup at 6:45 pm HOST: SU POLO
TICKETS: $10 Drink Minimum + $3 Suggested Donation is split between the bar and the two features.
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/events/369306029750818/

The lovely singer/songwriter and poet Ms. Su Polo hosts this long-running every Monday evening mostly poetry reading series. Tonight the featured poets are Jack Cooper and Michael T. Young.

Open mic precedes and follows the features. Sign-up at 6:45 pm.

About the features:

JACK COOPER has read for Farrar, Straus and Giroux , served as research associate for the Modern Language Association, was an ESL teacher for ELESAIR Project, and is now Production Editor at Poets Wear Prada. His American English translation of poems by Jean-Pierre Lemesle, "Wax Women," with photos by Henry Jacobs was published November 1985 by International Art Office, Paris.

MICHAEL T. YOUNG's most recent collection, a chapbook titled "Living in the Counterpoint," is about to be released by Finishing Line Press. His previous books include the full-length "Transcriptions of Daylight" (Rattapallax Press, 2000), and the chapbook "Because the Wind Has Questions" (Somers Rocks Press, 1997). A full-length book, "The Beautiful Moment of Being Lost," will be published by Black Coffee Press in 2013. He has received both a Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and a William Stafford Award, and he has been twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His work has appeared in numerous journals including The Adirondack Review, Barrow Street, Iodine Poetry Journal, The Potomac Review, The Louisville Review, and The Same. His work is also included in the anthologies "Chance of a Ghost" (Helicon Nine Editions, 2005) and "Phoenix Rising" (T&W, 2004). He currently lives with his wife and children in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Directions:
Take any subway (4,5,6, R, N, Q) to Union Square at 14th St or the L to 3rd Avenue.
Closest NY PATH station: W 14th St. & 6th Ave.

12/15 in NYC: Space on White fts. PWP Authors Efrayim Levenson & John J Trause

2011-12-14T23:23:00.000-08:00

Come, help fill-up the page . . .

Thursday, December 15, 2011

from 7pm to 9pm

Poets on White

features

* EFRAYIM LEVENSON * JOHN J. TRAUSE * JACK TRICARICO *

+ open mic (Sign-Up 6:45 with Cindy Hochman

[space on white]

81 White Street,

(Tribeca,near Broadway)

New York, NY 10013

http://www.spaceonwhite.com/

(212) 227-8600

Hosts: Evie Ivy & Cindy Hochman

$4.00 donation

Directions: J, N, R, Q, B and #6,1 train, A,C,E trains slightly longer walk
to Canal Street; Space on White is two blocks south of Canal Street

About the Features:

JACK TRICARICO is a New York City painter, poet, and T'ai Chi instructor who has been published in numerous poetry journals and anthologies based in New York City and upstate New York . He has completed 9 chapbooks and is working on his 10th. He's been published in Hunger Magazine, Home Planet News, Long Island Sounds, 2009 Issue, Perhaps I Am Wrong About The World, Asbestos, Nomad's Choir, Dinner With The Muse, Pushing The Envelope, The Poets Gallery press, among others. His art work can be seen on two art sites: www.nyaw.com and bondandbowery.com.

JOHN J. TRAUSE, said to be the secret love child of Henri Langlois and Mary Meerson (Or is it Marie Menken and Willard Maas?), was nominated for the Pushcart Prize (2009-2011). The Director of Oradell Public Library, he is the author of Seriously Serial and Latter-Day Litany, the latter staged Off-Off Broadway. His translations, poetry, and visual work appear in many journals and anthologies in North America and Europe , including the artists' periodical Crossings and the Dada journal Maintenant. Appearing in the City Lights Books celebration (Poetry Project, St. Mark’s, NYC) with Steven Van Zandt, Anne Waldman, and Karen Finley, and in Visible Word (Stevens Institute, Hoboken, NJ) with Jerome Rothenberg, he is cofounder of the William Carlos Williams Poetry Cooperative (Rutherford, NJ) and serves as host and curator of its monthly reading series. Aside from his literary work, his artwork has been exhibited in The MoMA Staff Show (1995), at Il Trapezio Café ( Nutley , NJ ), and appears in the permanent collection of The Museum of Menstruation (New Carrollton , MD ) to whose website he has contributed.

*

EFRAYIM LEVENSON has presented his poems at bars, churches, colleges, libraries, and synagogues in Manhattan , Brooklyn, and Buffalo . His work has been published in Pure Light, ArtVoice, Medicinal Purposes, What Happens Next, Poetica, and other anthologies, and online as well. A member of Parkside Poetry Workshop, Efrayim is currently editing a chapbook (his third) of poems based on the music of guitarist Buckethead. A CD of poetry and jazz, with bassist Clif Jackson, is also in the works.

Hoboken Author’s New Illustrated Book Contemplates Love and Death

2011-12-09T23:55:00.000-08:00

Hoboken author Roxanne Hoffman today announced the release of “In Loving Memory,” her gothic ballad tracing a small town congregation from funeral to marriage, illustrated by Edward Odwitt.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Roxanne Hoffman

201 795 3810

roxy533@yahoo.com

Hoboken Author’s New Illustrated Book Contemplates
Love and Death

Hoboken, New Jersey (December 10, 2011) – Hoboken author Roxanne Hoffman today announced the release of “In Loving Memory,” her ballad illuminating the gothic shadows surrounding a small town congregation from funeral to marriage, illustrated by Edward Odwitt. A recent widow, whose husband of 20 years, partner for 28, died suddenly last Valentine’s Day, Ms. Hoffman knows both rites of passage first hand. A self-proclaimed witness to life’s serendipities, she transports the reader from the scenes of deepest sorrow to ones of abounding joy through the voice of a male villager.

IN LOVING MEMORY
by Roxanne Hoffman
Illustrations by Edward Odwitt

“‘In Loving Memory’ is an elegant, elegiac poem by Roxanne Hoffman, illustrated by Edward Odwitt in a style reminiscent of classic Edward Gorey. This somber, tender and darkly ironic verse is about the ceremonies of death and grieving ... as well as their parallels to the rituals of abiding love and remembrance. ‘In Loving Memory’ should be on everyone's shelves as it reflects on one of the darkest human experiences with insight and humanity in a charmingly gothic presentation,” says Garth von Buchholz, author, publisher and member of the National Book Critics’ Circle.

Written following her retirement in 2003 from a 20-year stint on Wall Street, the poem appeared in “Danse Macabre,” the Nevada-based online literary magazine published by Adam Henry Carriere. “Roxanne Hoffman has been a whirlwind of poetics for some time now. ‘In Loving Memory’ is not only a worthy addition to her oeuvre but an original, deeply human—and warmly humane—vision of the rites of final passage. Of course there is trauma, that of irreconcilable loss, but here Roxanne brings the full coin of her poetic mind to bear. In sustained elegiacal rhyme she paints a methodically wrought landscape that is beautifully subjective yet utterly universal. The portraiture is further enriched by the stark, almost child-like illustrations of Edward Odwitt. The sum effort is a melodic, imaginative riposte to the reverberations of loss, a moment heartbreakingly, heartwarmingly wrought into poetry,” says Adam Henry Carriere.

Ms. Hoffman says she had always envisioned her poem as an illustrated book in the style of Edward Gorey, but Gorey was, unfortunately, already dead in 2000. This past fall, at the Brooklyn Book Festival, she met Edward Odwitt, when he stopped by her table and presented her with his “Head for the Hills,” a book of short verse written and illustrated to encourage his younger brother to enjoy reading. Opening the book later at home, she realized she had met her illustrator. “Edward’s work ranks with that of Tim Burton, Edward Gorey, and Dr. Seuss, often echoing the gothic style of the late great Gorey, and with more than a whit of the whimsy of Seuss,” says Roxanne.

“It was a great pleasure working with Roxanne Hoffman having illustrated ‘In Loving Memory.’ Together, our collaborative efforts helped produce a complimentary visual for her astounding poetic ability,” says Edward Odwitt.

Edward and Roxanne are already at work on their next collaboration, “The Little Entomologist.”

“In Loving Memory,” by Roxanne Hoffman with illustrations by Edward Odwitt, paperback: 24 pages, publisher: CreateSpace (December 9, 2011), ISBN 978-1468019070, list price: $12.00, is now available at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/in-loving-memory/dp/1468019074) and from CreateSpace (https://www.createspace.com/3738388) . Signed copies can also be purchased directly from the author at http://pwpbooks.blogspot.com/.

Roxanne Hoffman worked on Wall Street, now answers a patient hotline for a New York home healthcare provider. Her work has been published widely in literary journals like “Amaze: The Cinquain Journal,” “Clockwise Cat,” “Danse Macabre,” “The Fib Review,” “Hospital Drive,” “Lucid Rhythms,” “Mobius: The Poetry Magazine,” “The New Verse News,” “The Pedestal Magazine,” and “Shaking Like A Mountain,” as well as in several anthologies including “The Bandana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates” (Soft Skull Press), “Love after 70” (Wising Up Press), and “It All Changes in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure” (Harper Perennial). Her vampire poetry can be heard during Dave Gold’s 2005 indie flick “Love and the Vampire.” She runs the small literary press Poets Wear Prada, since 2006.

Independent author/artist Edward Odwitt’s portfolio veers from symmetrical illustrations to graphics and pastels, as well as cartoons drawn primarily in black pen or pencil. His first book “Head for the Hills,” an illustrated book of poetry written for middle school audiences, can be found on his website http://www.edwardodwitt.com/. He is currently compiling a collection of his artwork into a book due out by the end of 2011.

Poets Wear Prada Announces Six Nominations for Pushcart Prize

2011-12-05T16:57:00.000-08:00

Small New Jersey Literary Press Picks Six for Shot at Annual Pushcart Prize

Recognizing Best of 2011 by Small Presses

Hoboken publisher Poets Wear Prada announced its six nominees for the Pushcart Prize, recognizing the best of 2011 published by Small Presses: Chocolate Waters, Davidson Garrett, Dean Kostos, Melinda Goodman, Dorothy Friedman and John Marcus Powell.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Roxanne Hoffman

roxy533@yahoo.com

201.253.0561

Hoboken, NJ (Dec 05, 2011) - Poets Wear Prada, a small literary press based in Hoboken, NJ, announced today its six nominations for the 36th Annual Pushcart Prize, the coveted award signaling the best work published by small presses the previous year. Nominations for the Pushcart Prize are made by little magazine (print and online) and small book press editors. Editors can nominate poems, short stories, essays, chapters from novels, or “literary whatnots” -- up to six selections -- by the postmark deadline of December 1. Translations, reprints, and both traditional and experimental writing are welcomed. Bill Henderson with the editors of the Pushcart Press select from the nominations for inclusion in an annual anthology printed and distributed with W.W. Norton since 1976.

Pushcart Prize XXXVI
Best of the Small Presses

Nominated works from Poets Wear Prada this year include “Desire” by Chocolate Waters from her recently released (October 2011), critically acclaimed chapbook “The Woman Who Wouldn’t Shake Hands,” a sometimes humorous often poignant collection of poems reflecting on a failed romance, and “A Hack’s Elusive Love or Arthur Miller Lives” by Davidson Garrett from the chapbook anthology of the Ninth Annual All Out Arts’ Fresh Fruit Festival, “Pears, Prose & Poetry,” edited by Caitlin Foster and Roxanne Hoffman, released July 2011. “Desire” first appeared in Soundzine, Lucky Issue #13, 2011. “A Hack’s Elusive Love or Arthur Miller Lives” was previously published in “Beyond the Rift: Poets of the Palisades Anthology,” edited by Paul Nash and Denise La Neve, The Poets Press, 2010.

From “Pears, Prose & Poetry,” four additional selections were nominated: “At the Barber’s” by Dean Kostos, “Just How Crazy Brenda Is” by Melinda Goodman, “Magic Bistro” by Dorothy Friedman August, and “St. Vincent’s” by John Marcus Powell. “At the Barber’s” first appeared in "OCHO 22," edited by Miguel Murphy, MiPOesias, 2009. “Just How Crazy Brenda Is” was previously published in "Middle Sister" by Melinda Goodman, MSG Press, 1987, and "Gay and Lesbian Poetry in Our Time: An Anthology," edited by Carl Morse and Joan Larkin, St. Martin’s Press, 1988.

“This year’s selection process was particularly challenging,” said publisher Roxanne Hoffman, “as all of the 19 poems included in ‘Pears, Prose & Poetry,’ selected from the over fifty solicited submissions by some of the best local poets in the GLBT community, are ‘winners,’ all deserving recognition.”

Poets Wear Prada, a small literary press based in Hoboken, New Jersey, was founded in October, 2006, to develop and promote new and established writers of narrative and lyrical poetry. Poets previously nominated by the press include Iris Berman, Carol Wierzbicki, Michael Montlack, Susan Maurer, Erik La Prade, Gil Fagiani, Bob Heman, Maria Lisella and Laura Vookles. Poets Wear Prada blogs at http://pwpbooks.blogspot.com/. Titles are available at Amazon.com, BN.com, and CreateSpace.com, as well as directly from the publisher.

# # #

Poets Wear Prada is a small literary press based in Hoboken, New Jersey, devoted to introducing new authors through high-quality chapbooks primarily of poetry, since October 2006. Please visit us at: http://pwpbooks.blogspot.com/. "Have you had your poetry today?"

Canio’s Books to Celebrate Emily Dickinson’s Birthday with a Talk by Poet George Held

2011-12-01T23:46:00.000-08:00

The poet George Held will be giving a talk on the poet Emily Dickinson in honor of her birthday. Canio’s Books, 290 Main St., Sag Harbor, NY. 4 p.m., Saturday, December 10.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Roxanne Hoffman

roxy533@yahoo.com

201.253.0561

Sag Harbor, NY (Dec 02, 2011) – The poet George Held will be giving a talk on the revered American poet Emily Dickinson, in honor of her 181st birthday, at Canio’s Books, 290 Main St., Sag Harbor, NY on Saturday, December 10, 2011, at 4 p.m. "Miss Emily´s Hymnal: The Art of Common Meter" will be a look at the formal structure and themes of Dickinson´s work with a chance to practice.

Maryann Calendrille, one of the owners of Canio's, where George has frequently given readings of his own work, took a haiku workshop led by him last summer and asked if he’d like to give a talk on Emily Dickinson on her birthday, which this year falls on a Saturday, the day Canio's Cultural Café normally offers readings and other programs. George, who taught Emily Dickinson’s poetry for years as a professor at Queens College, and led a workshop based on her verse, a few years ago, for the Live Poets Society in Bayshore, NY, promptly agreed.

Emily Dickinson, daguerreotype, circa 1848, Yale

Emily Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) was born in Amherst, Massachusetts. Though now considered one of America’s greatest poets, she had less than a dozen of her nearly 1,800 poems published in her lifetime.

"Common meter," the verse form of Protestant hymn Emily Dickinson often borrowed to construct a poem, also serves George Held as an occasional instrument. Its four-line stanza, or quatrain, combines an alternating rhyme scheme (abab) with alternating long (8-syllable) and short (6-syllable) lines as this untitled poem by Dickinson demonstrates:

It's such a little thing to weep --
So short a thing to sigh --
And yet -- by Trades -- the size of these
We men and women die!”

A satiric poem by Held, originally published in Light, follows that same pattern:

Tell All . . .

Tell all the lies but tell them well;
Make customers believe
The sales pitch blooming on your lips
So they won’t feel aggrieved.

Sell all the dreck despite its flaws,
Don’t worry ’bout the toys;
Just hope the folks won’t sue your ass
After the obsequies.

For more information about Canio’s Books and directions on how to get there, please visit their website at http://www.caniosbooks.com/ or call 631.725.4926.

George Held

George Held, a five-time Pushcart Prize nominee, is the author of two full-length collections, ten chapbooks, as well as two e-books of poetry, and the editor of “Touched by Eros,” an anthology of erotic verse. His “After Shakespeare: Selected Sonnets” was recently published by Červená Barva Press. A teacher, translator, writer and poet, his work has appeared in “The Philadelphia Inquirer,” “Confrontation,” “Notre Dame Review,” “New York Quarterly” and “Rattle,” among numerous other publications including two-dozen anthologies, and been featured on National Public Radio (NPR). Among his chapbooks is “Phased” (Poets Wear Prada, 2008). He holds a B.A. from Brown, an M.A. from University of Hawaii, and a Ph.D. from Rutgers, taught at Queens College for 37 years, was a Fulbright lecturer in Czechoslovakia (1973-76), and serves on the executive board of The South Fork Natural History Museum, Bridgehampton, NY. He lives in Greenwich Village with his wife Cheryl.

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Poets Wear Prada is a small literary press based in Hoboken, NJ, devoted to introducing new authors through high-quality chapbooks primarily of poetry, since October 2006. Please visit us at: http://pwpbooks.blogspot.com/ . "Have you had your poetry today?"

Tonite 11/11/11: Book Party: Chocolate Waters's The Woman Who Wouldn't Shake Hands 7:30pm 400 W. 43rd St. (at 9th Ave) Ellington Rm. FREE

2011-11-11T13:29:00.000-08:00

come celebrate with us!

the woman who wouldn’t shake hands

and here's a cool trailer, w/audio

http://tinyurl.com/3fyxbyx

chocolate will be reading from her new collection

featuring Mark Larsen, Fran Witte and Chavisa Woods

with emcee/publisher Roxanne Hoffman

Manhattan Plaza, 400 W. 43rd St. (SW corner at 9th Ave.)

Ellington Room, 2nd Floor

Nov. 11, Friday @ 7:30 p.m.

(11/11/11)

FREE

Single copies will be on sale: $12.

Signed, numbered collectible edition plus bonus CD: $25.

If you’re unable to attend but would like a copy: A single copy is $12. + $3. postage.

Collectors’ edition is $25. postage free for U.S. orders (foreign add $5.) and includes a CD with six audio tracks plus an extra bonus track of a poem not in the book.

Paypal is the best (cwaters@nyc.rr.com) or snail mail Chocolate Waters

@ 415 West 44 St. Apt. 7 , NY, NY 10036-4440.

About the line up:

Chocolate Waters, the “Poet Laureate of Hell’s Kitchen,” is one of the first openly lesbian poets to publish in the U.S. during the second wave of feminism, and her contribution is documented in Feminists Who Changed America 1963-1975 (U of Il. Press, Barbara Love, ed.). With 3 previous collections, including Take Me Like A Photograph (Eggplant Press), classics of the early women’s movement, Waters is also a founding mother of the radical women’s newspaper, Big Mama Rag, which was produced in Denver, Colorado from 1972 to 1982. We are celebrating the release of her 1st book in over 3 decades, The Woman Who Wouldn’t Shake Hands from Poets Wear Prada Press.

Mark Larsen has dabbled in stand-up comedy and poetry for over 25 years, refusing to go away and then refusing to show up, both at the same time. Recently married to Francine Witte, also on tonight’s bill, he lives in New York city and makes his living as a market researcher. He is happy to be a part of the book release party for Chocolate, and counts Ms. Waters as a close friend and mentor.

Francine Witte lives in NYC. She received her MA from SUNY Binghamton and her MFA from Vermont College . Her flash fiction chapbook, The Wind Twirls Everything, was published by MuscleHead Press in 2007. She is the winner of the Thomas A. Wilhelmus Award in fiction from Ropewalk Press, and her chapbook, Cold June was published in 2010. Her poetry chapbook, First Rain was published Summer 2009 by Pecan Grove Press. She is a high school English teacher. She's happy to be a part of Chocolate's book release party!

