Lots of changes, the main one leaving teaching after 25 years. Just decided I’d had enough and wanted to try something else that would allow more time for reading and–you guessed it–writing. So, here I am, ready to show you more of what I’ve done and will do. You can start here

Just got my copy of Pudding Magazine: The Journal of Applied Poetry, Vol. 66, in the mail today and found a review of Letting Go featured in it. Thanks so much to Managing Editor Connie Willett for her fair and favorable assessment of my book!

I just learned that two of my poems, “Tijuana” and “Breathing Room,” have been accepted for WAVES: A Confluence of Women’s Voices, an anthology that will be published by A Room of Her Own Foundation. It is an honor to be included.

June 17’s reading at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lima with some of my UU poetry peeps, Jacob King, Carla Thompson, and Anne Edwards, and others who took the mic was a wonderful experience, as always. We had a good turnout and perfect porch weather.

My first reading for the book at Happy Bean Coffee in Mt. Vernon, OH, joined by my friends Carla Thompson and Jacob King. Sponsored by the Ohio Poetry Association, the event was emceed by Mark Hersman, Vice President. Such a treat and an honor to be featured. I even sold some books!

Remember when he says, “The new phone books are here! The new phone books are here!” in The Jerk? That’s how I felt today when Letting Go finally arrived in the mail. “The new poetry books are here! The new poetry books are here!” Now what do I do with all of them? Promote them and sell them, I guess. I’ll be learning as I go, and will keep you posted on how it goes!

The manager of the Barnes & Noble at the University of Northwestern Ohio, where I teach, has ordered my book and asked me to do a book signing once they receive it. Of course, I said yes. Maybe they’ll even let me do a reading!

Publication has been delayed a couple of months (until late April), but I just received the second set of galleys for final approval, so we’re making progress.

You cannot tell the ripeness from its color

must press the flesh with your thumb

graze your fingertip across its skin

feel it give under gentle pressure

breathe in the scent of peach and honey

run the blade to cleave the fruit

along each cheek

try not to nick the pit

score diamonds into flesh

turn each lobe inside out

scrape morsels from skin with your teeth

nibble around the slippery pit

then gnaw it to get the last bits

juice running down to your elbows

dripping down your chin.

So excited that Finishing Line  Press made “Letting Go” their Book of the Day. They’ve helped me every step of the way toward publication. It feels good to have my inspiration and perspiration come to fruition!