Always Things Going on in Sandusky

ALWAYS THINGS GOING ON IN SANDUSKY

Thanks to the Firelands Writing Center

and Bottom Dog Press.

 

The Big Book of Daniel [Thompson]

 

"Daniel's last gift to us, his life's work, what he gathered in his sixty-nine years, over three hundred pages of poems, is this book, this big jug of honey, which you have in your hands. Taste and see." - from the "Foreword" by Maj Ragain

This fine book by one of Cleveland's finest poets 

 Daniel Thompson

is available at Bottom Dog Press
http://smithdocs.net

and at Mac's Backs
https://www.macsbacks.com

Timothy Russell

 Here, friends, are two fine Ohio poets 
whose work we are proud to share.
Tim passed away in Sept. 2021 and this is his collected poems
with photos, timeline, remembrance by wife Jodi,
and a fine introduction by Marc Harshman.
David J. Adams is very much with us and for us.
This is his New and Selected.
Both are at our web site and up on Amazon.

Join us in Sandusky for the book launch.

Connections

 Join us in lovely downtown Sandusky for a Celebration of haiku 

and Barbara Sabol and Larry Smith's new book CONNECTIONS. 

We will all be writing and sharing haiku. Come and share. 

Saturday Nov. 19th...1:30 - 3:00

Two Area Poets Pair up in New Book of Tanka and Haiku Poetry

 

two area poets pair up in new book 
of tanka and haiku poetry

CONNECTIONS

Morning Dew: Tanka by Larry Smith
and
core & all: haiku by Barbara Sabol

Order online from Bottom Dog Press 

Two important books on Cleveland Poetry Scenes

 

Two important books on Cleveland Poetry Scenes

An anthology of writing by and about d.a.levy.

Chronology of his life and work, Biographical essays, Photographs, Interviews, Profiles, Statements, Letters, Art Work, Collage, Poems and Critical appreciations of his writing and art levy's “Cleveland Prints” Eight pages in full color.

Contributors: Ed Sanders, T.L. Kryss, rjs, Karl Young, Allen Frost, Joel Lipman, Kent Taylor, Mark Kuhar, Ingrid Swanberg, Larry Smith, Russell Salamon, John Jacob, Doug Manson, Michael Basinski, Jim Lang, and others.    

                                                 

Edited by Larry Smith & Mary E. Weems & Nina Freedlander Gibans

"Poetry has a long and living history in Cleveland, Ohio, and this examination of its past through the lens of its vibrant present is a treasure in and of itself. They are all here, the great ones who showed the way: Langston Hughes, d.a.levy, Alberta Turner, Robert Wallace, Daniel Thompson. They set the bar pretty high. But as the editors demonstrate, their sons and daughters carry on, bringing the word to the city's streets and universities, libraries and coffeehouses."  ~ Ron Antonucci

304 pages of Cleveland Poetry Scenes from 1945 to the Present. 6 x 9 with over 50 photographs of people and places from the times. Includes an anthology of 40 key Cleveland poets with bio and statements from each.

Here's the link to order: Cleveland Poetry Scenes

https://smithdocs.net/best_selling_anthologies__cleveland_poetry_scenes

 Folks, we at Bottom Dog Press can use your support in this big project to work for reason in gun control. We will be publishing a  book of memoir by JRW (Robert) Case.

Cycling Through Columbine

A Memoir of American Democracy in Crisis

The book follows Robert on a cross-country bike-packing adventure while reflecting on the Columbine school massacre near his hometown in Colorado.

You can help through our GoFundMe campaign. 

https://gofund.me/639ffd7a

Thanks

Publishing Poetry in Northeast Ohio: Roundtable, Readings, Book Fair

Join in a lively discussion with regionally and nationally known poetry publishers on Saturday April 13th at the South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library.

12:30-2:00 Roundtable

Representatives from Bottom Dog Press, Cleveland State University Press, Crisis Chronicles Press, NightBallet Press, Poet’s Haven, and University of Akron Press will share their thoughts and insights about publishing poetry and answer questions from the audience. Moderated by Bonné de Blas, an MFA Candidate in the Northeastern Ohio Master of Fine Arts program at Kent State University.

2:00-2:15 Break

Enjoy free refreshments while you browse the book fair, talk with local publishers, and check out their publications.

2:15-3:45 Readings

Several authors published by presses in today’s roundtable will read from their work. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Readers will include Phil Metres, Ray McNiece, Rikki Santer, Holli Rainwater, Robin Mullet, Larry Smith and more.

3:45-4:30 Book Fair

Browse the book fair, talk with local publishers, and check out their publications.

Cuyahoga County Public Library
South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch
1876 South Green Road
South Euclid, Ohio  44121
Phone 216-382-4880

This event is FREE and open to the public. Please RSVP at http://attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/1408538.

We'll be having a good time in the old place this day

 

We'll be having a good time in the old place this day.

Raising some issues and opening some doors

on the issue of Women's Rights.

Laura is a pro and a fine performer.

Open-Mic to follow on this day of National Poetry Month

Ray McNiece Coming to Sandusky--March 14th

Ray McNiece Coming to Sandusky--March 14th

Coffeehouse Reading Series...2 pm. followed by Open-Mic

Ray McNiece

 poet
performer
 educator
speaker
actor

musician

singer

writer

 Sponsored by The Firelands Writing Center

& Bottom Dog Press

New book out in February...SALVATORE AND MARIA:... - Bottom Dog Press/ Bird Dog Publishing

New book out in February...SALVATORE AND MARIA:... - Bottom Dog Press/ Bird Dog Publishing

Bottom Dog Press/ Larry Smith

Bottom Dog Press/ Larry Smith

More Nature Photo-Poems in the Zen spirit.
New form for me...Photo + Poem

Try one.