Chavisa Woods is a Brooklyn based author whose work pushes boundaries of class culture, gender, literature and sexuality. Her debut collection of short stories, Love Does Not Make Me Gentle or Kind (Fly By Night Press, 2008) was a Lambda Literary Award Nominee for Debut Fiction. Chavisa Woods is the recipient of the 2009 Jerome Foundation Award for emerging writers. Woods has featured as a reader with a number of renowned institutions and festivals. She featured in a performance series, which ran for five days at The Whitney Museum in New York City, as a member of the Chorus of Poets. She has also been featured at the New York Vision Festival as well as the New York Hot Festival in multiple years. Woods’ poetry, short stories and essays have been published nationally and internationally in a number of magazines and journals. Woods is currently completing her first full-length collection of poetry as well as her second work of fiction.

Nominated for a 2010 Pushcart, Roxanne Hoffman's work appears in several anthologies including The Bandana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates (Soft Skull Press), Love After 70 (Wising Up Press), and It All Changed In An Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure (Harper Perennial). Her vampire poetry can be heard during the 2005 indie flick Love and the Vampire, directed and produced by Dave Gold. She runs Poets Wear Prada, a small literary press, since 2006 and blogs at http://roxanne-hoffman.blogspot.com/.

* * *

POETS WEAR PRADA
C/O Roxanne Hoffman
533 Bloomfield Street - 2nd Floor
Hoboken, NJ 07030
http://pwpbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poets-Wear-Prada/41483895438
http://twitter.com/pradapoet

POETS WEAR PRADA is a small press based in Hoboken, New Jersey devoted to introducing new authors through limited edition, high- quality chaplets, primarily of poetry.

New press, great authors, a publisher who is one miracle short of sainthood.-Angelo Verga, Poetry Curator of The Cornelia Street Cafe

Poets Wear Prada is a poetry publishing house with excellent poets and affordable books with beautiful covers. Have you had your poetry today?-Meredith Sue Willis, Books for Readers

Stylistically, these beautifully designed and produced chaplets bear their own distinctive signature.-Linda Lerner, Small Press Review

Proud Member of CLMP
http://flordelconcreto.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/flordelconcreto

LGBT Arts Festival Hosts Women's Poetry Event November 4th at Jan Hus Church in NYC

2011-10-31T19:50:00.000-07:00

The 9th Annual All Out Arts' Fresh Fruit Festival presents a Women’s Poetry Invitational, Fri., Nov. 4 at Jan Hus Church - Masyrik Hall, 351 E. 74th St., NYC 10021 Showtime: 8pm. Admission: $12. Special guests plus open mic. Emcee: Roxanne Hoffman.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY (Oct 31, 2011) -- The 9th annual All Out Arts' Fresh Fruit Festival continues with a new Harvest Fruits Festival this fall. On Friday November 4th, Fresh Fruit presents a Women’s Poetry Invitational, an evening of women writers, inspiration and empowerment -- with special guests and an open mic -- followed by a meet-and greet-reception. This event will be hosted by Roxanne Hoffman, publisher of Poets Wear Prada and will feature four local area writers known for their outspokeness and activism -- Dorothy Friedman August, Vittoria repetto, Chocolate Waters, and Chavisa Wood -- plus an open mic.

The event takes place at the Jan Hus Church - Masyrik Hall, 351 E. 74th St., New York 10021, between 1st and 2nd Avenues. Showtime is 8PM. Tickets are $12. Advance tickets can be ordered online at the Fresh Fruit Festival website (http://www.freshfruitfestival.com/) or at OvationTix dot com (http://www.ovationtix.com/). The closest subway station is the 77th Street Station of the number 6 train.

Emcee for the event, Roxanne Hoffman, has run Poets Wear Prada, a small literary press, since 2006. Her work appears in several anthologies including "The Bandana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates" (Soft Skull Press) and "It All Changed In An Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure" (Harper Perennial).

Dorothy Friedman August founded "The Helen Review," a literary magazine and was the poetry editor of "Downtown," a magazine of the arts for ten years. She is currently working on a memoir, "The Bastard Heirs," an excerpt of which is being published in Clayton Patterson‘s "Jews: A People’s History of the Lower East Side" (Seven Stories Press). Poets Wear Prada is publishing her third poetry collection, "L-Shaped Room."

Vittoria repetto is the author of two books, "Head For the Van Wyck" (Monkey Cat Press) and "Not Just A Personal Ad" (Guernica Editions, 2006) , host of the Women‘s & Trans‘ Poetry Jam at Bluestockings Bookstore since its opening in 1999, and Vice President of the Italian American Writers Association (IAWA).

Chocolate Waters, “Poet Laureate of Hell‘s Kitchen,” is one of the first openly lesbian poets to publish in the U.S. during the second wave of feminism, and her contribution is documented in "Feminists Who Changed America 1963-1975" (U of Il. Press, Barbara Love, ed.). Founding mother of the radical women‘s newspaper, "Big Mama Rag," author of "Take Me Like A Photograph" (Eggplant Press), a classic of the early women‘s movement, she is celebrating the release of her 4th book, "The Woman Who Wouldn’t Shake Hands" from Poets Wear Prada.

Chavisa Woods’s debut collection of short stories, "Love Does Not Make me Gentle or Kind" (Fly By Night Press, 2008) was a Lambda Literary Award Nominee for Debut Fiction. Chavisa Woods is the recipient of the 2009 Jerome Foundation Award for emerging writers.

This year marks the 9th anniversary of the All Out Arts’ Fresh Fruit Festival created in 2002 to support and present LGBT Art and Artists to fight intolerance. The Festival’s refreshing, innovate approach to LGBT arts allows audiences to sample a wide range of events from performing and fine artists representing different ages, ethnicities, sexualities, and gender orientations. Attendees are certain to find something fresh and innovative to inspire them.

The Fresh Fruit Festival prides itself on the diversity of its performers and equally diverse audiences. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The mission of the All Out Arts’ Fresh Fruit Festival is "to fight prejudice and homophobia by celebrating LGBT art and artists." For more about the Fresh Fruit Festival visit http://www.freshfruitfestival.com/ .

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Poets Wear Prada is a small literary press based in Hoboken, New Jersey, devoted to introducing new authors through high-quality chapbooks primarily of poetry, since October 2006. Please visit us at: http://pwpbooks.blogspot.com/. "Have you had your poetry today?"

Mon. Oct 24: Saturn Series: Sarah Bedell & Roxanne Hoffman 7pm Nightingale Lounge NYC

2011-10-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Saturn:
A NYC Poetry Periodical

~ Poetry Open Mic every Monday nite for 18 years ~

Featuring Sarah Bedell and Roxanne Hoffman

Hosted by Su Polo

Date: Monday, October 24th

Time: 7pm - 9pm. (Open mic sign up starts at 6:30pm.)

Place: Nightingale Lounge, 213 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003 ( NW corner of East 13th & 2nd Ave) 212.473.9398 http://www.nightingalelounge.com/

Directions: By subway take 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R to Union Square/14th St. or L to 3rd Avenue or 1st Avenue. NJ PATH to 14th Street and head west.

Admission: 2 Drink/$10 Minimum + $3 Suggested Donation. 21+.

About the Featured Poets:

Sarah Bedell is a poet who has been a New Yorker since college. By day she works in a law firm, and in the evening she teaches English as a Second Language and leads The Riverside Poets Workshop with Anthony Moscini. Her poems have appeared in the annual anthology of The Riverside Poets Workshop, including Volume 13 which was published this fall.

Roxanne Hoffman worked on Wall Street, now answers a patient hotline for a New York home healthcare provider. Her work appears in several anthologies including The Bandana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates (Soft Skull Press), Love After 70(Wising Up Press), and It All Changed in a Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure (Harper Perennial). She's run the small independent literary press, Poets Wear Prada, since 2006.

About the Host:

Su Polo is a multi-talented artist. A native New Yorker, her songs and stories convey unusual insights and surprises found in life's everyday events and encounters. She is a singer/songwriter with guitar and dulcimer, Jazz vocalist, photographer, painter and sculptor, set designer, computer graphic artist specializing in print production and created her website http://www.supolo.com/ . Her book, Turning Stones, a collection of poems and stories is available at St. Marks Books.

She is the founder and host of the Saturn Series poetry reading in it’s 18th year every Monday night at Nightingale Lounge. She hosts the Artists' Lounge Music Showcase & Open Mic, also at Nightingale Lounge. Su is the set designer for the last 6 years of the New Years Day Poetry Extravaganza held at the Bowery Poetry Club. You can find her on Facebook and Myspace.

Su is currently working on her second book and her one woman show.

Friday 11/18: Friedman, La Prade, Held, Lisella and Torrence-Thompson Read Poetry at Left Bank Books in Greenwich Village NYC

2011-10-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

New York, N.Y., October 18, 2011 -- On Friday, November 18th, Left Bank Books of New York invites book lovers and poetry lovers to celebrate the November birthdays of poets Stephen Crane (11/1), Marianne Moore (11/15), J.P. Dancing Bear (11/17), Sharon Olds (11/19), Paul Celan (11/20), William Blake (11/28), and Celia Lisset Alvarez (11/30) with a late evening poetry reading by five noted local poets.

Poets Wear Prada's founder and managing editor, Roxanne Hoffman, will host the poetry reading at Greenwich Village's Left Bank Books in New York City. Special guest, the prose poet David Joel Friedman, author of The Welcome (National Poetry Series, University of Illinois Press. 2006) will introduce Erik La Prade (Chelsea), George Held (Greenwich Village), Maria Lisella (Astoria), and Juanita Torrence-Thompson (Flushing). Each poet will each read work by a favorite November birthday poet, as well as from their own recent books and new work.

The reading will start at promptly at 8 p.m. and will be followed by a brief Q&A.

Ms. Hoffman who lived in Greenwich Village for several years while attending NYU, says she was literally walking north west down her "memory lane" -- Bleecker Street, which ends at 8th Avenue -- and found herself browsing the shelves and stalls inside Left Bank Books. She purchased a used 2nd edition of "Portrait of an Artist as a Young Dog" a collection of autobiographical stories by Dylan Thomas and inquired if the store would entertain a poetry reading. The store has in fact hosted several previous literary events including a recent poetry reading, featuring Barry Wallenstein and Eve Packer, and an annual Bloomsday Celebration. During her conversation with Zeke Finkelstein, the store manager, she learned that one of the poets she has published, Erik La Prade, frequents the store on almost a daily basis. Mr. La Prade has recently completed a memoir regarding his time as an employee of the now closed Gotham Bookstore and will be reading an excerpt from this memoir, as well as his poetry and a poem by Stephen Crane, on November 18th.

Left Bank Books is located in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan between Bank and West 12th Streets at No. 17 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10014.

Directions: By subway, take the A, C, E, L trains to 14th Street at 8th Avenue and walks south on the west side of 8th Avenue. (Note: The L train connects with the N, R, Q, F, D trains at 14th Street.) Or take the 1, 2 or 3 to 14th Street at 7th Avenue, exit at West 12th Street and head west.

About the Readers:

David Joel Friedman, a native of Washington, D.C, is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia University and currenty lives and teaches in New York City. Friedman won the 2004 National Poetry Series open competition, selected by Pulitzer Prizewinner Stephen Dunn; his book of prose poems, The Welcome, was published by the University of Illinois Press in 2006 and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award. Dunn describes Friedman's book The Welcome as "full of pleasures, both linguistic and ideational ... David Friedman blends surreal hijinks with gestures toward the serious. [These poems] give you, if you let them, one of literature's underrated virtues: a good time." The book's title poem has been featured on Poetry Daily.

Erik La Prade has a B.A and an M.A. from City College. His most recent poetry collection, a chapbook titled False Confessions, was published by Alternating Current in 2011. Breaking Through: Richard Bellamy and the Green Gallery 1960-1965, published by Midmarch Arts Press in 2010, traces the history of Dick Bellamy's celebrated gallery through a collection on 23 interviews with artists Claes Oldenberg, James Rosenquist, Frank Stella among many others. A chapbook SWATCHES was released in 2008 from Poets Wear Prada. His first book, Things Maps Don't Show, was published in 1995, and his second, Figure Studies, was published in 1999. Some of his poems have appeared in Fish Drum, Night Magazine, The Hat, The Reading Room, The New York Times, and Artist and Influence. He also has articles and interviews in The Brooklyn Rail, Captured: A History of Film and Video On The Lower East Side, and The Outlaw Bible of American Essays.

George Held, a five-time Pushcart Prize nominee, will be reading from his new sonnet collection, After Shakespeare (Červená Barva). A teacher, translator, writer, and poet, he has had work in such places as The Philadelphia Inquirer, Confrontation, Notre Dame Review, New York Quarterly, and Rattle, as well as on NPR and in two dozen anthologies. Among his chapbooks is Phased (Poets Wear Prada, 2008).

Maria Lisella's Pushcart Poetry Prize-nominated work appears in Amore on Hope Street (Finishing Line Press) and Two Naked Feet (Poets Wear Prada). Her poetry has appeared in The New York Quarterly, Skidrow Penthouse, Paterson Literary Review, and New Verse News, among others; her latest short story appears in Sweet Lemons 2, Writing with a Sicilian Accent (Legas Press). She co-curates the Italian American Writers Association monthly literary readings at Cornelia St. Cafe on the second Saturday of each month. She is a travel writer by profession.

Juanita Torrence-Thompson is the owner, Editor-in-Chief and publisher of the 29-year old international literary magazine, Möbius, The Poetry Magazine -- named one the best magazines of 2007, 2008. 2009 and 2010 by Small Magazine Review. Poems from her 6th poetry book, Breath-Life, (Scopcraeft Press 2009) were nominated for a Pushcart Prize. New York and African Tapestries (Fly By Night Press, 2007) was a Small Press Review “Best Pick.” Her poetry was recently published in the anthologies The Cento (Red Hen Press, 2011) and Forgotten Borough: Writers Come to Terms with Queens (SUNY Press, 2011). Juanita also writes fiction for children and adults, and edits a poetry column for several newspapers, and taught as an adjunct professor at the College of New Rochelle.

About the Host:

A graduate of NYU Stern School of Business, and a retired Wall Street banker, Roxanne Hoffman has run the small independent literary press Poets Wear Prada, since 2006. Described as "a publisher who is one miracle short of sainthood," by Angelo Verga, Poetry Curator of The Cornelia Street Cafe, she personally and meticulously designs and lays out each book, occasionally providing cover art and illustrations. Nominated for a 2010 Pushcart Prize by House of Horror Magazine, her work appears in several anthologies including The Bandana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates (Soft Skull Press), Love After 70 (Wising Up Press), and It All Changed In An Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure (Harper Perennial). Her vampire poetry can be heard during the 2005 indie flick Love and the Vampire, directed and produced by Dave Gold. Born in Manhattan, where she stills spends much of her time, she now resides across the Hudson River in Hoboken, NJ.

About the Bookstore:

Left Bank Books specializes in literary first editions (especially fiction, poetry, drama, and literary non-fiction), photography, art, music, and film, but we buy and sell quality used books of all kinds in all categories. Their inventory runs from first editions of literary highlights, many of which are signed, to an impressive number of fascinating works on a variety of subjects. "And don't be put off by the words 'first editions' or 'rare books'; our stock is not merely a collection of the expensive and eminent--- we have quality books to suit all tastes and pocketbooks" says Lauren Taylor of Left Bank Books.

"Our staff is knowledgeable and book-loving. Come in to buy, browse, or talk about books. We like what we do, and we're there to help you find what you want."

For more information visit the store's website, http://www.leftbankbooksny.com/, or call 212.924.5638.

Mon Oct 3 Saturn Series: Richard Marx Weinraub & Kyle Benjamin 7PM Nightingale Lounge NYC

2011-10-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

MONDAY, Oct. 3 at 7PM

Saturn Series
Poetry Reading & Open Mike

Featuring...

Richard Marx Weinraub & Kyle Benjamin

Two Fine Poets!

NEW EARLIER START AT 7 PM

@ Nightingale Lounge
213 2nd Avenue at 13th Street
New York, NY

A short walk East of Union Square - Every Monday night at 7:00 pm
By Subway: Take 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R to 14th Street Union Square. Take the L to 1st Avenue.

Open Mike + 1 or 2 features - Sign up at 6:30 pm, Reading 7:00pm to 9:30pm

Hosted by Su Polo - 2 Drink/$10 minimum at the bar, $3.00 donation

Age 21 and up.

http://www.supolo.com/

http://www.supolo.com/Saturn_Series_Poetry

http://www.nightingalelounge.com

About Richard Marx Weinraub:

Related to the Marx Brothers through his mother, Richard Marx Weinraub was born in New York City in 1949; he was a Professor of English at the University of Puerto Rico from 1987 through 2010. A book of his poetry entitled Wonder Bread Hill was published in 2002 by the University of Puerto Rico Press. His poetry has appeared in many journals including The Paris Review, Asheville Poetry Review, South Carolina Review, The Hampden-Sydney Poetry Review, Green Mountains Review, North American Review, Measure, The Evansville Review, Slate, and River Styx. A Spanish translation of Wonder Bread Hill was recently published by Terranova Press. A chapbook of his poetry entitled Heavenly Bodies was published in 2008 by Poets Wear Prada Press, and a poem from it was nominated for a 2009 Pushcart Prize.

About Kyle Benjamin:

We welcome back this impressive voice in the poetry world. Kyle Benjamin is a poetic storyteller weaving tales of his experiences told in lyrical form, with his unique voice and meter adding rich texture and intensity to emotional encounters.

Thanks for your support, tell a friend, please forward!

Also - Featuring... MON.Oct 10 - Elizabeth J. Coleman and Mitch Corber

SATURN SERIES POETRY & SPOKEN WORD. . .

U P C O M I N G ... F E A T U R E S. . .

* MONDAY Aug 8 - Marty Levine and Norman Stock

* MONDAY Aug 15 - Adrienne Rooney and Erik Richmond

* MONDAY Aug 22 - Kathleen Crisci and Walt

* MONDAY Aug 29 - Cindy Hochman and Bob Heman

* MONDAY Sept 5 - Pui Ying Wong and Andy Gerenraich

* MONDAY Sept 12 - William Duke and Grace Weaver

* MONDAY Sept 19 - Josh Joffen and Barrett Wolf

* MONDAY Sept 26 - Joseph DeMasi and Bernard Block

* MONDAY Oct 3 - Kyle Benjamin and Richard Marx Weinraub

• MONDAY Oct 10 - Elizabeth J. Coleman and Mitch Corber

* MONDAY Oct 17 - Mary Orovan

* MONDAY Oct 24 - Roxanne Hoffman

* MONDAY Oct 31 - NO Reading Happy Halloween !!!

* MONDAY Nov 14 - Bruce Weber

* MONDAY Nov 28 - Demassi Bros. and Bernard Block

... and more....every Monday night !

Nightingale Lounge Poetry and Music Performers

Be the happiness you are today!

