New Year, New Poems for Redheads and Canadians

Although the holidays, and my family, gave me time to catch up on some reading, I feel I haven't written anything substantial in many (many) months. I must have managed to do a fair bit, though, up to at least a certain point last year, and everything seems to be coming out now at once.

If you are a redhead, or just a connoisseur, check out this at times funny, at times touching, at times surprisingly thought-provoking collection of poetry, drama and short fiction, Canadian Ginger (Oolichan Books, 2017):

Editors Kim Clark and Dawn Kresan, both gingers themselves, kindly included my poem "Calico," even though it's about my angst at being a blonde in a family of blazing redheads.

Hamilton Arts & Letters, meanwhile, published my way more political poem "Canada" in their latest issue, 10.2. I'll also be reading from Lost Enough in Hamilton in May, at LitLive!

Gratitude

I've had an awful lot to be thankful for this fall, both big and small. Good health prognoses for family and friends, the opportunity to read from Lost Enough throughout Alberta, including in my hometown of Pincher Creek, travel, great coworkers, and the chance to spend time with loved ones.

I particularly want to give thanks to the many people who entered the Goodreads Giveaway for Lost Enough. Congratulations to the three winners. For anyone else who would love to get their hands on a free copy of Lost Enough, please ask your library to order it. I cannot express enough how huge a help that is to authors, not to mention that it's a great way to get to read, and share, writing that speaks to you.

My thanks also to the wonderful owners at Montreal's Argo Bookshop for hosting a small but really wonderful event earlier this month. The weather turned suddenly to winter for my train trip back, but it didn't matter, because I'd not only had a great time reading and answering questions in the tiny but perfect bookstore, but picked up a copy of Edin Robinson's Son of a Trickster, and, thanks to Argo co-owner Moti, was led to the wonderfulness that is E.K. Weaver and her gorgeous graphic novel, The Less than Epic Adventures of TJ and Amal (note: for mature readers, some portions NSFW).

Up next, I'm reading December 14 at Pivot Reading Series in Toronto.

Enter the Goodreads Giveaway to Win a Copy of Lost Enough

Morning Rain Publishing is holding a giveaway of three copies of my debut short fiction collection, Lost Enough. Enter the Goodreads contest now for a chance to win a copy Lost Enough, with a signed note from me!

The contest closes November 17, 2017. Open to U.S. and Canadian entrants.

Also, a reminder that reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, etc. really do help small press authors like me sell more books and reach a wider audience, so if you like something, please say something.

Have Books, Will Travel

I'm heading to Alberta this month to read from Lost Enough where I can. See my Events page for details of my readings with my partner, James K. Moran, at the Variant Edition comic shop in Edmonton October 10 and at the Flywheel Reading Series in Calgary October 12, and for my hometown reading at the Pincher Creek Library, 2 p.m., Saturday, October 14.

If you're in the neighbourhood for any of these, please join us. My thanks to each of the venues and organizers for having me.

The trip will also mark the first time I head back after losing my mam this spring. She's everywhere, there, and going home this time is as bittersweet as you'd imagine.

Call for Artwork

🎨My co-editors and I are looking for artwork for the cover of an anthology of poetry and essays on Motherhood in Precarious Times, scheduled for publication in 2018.

Do you have visually compelling work that would fit the bill? If so, please email submissions to dolmanideas@gmail.com in a common format (.jpeg, gif, pdf, etc.) as soon as possible.

There is a small honorarium available for selected work. BIPOC artists are particularly encouraged. 📷

Writing Advice

I had the privilege, years ago, of writing the first On Writing essay for rob mclennan's Ottawa poetry newsletter, and I often still click through when rob sends the latest post around.

They range from hilarious to esoteric to extremely applicable, but all offer insights into what it is to write. The latest essay, ottawa poetry newsletter: On Writing #138 : Lauren B. Davis: 10 HARD TRUTHS ABOUT WRITING, is particularly direct, and particularly helpful. I highly recommend it!

Reviews, the Sweetest Tip

I am so delighted with the first Goodreads reviews to come in for Lost Enough.

Reviews on author sales sites like Amazon, and book review sites like Goodreads, have become so important these days in promoting authors' work. Although I've known this for several years, the release of Lost Enough has, selfishly, brought the need for such reviews home.

Not only do I deeply appreciate readers taking the time to post their thoughts about my own book, but I am trying to do my part to review, or at the very least rate, the books I read.

I've reviewed books, and still do, for Arc Poetry Magazine, where there is more room to delve down into the essence and details of a book's construction, targeted to readers and authors already engaged with the genre, author or book.

Goodreads and bookseller sites, though, offer access to a different, and often much broader, set of potential readers, and the reader-driven reviews there have become increasingly essential for authors.

Leaving a review, even something as brief as "Great book," is a great way to engage with and support the writing community, and to help the writing and the authors you love get noticed by other potential readers. If you love something, say something.