So break is officially over, and there is one day left in the first week of classes. This week has been fairly easy... for me. Though come Monday I anticipate a completely different energy to commence.
I'd like to say that my time in Boise has been productive, but it hasn't really. I haven't written a poem (barring some work on a tiny poem from paintings project... but does it really count when they are 3-5 lines, maybe 15 syllables all said and done?) in two months. Seriously.
And I only just last week started reading again. I guess that was sort of productive.
Books I've read include:
AR Ammons, GARBAGE
Sawaka Nakayasou, TEXTURE NOTES
GC Waldrep, ARCHICEMBALO
Rene Char trans. Gustaf Sobin, THE BRITTLE AGE and RETURNING UPLAND
Heather Christle, THE DIFFICULT FARM
John Godfrey, CITY OF CORNERS
...and I'm currently reading:
Stacy Doris, CONFERENCE
What's been especially lovely about this new reading period is that I've actually enjoyed every single book. I'd recommend any and all. Though, I'm most in love with Doris at the moment. Maybe because I'm reading her at the moment. Or maybe because, somehow, she manages to make language playful & purposeful & it does something. It moves me, even when she's at her strangest.
Two favorite moments, which are not wildly strange, but are incredible:
"In loving what I can't touch, I die."
&
"Because so much of existence is correspondence, I
wonder is flight a form of correspondence?"
***
It's probably good I've managed to get some reading done before the semester seriously commences as, once it does, I imagine my "reading for me" time will come to a close. Hopefully I can get this last book finished before I have to give up the goods.
Because, along with school, I have SLOPE-- which is coming along. I have received some wonderful things. I continue to pester others to send work. Life continues to go on. The sun shines today, with promises of rain on the weather channels. Sushi tonight. And a free show. And then time on the sofa with a cat & a book.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Slow, I know...
So, I meant to post this way earlier, but, you know. Life etc.
alice blue has released their very first book: THE BLUE-COLLAR SUN by Lucas Farrell.
You can purchase them here: ALICE BLUE BOOKS. It's good. And I'm not just saying that because I published it.
Also, keep a look out for other new & exciting things from alice blue. Like our next issue, a special double-issue, in honor of it being our 10th.
Also, look for the corresponding alice blue blog, where us editors will take on reviewing the fine folk out there creating such marvellous, wonderful text.
Also, a real blog post forthcoming.
yrs,
a
alice blue has released their very first book: THE BLUE-COLLAR SUN by Lucas Farrell.
You can purchase them here: ALICE BLUE BOOKS. It's good. And I'm not just saying that because I published it.
Also, keep a look out for other new & exciting things from alice blue. Like our next issue, a special double-issue, in honor of it being our 10th.
Also, look for the corresponding alice blue blog, where us editors will take on reviewing the fine folk out there creating such marvellous, wonderful text.
Also, a real blog post forthcoming.
yrs,
a
Friday, December 11, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Book Building & Other Tools
So, I've been involved with the online poetry community since about 2005 when alice blue first launched. Weird to think it's really only been 4-5 years. And also weird to think it's already been 4-5 years. And as one who spend a lot of time online, reading lots of poetry blogs, reading lots of online journals, and reading a lot in print too, and being a subscriber of several small/micro presses-- I've seen a lot in the DIY world. In small presses doing small chapbook and journal print runs. I am the proud owner of a fairly sizable handmade chapbook collection which I have garnered from bookstores and writers and the presses themselves.
But I have not, as yet, participated. Or, not made my own. We at alice blue have always planned to have a print element but it always seemed like something we put off and put off and put off-- you know, life happens. Other things got in the way. We didn't have the money. The list of excuses can be quite grandiose.
This summer, I don't know what clicked. I was tired of waiting. I decided I just wanted to do it and screw all else. So I solicited some people, read through a series of really fabulous manuscripts, and picked two for a couple small chapbook runs. 100 chapbooks, 10 art books. All handmade.
And man. It's a mind-boggling lot of work. Ultimately, to me? It's worth it to take the time to make the book a piece worth keeping, something of as much value as what takes place on the inside. I got two of my friends (one with art book making experience, one with letterpress & papermaking skills who is getting ready to attend art school) on board. Hand made paper covers for the 100 print run. Letterpress on the cover. They will be archival. Printed on 30% cotton paper. A vellum inner sheet before the title. Hand sewn. To be uncompromising means everything takes too fucking long and everything runs late. It means it's labor intensive. It means hours in art supply and hardware and office supply stores looking at two different types of paper, both white, and deciding on which one is more appropriate.