Poems Published in Literary Anthology Celebrating William Carlos Williams

2011-10-02T18:45:00.000-07:00

I am pleased to announce that 3 of my poems "Life With Clocks," "The Family Tree," "The Pursuit of Progeny" appear in the 4th edition of the The Rutherford Red Wheelbarrow. The literary journal also includes 6 poems and an excellent essay by John J. Trause, author of Seriously Serial (Poets Wear Prada, 2007) and several poems by Brant Lyon, author of Your Infidel Eyes (Poets Wear Prada, 2006).

The Rutherford Red Wheelbarrow, No.4 - 2011 reflects a diversity of voices and styles rarely combined in one book. The fourth annual edition of the literary journal was published last month by the Red Wheelbarrow Poets. A open call to poets connected with the William Carlos Williams Poetry Cooperative Reading of South Bergen County, past features including guest poets from the Tri-State region and regulars open mic readers, as well as participants of the peer-to-peer poetry workshops at the GainVille Learning Center and Café. Thirty poets are featured: John Barrale, Céline Beaulieu, Sondra Singer Beaulieu, Marian Calabro, the late George de Gregorio, Milton P. Ehrlich, Mark Fogarty, Thomas Fucaloro, Davidson Garrett, Elissa Gordon, Roxanne Hoffman, Jim Klein, Melanie Klein, Janet Kolstein, Kathy Kuenzle, Brant Lyon, Zorida Mohammed, Rick Mullin, Mike O’Brien, Jane Ormerod, George Pereny, S. Gili Post, Tony Puma, Dan Saxon, Claudia Serea, Francesca Sphynx, Madeline Tiger, John J. Trause, Dorinda Wegener and Don Zirilli.

In addition to the poetry, four essays give insight into the life and work of the Rutherford doctor/poet: "William Carlos Williams and the Baroness" by John J. Trause; "The Poetry Reading" by Madeline Tiger; "Friendship and ‘The Figure 5’" by Marian Calabro and "Medicine, Languages, a River and the American Muses in the Work of William Carlos Williams" by Céline Beaulieu. Noted poet Jim Klein, who leads the Gainville poetry workshop, shares his thoughts on creating a painting in "Don’t Talk Unless You Can Improve the Silence," and Mark Fogarty gives a preview of his novel in excerpts from "It’s So Easy to Fall in Love."

The journal was launched on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 7PM at the Williams Center in Rutherford, New Jersey. Copies are available online at Lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com/content/10922431) and will be available through Amazon.com by the end of the year. For more information and mailorders contact the Editors.

AFTER SHAKESPEARE a new book by George Held from Cervena Barva Press

2011-09-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

"After Shakespeare: Selected Sonnets," a new book by George Held from Cervena Barva Press $15 + $3 S&H http://bit.ly/ptELlL

Červená Barva Press
Announces a New Book

"After Shakespeare: Selected Sonnets" by George Held
$15 | ISBN 978-0-9831041-9-3 | 71 pp.

George Held is a teacher, translator, writer, and poet whose work has appeared in such places as The Philadelphia Inquirer, Confrontation, Notre Dame Review, New York Quarterly, and Rattle, as well as on NPR and in two dozen anthologies. A five-time Pushcart Prize nominee, he has published a book, ten chapbooks, and two e-books of poetry and edited Touched by Eros, an anthology of erotic verse. He holds a B.A. from Brown, an M.A. from University of Hawaii, and a Ph.D. from Rutgers, taught at Queens College for 37 years, was a Fulbright lecturer in Czechoslovakia (1973-76), and serves on the executive board of The South Fork Natural History Museum, Bridgehampton, NY. He lives in Greenwich Village, with his wife, Cheryl.

George Held's new collection of sonnets, After Shakespeare, is, at every turn, funny, surprising, and sharply observed. In poem after poem, Held follows Ezra Pound's injunction and "makes it new." Whether they are about Edmund Spenser on the E-train, painter Alice Neel or the Kennedy family, Held's poems delight with their music, and at the same time offer a deep wisdom. I love the way Held reinvents poetic tradition here and the way these poems, as he writes in "Discord, bring "joy beyond harmonic motion."

—Nicole Cooley

Beginning with his cheeky title (a chronological placement rather than a stylistic description) there is much to enjoy and admire in this new collection of sonnets from George Held. It is as though the awareness of his own belatedness is liberating to the poet, allowing him to explore all manner of interesting topics in a variety of sonnet forms and styles. Anyone interested in the vitality and accomplishment of the contemporary sonnet will want George Held's After Shakespeare.
—Charles Martin

To Hope

You're the thing with feathers, flying skyward
To inspire us when we lack the divine
Afflatus, lifting our spirits, like prime
Vintage or even swill like Thunderbird.

You're what springs eternal in the human
Breast, though eternity remains unproved,
Just hyperbole to cheer an unloved
One or fodder for some preacher's sermon.

But skeptical as we may be, inured
To loss of jobs and sinking stock prices,
Unfaithful friends and false mistresses,
Past the point where pride can still be injured,
Ears still prick up to your springtime twitter,
Unhibernating souls long in winter.

Order online at http://www.thelostbookshelf.com/cervenabooks.html

After Shakespeare: Selected Sonnets $15.00
Shipping & Handling $3.00
--------------------------------------------------------------
Total $18.00

Send check or money order payable to:

Červená Barva Press
P.O. Box 440357
W. Somerville, MA 02144-3222

e-mail: editor@cervenabarvapress.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Send me______copies of "After Shakespeare: Selected Sonnets "

Total enclosed: $________

Name______________________________________

Street______________________________________

City________________State_____Zip____________

e-mail_____________________

Phone_____________________

Chocolate Water's Forthcoming Book Reviewed in "Lamba Literary Review"

2011-08-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

Julie R. Enszer, reviews Chocolate Water's forthcoming collection "the woman who wouldn't shake hands" for "Lamda Literary Review." Poets Wear Prada in conjunction with Eggplant Press will publish groundbreaking feminist writer Chocolate Waters's first new book in over three decades this Fall.

"... The thirty-one poems in the 'woman who wouldn’t shake hands' (Poets Wear Prada) are short. At times pithy, at times wise, Waters is always a performer. The poems of this collection are carefully-timed with tricky meters and hidden surprises that emerge when you read them aloud. Some of the poems are bon mots in the tradition of Dorothy Parker, if she were speaking openly about lesbianism. Other poems echo Gertrude Stein’s play with language, though Waters, unlike Stein, is concerned with concision ... ," writes Enszer.

To read Enszer's complete review online visit:

http://www.lambdaliterary.org/reviews/08/24/the-woman-who-wouldn%E2%80%99t-shake-hands-by-chocolate-waters-and-bad-wife-spankings-by-valerie-wetlaufer/

Author-signed copies of the books can be pre-ordered for $14 ($12 list price + $2 S&H) by check or postal order made out to Chocolate Waters from:

Eggplant Press, 415 W. 44th. St., Suite 7, New York, NY 10036 (USA).

or from Poets Wear Prada:

PayPal: roxy533 at myway dot com

Mail Orders: Poets Wear Prada, c/o Roxanne Hoffman, 533 Bloomfield St., 2nd Floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030 (USA)

the woman who wouldn't shake hands
by Chocolater Waters
ISBN 978-0935060096
Soft Cover, Perfect Bound 46pp.
$12.00
Release Date: Fall 2010

911 Remembered in NYC with Encore Performance of “110 for 911” by Jed Distler

2011-08-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

On the 10th anniversary of 911, American composer/pianist Jed Distler reprises “110 for 911,” part of the "Crisis" project initiated by City Lore which incorporates the entire text of the collective poem “Tower Two” with contributions by 110 poets including Adrienne Rich, David Lehman, Denise Duhamel, Robert Creeley, Anne Waldman, Quincy Troupe, and Galway Kinnell. Distler’s performance will take place Sunday, September 11, 2011, 3pm at The Jazz Gallery, 290 Hudson St., New York, NY 10013.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=261321720558319

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Poets Wear Prada

Roxanne Hoffman

201.253.0561

roxy533@yahoo.com

911 Remembered in NYC with Encore Performance of “110 for 911” by Jed Distler

New York, NY (August 29, 2011) — On the tenth anniversary of the 911 terrorist attacks, American composer/pianist Jed Distler will reprise his performance of “110 for 911,” his extended solo composition for speaking pianist and electronics, which incorporates the entire text of the collective poem “Tower Two,” initiated by City Lore and curated by Bob Holman. Distler’s performance will take place Sunday, September 11, 2011, 3pm at The Jazz Gallery, 290 Hudson St., New York, NY 10013

The “Crisis” poem project was initiated by Steve Zeitlin, folklorist, writer, cultural activist and founding director of City Lore and curated by New York poet Bob Holman to reconstruct the Twin Towers with words. “In the days and weeks following September 11th, New Yorkers were numbed by the gloomy silence that fell upon Lower Manhattan…[When] a student from NYU laid out a sheet of butcher block paper in Union Square, New Yorkers broke the silence with stories, poems, rituals and commemorative art. At the heart of the response were words — words at first written in the dust near Ground Zero, on Missing Posters, makeshift memorials … The idea to build the towers back up in the way that only poets can in words came a few weeks later. Each poem tower would be 110 lines, one for each story of the Trade Towers,” writes Zeitlin.

For “Tower One” people from all over the world submitted lines in response to an open call. For “Tower Two,” one hundred and ten established poets were invited, including Adrienne Rich, David Lehman, Denise Duhamel, Robert Creeley, Anne Waldman, Quincy Troupe, and Galway Kinnell, to contribute one line each. Holman and the poet Eileen Myles open “Tower Two” with the invitational line, “In times of crisis, poets lose words. Find some:.” Both tower poems were displayed along with poetry from the shrines as a part of “Missing: Streetscape of a City in Mourning” at the New York Historical Society from March 12, 2002 to July 7, 2002.

Subsequently, Zeitlin and Holman invited Distler to incorporate music into their project. Distler had been developing piano theatre, speaking text while working with the piano, and was starting integrate subtle electronics into his compositions, at the time. He worked with director Arnold Barkus to shape the performance of his collaborative composition “110 for 911” before its premier in February 2003 at New York’s landmark West-Park Presbyterian Church.

Jed Distler

Jed Distler is hailed as "an altogether extraordinary pianist" (“Newark Star-Ledger”) and New York's “Downtown keyboard magus” (“The New Yorker”). He has premiered works by Frederic Rzewski, Lois V. Vierk, and Virko Baley, among others, many written especially for him, and has received commissions from Jenny Lin, IonSound, and Song in Music.

Dubbed a member of the “Poetry Pantheon” by “The New York Times Magazine” and featured in a Henry Louis Gates, Jr. profile in “The New Yorker,” Bob Holman founded the Bowery Poetry Club in 2002. His collection of poems, “A Couple of Ways of Doing Something,” a collaboration with Chuck Close, was published by Aperture.

City Lore was founded in 1986 to produce programs and publications that convey the richness of New York City's cultural heritage. Its staff includes folklorists, historians, anthropologists, and ethnomusicologists, all of whom specialize in the creation of programs and materials for public education and enjoyment. City Lore is located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, 72 East 1st Street, New York, NY 10003.

Contributors to “Two Towers” include Bob Holman, Eileen Myles, Martin Espada, Ed Sanders, Anselm Hollo, Kamau Braithwaite, Clifton Joseph, Tish Benson, E. Ethelbert Miller, Honor Moore, Maureen Owen, Naomi Shihab Nye, Joe Dobkin, Jill Bialosky, Kimiko Hahn, David Lehman, Kathleen Masterson, Ed Friedman, Bob Hershon, Ntozake Shange, Hettie Jones, Alex Jacobs, Cecilia Vicuña, Meena Alexander, Martha Rhodes, Andrei Codrescu, Edward Hirsch, Roger Bonair-Agard, Wanda Coleman, Dara McLaughlin, Lee Briccetti, John Yau, Nancy Mercado, C.D. Wright, Edwin Torres, Max Blagg, Everton Sylvester, Suheir Hammad, Jessica Hagedorn, Eliot Weinberger, Galway Kinnell, Maggie Dubris, George Tysh, John Kulm, Michael Warr, Nick Carbo, Toni Blackman, Jan Clausen, Tato Laviera, Anselm Berrigan, Dave Johnson, Carla Harryman, Steve Colman, John Rodriguez, Robert Creeley, Bart Droog, Maria Damon, David Trinidad, Denise Duhamel, Elaine Equi, Willie Perdomo, Russell Leong, Terry Gelber, Robert Kelly, Regie Cabico, Hal Sirowitz, Reesom Haille, Sarah Jones, Indran Amirithanayagam, Thomas Lynch, U Sam Oeur, Robert Chambers, Luis Rodriguez, Jeff McDaniel, Kenneth Goldsmith, Raymond Federman, Eliot Katz, Lucy Grealy, Jerome Rothenberg, Joan Retallack, Chris Funkhouser, Richard Martin, Emily XYZ, Vicki Hudspith, Janet Hamill, Gary Mex Glazner, Adrian Castro, Danny Shot, Marcella Harb, Sandra Esteves, Brenda Coultas, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Patricia Smith, Saba Kidane, Mary Ann Caws, Maggie Balistreri, Bill Berkson, Gary Lenhart, Michael Gizzi, Vincent Katz, Marjorie Welish, Staceyann Chin, Jerry Quickly, Anne Waldman, Charles Bernstein, Tony Medina, Quincy Troupe, Marie Howe, Adrienne Rich as well as anonymous contributors.

# # #

Poets Wear Prada at Brooklyn Book Festival on Sunday September 18th

2011-08-26T05:49:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn Book Festival 2010,
Columbus Park
[Credit: Tantra-zawadi]

Hoboken, NJ, August 26th, 2011 -- Poets Wear Prada, a small independent literary press based in Hoboken, New Jersey, will be showcasing and selling its thirty-plus poetry titles at this year's Brooklyn Book Festival. The 6th Annual Festival, the largest free literary event in New York City and one of America’s premier book festivals, will take place Sunday, September 18th, 2011 in downtown Brooklyn, in and around Borough Hall (209 Joraleman Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201) and the nearby Columbus Park.

Publisher Roxanne Hoffman,
2010 Brooklyn Book Festival
[Credit: Tantra-zawadi]

This will be the second year that Poets Wear Prada joins the vast array of literary stars, emerging authors, publishing industry leaders, editors, and literary insiders participating at the Festival and who represent the exciting world of literature today. Roxanne Hoffman, Publisher and Senior Editor of Poets Wear Prada who shared a table with another small press, Pleasure Boat Studio, last year will have her own table this year and states she is already "gearing up" for the event.

The mostly outdoor festival takes place rain or shine. Last year, despite inclement weather, hundreds of book lovers stopped by to meet and chat with the authors and editors of Poet Wear Prada as more than 20,000 visitors and media from around the world converged on Borough Hall. "It rained a little, but there were lots of smiling faces, readings, authors and so many delicious books to choose from. Even with a few rain drops and a chill in the air, folks stopped by to chat with us and share a few stories. I enjoyed hanging out with Roxanne Hoffman, my publisher, authors Patricia Carragon and Joel Allegretti. It was also great sharing a table with Pleasure Boat Studio authors and enjoying the positive vibe," blogs Tantra-zawadi, author of "Gathered at Her Sky: Life Poems" (Poets Wear Prada, 2010).

Author Tantra-zawadi & Young Book Lover.
2010 Brooklyn Book Festival
[Credit: Tantra-zawadi]

Poets Wear Prada will be at canopied table no. 62 at the center of Columbus Park a few steps from the park entrance at intersection of Court and Montague Streets.

“Bookend” literary-themed events also return this year, with venues in clubs, parks, bookstores, theaters and libraries across the borough from September 15 through September 18. For more details visit the Festival website at http://www.brooklynbookfestival.org/. Also follow the Festival on Facebook and Twitter @bkbf.

About Poets Wear Prada:
Poets Wear Prada is a small press based in Hoboken, New Jersey, devoted to introducing new authors through high-quality chapbooks primarily of poetry, since October 2006. Visit us online at pwpbooks.blogspot.com. "Have you had your poetry today?"

Contact:

Poets Wear Prada
Roxanne Hoffman
poetswearprada at myway dot com
201.253.0561

Read Poetry from Poets Wear Prada on Your iPhone

2011-08-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

Hoboken, NJ, August 25, 2011 -- With three poetry titles now available on Apple's iBookstore, Poets Wear Prada expands its entry into the eBook market. "Dead Reckoning," a 50-page full-length poetry collection by Gene Auprey, originally released as a paperback last year, April 2010, recently joined the two chapbook titles already listed in the iBookstore catalogue -- "Thrum: Poems by Joel Allegretti" and "Gathered at Her Sky: Life Poems" by Tantra-zawadi. The iBook titles sell at a significant discount off the list price for the corresponding paperback editions -- iBook versions of the two chapbooks list at $4.99 -- an almost 60% savings off the paperback editions which each sell for $12 -- while Auprey's full-length collection sells for $8.99, about a 40% discount off the paperback version which lists for $15. And of course there is never any shipping and handling.

Roxanne Hoffman, Founder and Senior Editor at Poets Wear Prada, was curious to see how well the books would transition to Apple's popular personal hand-held mobile devices. She enlisted the assistance of Ms. Patricia Carragon, who curates the Brownstone Poets reading in Brooklyn, and who spent last summer working as a Marketing Intern for Poets Wear Prada, and owns a iPhone. Ms. Carragon agreed and after first registering for iTunes, she downloaded the free iBooks app to her iPhone and then samples of the two chapbook titles from the iBookstore to take a look.

Patricia Carragon with her iPhone's personal iBookstore Library.

"Thrum: Poems" by Joel Allegretti Front Cover Display on Ms. Carragon's iPhone

Her first response "OMG, this is so cute! You've got to see the little bookshelf!" Today, Ms. Hoffman got to do just that when the two met in NYC's Little Korea at Kum Gang San for lunch and snapped the photos shown here. Ms. Carragon was not able to display the cover for "Gathered at Her Sky" due to the WIFI traffic at the busy restaurant but Ms. Hoffman was able to scroll through the sample pages with just a touch to the iPhone's screen. While she found taking photos of the luminous iPhone screen "challenging" she said she did not find it a challenge to read the sample interior pages for the iBooks. "I'm not sure if this is the best way to read a detective story or a best selling novel but for short poetry like the haiku Patricia Carragon often writes and for micro fiction -- what I like to call "subway stories" -- anything short enough to read as you commute standing up in crowded rush-hour mass transit -- it works and completely makes sense in today's fast-paced environment and for the constantly texting and gaming on-the-go 'digital natives' of Generation Z."

Ms. Carragon's haiku response: "iPhone library/easy reading/on a mini shelf." Her third book, "Cupcake Chronicles," a chapbook length collection of micro fiction, will be published by Poet Wear Prada this winter. "iPad and iPhone users, keep a look out for this perfect additon to your iBookstore library," advises Ms. Hoffman.

About Poets Wear Prada:

Poets Wear Prada is a small press based in Hoboken, New Jersey, devoted to introducing new authors through high-quality chapbooks primarily of poetry, since October 2006. Visit us online at pwpbooks.blogspot.com. "Have you had your poetry today?"