Photos by Brian Smith/ Words by Larry Smith

A rare pairing of two NorthCentral Ohio poets

A rare pairing of two NorthCentral Ohio poets...Susan Grimm and Larry Smith.
Larry reading a poem from Lake Winds: Poems

Celebrate The Big Book of Daniel!

From Bottom Dog Press:

A series of readings for the book by Thompson’s friends and fellow poets is planned during April, National Poetry Month. 

They include:
April 5 at 7:30 pm, Room 214, Oscar Ritchie Hall, 225 Terrace Drive, Kent State University, sponsored by the Wick Poetry Center ; 
April 13 at 7 pm at Mac’s Backs, 1820 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights; 
Sunday April 17, 2-5 pm at Nighttown jazz club on Cedar Road, Cleveland with Ray McNiece and Tongue-n-Groove, and musicians Joe Hunter, James Onysko of Drumplay and others; 
April 21, 7 pm at The Algebra Tea House in Little Italy; 
April 30, 7:00 pm at Lakewood Public Library auditorium; 
May 17 Shaker Heights Library, Bertram Woods, 7:00 pm, 

Friends and fellow poets are invited to come share one or two poems from the book, as well as any poems written for Daniel. 

Publisher and fellow poet, Larry Smith, states, “We invite others to join us in celebrating Daniel Thompson’s life and the release of The Big Book of Daniel.”

See more at http://smithdocs.net

New Book by Larry Smith/ Tu Fu Comes to America

And he lives right here in Cleveland. Smith is having fun and creating meaning by moving the ancient Chinese poet (or his spirit) to the streets of Cleveland. He's working at the temp agency, washing dishes, and struggling with his family to get by and make some meaning of their lives.

"Tu Fu Comes to America is a compelling verse novel depicting the poignant realities of working immigrants. Smith’s spare, sturdy lines flash with Buddhist insight as Tu Fu strives to provide for his family in Cleveland, 'In the shopping bag, my work clothes./ On my back the white shirt Mei has ironed./ No yesterday or tomorrow, only now.'" -RAY MCNIECE, author of Our Way of Life: Poems

"In the winter of 770 CE, Tu Fu left this world. In Larry Smith’s fine narrative, he reappears in present day Cleveland. We see America through his eyes, through his contemplative heart. Hope, loss, friendship, love, the old quarrel with the world. Travel with him. Open your chest. Learn." —MAJ RAGAIN, author of Twist the Axe

The book comes from March Street Press in North Carolina, 60 pages...$9. You can order from them online or from Bottom Dog Press or pick up a copy at Mac's Backs Books...Smith will be reading at Sandusky on Sunday October 10th and at Mac's on October 16th.

New book on peace from Bottom Dog Press

New book by Bottom Dog Press....to be out in early December

I know I'm getting a little ahead of myself here as editor-publisher of Bottom Dog Press, but with all the bad news going around lately, it's good to know some relief is on the way. Phil Metres has joined Ann and me as editors of this fine collection of poems that bring us together to envision a way of peace. If we lose the ability to imagine peace for us and our children, we are lost. This book says no. Poets have always brought us sanity and hope...they are the namers and sayers of courage and beauty.

Phil has an excellent introduction....Relief is on the way.

Come Together: Imagine Peace
Edited by Ann Smith, Larry Smith, and Philip Metres
With an Introduction by Philip Metres

“Peace poetry is larger than a moral injunction against war; it is an articulation of the expanse, the horizon where we are one. To adapt a line by the Sufi poet Rumi: beyond the realm of good and evil, there is a field.” -from the Introduction by Philip Metres

Precedents: Sappho, Whitman, Dickinson, Cavafy, Millay, Patchen, Rexroth, Shapiro, Lowell, Creeley, Rukeyser, Ginsberg, Levertov, Lorde, Stafford, Jordan, Amichai, Darwish;
Contemporaries: Ali, Bass, Berry, Bauer, Bly, Bodhrán, Bradley, Brazaitis, Bright, Bryner, Budbill, Cervine, Charara, Cording, Cone, Crooker, Daniels, di Prima, Davis, Dougherty, Ellis, Espada, Estes, Ferlinghetti, Forché, Frost, Gibson, Gundy, Gilberg, Habra, Hague, Hamill, Harter, Hassler, Haven, Heyen, Hirshfield, Hughes, Joudah, Jenson, Karmin, Kendig, Kornunhakaa, Kovacik, Kryss, Krysl, LaFemina, Landis, Leslie, Lifshin, Loden, Lovin, Lucas, McCallum, McGuane, Machan, McQuaid, Meek, Miltner, Montgomery, Norman, Nye, Pankey, Pendarvis, Pinsky, Porterfield, Prevost, Ragain, Rosen, Rashid, Rich, Roffman, Rosen, Ross, Rusk, Salinger, Sanders, Seltzer, Schneider, Shabtai, Shannon, Sheffield, Shipley, Shomer, Silano, Sklar, Smith, Snyder, Spahr, Sydlik, Szymborska, Trommer, Twichell, Volkmer, Walker, Waters, Weems, Wilson, Zale ...

Larry