Herb Kauderer interviewed

I want to give a shout out to this interview of Buffalo-area poet Herb Kauderer by Mary Turzillo:

• An Interview with Herb Kauderer

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MT:  So, are poems by nature lies, or only some of them?
HK:  That’s a marvelously metaphysical question that requires secondary definition. Is a lie only a conscious attempt to mislead? What if the teller of the lie believes it? If the latter is true, then the teller is not qualified to call it a lie or truth.
I write some poems that are intentional lies in pursuit of a greater truth. I write other poems that are as true as I can make them at the time of composition, only to find out that time has turned them into lies.
[...]
Therefore a concise answer to your question is, “only some poems are lies, but I’m not telling you which.”

The Book of Whimsy-- and Monsters

Orrery by Dianne Borsenik

OK, it's official! 
My chapbook collection of poetry, The Book of Whimsy, has now been released from Dianne Borsenik​'s NightBallet Press​. This one has 36 of my poems, mostly the funny and whimsical ones. 
Only $10.00 from NightBallet-- cheap!  (Well, plus shipping).
And, also just released, Mary​'s chapbook A Guide to Endangered Monsters. 
What more could you want?  Buy extra copies so you have one give one away to your friends!

• Monsters! Whimsy! What more could you ask for?
• NightBallet Press

Gundy at Sandusky

 Jeff Gundy of Bluffton University and the author of 6 books of poetry and 4 books of nonfiction will launch his new book Abandoned Homeland: Poems at the Coffeehouse Readings in Sandusky, Ohio on Saturday, Sept 12. The event begins at 2 pm in lovely and rustic downtown Sandusky at Mr. Smith's Coffeehouse. Hosted by the Firelands Writing Center and Bottom Dog Press. Jeff promises to also play guitar and sing. Open-Mic to follow.

Try These Visual Writing Prompts

  

Hello writers!

Cuyahoga County Public Library is looking for writers (any age) to post their creative writing (any genre) in response to the panels in our brand new "Stories Connect Us" mural at the Parma-Snow Branch.  Visit cuyahogalibrary.org/StoriesConnectUs to choose your favorite and upload your writing to share with readers everywhere.

The Library borrowed the "Stories Connect Us" theme from one of our favorite writers, Kate DiCamillo, who's made it her mission as the 2014-2015 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. You know Kate as the author of Because of Winn Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux (both made into movies). Last week, Kate came to the Cuyahoga County Public Library to see the mural in person and meet 400 fans. 

Stories connect us - so get writing!  Head to cuyahogalibrary.org/StoriesConnectUs and get inspired. 

Laurie Kincer
Cuyahoga County Public Library
lkincer@cuyahogalibrary.org

Announcing the launch of Literary Cleveland

Lee Chilcote writes:

Dear friends,

At the first-ever Cleveland Inkubator on Saturday, August 1st, more than 300 people poured into the Cleveland Public Library to learn about writing. From the inspiring kickoff address with literacy champion Margaret Bernstein, to workshops and craft talks with Cleveland writers Les Roberts, Susan Grimm and Charlotte Morgan, to the keynote reading with David Giffels and Thrity Umrigar, this was an event worth savoring.

We've rarely seen so many Cleveland writers in one place, and we don't want to let that energy simply dissipate into the air! That's why a group of us are launching Literary Cleveland, a new, fledgling organization whose vision is to create a stronger community of writers and readers in the Greater Cleveland area through classes, workshops, readings and other events. Our goal is to bring you Inkubator-style programming year-round.

By starting small and being intentional about how we build our efforts, we believe Lit Cleveland can be a sustainable organization for writers and readers. Today, we're writing to share a few programs we've just finished organizing for September. Please take a moment to check out these workshops and events, sign up if you're interested, and share with others. Send feedback and suggestions to litcleveland@gmail.com.

Tuesday, 9/8, 7:30 pm
An evening with D.M. Pulley, author of The Dead Key
The Happy Dog, 5801 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland OH 44102

D.M. Pulley's first novel, The Dead Key, was selected as the Grand Prize Winner of the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Join Lit Cleveland for a discussion with Pulley about the story behind her compelling first novel, the research she conducted to bring its details to life, and her upcoming works.
$: FREE

Saturday, 9/12, 10:30a-12:30p
Public poetry writing workshop
Cleve. Public Library, Lit. Dept., 325 Superior Ave., 2nd Floor, Cleve. OH 44114
For writers of all levels. Sharpen your craft and receive comments and suggestions on your work in a friendly group format. Please bring 20 copies of a poem. Led by writer and poet Lee Chilcote and guest facilitators.
$: FREE

Saturday, 9/19, 10:30a-12:30p
Personal essay writing workshop
Carnegie West branch, CPL, 1900 Fulton Rd. Cleve. OH 44113
For writers of all levels. Learn how to turn your memories into stories with Lee Chilcote. Workshops to offer exercises and feedback on participants' work (sent in advance after the first workshop).
$: FREE

Saturdays, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3 (10a-12p), 10/17 (7p)
Truth, beauty and you: An ekphrastic poetry workshop
Heights Arts, 2175 Lee Rd., Cleve. Hts. OH 44118
Learn the art of ekphrastic poetry (poems that respond to art) with former Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Kathleen Cerveny. Organized in collaboration with Heights Arts.
$90/person

We'll be back in touch soon to announce more workshops and events for the fall. We hope to see you around town soon!

Sincerely,

Lit Cleveland organizing committee

• Literary Cleveland

Cleveland Public Poetry will present Bruce Weigl on August 22nd

Ohio Center for the Book

The Persistance of Litmags

A lot of poetry--the published poetry, anyway-- in America is coming out in literary magazines. Some of them have names that are words of power: Kenyon Review. Ploughshares. Paris Review. Threepenny.  But-- does anybody read them? Why do people start litmags, anyway?  And... after the excitement of the first few issues.. why do they keep at it?
And, more important: how is it that they keep surviving in the 21st century?
In the New Yorker, Stephen Burt writes about The Persistence of Litmags... and how they've adapted to the electronic age.

• Bookfox ranks literary magazines
• Top 50 literary magazines
• Top ten literary magazines to send your poetry