Contact:
Poets Wear Prada
Roxanne Hoffman
poetswearprada at myway dot com
201.253.0561

Poetry from Poets Wear Prada Now Available from iTunes

2011-08-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

Poets Wear Prada announced its entry into the lucrative e-book market with the availability of two of its titles, “Gathered at Her Sky: Life Poems” by Tantra-zawadi and “Thrum: Poems” by Joel Allegretti, on Apple’s iBookstore and iTunes.

Hoboken, NJ, August 17, 2011 -- Poets Wear Prada today announced its entry into the lucrative commercial e-book market with the availability of two of its titles on Apple’s iTunes (UK). “Gathered at Her Sky: Life Poems” by Tantra-zawadi (http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/gathered-at-her-sky/id443593407?mt=11), and “Thrum: Poems” by Joel Allegretti (http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/thrum/id450632962?mt=11) are now available for immediate download. Both titles were converted to e-publication format and submitted to Apple's iBookstore by Lulu.com, which publishes and carries print-on-demand paperback editions of several Poets Wear Prada titles. Lulu has partnered with Apple to ensure that as many Lulu titles as possible are “available to every potential customer on the planet, starting with the 120 million plus readers who own an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and shop at the iBookstore.” Lulu converts selected titles from its catalogue and handles their submission to Apple at no cost to its authors and their publishers but an iBookstore listing is not guaranteed.

Roxanne Hoffman, Senior Editor and Founder of Poets Wear Prada, was first contacted by Lulu.com in March about the free e-book conversions with an invitation to "join the ranks of Lulu authors who have already sold 60,000 e-books through the iBookstore." She received word in June that the two titles were converted and submitted to Apple, informed the two authors involved, and started her anxious wait to see if the titles would make the cut. “Gathered at Her Sky” was picked up July 11 and “Thrum” four days later. Both chapbooks are now available on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iBooks, and via computer with iTunes to registered Apple and AOL users.

Her wait finally over, and the two titles now available for sale as e-books, Ms. Hoffman says she is “excited and looking forward to future of publishing and being a part of it.” Poets Wear Prada switched to print-on-demand in 2010 after using local Hoboken mom-and-pop print shops since 2006 to publish the traditional saddle-stitched chapbooks, and after a larger printer failed to deliver the initial 800 copies of what would have been the press's first full-length collection. Ms. Hoffman said, “The quality of the print-on-demand books is better -- we can now offer perfect bound editions -- and the headache of direct mail orders is now handled by two experts in on-line distribution, Amazon and Lulu -- no more trips to the post office -- and best of all, my home office doesn't look like a warehouse. We had been looking at various options to convert our books for Kindle, Nook, iPad and the other competing tablets all of which require their own proprietary format. Then Lulu made the announcement it would do free conversions for the iPad. Sometimes it pays not to be on leading edge ahead of the curve. In this case, my procrastination paid off.” Lulu promises that these e-publication files will be available for further distribution to its ever expanding list of eBook retail partners.

Tantra-zawadi, author of “Gathered at Her Sky” says "I am delighted to join the ranks of authors in the ever expanding e-book market. Poet's Wear Prada has seized the opportunity to reach a broader audience in the digital community with easier access to my book and on-line spoken word musical collaborations. This is an exciting and well integrated introduction into a new technological era!”

Poets Wear Prada also continues to expand its paperback distribution. Six poetry chapbook titles from Poets Wear Prada are now available from Tower Books at Tower.com: "Gathered at Her Sky: Life Poems" by Tantra-zawadi, "Thrum: Poems" by Joel Allegretti, "Green Rain" by Mary Orovan, "The Slip" by Michael Montlack, "Payday Loans" by Jee Leong Koh and "Detailed Still" by Karen Neuberg. The six paperback titles were added to the on-line music store catalogue August 10th, 2011 through Amazon's CreateSpace.com's extended distribution program. [http://www.tower.com/tower_search/search_2.cfm?keywords=poets%20wear%20prada&div_id=1]

Author Joel Allegretti says, “It seems appropriate that my Poets Wear Prada collection is available through an online music store because ‘Thrum’ deals exclusively with musical instruments. Its international availability is a real bonus because it now has a channel it otherwise would not have.”

# # #

About Poets Wear Prada:
Poets Wear Prada is a small press based in Hoboken, New Jersey, devoted to introducing new authors through high-quality chapbooks primarily of poetry, since October 2006. Visit us online at pwpbooks.blogspot.com. "Have you had your poetry today?"

Contact:Poets Wear Prada
Roxanne Hoffman
poetswearprada at myway dot com
201.253.0561

Joel Allegretti Joins Ravi Shankar for an Evening of New Poetry at RAW in Hartford, CT

2011-08-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

Poet Ravi Shankar Launches "Deepening Groove" with Joel Allegretti, Susan Frischkorn & Lisa C. Taylor in an Evening of New Poetry at RAW, Hartford, CT.

Hartford, Connecticut, August 14, 2011 -- Real Art Ways’ Writers and Reader Series is pleased to announce an evening of new poetry with acclaimed poet, Ravi Shankar, who will launch his new book “Deepening Groove,” winner of the 2010 National Poetry Review Prize. Three notable authors will join Shankar, each reading from their new works -- Joel Allegretti, Susan Frischkorn and Lisa C. Taylor -- on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 6 pm, at Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor St, Hartford, Connecticut 06106. Connecticut Poet Laureate Dick Allen, who has hailed Shankar as “one of America’s finest younger poets,” will introduce “Deepening Groove.”

“Deepening Groove,” described as “a book of savvy, delicious surprises" by Wyn Cooper, author of” New Calm,” is a collection of poems comprised of detailed observations about animals, trees, flowers, fish, the weather, and the human condition. Many of the poems are set in New England where Ravi Shankar lives. Poems from the collection have been featured by the Academy of American Poets and have appeared in such journals as “Blackbird,” “Barrow Street,” “Fulcrum,” “The Mississippi Review” and “Slope.”

Ravi Shankar is founding editor of “Drunken Boat,” an international online journal of the arts, and Co-Director of Creative Writing at Central Connecticut State University. A recipient of a Pushcart Prize, he has published five other books and chapbooks. With Tina Chang and Natalie Handal, he edited W.W. Norton's “Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from Asia, the Middle East & Beyond,” called "a beautiful achievement for world literature" by Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer.

Joel Allegretti is the author of two full-length volumes of poetry from The Poet’s Press: “The Plague Psalms” and “Father Silicon,” selected by “The Kansas City Star” as one of 100 Noteworthy Books of 2006. Poets Wear Prada released his third collection, “Thrum” (2010), a chapbook of prose poems and poetic essays about musical string instruments. Poets Wear Prada will publish his fourth collection, “Europa/Nippon/New York: Poems/Not-Poems,” in 2012.

Suzanne Frischkorn is the author of “Girl On A Bridge” (2010), and “Lit Windowpane” (2008) both from Main Street Rag Publishing. In addition she is the author of five chapbooks, most recently “American Flamingo” (2008). Her honors include the Aldridge Poetry Award for her chapbook “Spring Tide,” selected by Mary Oliver, a 2009 Emerging Writers Fellowship from the Writers Center, an Individual Artist Fellowship from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.

Lisa C. Taylor is the author of three collections of poetry, most recently a collaborative collection with Irish poet and writer Geraldine Mills, “The Other Side of Longing” (Arlen House/Syracuse University Press, 2011). They were both named 2011 Elizabeth Shanley Gerson Readers of Irish Literature at University of Connecticut. She has a new collection due out in 2012.
Writers and Readers is a social gathering for people who love books. Readings will be preceded and followed by an informal discussion providing an opportunity to talk with others interested in reading, writing and thinking. Newly released publications will be available for purchase. Admission is open to the public, free for all Real Art Ways’ members; $5 for non-members.

Real Art Ways (RAW) is an alternative multidisciplinary arts organization, founded in 1975, that presents and supports contemporary artists and their work, facilitates the creation of new work, and creatively engages, builds, and informs audiences and communities. The RAW live arts program has featured poets Allen Ginsberg, Amiri Baraka, Martin Espada and Sonia Sanchez among others. Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor Street, Hartford, CT 06106, phone: 860.232.1006, fax: 860.233.6691, email: info@realartways.org , website: http://www.realartways.org/.

Contact:

Real Art Ways

Meghan Maguire Dahn

860.232.1006 x109

mdahn@realartways.org

http://www.realartways.org/

Boog City Hosts Poets Wear Prada at ACA Galleries, New York City in September

2011-08-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

Boog City will host a reading featuring writers from Poets Wear Prada on Tuesday September 27th, 2011. David A. Kirschenbaum, editor of Boog City, will host the event on:

Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 6pm

ACA Galleries

529 W. 20th St., 5th Floor

New York City

Featuring:

Austin Alexis
Joel Allegretti
Jee Leong Koh
Richard Marx Weinraub
Dorinda Wegener
Karen Neuberg
Maria Lisella
Carol Wiezerbicki

Please come out and support the writers, Poets Wear Prada, and Boog City at the reading!

Check out Boog City online at http://welcometoboogcity.com/

Austin Alexis has published poetry and flash fiction most recently in First Literary Review--East, Nomad's Choir, Mobius: The Poetry Magazine, Rusty Typer, Dance Macabre, Come Hear (an anthology), Quill and Parchment and Vox Poetica. His second chapbook, For Lincoln & Other Poems (Poets Wear Prada), was named a Small Press Review "Pick of the Month" and contains a Pushcart Prize nominated poem. One of his short stories was performed at the 2010 Woodstock-Diamond Dance Festival.

Joel Allegretti (www.joelallegretti.com) is the author of two full-length volumes from The Poet’s Press: The Plague Psalms (2000) and Father Silicon, selected by The Kansas City Star as one of 100 Noteworthy Books of 2006, a list that included novels by Cormac McCarthy and Thomas Pynchon. In 2010 Poets Wear Prada released his third collection, Thrum, a chapbook of poems and poetic essays about musical instruments. Allegretti’s work has appeared in The New York Quarterly, Margie, Fulcrum, Voices in Italian Americana, and Sentence: a Journal of Prose Poetics and many other national journals, as well as on the Best American Poetry blog. Allegretti’s poems were the basis of two song cycles by Frank Ezra Levy, whose symphonic work is available in the American Classics series on Naxos.

Jee Leong Koh is the author of two books of poems, Payday Loans (Poets Wear Prada) and Equal to the Earth (Bench Press). His new book Seven Studies for a Self Portrait was released by the same press in March 2011. Born in Singapore, he lives in New York City, and blogs at Song of a Reformed Headhunter.

Related to the Marx Brothers through his mother, Richard Marx Weinraub was born in New York City in 1949; he was a Professor of English at the University of Puerto Rico from 1987 through 2010. A book of his poetry entitled Wonder Bread Hill was published in 2002 by the University of Puerto Rico Press. His poetry has appeared in many journals including The Paris Review, Asheville Poetry Review, South Carolina Review, The Hampden-Sydney Poetry Review, Green Mountains Review, North American Review, Measure, The Evansville Review, Slate, and River Styx. A

Spanish translation of Wonder Bread Hill was recently published by Terranova Press. A chapbook of his poetry entitled Heavenly Bodies was published in 2008 by Poets Wear Prada Press, and a poem from it was nominated for a 2009 Pushcart Prize.

Maria Lisella's Pushcart Poetry Prize-nominated work appears in Amore on Hope Street (Finishing Line Press) and Two Naked Feet (Poets Wear Prada). Her poetry has appeared in The New York Quarterly, Skidrow Penthouse, Paterson Literary Review and New Verse News among others; her latest short story appears in Sweet Lemons 2, Writing with a Sicilian Accent (Legas Press). She co-curates the Italian American Writers Association monthly literary readings at Cornelia St. Cafe on the 2nd Saturday of each month. She is a travel writer by profession.

Karen Neuberg lives in Brooklyn, NY and West Hurley, NY. Her

poems have appeared in numerous publications including Big City Lit, decomP, elimae, NewVerseNews, Pirene’s Fountain, Stone Telling, and the anthology Child of My Child. She’s a two-time Pushcart and a Best of the Net nominee, holds an MFA from the New School, and is associate editor of Inertia Magazine and of First Literary Review, East. Her chapbook, Detailed Still was published by Poets Wear Prada Press and is available from Amazon. For more information and links to her on-line work, please see her website at http://karenneuberg.blogspot.com/

Carol Wierzbicki is a published poet, editor and reviewer. She has run poetry readings in New York City, and is co-editor of the Unbearables Worst Book and Sex anthologies. Her latest chapbook is Top Teen Greatest Hits, poems about teen angst (Poets Wear Prada, 2009). Her short story, “Mending,” will appear in the summer 2011 issue of Many Mountains Moving.

Dorinda Wegener holds a MFA from New England College where she was a Joel Oppenheimer Award recipient. Her poems have been published in The Antioch Review, Indiana Review, Hotel Amerika, and Mid-American Review, among many others. Dorinda has had the honor of reading with the louderARTS Project in New York City. Her poems, “The Harvest” and “Evening Service,” were both finalist for the Marlboro Prize as judged by poet Edward Hirsch. She currently resides with her husband and daughter in Staten Island, New York, where she’s a teaching artist of poetry for Teachers & Writers Collaborative. In 2011, she will present a reading and discourse on William Carlos Willams at the Williams Center for the Arts, Rutherford, New Jersey, as well as join the editorial staff of Green Mountains Review as a reader.

Boog City is a small press now its 16th year, and East Village community newspaper of the same name. The press has published more than three dozen volumes of poetry and various zines, featuring work by Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, Ed Sanders, Eileen Myles, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Bernadette Mayer among many others, and theme issues on topics ranging from baseball to women's writing, Louisville, Ky. to The Ramones and Talking Heads making the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Lesbian Activist Debuts First New Book in Decades

2011-07-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

Groundbreaking feminist writer Chocolate Waters will publish her first book in over three decades with Poets Wear Prada, it was announced today by Roxanne Hoffman, Publisher and Senior Editor. Written for anyone who has loved and lost, queer, straight, male or female, "The Woman Who Wouldn't Shake Hands" will be released as a trade paperback this summer. Waters, the "Poet Laureate of Hell's Kitchen," is one of the first openly lesbian poets to publish in the U.S.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:

Caitlin Foster

cmf3@williams.edu

413.652.8277

Lesbian Activist Debuts First New Book in Decades:

A Look in the Mirror, "The Woman Who Wouldn’t Shake Hands"

Hoboken, NJ, Jul 03, 2011 – Groundbreaking feminist writer Chocolate Waters will publish her first book in over three decades with Poets Wear Prada, it was announced today by Roxanne Hoffman, Publisher and Senior Editor. Written for anyone who has loved and lost, queer, straight, male or female, "The Woman Who Wouldn't Shake Hands" will be released as a trade paperback this summer. Waters, the "Poet Laureate of Hell's Kitchen," is one of the first openly lesbian poets to publish in the U.S. Her contribution is documented in "Feminists Who Changed America 1963-1975" (University of Illinois Press, Barbara Love, ed.).

With apologies to Diane Wakoski who got a whole book, "The Man Who Shook Hands," from a rebuff by a man who shook her hand after spending the night, Waters writes of a woman who wouldn't even, despite an intimate friendship. Publisher Roxanne Hoffman says "Leave it to a lesbian activist to write a roadmap to get us out of the woes of relationship hell with a book of poems in the form of little rants" that Stephanie Dickinson describes as "revelatory, lucid, luscious and laugh out loud funny but so psychologically astute." "Waters writes without inhibition, inviting readers to tag along on her journey of self-discovery. You'll take comfort in the fact that another human being has been there, done that, and written a poem about it," adds Caitlin Foster, Editorial Intern for Poets Wear Prada.

Waters hopes that "the pain, and the humor in our pain, will pave the way for something sweeter to come." She "dedicate[s] this collection to all of us who have loved and been rejected (in other words, all of us) — whether out of the fear of loving or the fear of being loved."

"I first met Chocolate Waters in July 2004 at the New York Ear Inn Reading Series hosted by Michael Broder. I was taken in by her poetic confession of embracing femininity after years of living the dyke stereotype, her ability to write with candor, simplicity and great wit about what was still considered controversial, and that trademark non-stop wry delivery. An instant fan I ran up to Waters to introduce myself and took home a signed copy of 'To the Man Reporter From The Denver Post.' Glad to say seven years later I have the opportunity to publish my favorite funny feminist poet and that she's back on the scene and in fine form," says Roxanne Hoffman.

About Chocolate Waters:

A pioneer in women's publishing and in the art of performance poetry, Waters has toured throughout the U.S. but makes her home in Manhattan. Her three earlier collections: "To the Man Reporter From The Denver Post," "Take Me Like a Photograph," and "Charting New Waters" were produced by Eggplant Press in the late '70s and are considered classics of the early women's movement. "Chocolate Waters Uncensored," her CD spanning three decades of groundbreaking work, was released by Eggplant Productions in 2001.

Chocolate Waters is available for interviews, public readings and book signing events.

About Poets Wear Prada:

Poets Wear Prada is a small press based in Hoboken, New Jersey, devoted to introducing new authors through high-quality chapbooks primarily of poetry, since October 2006.

"Have you had your poetry today?"

Poets Wear Prada

c/o Roxanne Hoffman

533 Bloomfield St., #2.

Hoboken, N.J. 07030

201.253.0561

###

Pears, Prose & Poetry: LGBT Poets at NYC's Fresh Fruit Festival Fight Intolerance

2011-07-10T20:37:00.000-07:00

Pears, Prose & Poetry: LGBT Poets at NYC's Fresh Fruit Festival Fight Intolerance

The 9th Annual All Out Arts' Fresh Fruit Festival presents Pears, Prose & Poetry, Mon. July 11, 2011 at The Center, 208 West 13th St., NYC. Showtime: 7pm. 17 poets read. FREE. Hosted by Roxanne Hoffman & Robert Urban.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Roxanne Hoffman

roxy533@yahoo.com

201.253.0561

Fresh Fruit Festival LogoPRLog (Press Release) – Jul 10, 2011 – This year marks the 9th anniversary of the All Out Arts’ Fresh Fruit Festival created in 2002 to support and present LGBT Art and Artists to fight intolerance. The July 11, 2011 Pears, Prose & Poetry event at The LGBT Community Center in Greenwich Village, New York City, will feature the work of 17 poets, some past "fruities" and some new faces.

The 17 poets include: Austin Alexis • Joel Allegretti • Dorothy Friedman August • Davidson Garrett • Melinda Goodman • Dean Kostos • Michael Montlack • Carol Polcovar • John Marcus Powell • Jessica Reed • Vittoria repetto • Jason Schneiderman • Sinclair Sexsmith • Robert Urban • Chocolate Waters • Chavisa Woods • Richard Marx Weinraub.

Robert Urban of Urban Productions will also act as emcee along with Roxanne Hoffman, publisher and editor of Poets Wear Prada. Poets Wear Prada has published an anthology for the event including work by the 17 featured poets. Pre-release copies will be available for sale at the event.

The LGBT Community Center is located at 208 West 13th Street (just west of 7th Avenue) in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City.

What is LGBT poetry? "For those who need to know — I don't know if I could every fully explain just what 'LGBT' poetry is. ... I daresay, underneath the same-sex surface — it looks, smells, sounds and tastes just like hetero poetry. Yet not a day goes by that I don't thank the world for blessing me and my kindred spirits with the alienation, distance and perspective that being queer adds to our special way with words. There's something to that." says Robert Urban.