It makes me all the more appreciate of the people who run micro presses. These labors of love. These things that are paid for out of pocket, not because you have any expectation of financial reward, but because you think the work itself is worth the time, money and attention. I could have paid for a new HD tv and digital cable? But no. I have stupid bunny ears and a converter that don't actually work. And a lot of time and money invested and nothing yet put together or assembled. But this weekend, the paper should be done. And the printing should be done next week. And then it's just a matter of having a wacky, wild sewing party to get those things together.
The art book is a bit slower. But man-oh-man is it going to be worth it. You'll just have to wait and see.
Either way, every time I see one new facet of this come together, the waiting and the work just seems more worthwhile.
Woo.
But I have not, as yet, participated. Or, not made my own. We at alice blue have always planned to have a print element but it always seemed like something we put off and put off and put off-- you know, life happens. Other things got in the way. We didn't have the money. The list of excuses can be quite grandiose.
This summer, I don't know what clicked. I was tired of waiting. I decided I just wanted to do it and screw all else. So I solicited some people, read through a series of really fabulous manuscripts, and picked two for a couple small chapbook runs. 100 chapbooks, 10 art books. All handmade.
And man. It's a mind-boggling lot of work. Ultimately, to me? It's worth it to take the time to make the book a piece worth keeping, something of as much value as what takes place on the inside. I got two of my friends (one with art book making experience, one with letterpress & papermaking skills who is getting ready to attend art school) on board. Hand made paper covers for the 100 print run. Letterpress on the cover. They will be archival. Printed on 30% cotton paper. A vellum inner sheet before the title. Hand sewn. To be uncompromising means everything takes too fucking long and everything runs late. It means it's labor intensive. It means hours in art supply and hardware and office supply stores looking at two different types of paper, both white, and deciding on which one is more appropriate.
It makes me all the more appreciate of the people who run micro presses. These labors of love. These things that are paid for out of pocket, not because you have any expectation of financial reward, but because you think the work itself is worth the time, money and attention. I could have paid for a new HD tv and digital cable? But no. I have stupid bunny ears and a converter that don't actually work. And a lot of time and money invested and nothing yet put together or assembled. But this weekend, the paper should be done. And the printing should be done next week. And then it's just a matter of having a wacky, wild sewing party to get those things together.
The art book is a bit slower. But man-oh-man is it going to be worth it. You'll just have to wait and see.
Either way, every time I see one new facet of this come together, the waiting and the work just seems more worthwhile.
Woo.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
When Life Gives You Lemonade
...life gets tasty...
My readings were glorious and the poets lovely and I was honored to be a part of it.
Now...
You can read a poem from what will be my thesis here.
You can read my very first chapbook ever on h_ngm_n with some other really fabulous work, thanks to nate pritts, the lovely gent who agreed to publish it. If you scroll to the bottom of the page here you'll find it in .pdf format. I'm very, very excited about this. And proud. And grateful.
My first print chap is forthcoming (on some elusive 2010 date) from Publishing Genius, which is also of the rad.
And alice blue, my love, my pet, is working on launching itself as a press. Eventually this fall (should have been by the end of October, but man everything is taking longer than anticipated)-- another in the Spring. And then the first official alice blue full-length manuscript open reading period.
Oh yeah. And I'm guest-editing SLOPE. Check it out.
My readings were glorious and the poets lovely and I was honored to be a part of it.
Now...
You can read a poem from what will be my thesis here.
You can read my very first chapbook ever on h_ngm_n with some other really fabulous work, thanks to nate pritts, the lovely gent who agreed to publish it. If you scroll to the bottom of the page here you'll find it in .pdf format. I'm very, very excited about this. And proud. And grateful.
My first print chap is forthcoming (on some elusive 2010 date) from Publishing Genius, which is also of the rad.
And alice blue, my love, my pet, is working on launching itself as a press. Eventually this fall (should have been by the end of October, but man everything is taking longer than anticipated)-- another in the Spring. And then the first official alice blue full-length manuscript open reading period.
Oh yeah. And I'm guest-editing SLOPE. Check it out.
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