Roxanne Hoffman, who co-hosted the Rainbow Reading Series at Pisces Cafe in Babylon, New York, adds "Want to find out what LGBT poetry is all about? Come to The Center on Monday evening and hear for yourself. You'll also meet some of best writers in New York. "

"The Festival’s refreshing, innovate approach to LGBT arts allows audiences to sample a wide range of poetry from writers representing different ages, ethnicities, sexualities, and gender orientations. Attendees are certain to find something fresh and innovative to inspire them." says Caitlin Foster, Editorial Intern at Poets Wear Prada and co-editor of the anthology.

The Fresh Fruit Festival prides itself on the diversity of its performers and equally diverse audiences. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The mission of the All Out Arts’ Fresh Fruit Festival is "to fight prejudice and homophobia by celebrating LGBT art and artists."

For more about the Fresh Fruit Festival visit http://www.freshfruitfestival.com/.

# # #

Poets Wear Prada is a small literary press based in Hoboken, New Jersey, devoted to introducing new authors through high-quality chapbooks primarily of poetry, since October 2006. "Have you had your poetry today?"

Short Play by AUSTIN ALEXIS at BOOG CITY 5 in August in NYC

2011-06-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

Poet and playwright AUSTIN ALEXIS will have a short play performed this August at the 5th annual WELCOME TO BOOG CITY festival in NYC. The play will be performed Sunday August 7th at 5:45pm at Zinc Bar located at 82 West 3rd Street in Manhattan. The 3-character short play explores the sustainability of friendship during crisis.

Austin Alexis is the author of 2 poetry chapbooks, LOVERS AND DRAG QUEENS and FOR LINCOLN & OTHER POEMS, both from POETS WEAR PRADA.

POETS WEAR PRADA, Austin's publisher will also have a table at the festival's small press bookfair taking place Saturday August 6th and Sunday August 7th in Brooklyn's Prospect Heights neighborhood at Unnameable Books, located at 600 Vanderbilt Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11238. For more information about the bookstore call (718) 789-1534. Unnameable Books is Open Daily 11am-11pm. Austin's lastest book as well as other books from the press will be available for purchase. Another PWP author TBA will be reading at the bookfair.

The 5th Annual BOOG CITY festival presents 5 days of Poetry & Music from Friday August 5th to Tuesday August 9th with events in Manhattan and in Brooklyn. This year's festival marks the 20th anniversary of BOOG CITY, edited and published by David A. Kirschenbaum.

The poetry readings are curated by Jim Behrle, Joanna Fuhrman, and David A. Kirschenbaum. The music is booked by Brian Speaker.

Among the festival highlights are:

our levy lives: celebrating the renegade press series devotes a night to Black Radish Books;
our 8th annual small, small press fair, with exhibits from a host of small presses, and readings by their authors;
Poetry’s First Responders: 9/11, A Time When Poetry was Always Still Possible, a panel curated and moderated by Douglas Rothschild;
Poet Rebecca Woolf reading and in conversation with poet Alan Gilbert
Poets’ theater plays from: Austin Alexis • Charles Borkhuis • Maria Brandt • Joel Chace • Jenny Hill • Vincent Katz • Matt Reeck;
Poetry readings from: Alex Abelson • Rachel Aydt • Cara Benson • Sean Cole • Joanna Penn Cooper • Jim Dunn • Will Edmiston • Alan Gilbert • Christine Hamm • Monica Hand • Jibade-Khalil Huffman • Brenda Iijima • Ish Klein • Austin LaGrone • Mark Lamoureux • Tanya Larkin • Sheila Maldonado • Debrah Morkun • John Mulrooney • Ekoko Omadeke • Jean Paul Pecqueur • Douglas Piccininni • Brett Price • Greg Purcell • Douglas N. Rothschild • Kathrin Schaeppi • Toni Simon • Kimberly Ann Southwick • Mary Austin Speaker • Jill Stengel • Mark Statsman • Nicole Wallace • Meredith Walters • Ian Wilder • Jeffrey Wright • and more;
Poetry readings on Black Radish Books night: Mackenzie Carignan • Bruce Covey • Carrie Hunter • Mark Lamoureux • Marthe Reed • Kathrin Schaeppi • Jill Stengel • David Wolach;
music performances by: Crazy and the Brains • Emily Einhorn • Dan Fishback • Greg Smith band • Charles Mansfield • Justin Remer • Cat Rockefeller • and more; and
tabling presses and artisans: Bone Bouquet • Don’s Saddles • Furniture Press • Gigantic Sequins • Litmus Press/Aufgabe • Lunar Chandelier • Ping Pong • Poets Wear Prada • Stonecutter Journal • Vanitas magazine • White Rabbit zine.

The full schedule will be released shortly. If you need any additional information or want to advertise in the festival program issue of Boog City you can reach David A. Kirschenbaum at 212-842-BOOG (2664) or editor@boogcity.com or at the address below:

David A. Kirschenbaum, editor and publisher
Boog City
330 W. 28th St., Suite 6H
NY, NY 10001-4754

For event and publication information:

http://welcometoboogcity.com/ T: (212) 842-BOOG (2664)

June 20: GENERATION BEAT at Yippie Museum Café in NYC

2011-06-17T07:01:00.000-07:00

GENERATION BEAT

Date: Monday, June 20, 2011

Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Place:

THE YIPPIE MUSEUM

CAFE & GIFT SHOP

9 Bleecker Street

(near the Bowery)

New York, NY 10002

(212) 677-5918

http://yippiemuseum.org/

Admission: $2

Host: Gordon Gilbert

Featured Readers:
(Reading Their Favorite Beat Writer
& Their Own Work)

ALAN BAXTER
*

PETER CHELNIK
*

BOB HEMAN
*

CINDY HOCHMAN
*

ROXY HOFFMAN
*

EVY IVY
*

KIM KALESTI
*

RONNIE KORPAL
*

JOSH MEANDER
*

ORION 0.62
*

EVE PACKER
*

PUMA PERL
*

BOB QUATRONE
*

CHRISTINE TIMM
*

JOHN J. TRAUSE
*

RICHARD WEST

Sorry, This is Not an Open Mic.

Beverage and Snacks Availalble at the Refreshment Stand.

COME EARLY

for 4 pm screening of a Lawrence Ferlinghetti documentary by Chris Felver.

Publisher Roxanne Hoffman will be performing "The Mummy Piece" by William S. Burroughs and her "Mum's The Word."

Author John J. Trause will be presenting the work of Gregory Corso and, time permitting, his own poetry.

Other PWP Authors reading at the event include Bob Heman and Peter Chelnik.

The 9th Annual Fresh Fruit Festival: Pears, Prose & Poetry

2011-06-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

The 9th Annual

Fresh Fruit Festival

presents

P E A R S , P R O S E & P O E T R Y

WHEN

Monday July 11

7pm-9pm

WHERE

The LGBT Community Center

208 West 13th Street (off 7th Avenue)

New York, NY

WHO

Featuring

Austin Alexis
Joel Allegretti
Dorothy Friedman August
Davidson Garrett
Melinda Goodman
Dean Kostos
Michael Montlack
Carol Polcover
John Marcus Powell
Jessica Reed
Vittoria Repetto
Jason Schneiderman
Sinclair Sexsmith
Chocolate Waters
Chavisa Woods
Richard Marx Weinraub
with hosts

Roxanne Hoffman & Robert Urban

$$$

FREE!

Please come and support us! Limited edition of chapbook anthology of the readers poems will be made available for sale at the event. As well as signed books and CDs by our readers.

BUY YOUR $5 BOOSTER AD!
Please sponsor us and support the Fresh Fruit Festival with your purchase of a $5 booster ad to be include in our program and listed as a sponsor in our announcements. (Please contact me at roxy533@yahoo.com if you would like to buy a 1/4 page or 1/2 page or full page advertisement for your business or if you would specifically like to contribute to our refreshment stand or gift bags.)

To purchase a $5 25-word booster ad, send $5 as cash to roxy533@myway.com using PayPal. (additonal words up to max of 30 words are 50 cents a word.) Please include the text of your ad (you can use your business card, promote your new book or CD or forthcoming event, or send a greeting to a loved one).

You can also send us check made out to Poets Wear Prada (please write Fresh Fruit Festival in the memo section). But please don't forget to include the text of your booster ad and your contact info.

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=220715484618909

Wed May 25: PWP at PBQ Bookfair for Literacy! at Drexel U in Phili

2011-05-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

PBQ BOOKFAIR FOR LITERACY
Wednesday, May 25th 2001
10am-3pm
Great Court of the Main Building
Drexel University
3141 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA

Proceeds go to Philadelphia Reads and Books Through Bars

FOR MORE INFO: DREXELPUBLISHING.ORG
E-MAIL: PG@DREXEL.EDU

Sponsored by the Department of English and Philosophy, Painted Bride Quarterly,
Drexel University College of Arts & Sciences

This event will bring together regional small presses, academic publishers, and literary magazines. The Bookfair aims to help fight illiteracy and support PBQ’s efforts to acknowledge the importance of the written word in the digital age. Used books are sold with all proceeds donated to Philadelphia Reads, a local literacy group that is dedicated to eradicating children’s illiteracy in Philadelphia. The additional books will be donated to Books Through Bars, an NPO that serves the incarcerated and their families.

Poets Wear Prada- Roxanne Hoffman
Philadelphia Poets- Rosemary Cappello
Hidden River Publishing/New Door Books-Debra Leigh Scott
American Poetry Review-David Bonanno
Philadelphia Stories-Carla Spataro
Ringtail Cafe-Darren Mueller
Aviary- Lillian Dunn
Barrelhouse- Tom MacAlister
Drexel-PBQ/DPG/Saturnalia

Speed Editing
12:00 – 1:30 pm
Main Auditorium

Editors from various fields and disciplines, such as journalism, creative, and academic writing, will offer attendees advise on their own work, in 5-minute “speed” sessions.

Meet the Editors Q&A

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

A.J. Drexel Picture Gallery

Editors from various fields and disciplines will discuss the “behind-the-scenes” work that goes into their craft, and will answer questions on all topics related to the publishing industry.

For More Information Visit about Drexel University's week-long literacy Week of Writing event visit:
http://drexelpublishing.org/week-of-writing-2011-schedule/#w1

###

May 17 Tantra-zawadi & Richard Marx Weinraub at Tillies of Brooklyn

2011-04-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

Poetry Grows In Ft. Greene

The Brownstone Poets Presents:

Tantra-zawadi

Richard Marx Weinraub

Tuesday, May 17

Starts at 7p.m.

– Open Mic Sign Up at 6:45 p.m. –

We must be out by 9 p.m.

Tillies of Brooklyn

248 DeKalb Ave.

(corner of Vanderbilt and DeKalb)

Brooklyn, NY 11205

Phone # (718) 783-6140

Take the J, R or Q trains to DeKalb Avenue, the C to Lafayette, the G to Clinton/Washington

2, 3, 4, 5 to Nevins St.

http://www.hopstop.com/

$3 Donation – plus Food/Drink – Limited Open Mic - one poem (3-minute limit)

Tantra-zawadi
author of GATHERED AT HER SKY (Poets Wear Prada, 2010)

Richard Marx Weinraub
Author of HEAVENLY BODIES (Poets Wear Prada, 2007)

Michael's COOL LIMBO Book Launch Party at Elmo's 5/21 at 8:30pm

2011-04-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

COOL LIMBO

Poems by

MICHAEL MONTLACK

(New York Quarterly, 2011)

Book Launch Party

May 21 at 8:30PM

@ ELMO'S

156 7th Avenue

(between 19th & 20th Streets)

RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141136609293605

Michael Montlack is the author of the poetry collection Cool Limbo (New York Quarterly Books, 2011) and the editor of the Lambda-nominated essay anthology My Diva: 65 Gay Men on the Women Who Inspire Them (University of Wisconsin Press, 2009) and 3 poetry chapbooks, the most recent The Slip (Poets Wear Prada). He splits his time between New York City, where he teaches at Berkeley College, and San Francisco.

Tonight: Celebrating Diane di Prima at Yippie Cafe in NYC

2011-04-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

A Diane di Prima Primer

Monday, April 25, 2011

6:30 – 8:30 pm

Yippie Museum Café

9 Bleecker Street (near the Bowery)

A celebration of the writings of Diane Di Prima

Host – Gordon Gilbert

(no open mic)

$2 at the door

helps to support Yippie Museum Cafe

Readers:

Austin Alexis

Robert Gibbons

Puma Perl

Hala Alyan

Viviana Grell

Bob Quatrone

Lauren Marie Cappello

Kim Kalesti

Heidi Schwartz

John Clinton

Louise Landes Levi accompanied by Wayne Lopes

Susan Scutti

Jackie Cooper

Maria Lisella

Jack Tricarico

Jessica Femiani

Valery Oisteanu

Clare Ultimo

Kat Georges

Eve Packer

Ernest K.Woodley

Two PWP authors will be reading the works of Diane di Prima as well as their own: Austin Alexis, author of Lovers & Drag Queens and For Lincoln: & Other Poems, and Maria Lisella, author of Two Naked Feet.

Poets Wear Prada at Rainbow Book Fair this Saturday March 26 in NYC

2011-03-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, March 26, from 11AM to 5PM, Poets Wear Prada will be sharing at table with poet Jee Leong Koh and Bench Press at the 3rd Annual Rainbow Book Fair, the only GLBT book fair in the U.S.A.. The book fair which is sponsored in part by CLAGS will be held at The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in Greenwich Village located at 208 West 13th Street in NYC. For more information about the fair visit: http://www.rainbowbookfair.org/

This is the largest LGBT book event in America, and it is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Be a part of the most exciting lgbt book event in the U.S. Join authors, poets, publishers, university presses, and the entire reading and writing community in this diverse spectacular of words, images, and talent. With the Center’s dramatic large 3rd floor exhibition space, additional rooms for panels, poetry readings, and author events, free books and hourly book giveaways, mingling, and meeting authors and readers like yourself.

The book fair includes over 50 exhibitors. Our friends Ice, Jane Ormerod, Brant Lyon from Uphook Press and Kat Georges and Peter Carlaftes from Three Rooms Press will also have tables with books for sale at the fair.

Four of the writers published by Poets Wear Prada, Austin Alexis, Joel Allegretti, Jee Leong Koh and Richard Marx Weinraub will be among the fifty GBLT writers who will be reading at the Poets Salon curated by Regie Cabico and Nathaniel Siegel:

COME HEAR ! POETS AT THE POETS SALON

RAINBOW BOOK FAIR SATURDAY MARCH 26 2011 THE CENTER NYC

11AM TO 12NOON

A. Tennessee Williams

1. Steven Cordova

2. Bill Kushner

3. Richard Tayson

4. Jason Roush

5. James Pergola

6. Sarah Chinn

7. Regie Cabico

Each poet reads 5 minutes each Fifteen minute break 11:45am-12:00noon

12NOON TO 1PM

1. AUSTIN ALEXIS

2. Arianne Benford

3. AJ Bialo

4. Sean Patrick Conlon

5. Seren Divine

6. Jameson Fitzpatrick

7. Joseph O. Legaspi

8. Gregory Laynor

9. Tamiko Beyer

Each poet reads 5 minutes each Fifteen minute break 12:45pm-1:00pm

1PM TO 2PM

1. Betsy Andrews

2. Guillermo Filice Castro

3. CAConrad

4. Walter Holland

5. Michael Klein

6. JEE LEONG KOH

7. Laura Neuman

8. Angelo Nikolopoulos

9. Erica Kaufman

Each poet reads 5 minutes each Fifteen minute break 1:45pm-2:00pm
2PM TO 3PM

1. JOEL ALLEGRETTI

2. Michael Brazell

3. Marc E. Dones

4. Sarah Dowling

5. James Pergola

6. RICHARD MARX WEINRAUB

7. Saeed Jones

8. Vittoria Repetto

9. Scott Hightower

Each poet reads 5 minutes each Fifteen minute break 2:45pm-3:00pm

3PM TO 4PM

1. Cheryl B.

2. Leopolding Core

3. Davidson Garrett

4. Tamika LaDawn Harbor

5. Zoe Contros Kearl

6. Rickey Laurentiis

7. Timothy Liu

8. David Messineo

9. Eileen Myles

Each poet reads 5 minutes each Fifteen minute break 3:45pm-4:00pm

4PM TO 5PM

1. Bakar Wilson

2. Tim Peterson (Trace)

3. Moonshine Shorey

4. Stephanie Gray

5. Sam LaRoche

6. Joanna Hoffman

7. Natalie E. Illum

8. Jeffery Berg

9. Nathaniel Siegel

Z. James Purdy

Each poet reads 5 minutes each Fifteen minute break 4:45pm-5:00pm

Save 20% on Your Book Purchases at LULU dot com this March!

2011-03-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

LULU.com helps you celebrate SPRING with a new book!

Enter SPRINGREAD at the checkout for 20% off your book purchase through 3/31/2011 (This coupon can only be used once but will be applied to all the books in your shopping cart for maximum savings of $25)

Visit our LULU storefront at http://stores.lulu.com/poetswearprada to purchase copies of

THRUM: Poems by JOEL ALLEGRETTI
OUTSIDE GIRL by CYNDI DAWSON
GATHERED AT HER SKY: Life Poems by TANTRA-ZAWADI
DEAD RECKONING: Poems by GENE AUPREY

OUTSIDE GIRL by CYNDI DAWSON
$12.00

Lived through the NYC downtown ’80s? Cyndi Dawson takes you home. And if you were never there, you are now, through the penetrating glare of an "Outside Girl" who brings the reader through the scene, the clubs, the drugs, the grit, and ties it all together with love. With this collection, Cyndi Dawson, who is known largely for her stage performances, establishes herself as fierce, forceful, raw, punk poet in the tradition of Jim Carroll, who holds her own on the page as well as the stage. — PUMA PERL, author of KNUCKLE TATTOOS and BELINDA AND HER FRIENDS

GATHERED AT HER SKY: Life Poems by TANTRA-ZAWADI
$12.00

“Tantra's writing oozes with the passion of Neruda and the sensitivity of Sonia. Her words can warm the coldest of hearts.” — Bruce George, Co-Founder of RUSSELL SIMMONS DEF POETRY JAM

“Tantra-zawadi's poetry speaks of a global consciousness and ambassadorship; each word of every line reminds us of the connection we have to one another in the race to win.”— Tshombe Sekou Harris, Founder/Host of FREEDOM VERSE CAFE

Tantra-zawadi, an award winning poet/artist/filmmaker from Brooklyn, New York, has performed to standing-room audiences in the USA, South Africa, London, Germany and Toronto. GATHERED AT HER SKY contains excerpts from her off-Broadway production SOLDIER BLUES, and her one-woman performance piece GIRL: A CHOREOSPECTIVE, as well as the text of previously recorded spoken word tracks.

THRUM: Poems by JOEL ALLEGRETTI
$12.00

In THRUM, Joel Allegretti, deftly and delightfully, strums his magical musical instrument, which is poetry, as he forges fresh forms of songs and stories that are inspired by strummers’s strings. “Context is everything,” Allegretti reminds us, and we’re planted in the heart of a global ancient/modern orchestra. Prepare yourself for the revelatory performance. --Martine Bellen

DEAD RECKONING: Poems by GENE AUPREY
$15.00

Author Gene Auprey offers a new collection of poems; a meditation on nature, life and death, and the ever-present possibilities of hope, humor and love. “At home somewhere between the pastoral and the familial, violence and tranquility (often showing how they are sometimes the same side of the same coin), Gene Auprey’s voice is one of restrained and steady power.” — James Midgely, Editor MIMESIS

Wed March 2: Poetry Thin Air Features Susan Maurer & Efrayim Levenson on MNN Ch 67 Live Stream

2011-03-02T14:37:00.000-08:00

Efrayim Levenson, Author of DANCES WITH TEARS (PWP, 2007)

Susan Maurer, author of RAPTOR RHAPSODY (PWP, 2007)

Wed@ 8:30 PoetryThinAir… Susan Maurer and Efrayim Levenson
Direction and Video by Mitch Corber

…………………………………………………………..
About two dozen shows were recently put up on YouTube by Mitch Corber so you can watch them at your convenience.

Go to http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=poetry+thin+air+spencer&aq=f
…………………………………………………………..

The show airs every Wednesday night at 8:30 pm on Channel 67

(MNN/Manhattan Neighborhood Network)

Note: if you live outside Manhattan or can't get MNN Ch 67, you can still watch
the live internet stream of the show by following instructions below.

INTERNET STREAM.....

1. Click on http://www.mnn.org/

2. Viewing the right column of MNN webpage, go to "MNN4 Culture"

3. Click "Watch MNN4 Live"

4. Click small icon to watch full screen on your computer during live broadcast.

(You can only watch the streaming video in real time, i.e. at 8:30pm Wednesday night)

Wed March 1 Poet MADELINE TIGER Reads at Williams Center for Arts, Rutherford NJ

2011-03-02T14:20:00.000-08:00

Plus the words of William Carlos Williams

& open readings from the floor

This program is held at

Williams Center for the Arts

Marcus Theatre

One Williams Plaza

Rutherford, NJ 07070

Call the Rutherford Public Library at 201.939.8600 for more information

http://www.williamscenter.org/

Dear Family & Friends,

Although it was a cold and icy night last night, Lisa Sisler and Dorinda Wegener provided a strong and engaging feature, playing off their diversity, and Dorinda started off the evening with her reflections on the conflict between William Carlos Williams’s Romanticism as represented by his mother Elena’s influence and his scientific, Modernist commitment as represented by Ezra Pound’s influence. Once again I thank John Barrale and Claudia Serea for introducing our features.

I continue to host this excellent series, now in its sixth year, so please come by for this upcoming reading. Mark your calendars now!

NOTE that this series is held on FIRST Wednesdays each month.

Madeline Tiger

The WCW Poetry Cooperative of Southern Bergen County is pleased to invite Madeline Tiger, noted poet and teacher, as the feature on Wednesday, March, 2011 at 7:00 p. m. As usual this monthly program will also feature the words of William Carlos Williams, this time by Madeline Tiger herself, and open readings from the floor. No advanced registration is required and all poets and poetry lovers are invited. Note that we are now holding the WCW Poetry Cooperative readings in the Marcus Theater of the Williams Center for the Arts (www.williamscenter.org ) located at 1 Williams Plaza in Rutherford, N. J.

Also, please remember that noted poet Jim Klein leads our peer-to-peer poetry workshops (Red Wheelbarrow Poets) on Wednesdays (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th) when we do not have the readings at 7 p. m. NOTE that these have now been relocated to GainVille Learning Center and Café (http://www.gaincontact.com/ ):

GainVille Learning Center and Café
17 Ames Avenue
Rutherford, NJ 07070
Tel. (201) 507-1800 / Fax (201) 507-1888

Also, please see the Red Wheelbarrow website here:

http://redwheelbarrowpoets.wordpress.com/

Remember that the Rutherford Red Wheelbarrow Poets just published volume 3 of The Rutherford Red Wheelbarrow, including three poems of mine, those of many others associated with the WCW Poetry Cooperative and literary life in Rutherford, some excellent essays, and as usual some original, previously unpublished work of Dr. Williams himself. Copies of the anthology are on sale now, so please contact the editors at redwheelbarrowpoets@yahoo.com , if you would like more information or like to purchase a copy or two. They make excellent birthday or holiday gifts for poetry lovers and anyone who loves literature and history.
Please come out and support these creative endeavors.
Thank you.

Love & Peace,

John J. Trause

* * *

About Our Featured Poet:

Madeline Tiger’s tenth collection of poems, The Atheist’s Prayer, appeared from Dos Madres Press, (Spring, 2010). Her other recent collections include The Earth Which Is All (2008) and Birds of Sorrow and Joy: New and Selected Poems, 1970-2000 (2003). Her work appears regularly in numerous local and national journals and anthologies.

Ms Tiger is also a noted teacher in the Writers-in-the-Schools Program of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Playwrights Theatre of NJ; The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Poetry Programs; The Montclair Adult School (Memoir Writing); and in private poetry writing workshops for adults.

She has garnered prizes and fellowships from the NJ State Council on the Arts: 1978, 1980, 1987; Virginia Center for the Creative Arts: 1987, 1988, 1990; Blue Mountain Center, 1988; Columbia University School of the Arts, 1985-86; Poetica Magazine, 2007; and Artist/Teacher award from Playwrights Theater of NJ, 1993. In addition, she was honored with the Pioneer Teaching Artist Award of the NJ Arts Education Collective in April 2008.

Born in New York City, Madeline Tiger has lived in NJ for most of her life. She was a resident of Montclair, NJ from 1963 until moving to Bloomfield in 2000 where she lives under a weeping cherry tree. Ms Tiger has five children and seven grandchildren.

Sat Mar 19: Greek American Writers w/ JOHN J TRAUSE 6pm Cornelia St Cafe NYC

2011-02-28T18:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Please join us at this event at which I will be presenting my poetry on SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2011 ( St. Joseph ’s Day), 6 – 8 p. m.

The Cornelia Street Café
29 Cornelia Street
(Between West 4th & Bleecker Streets)
New York City
(212) 989-9319

A $7.00 entry fee includes one complimentary house drink.

Please see the attached flyer and also the announcement in elegant Papyrus by the eminent host of the series Dean Kostos:

* * *

Dear Friends,

On the night before the vernal equinox, five gifted poets will read at the Cornelia Street Cafe. For full details, please open the attached flyer.

Think spring,

Dean

* * *

I look forward to seeing you there.

Peace,

JOHN J TRAUSE

JOHN

P. S. No, I am not Greek or Greek-American, but I do a mean Sappho in her original Aeolic dialect.

Reading Notice: Joel Allegretti at Pianos in Bloomfield NJ on March 7

2011-02-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

SAVE THE DATE: RockStar Poets and Writers [Bloomfield Reading Series]

featuring JOEL ALLEGRETTI on Monday, March 7, 2011

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I'm the featured poet in the March installment of Rockstar Poets at Pianos, 36 Broad Street in Bloomfield, NJ. The reading is Monday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. I'll read from my chapbook, Thrum, and other work. There's an open mic afterward, so bring something to declaim from the stage.

Hope to see you Monday.

Joel Allegretti
http://www.joelallegretti.com/

Thrum: Poems a new chapbook by Joel Allegretti from Poets Wear Prada
ISBN 978-0-9841844-4-6, Trade Paperback, 38pp., $12.00

"In Thrum Joel Allegretti, deftly and delightfully, strums his magical musical instrument, which is poetry, as he forges fresh forms of songs and stories that are inspired by strummers' strings. 'Context is everything,' Allegretti reminds us, and we’re planted in the heart of a global ancient/modern orchestra. Prepare yourself for the revelatory performance." --Martine Bellen, Author of Tales of Murasaki and Other Poems, 1997 National Poetry Series selection

"Joel Allegretti's latest collection of poems is as enjoyable as it is different. Thrum takes the reader on a journey that explores known musical instruments, such as the mandolin, dulcimer and fiddle, as well as some not-so-known instruments, such as the oud, koto and theorbo. But what makes this journey unique is that each instrument is in a sense personified as the emotive element of each instrument is brought to life. Allegretti does a wonderful job tuning every poem so that the music of each instrument is realized again and again in the words on the page. An intriguing and must read for anyone who has a sense of all that culminates in the commingling of the arts."--Raymond Hammond, Editor, The New York Quarterly

Now Available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Thrum-Poems-Joel-Allegretti/dp/0984184449?ie=UTF8&tag=thprpo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969

words to linger on: "The Surprise" by AUSTIN ALEXIS in VOX POETICA

2011-02-28T10:24:00.000-08:00

words to linger on: "The Surprise" by AUSTIN ALEXIS in VOX POETICA http://www.voxpoetica.com/words_to_linger_on.html

Date: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 12:46 PM

Dear Roxanne,

Hi. I hope you're well.

Here is a note for the PWP news page: Austin Alexis's poem, "The Surprise," is currently published on the Vox Poetica "Words to Linger On" page.

Thanks.

Cheers,

Austin Alexis
http://www.amazon.com/Austin-Alexis/e/B003XTFXFC/

For Lincoln: & Other Poems

by Austin Alexis

(Paperback - March, 2010)

ISBN 978-0984184439
Poets Wear Prada
34 pages

$10.00

"Austin Alexis contemplates the way time's passage alters our sense of artists such as Chopin, Haydn, Poe, and Martha Graham as well as, among others, grandparents, Einstein, and presidents Lincoln and Obama. The way the poet cultivates sound, sense, and form, he grows, as he writes George Sand did for Chopin, 'the branch he needs / in order to soar.'" --George Held, author of PHASED, GROUNDED, and other poetry collections

"By use of precise imaginings, Austin Alexis allows us an intimacy with select artists: Chopin, or a street poet, or Lincoln, that great artist of rhetoric and vision. An engaged and observant poet, Alexis reveals grace, connection, legend and mortality. This book is an ode to all of us." --Sarah Sarai, author of THE FUTURE IS HAPPY

Reminder: World Premiere of "Night Keeps Its Promise" by Levy/Allegretti, Sunday, 3/6

2011-02-28T10:08:00.000-08:00

Church of Holy Trinity
316 East 88th Street
(btwn 1st & 2nd Aves.)
New York, NY 10128
http://www.holytrinity-nyc.org/

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Just a reminder that the world premiere of "Night Keeps Its Promise," a song cycle by Frank Ezra Levy on my poetry, will take place Sunday, March 6, at the Church of the Holy Trinity on 316 East 88th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues, New York, NY 10128. Showtime is 5 p.m. In addition to the song cycle, Cantori, a 36-member vocal ensemble, will perform Gypsy songs on Lorca poems and Renaissance madrigals.

You can order tickets here: http://www.cantorinewyork.com/ .

Hope to see you on Sunday.

Joel Allegretti
http://www.joelallegretti.com/

Thrum: Poems a new chapbook by Joel Allegretti from Poets Wear Prada
ISBN 978-0-9841844-4-6, Trade Paperback, 38pp., $12.00

"In Thrum Joel Allegretti, deftly and delightfully, strums his magical musical instrument, which is poetry, as he forges fresh forms of songs and stories that are inspired by strummers' strings. 'Context is everything,' Allegretti reminds us, and we’re planted in the heart of a global ancient/modern orchestra. Prepare yourself for the revelatory performance." --Martine Bellen, Author of Tales of Murasaki and Other Poems, 1997 National Poetry Series selection

"Joel Allegretti's latest collection of poems is as enjoyable as it is different. Thrum takes the reader on a journey that explores known musical instruments, such as the mandolin, dulcimer and fiddle, as well as some not-so-known instruments, such as the oud, koto and theorbo. But what makes this journey unique is that each instrument is in a sense personified as the emotive element of each instrument is brought to life. Allegretti does a wonderful job tuning every poem so that the music of each instrument is realized again and again in the words on the page. An intriguing and must read for anyone who has a sense of all that culminates in the commingling of the arts."--Raymond Hammond, Editor, The New York Quarterly

Now Available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Thrum-Poems-Joel-Allegretti/dp/0984184449/

Winners of Tantra-Zawadi Promise Prize Announced!

2011-02-18T10:05:00.000-08:00

Peace and Blessings!

It is with great joy to announce the winners from Chitakatira High School in Zimbabwe, of the Tantra-zawadi Promise Prize in English.

Awarded for Outstanding Academic Achievement in English:

Beauty Manjonjori

Munyaradzi Muchabaya

Pamela Chakondowa

Poetry/Creative Writing Winners:

Bornwell Muzamwese

Brighton Muzamwese

Leona Mundangepfupfu

Lincon Muchena

McCloud Moyo

Thandiwe Mukaira

Please visit my website at Tantra-zawadi.com to see more of their beautiful faces and read their poems on the topic: "Africa - Leading the 21st Century."

Show them some love and please leave comments for our young visionaries.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
--Nelson Mandela

Love, light and continued progress,

Tantra-zawadi

PWP Author Tantra-Zawadi on Tour for GATHERED AT HER SKY: Upcoming February Events!

2011-02-16T15:14:00.000-08:00

Tantra-Zawadi at TRCC's Soul Food/Jazz Night

Basic info:

Author Tantra-Zawadi will be promoting her book, Gathered at Her Sky: Life Poems. The event will run on Wednesday February 23rd from 6:30-9:30pm, taking place at Three Rivers Community College, Cafeteria, 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich, CT 06360, USA
Event description:

Soul Food/Jazz Night · "New Orleans-Style"

Tantra will be performing with Tut Amin.

Food, Live Music, and Lots of Fun! Sponsored by: TRCC's Cultural Society, New Orleans Rebuilding Team, Fine Arts Committee, and ConnCAS.

$5 suggested donation.

Location: TRCC Cafeteria

Tantra-Zawadi Features at 449LA aka SCAT's

Friday Night Mic with Ronne

Basic info:

Author Tantra-Zawadi will be promoting the book, Gathered at Her Sky: Life Poems. The event will run on Friday February 25th from 7-9pm at 449LA aka SCAT Showcase For Artists, 449 Lenox Avenue, New York, NY 10037, USA
Event description:

In Harlem, New York: Lenox Ave. bet. W. 132nd & W. 133rd Sts.

Admission: $5.00

For Info/Directions: (212) 234-3298

Visit Amazon's Tantra Zawadi Page: http://www.amazon.com/Tantra-Zawadi/e/B003XLULLQ/

And follow her event's on BookTour.com: http://booktour.com/author/32957

Tantra blogs at: http://www.tantra-zawadi.com/

Reading Notice: Joel Allegretti at Hotel Marrakech, February 16 in NYC

2011-02-10T17:39:00.000-08:00

Wednesday February 16
6:30PM
Ronnie Norpel Presents
JOEL ALLEGRETTI
CELLA FARBER
JACKIE SHEELER
+
Open
@
Kazbar Lounge
Marrakech Hotel, 2688 Broadway, NYC
(bet. 102nd and 103rd Sts.)
212-222-2954

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I have the great pleasure of helping launch a new reading series curated by Ronnie Norpel, author of Baseball Karma & the Constitution Blues (Three Rooms Press) and former collaborator of Warhol right hand Gerard Malanga.

The new series takes hold Wednesday, February 16, in the Kazbar on the second floor of the Marrakech Hotel, 2688 Broadway bet. 102nd and 103rd Streets, NYC. We start at 6:30 p.m.

In addition to yours truly, the other featured readers are journalist Cella Farber, who has written extensively on HIV/AIDS and whose articles have appeared in Esquire and Spin, and the always-amazing Jackie Sheeler, author of the must-have poetry collection Earthquake Came to Harlem from New York Quarterly Books.
There will be an open reading.

That sound you're hearing right now is the call of the Master Musicians of Joujouka summoning you to the Kazbar. Heed the call or the ghosts of William Burroughs and Brion Gysin will come to your home to get you. I met William Burroughs. Trust me, you don't want his ghost showing up at your door.

Joel

http://www.joelallegretti.com/

THRUM, a new chapbook by Joel Allegretti from Poets Wear Prada
ISBN 978-0-9841844-4-6, Trade Paperback, 38pp., $12.00

"In Thrum Joel Allegretti, deftly and delightfully, strums his magical musical instrument, which is poetry, as he forges fresh forms of songs and stories that are inspired by strummers' strings. 'Context is everything,' Allegretti reminds us, and we’re planted in the heart of a global ancient/modern orchestra. Prepare yourself for the revelatory performance."

--Martine Bellen, Author of Tales of Murasaki and Other Poems, 1997 National Poetry Series selection

"Joel Allegretti's latest collection of poems is as enjoyable as it is different. Thrum takes the reader on a journey that explores known musical instruments, such as the mandolin, dulcimer and fiddle, as well as some not-so-known instruments, such as the oud, koto and theorbo. But what makes this journey unique is that each instrument is in a sense personified as the emotive element of each instrument is brought to life. Allegretti does a wonderful job tuning every poem so that the music of each instrument is realized again and again in the words on the page. An intriguing and must read for anyone who has a sense of all that culminates in the commingling of the arts."

--Raymond Hammond, Editor, The New York Quarterly

Thrum: Poems by Joel Allegretti Now Available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Thrum-Poems-Joel-Allegretti/dp/0984184449?ie=UTF8&tag=thprpo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969

SUN Feb 6 Poet Joel Allegretti 5:30PM Bengal Curry 65 W B'way NYC

2011-02-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

PHOENIX READING SERIES

Sunday, February 6, 2011

5:30-7:30 PM

presents the following featured readers:

JOEL ALLEGRETTI, ALAN BAXTER,
BRENDA MORRISE, STAN RAFFES

with Limited Open Mic

Bengal Curry

65 West Broadway

New York, NY 10007-2292

212.571.1122

(Between Murray & Warren)

1 1⁄2 blocks below Chambers St

Take the 1, 2, 3, A, C or E trains to Chambers St.

Hosted by Mike Graves

212.571.1122

$3 + Meal/Bev

For info, booking and to reserve spot for open reading contact:

mikegraves5 at hotmail dot com

This Sunday will be another great experience at the Phoenix Reading @ Bengal Curry. If you love poetry you will not want to miss it. If you love Indian food, including the best naan in NYC, you will not want to miss it. If you love both you will be in Nirvana. If the weather is bad please call Bengal Curry at 212-571-1122 to verify that the venue is open.

* * *

My poem "The Widow," a short ekphrasis on a Fernando Botero painting, will appear in the next issue of PHOENIX MAGAZINE, edited by Michael Graves.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Joel

http://www.joelallegretti.com/

THRUM, a new chapbook by Joel Allegretti from Poets Wear Prada

ISBN 978-0-9841844-4-6, Trade Paperback, 38pp., $12.00

"In Thrum Joel Allegretti, deftly and delightfully, strums his magical musical instrument, which is poetry, as he forges fresh forms of songs and stories that are inspired by strummers' strings. 'Context is everything,' Allegretti reminds us, and we’re planted in the heart of a global ancient/modern orchestra. Prepare yourself for the revelatory performance."--Martine Bellen, Author of Tales of Murasaki and Other Poems,1997 National Poetry Series selection

"Joel Allegretti's latest collection of poems is as enjoyable as it is different. Thrum takes the reader on a journey that explores known musical instruments, such as the mandolin, dulcimer and fiddle, as well as some not-so-known instruments, such as the oud, koto and theorbo. But what makes this journey unique is that each instrument is in a sense personified as the emotive element of each instrument is brought to life. Allegretti does a wonderful job tuning every poem so that the music of each instrument is realized again and again in the words on the page. An intriguing and must read for anyone who has a sense of all that culminates in the commingling of the arts."--Raymond Hammond, Editor of The New York Quarterly

Now Available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Thrum-Poems-Joel-Allegretti/dp/0984184449?ie=UTF8&tag=thprpo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969

MON Feb 7: Don Zirilli at Pianos in Bloomfield NJ for Rockstar Poets

2011-01-31T18:49:00.000-08:00

SAVE THE DATE: RockStar Poets and Writers [Bloomfield Reading Series]

featuring DON ZIRILLI on Monday, February 7, 2011

Please beat the cold and join the folks at Pianos Bar & Grill in Bloomfield, NJ on Monday, Febrnuary 7, 2011 at 7:30 p. m. for RockStar Poets & Writers [Bloomfield Reading Series]. The feature is Don Zirilli.

The event is FREE!

Don Zirilli is the co-editor of Now Culture. He has been writing poetry for over 20 years, and has been published in River Styx, Specs, Anti-, Iota, and elsewhere.

Bloomfield Reading Series, also known as RockStar Poets, is the series for which I (John J. Trause) was the inaugural feature in February 2008, and as we continue in our third year we are pleased to have such a distinguished poet and publisher appearing on Monday, February 7th. Note that this series holds a reading every FIRST MONDAY of the month at 7:30 p. m. at Pianos hosted by writer Sanjay Agnihotri. The readings take place on the back stage. Come early and have a drink or dinner. Remember to bring some work of your own as an Open Reading follows the feature.

February 7, 2011 at 7:30PM
RockStar Poets
~features~

DON ZIRILLI
+ Open Reading
@
Pianos Bar & Grill
36 Broad Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 743-7208
http://www.pianosbarandgrill.com/
Host: Sanjay Agnihotri
No Cover (Please purchase food or drink to help support the venue.)

I encourage you to come out and support Don Zirilli and hang out with us.

NEXT MONTH: Monday, March 7, 2011, we look forward to poet and musician Joel Allegretti.

Love & Peace,

JOHN

WED Feb 2: Lisa Sisler & Dorinda Wegener at Willams Center, Rutherford NJ

2011-01-31T16:14:00.000-08:00

Dear Family & Friends,

I continue to host this excellent series, now in its sixth year, so please come by for this upcoming reading.

NOTE that this series is held on FIRST Wednesdays each month.

The WCW Poetry Cooperative of Southern Bergen County is pleased to invite Lisa Sisler and Dorinda Wegener, both poets, editors, and teachers, as the features on Wednesday, February, 2011 at 7:00 p. m. As usual this monthly program will also feature the words of William Carlos Williams, this time by Dorinda Wegener herself, and open readings from the floor. No advanced registration is required and all poets and poetry lovers are invited. Note that we are now holding the WCW Poetry Cooperative readings at the following location:

Williams Center for the Arts
Marcus Theater
1 Williams Plaza in Rutherford, N. J.

(http://www.williamscenter.org/)

Also, please remember that noted poet Jim Klein leads our peer-to-peer poetry workshops (Red Wheelbarrow Poets) on Wednesdays (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th) when we do not have the readings at 7 p. m. NOTE that these have now been relocated to GainVille Learning Center and Café (http://www.gaincontact.com/ ):

GainVille Learning Center and Café
17 Ames Avenue
Rutherford, NJ 07070
Tel. (201) 507-1800 / Fax (201) 507-1888

Also, please see the Red Wheelbarrow website here:

http://redwheelbarrowpoets.wordpress.com/

Remember that the Rutherford Red Wheelbarrow Poets just published volume 3 of The Rutherford Red Wheelbarrow, including three poems of mine, those of many others associated with the WCW Poetry Cooperative and literary life in Rutherford, some excellent essays, and as usual some original, previously unpublished work of Dr. Williams himself. Copies of the anthology are on sale now, so please contact the editors at redwheelbarrowpoets@yahoo.com, if you would like more information or like to purchase a copy or two. They make excellent birthday or holiday gifts for poetry lovers and anyone who loves literature and history.

Please come out and support these creative endeavors.

Thank you.

Love & Peace,

JOHN

* * *

ABOUT OUR FEATURED POETS:

Lisa Sisler’s poetry has been described by Brian Henry as, “urgent, skillful, and necessary. [Lisa’s] poems are fiery, command your attention, and, for however disturbing or painful or difficult her poems can be, they often seek and ultimately achieve a sort of cathartic alchemy that we can find only in poetry.”
Lisa is currently working n her manuscript Belly Up and serving as a guest editor for the online journal OVS. She is the editor of Knocking at the Door: Approaching the Other, a poetry anthology forthcoming from Buddhapuss Ink/ Poet’s Lane in November 2010. She holds an MFA in Poetry from New England College and a Masters of Arts in English from Rutgers University. She teaches Writing and Literature at Kean University and at various other colleges in New Jersey where she resides with her boyfriend and their cat army.

Dorinda Wegener holds a MFA from New England College where she was a Joel Oppenheimer Award recipient. Her poems have been published in The Antioch Review, Indiana Review, Hotel Amerika, and Mid-American Review, among many others. Dorinda has had the honor of reading with the louderARTS Project in New York City. Her poems, “The Harvest” and “Evening Service,” were both finalist for the Marlboro Prize as judged by poet Edward Hirsch. She has been a featured poet at the Woodberry Poetry Room, Lamont Library, Harvard University through her work with Ibbestson Street Press. Walter E. Butts, New Hampshire Poet Laureate, selected Wegener for New Hampshire Poets Showcase, an online gallery hosted by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. She has served on editorial boards at OVS Magazine, Naugatuck River Review, and Summer Home Review. As a child, Dorinda lived in Robert Frost’s first New Hampshire home prior to his famous farm. She currently resides in Staten Island, New York, where she teaches poetry to youths and peers for the Teachers & Writers Collaborative. Dorinda is actively seeking a literary press for her first manuscript, All I’s and O’s. In 2011, Wegener will join the editorial staff of Green Mountains Review as a reader.

A Poem by GEORGE HELD on POETRY BAY, Fall/Winter 2011 Edition

2011-01-31T11:10:00.000-08:00

January 31, 2011,

Click here: Poetry Bay - Online Poetry Magazine for a new poem of mine.

Best, George

* * *

Read "I know a Man" by George Held in the Fall/Winter Edition of LONG ISLAND QUARTERLY, online line at Poetry Bay, An Online Poetry Magazine for the 21st Century.

http://www.poetrybay.com/liquarterly/liqwinter10/GeorgeHeld.html

George Held is the author of 14 poetry collections and the editor of the anthology TOUCHED BY EROS. A five-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize, he has published his stories, poems, book reviews, and translations in such places as THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, CIRCUMFERENCE, THE NOTRE DAME REVIEW, COMMONWEAL, CONNECTICUT REVIEW, and CONFRONTATION. His most recent book is AFTER SHAKESPEARE: SELECTED SONNETS (Cervena Barva Press, 2010). In December 2007, his poem "Aftermath" was read by Garrison Keillor on THE WRITER'S ALMANAC. He has co-edited THE LEDGE POETRY AND FICTION MAGAZINE since 1991, the same year he joined the executive board of The South Fork Natural History Society and Museum (Bridgehampton, NY). A Fulbright lecturer in Czechoslovakia 1973-76, he retired as a professor of English at Queens College in 2004. Held resides in Greenwich Village with his wife, Cheryl.

His chapbook PHASED: POEMS, ETC. was re-released as perfect-bound print on demand edition by PWP in 2010.

Fagiani's CHIANTI IN CONNECTICUT on SPD's Recommend New Titles List

2011-01-31T10:39:00.000-08:00

Small Press Distribution, a non-profit literary arts organization located in Berkeley, California, highlighted Gil Fagiani’s newly published Chianti in Connecticut (Bordighera Press) in its "Recommended New Titles for Jan. 15-31":

"Gil Fagiani's muse is Italian American memory. These are poems of origins and belonging, of family, culture, politics. These are recollections, both elegiac and ironic, of a world Gil Fagiani observes from the privileged perspective of an insider who does not feel bound to the need to eulogize his community. They function as archival records, a museum of language in which a gallery of characters and objects and moments are captured in lines that vibrate with a sound, a touch, a presence"—Edvige Giunta

http://www.spdbooks.org/Producte/9781599540153/default.aspx

Gil Fagiani’s previous collections include A Blanquito in El Barrio (Rain Mountain Press, 2009) set in the streets and to the music of Spanish Harlem and Rooks (Rain Mountain Press, 2007) recalling his years as cadet at a Pennsylvania military college in the 1960s. His chapbook Grandpa’s Wine (Poets Wear Prada, 2008) has been translated into Italian by Paul D’Agostino and will be re-released as bi-lingual edition in 2011. His Serfs of Psychiatry is forthcoming from Finishing Line Press later this year.

Sat Feb 12 IAWA Features Giura & Buccino @ Cornelia St. Cafe NYC

2011-01-29T09:50:00.001-08:00

The three rules of IAWA: Write or be written, Read each other and Buy our books.

IAWA Presents
Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award Honorees
Anthony Buccino & Maria Giura
on
Saturday, February 12, 2011

5:45PM-7:30PM
@

The Cornelia Street Cafe

29 Cornelia St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 989-9319

http://corneliastreetcafe.com/

New York, NY- On Saturday, February 12, 2011, the Italian American Writers Association (IAWA) invites – Anthony Buccino and Maria Giura -- who won Honorable Mention from the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards in 2010.

Anthony Buccino's poem "Something Tells Me You Went To Catholic School" earned Honorable Mention in the 2010 Allen Ginsberg awards and will be published in the Paterson Literary Review; his poem "Ten Minutes" earned Honorable Mention in the 2009 Allen Ginsberg Awards.

He has published 12 books including six poetry collections, which are all available in print, and on Kindle and Nook eReaders: Canned, Sixteen Inches On Center, American Boy: Pushing Sixty, Voices On The Bus and One Morning In Jersey City. The editors for Volume 55 of U.S. 1 Worksheets nominated his poem, "At The Vet" for a Pushcart Prize. His work has also appeared in Celebrating William Carlos Williams and The Poetry of Place: North Jersey in Poetry; Rattlesnake Review; Medusa's Kitchen; Voices in Italian Americana; The Fox Chase Review; and Caduceus.

A financial news editor by day, Buccino contributes to NJ.com. He maintains New Jersey Poets and Poetry, a blog of poetry happenings in New Jersey. Visit http://www.anthonybuccino.com/

Maria Giura's poem, "Mercy" was selected for Honorable Mention in 2010 and will be published in The Paterson Literary Review; in 2005, her poem "Earthly Father" won First Prize in the Allen Ginsberg competition and appeared in Paterson Literary Review; other work has appeared and in Godspy.com, VIA and she has written for the TV show New Morning. A member of the American Italian Historical Association, she read two chapters of her memoir at the 2009 and 2010 conferences, "Telling Papa" and "The Long Loneliness."

She is an Assistant Professor at Montclair State University, NJ where she teaches First Year Writing and Memoir and is Assistant Director of their First Year Writing Program. She received her doctorate in English with a creative dissertation from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

The reading takes place Saturday, February 12, 2011, 5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., at the Cornelia St. Café, 29 Cornelia Street, NYC, (212-989-9319); www.corneliastreetcafe.com). The evening starts with Open Mic readings of five minutes each. IAWA is a 501(3)©not-for-profit corporation. Since 1991, the organization has given voice to writers through its Open Reading series at Cornelia St. Café every month. For membership information, visit www.iawa.net

Visit the Italian American Writers Cafe blog http://www.i-italy.org/bloggers/italian-american-writers-cafe

Maria Mazziotti Gillan is the Executive Director at the Poetry Center Passaic County Community College, which sponsors the annual Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards. For guidelines visit:

http://old.pccc.edu/poetry/Prize/index.html

For Info on IAWA Reading Series:

Maria Lisella
718.777.1178

Authors Available for Interviews

Karen Neuberg in ROSE & THORN JOURNAL Winter 2011

2011-01-27T20:06:00.000-08:00

PWP Author, Karen Neuberg has two poems in the current (Winter 2011) issue of ROSE & THORN JOURNAL: "Maturity" and "Finding. Future. Meaning."
Read her work online at:

http://www.roseandthornjournal.com/Winter_2011_Poet6.html

Karen Neuberg’s poems have been found in such publications as Barrow Street, Boxcar Poetry Review, DIAGRAM, and Keyhole Magazine. She is the author of the poetry chapbook, Detailed Still (Poets Wear Prada Press, 2009) and blogs at http://karenneuberg.blogspot.com/

"The Entire History of Your Fires," a poem from her chapbook Detailed Still was recently reprinted in Pirene's Fountain, October 2010:

http://www.pirenesfountain.com/current_issue/neuberg.html

SUN Feb 27: Peter Chelnik's Prairie Fire Jazz Poetry at ATA NYC 5PM

2011-01-27T18:33:00.001-08:00

SUNDAY 2/27 - 5:30 p.m. (sign up 5 p.m.)

Peter Chelnik's Prairie Fire Jazz Poetry

~features~

Linda Leedy Schneider (poet)

George Wallace (poet)

Host PETER CHELNIK (poetry)

Bob Feldman (tenor sax) & Lawrence Goldman (acoustic bass)

The Open Mic

AMERICAN THEATRE OF ACTORS

314 W. 54th St. (bet. 8th & 9th Aves.)

Hell's Kitchen, NYC 10019

Beckman Theater 2nd Floor

(212) 581-3044

http://www.appleboxdesign.com/ATA/ata.html

By Subway: C or E to West 50th Street

Walk north to West 54th Street, west to theatre

Admission: $5

About the Featured Poets

Linda Leedy Schneider is an award-winning internationally published poet and writer, individual poetry and writing mentor, psychotherapist in private practice, and college writing instructor. She facilitates writing groups at Gilda's Club for people living with cancer. A writer since able to hold a pencil, Linda's volunteer work in orphanages in Albania motivated her to submit her poems and prose for publication. Her work has since been published in over 200 literary magazines including Rattle Magazine, The Spoon River Poetry Review, Pudding Magazine, Driftwood Review, Midwest Poetry Review, Miranda Literary Magazine, ONTHEBUS, and The Pedestal Magazine. Linda has written five collections of poetry including Through the Lattice: Poetry of a Psychotherapist, Argonne House Press, 2002, and Through My Window: Poetry of a Psychotherapist, Pudding House Publications, 2007. She has recently been featured poet at The Back Fence, NYC, Peter Chelnik's Prairie Fire Series, NYC and The Saturn Poetry Reading Series, NYC. Her poetry is included in the world poetry anthology, Not A Muse, Haven Press, 2009. Many of her writing students have been published as well. She is currently editing an anthology of her student's poetry. Linda believes that a regular writing ritual leads to discovery, authenticity, personal growth, and even Joy. She can be reached at loschneide@AOL.com.

Add caption

George Wallace (born March 22, 1949 in Hempstead, New York) is an American poet and poetry organizer.

Working from a base of operations in downtown New York City's poetry scene, from his family roots in Brooklyn and Long Island, and from his experiences living and working in Northern California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon and the United Kingdom, Wallace has created a grassroots network of venues for poetry.

His own poetry, in particular his performance oriented work, is imagination-based in its creation, emerging from a process of wordplay, surrealist deconstruction and bricolage into a final form that is typically characterized by accessible narrative and forceful rhythmic impetus. It is built on a foundation of a musical talent that emerged at the age of four, when he began reading and performing music, and shaped by his extensive readings in the literature of European Surrealism, the Whitman/Sandburg vortex, and the Beats. His work also bears the mark of 1960s concerns, particularly the social witness and aesthetic consciousness of that time.

His organizational efforts on behalf of poetry are based on professional training and disposition to community service developed through graduate studies with Guy Stuart and others at UNC-Chapel Hill in the mid '70s.

Afro-Futures: Bianca Dorsey, an exclusive interview by Tantra-Zawadi

2011-01-27T10:44:00.000-08:00

Afro-Futures welcomes Bianca Dorsey with an exclusive interview by Tantra-Zawadi.

Tantra-zawadi writes: "Recently, I had the pleasure of spending time with Bianca Dorsey, a beautiful and gifted world artist. Bianca also spoke about the importance of exploring the techniques of our ancestors to create art that endures. Afrofutures welcomes Bianca Dorsey."

Read the rest of the article "A conversation with artist Bianca Dorsey" on-line at Afro-Futures:

http://afrofutures.com/?p=1037

Bianca Dorsey is a Brooklyn-based artist, who paints, sculpts and designs jewelry. She is graduate of Pratt Institute, NY receiving a Bachelor’s of Fine Art in Sculpture and she received her Master’s Degree in Gallery and Retail Art Administration from Fashion Institute of Technology, NY. Recent gallery exhibitions include group shows, Rising Suns, the Dash Gallery, NY (2010) and The Color of Words, Brooklyn Working Artists Coalition, Bklyn, NY (2009) and a solo exhibit, The Lives of Goddesses, Curated by Carol Blank, Bklyn, NY (2006).

PWP Books published Tantra-Zawadi's second collection of poetry Gathered at Her Sky in 2010.

Sat Feb 5 B.E. KAHN Joins Other Phili-based Authors 3PM Big Blue Marble Bookstore's Local Author Day

2011-01-26T18:35:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 5, 3:00pm.

LOVE YOURSELF @ Big Blue Marble Bookstore

Local Author Day!

Join local authors in readings and discussions that celebrate loving yourself.

Featuring:

B.E. Kahn (Landscapes of Light),
Trudi Wray (Still Learning Lessons After Forty)
Stenell Greene-Myers (Who's Gonna Pay the Mortgage?)

Big Blue Marble Bookstore
551 Carpenter Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19119
215-844-1870
http://www.bigbluemarblebooks.com/

Landscapes of Light: Poems
by B. E. Kahn
Perfect bound paperback: 34 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0-9841844-8-4
Publisher: Poets Wear Prada
Publication Date: October 28, 2010
List Price: $12
Available at Amazon.com

Author B. E. Kahn

B. E. Kahn is a grant recipient of both the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and the Pew Fellowships in the Arts. Some of the poems in this, her second, collection previously appeared in Arts and Spirituality, Bridges: A Jewish Feminist Journal, Clockwise Cat, Lifeboat, New Verse News, Poetry Ink, Poetry Super Highway, and Schuylkill Valley Journal. A retired speech therapist, she now lives in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania and has taught poetry to intergenerational, interfaith groups. She is a member of the 34th Street Poets Cooperative. Her previous chapbook, SPRING APPLES, SILVER BIRCH was published October, 2008 by Greenleaf Press. For more information about the author, visit her website: http://www.bekahn.com/.

POSTPONED: Poetry's Last Wednesday Pit Stop w/ JOHN J TRAUSE -- NOW Sat, Jan 29 7:30-10PM

2011-01-26T13:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Family and Friends,

Because of the snow storm this event is being postponed until

Saturday, January 29, 2011, 7:30 p. m. – 10 p. m.

Francesca Sphynx-Ball of The Ain't Never Scared NYC Poetry Collective started a new poetry series at Peanut Butter Blues Café in Allendale (Bergen County), N. J. Francesca and I were both published this past autumn in hell strung and crooked, the latest issue of the Uphook Press anthology.

Rescheduled: I will be featuring for Poetry's Last Wednesday Pit Stop at Peanut Butter Blues Café on Saturday, January 29th at 7:30 p.m.. You will get 30 minutes of John J. Trause, and I promise a rich and diverse presentation. There will also be an open reading.

Sat., Jan. 29, 2011, 7:30–10PM <==NEW DATE & TIME!

Poetry's Last Wednesday Pit Stop

JOHN J TRAUSE

+ Open Reading
@

Peanut Butter Blues Cafe

86 W Allendale Ave

Allendale, NJ 07401

(201) 825-5950

http://www.pbblues.com/

Hosted by Francesca Sphynx-Ball

Please see also the updated listing on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=155597277823382&num_event_invites=0

It would be a pleasure to see you at the reading this coming Saturday, so please come out and support this event.

Love & Peace,

JOHN

* * *

Jan 26 Poet Efrayim Levenson in Brooklyn w/ Dan Brown & Matthew Anish

2011-01-25T11:22:00.001-08:00

Hello again. I have another reading tomorrow night. I hope you can attend. Coordinates are below:

Efrayim Levenson

* * *

HAPPY WINTER FOLKS!
For A Great Evening of Poetry:

The Green Pavilion Poetry Event

(The gala event for poetry.)

Wednesday, JANUARY 26, 7:00-9:30

The Green Pavillion Restaurant & Sports Lounge

4307-18th Ave.

Brooklyn, NY

Take the F train to 18th Ave. station. Last car coming from Manh, right staircase to street.
You will be only about 1/2 block away from rest., same block you will be standing on.

Join Us. Come read your poetry, or your favorite poet under the chandeliers!

One of the longest running poetry venues in the NYC area.

We are looking forward to these two wonderful featured readers:

* * * EFRAYIM LEVENSON * *

* * * DAN BROWN * *

+ a mini-feature by well published author of poetry & prose:

***MATTHEW ANISH ***

+ o p e n r e a d i n g * * * *

$5.00 min. toward rest. (an inexpensive & diverse menu, dinner, or wine with your poetry.) *

$3.00 suggested donation toward reading.Your hosts: Evie Ivy, Cindy Hochman * * *

Some Bio Notes:

Daniel Brown's collection Taking the Occasion (Ivan R. Dee) won The New Criterion Poetry Prize in 2008. His poems have appeared in Poetry, Partisan Review, Parnassus: Poetry in Review, The New Criterion and other journals. Winner of a Pushcart Prize, he has been widely anthologized in volumes such as Poetry 180, edited by Billy Collins, and Fathers, edited by David Ray. He holds a masters degree in musicology from Cornell University, and has taught music history and theory at Cornell and Dartmouth College. He lives in Baldwin, New York. His Why Bach?, an online appreciation of Bach's music, is available at http://www.whybach.com/ .

Efrayim Levenson is the author of 2 chapbooks of poetry, For My Relations (2000) and Dances With Tears (2007). His poem "& Ribbon" was a 2008 Pushcart Prize nomination. Other poems have been published in What Happens Next, Poetica, Poems, Medicinal Purposes, www.chabadrego.org, http://timessquareshoutout.blogspot.com/ , Above Water, ArtVoice, My City Underground, Bflo Journal, The Buffalo News, Pure Light, Foist, Earth's Daughters, Tempus Fugit, Swift Kick, The Grin, and Blatherskite. He is at work currently on a collection of poetic interpretations of the music of Buckethead and a CD with double-bassist Clif Jackson. Efrayim is also blogging at http://efrayimlevenson.blogspot.com/.

Matthew Anish is a widely published poet/writer. He has published work in Aim, Beyond Bree, Voices Israel and in many other publications. He also writes a monthly column for Barr's Postcard News. He is a graduate of Brooklyn College and has an ESL Certificate from the New School. He currently works at Borough of Manhattan Community College.

GO CAT GO Jazz Poetry w/ Peter Chelnik on MNN Tonite 4pm EST

2011-01-23T10:53:00.000-08:00

GO CAT GO JAZZ POETRY

Poet: Peter Chelink

Sax Man: Bob Feldman, Bass Buddy: Lawrence Goldman

on

Manhattan Network Cable

Sunday, January 23 at 4 p.m. MNN2 Lifestyle (34)

Monday, January 24 at 5:30 p.m. MNN2 Lifestyle (34)

Saturday, February 5 9:30 p.m MNN2 Lifestyle (34)

Monday, February 7 at 5:30 p.m. MNN2 Lifestyle (34)

Click on http://www.mnn.org/ for more info about Manhattan Network Cable

or

Go directly to http://mnn2.mnntv.org/OnAir/flash for live streaming!

For more info about Peter Chelnik visit his blog:

http://peterchelnik.blogspot.com/

Additional Contact Information regarding this programming:

Roberto Slaughter speliotisphoto@yahoo.com

PWP published PARADISE HIGHWAY by Peter Chelnik in 2007. His latest collection is STRAWBERRY HARMONY,ISBN 978-0-964 270 9-9-3,$12.00, Little Sky Press, Release Date: March 2010.

Peter Chelnik continues his quest of the American Dream on his highway of language in a style evocative of that true American Art, Jazz He forges this highway concrete image by concrete image, and his voice is not only fiercely brave, but also one of powerful affirmation.
—Laura Boss, editor of Lips, author of
Arms: New and Selected Poems

PARADISE HIGHWAYPoems by Peter Chelnik
soft cover/saddle-stitched/12 pp.
$6.25 (+ $1.50 S&H)

Poet Efrayim Levenson in NYC Monday January 24

2011-01-23T09:43:00.000-08:00

Hello, folks. I have not given a feature poetry reading for @ 2 years. I'm as surprised to tell you as you are to read that I'll be featuring for Saturn Series tomorrow night (1/24/2011)! I'd love to see you if you're available. We should get reacquainted.

Nightingale Lounge
2nd Avenue @ 13th Street
LES, NYC

The sign-up for open mic readers begins at 7 PM. The evening should commence @ 7:30-8.

Efrayim Levenson

* * *

PWP originally released Efrayim's DANCES WITH TEARS in 2007.

DANCES WITH TEARSby Efrayim Levenson
ISBN 978-0-9817678-3-3
soft cover, saddle stitched, 16 pp.
$6.25 (+ $1.50 S&H)

This book is a blast of Hasidic bebop ecstasy.
—Craig Fishbane, Brooklyn Poet and resident of Bensonhurst

Thank you for the poem [Mordechai's Day at the Beach]...beautiful...best wishes

—John Zorn, American composer and saxophone player

His poems themselves are heartfelt psalms.
—George Held, The Art of Writing and Others

To read more about what George Held has to say about Dances With Tears click here to read his review for Small Press Review.

Efrayim (Fred Barry) Levenson began writing poetry, in Buffalo NY, in 1982. He has been published in small press anthologies across New York State, as well as in Missouri and Belgium, and has collaborated with musicians Dave Schmeidler, Rey Scott, and others. Since 2003 he has lived in Forest Hills NY with his wife Devorah and dog Yoffee.

Feb 1: Tantra-zawadi @ Wyandanch Public Library

2011-01-22T04:44:00.000-08:00

Tantra-Zawadi

Tuesday, February 1st
Doors Open at 1:00 PM
Wyandanch Public Library
14 S 20th St Wyandanch, NY 11798
TicketsFree

Screening, performance and artist talk of "A Silent Genocide: A Brief insight into HIV/AIDS" - a short documentary by Tantra-zawadi edited by Oliver Covrett, XYAYX Multimedia.

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Saturday, April 2nd
Doors Open at 8:00 PM
595 North
595 North Ave
Atlanta, GA 30354

A tribute to Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets - hosted by U-Nek Reality. Dinner, poetry performances and more!

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Tuesday, May 17th
Doors Open at 7:00 PM
Tillies of Brooklyn
248 Dekalb Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 783-6140

Brownstone Poets - Hosted by Patricia Carragon - Features: PWP Authors Tantra-zawadi and Richard Marx Weinraub.

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Sunday, June 5th
Doors Open at 12:00 PM
Montserrat Poetry Festival
Montserrat Vineyards Knobnoster, MO

The 2011 Montserrat Poetry Festival hosted by Mark Pearce - Details TBA.

"Tantra's writing oozes with the passion of Neruda and the sensitivity of Sonia. Her words can warm the coldest of hearts." --Bruce George, Co-Founder of Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam

"Tantra-zawadi is one of the finest and greatest female poets who undoubtedly has ushered in a new era and genre that will take the 21st century into one where humanity will move forward. She rejuvenates the weak mind, shakes and moves hard hearts. If one wants the power of poetry, then Tantra's is the holistic package." --Betty Makoni, Founder of Girl-Child Network Worldwide and a 2009 Top Ten CNN Hero

Groove Assassin FT Tantra Zawadi: LOVE SEEKER Reviewed in TILLLATE

2011-01-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

Groove Assassin Feat. Tantra Zawadi: Love Seeker (Gotta Keep Faith), GKF085, Released Dec. 27, 2010 gets the thumbs up (9/10) from both Lewis Dene and DJ Mannix in Tilllate Magazine: The World's Essential Clubbing Magazine:

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d5f3897c#/d5f3897c/88

"Reminiscent of Ursula Rucker's Firefly Single "Supernatural" of a few years ago, this ethereal, laidback, and sometimes positively chill house offering, comes from Sheffield's Nick Moss (AKA Groove Assassin) and New York-based poet Tantra Zawadi." Sultry and seductive in the main...the vocal makes you all gooey inside."-- Lewis Dene, TILLATE

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/d5f3897c#/d5f3897c/90

"Italy's finest address, when it comes to soulful house, Gotta Keep Faith have signed a real nugget here, the new cut from Nick Moss aka Groove Assassin. It's a spoken word flavored old skool record, powered by the tasty vocals of Tantra Zawadi..." -- DJ Mannix, TILLLATE

To preview/buy tracks goto TRAXSOURCE.com:

http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=75858

Connotation Press Features George Held: Poetry & Interview

2011-01-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

Saturday, January 15, 2011

George Held

Click here: http://www.connotationpress.com/poetry/713-george-held-poetry

for an interview with and 3 poems by me.

Best, George

###

Connotation Press, Issue V, Vol. II, January 2011, features an Interview with George Held by Nicelle Davis and 3 poems by George: "Alien," "At the Marina" and "Typed."

George Held contributes his stories, poems, and book reviews widely, both online and in print, to journals like 5 AM, Confrontation, The Pedestal, and Notre Dame Review. Garrison Keillor read one of George's poems on NPR, he's received 5 Pushcart Prize nominations, and his fourteenth poetry collection is After Shakespeare: Selected Sonnets (Červená Barva Press, 2010). PWP published George's chapbook PHASED: Poem, Etc. in 2008.

Happy MLK! The New Verse News: I HAD A DREAM

2011-01-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

January 16, 2011

Dear Friends & Fellow Poets;

Check out Roxy's poem "I HAD A DREAM" on The New Verse News:

http://newversenews.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-had-dream.html

Barack Obama
as a boy
on his tricycle

Have a great weekend!

Roxy & Herb

p.s. To read & remember the entire text of Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech go to : http://www.usconstitution.net/dream.html

President Barack Obama
44th President of the United States of America

Our President
Still Riding Strong!

Lisella's AMORE Reviewed in FRA NOI & Interview w/ Fagiani Archived on LiveStream

2011-01-14T16:50:00.000-08:00

Fred Gardaphe's review of Maria Lisella's Amore on Hope Street (Finishing Line Press, 2009) in the February 2011 of Fra Noi ("Books & Beyond") is reprinted below:

2. POWERFUL POETRY

Over two dozen poetic gems come in sections on immigrant similarities and clashes, the family here and gone, and travels abroad and inside relationships in Maria Lisella’s Amore on Hope St.. Lisella excels at both lyric and narrative forms, bringing the real to the surface through things like a young girl’s pierced ears, and sometimes through the surreality of a Venetian fog. Through her skills at framing her subjects, she makes the past seem present and the present seem past, creating poetry you want to read and reread. ($14 paperback) http://www.finishinglinepress.com/ ISBN: 978-1-59924-533-1.

New York, December 15th, 2010 – NOTA BENE, a live discussion program, featuring dynamic conversation with leading Artists and Scholars of the Italian American Culture, hosted by Fred Gardaphe, Fulbright Fellow and Distinguished Professor of Italian American Studies at Queens College/CUNY. NOTA BENE re-streams taped LIVE on Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 at 8pm. NOTA BENE can be seen on the Internet LIVE at WWW.LIVESTREAM.COM/ITALICS the third Wednesday of every month. It is then archived on the Livestream.com Site for future viewings.

NOTA BENE with Fred Gardaphe featured PWP authors and IAWA Reading Series Hosts Gil Fagiani and Maria Lisella on December 15th 2010. The show can be heard by following the link to the archived webcast:

http://www.livestream.com/ITALICS/video?clipId=pla_5734eeb2-d6ac-44f4-88eb-a957b7498c07&utm_source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

March 6, World Premiere of Song Cycle by Frank Levy on Poems by Joel Allegretti

2011-01-14T12:54:00.000-08:00

Sunday: March 6, 2011

5PM

obbligato II: Guitar / nostalgic

A Performance by the CANTORI Vocal Ensemble

of New Work:

Night Keeps Its Promise

A Song Cycle by Frank Levy on Poems by Joel Allegretti.

A Gypsy cycle on Lorca texts by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, both for chorus, baritone and guitar,

Renaissance music by John Dowland, and madrigals by Paul Hindemith.

Music for guitar. Christopher Kenniff, guitar.

Church of Holy Trinity (Episocopal)

316 East 88th Street

(1st & 2nd Avenues)

Admission: Adults $25; Seniors $20; Students/Children $5

https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?e=42531e3a5cc20c437c6c9fb41c3aaf08&t=tix

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I'm writing a couple of months ahead of time so you'll mark the date. On Sunday, March 6, Cantori, a 36-member vocal ensemble, will perform the world premiere of "Night Keeps Its Promise," a song cycle by Frank Ezra Levy on my poetry.

The performance will take place 5 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Trinity, 316 East 88th Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenues. In addition to "Night Keeps Its Promise," Cantori will sing gypsy songs on poems by Lorca and Renaissance madrigals.

Frank Levy composed the song cycle on three of my poems: "The Italian," published in Voices in Italian Americana in 2010; "Bellman of the Dead," which appears in my first book, The Plague Psalms; and "The Sea at Our Door," published in River Oak Review in 2008.

"Night Keeps Its Promise" is our second collaboration. In 2009, Kean University presented the world premiere of our first song cycle, "A Cycle by the Sea." Frank was for many years a cellist with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra. His symphonic work appears in the American Classics Series on the Naxos label. The series includes recordings of works by John Cage, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and Ned Rorem.

Here's the link to Cantori's website, where you can purchase tickets. I hope to see you on March 6.

http://www.cantorinewyork.com/concerts_currentSeason.php

Joel

Joel Allegretti

www.joelallegretti.com

THRUM, a new chapbook by Joel Allegretti from Poets Wear Prada
ISBN 978-0-9841844-4-6, Trade Paperback, 38pp., $12.00

"In Thrum Joel Allegretti, deftly and delightfully, strums his magical musical instrument, which is poetry, as he forges fresh forms of songs and stories that are inspired by strummers' strings. 'Context is everything,' Allegretti reminds us, and we’re planted in the heart of a global ancient/modern orchestra. Prepare yourself for the revelatory performance."
Martine Bellen
Author of Tales of Murasaki and Other Poems,
1997 National Poetry Series selection

"Joel Allegretti's latest collection of poems is as enjoyable as it is different. Thrum takes the reader on a journey that explores known musical instruments, such as the mandolin, dulcimer and fiddle, as well as some not-so-known instruments, such as the oud, koto and theorbo. But what makes this journey unique is that each instrument is in a sense personified as the emotive element of each instrument is brought to life. Allegretti does a wonderful job tuning every poem so that the music of each instrument is realized again and again in the words on the page. An intriguing and must read for anyone who has a sense of all that culminates in the commingling of the arts."
Raymond Hammond
Editor, The New York Quarterly

Now Available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Thrum-Poems-Joel-Allegretti/dp/0984184449/

Read Poetry by Karen Neuberg, Eve Packer, Brant Lyon and more in BIGCITYLIT

2011-01-12T18:52:00.000-08:00

Karen Neuberg, 2 poems reprinted from DETAILED STILL (Poets Wear Prada, 2009)

http://www.bigcitylit.com/bigcitylit.php?inc=fall2010/poetry/neuberg

"Ants"

"en route"

eve packer, whose 3rd poetry collection is forthcoming from Poets Wear Prada in 2011.

http://www.bigcitylit.com/bigcitylit.php?inc=fall2010/poetry/packer

"Ya Gotta Be Ready"

"303"

"october 16"

Brant Lyon, author of Your Infidel Eyes (Poets Wear Prada, 2006), Editor for Uphook Press, and Host of Hydrogen Juke Box, and contributing editor at BigCityLit.com

http://www.bigcitylit.com/bigcitylit.php?inc=fall2010/poetry/lyon

"The Supreme Logic of the Universe"

"Without Insulation"

Also on the poetry roster for the Fall 2010 edition of of BigCityLit are:

William L. Alton

Cnthia Atkins

Patricia Brody

Evelyn Duncan

Graham Duncan

Robert Klein Engler

Allen C. Fischer

David Francis

Wilda Gallagher

JoAnne Growney

Joanne Grumet

Patrick Henry

R. Nemo Hill

Caroline Holme

Kate Irving

Helen Ivory

Dean Kostos

Richard Levine

Quitman Marshall

Stephen Massimilla

Philip Miller

Lynn Patmalnee

Jo Pitkin

Ron Price

Ryan

Hilary Sideris

Ian C. Smith

Raleigh Thompson

Barry Wallenstein

Michael T. Young

MARIA LISELLA in Plainview NY on January 23

2011-01-12T11:36:00.000-08:00

SUNDAY EVENING, JANUARY 23, 2011, 7PM

The Mid-Island Y JCC Poetry Series

Proudy Presents

MARIA LISELLA

w/ an open reading

45 Manetto Hill Road

Plainview, NY 11803

516 822 3535 X347; www.miyjcc.org

Director: Gayl Teller

$3 Donation

Maria Lisella will read from her Pushcart Poetry Prize nominated work in Two Naked Feet (Poets Wear Prada) and, Amore on Hope St. (Finishing Line Press). She co-curates the Italian American Writers Association monthly readings at Cornelia St. Cafe (http://iawa.net/).

January Savings on Your Favorite Books at LULU.com

2011-01-12T09:33:00.000-08:00

Use the these verified coupon codes at checkout on LULU.com:

10% off with READ2011.

Maximum savings of $10. Doesn't Include S&H.

Valid thru' 1/31/2011

20% OFF BOOKS with promo code NEWREADS through 1.20.11

Authors share your book titles today with a comment!

SHOP FOR PWP BOOKS AT LULU: http://stores.lulu.com/poetswearprada

The following titles are available on LULU:

THRUM: Poems by Joel Allegretti
DEAD RECKONING: Poems by Gene Auprey
GATHERED AT HER SKY: Life Poems by Tantra-zawadi
OUTSIDE GIRL by Cyndi Dawson