Monday, January 18, 2016
Post-Writing Workshop Wrap-up
Now I know what people mean when they talk of coming "back to reality" after a writing workshop! After attending a poetry workshop in Key West, it is difficult to process all the feedback I got from fellow writers and the teacher, as well as try to retain everything I learned. I think my brain is two days behind, still downloading data! It was nice to immerse myself in writing and think of nothing but poetry and where to have dinner for five days, but now I must start thinking about dental appointments and home repairs, etc. I wouldn't really have the stamina for a longer workshop, anyway! I produced three poems which are close to being in publishable form.
Monday, January 04, 2016
First acceptance of the New Year!
Ah, how sweet it is! The first acceptance of the year comes from the Quarterday Review for their Imbolc issue. (The editor also offered candid feedback from her and her staff readers,
so that was very helpful. It's always interesting to see what other
readers focus on when reading your poems.)
They accepted my latest ghazal Maid Marian's Many Silences! This poem was inspired by the film "Robin and Marian" starring Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn which must have made an impression on me since I have never forgotten it! Contrary to most portrayals, this film showed an older Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
Right now I'm working on a free verse poem entitled Plague Graffiti and another one about Joan of Arc. I guess I'm sort of mentally stuck in the Middle Ages right now!
They accepted my latest ghazal Maid Marian's Many Silences! This poem was inspired by the film "Robin and Marian" starring Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn which must have made an impression on me since I have never forgotten it! Contrary to most portrayals, this film showed an older Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
Right now I'm working on a free verse poem entitled Plague Graffiti and another one about Joan of Arc. I guess I'm sort of mentally stuck in the Middle Ages right now!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
2015 Writing Year in Review
Wow, this year ended with the Big Bang of Book Fairs: my Miami Book Fair presentation/reading experience was eye-opening and even fun on some levels. But it was a banner year in many other aspects as well: first of all my chapbook, Shining from a Different Firmament came out in March, (very appropriately for Women's History month); I also had a record of 20 acceptances (for me!--I know this number may be laughable to some people but I wield a slow pen!) and 15 publications, not including the 20 poems published in the actual chapbook, 5 interviews or articles featuring my poetry, 2 book giveaways, 1 book auction, 1 review of my chapbook in the Quarterday Review and 1 judging experience!
Along with the publications came precious feedback from readers and fellow poets, who were very generous in their comments and it was very encouraging to realize that I am not delusional but actually making some progress in my poetry.
I was fortunate to begin this year by publishing one of my favorite poems "Nothing in the Dark" and ended with the publication of another: " "Emily Brontë Addresses Her Creation" -- as well as the acceptance of some hard-to-place longer poems in the perfect venue which I hope will go forward.
Next year begins auspiciously, (I hope!), with 1 writing workshop acceptance (with poet Campbell McGrath). They have so many activities planned--readings, receptions, sunset sailings--that I'm wondering when exactly we are supposed to get any writing done! But it all sounds like fun.
What do I want to accomplish next year? I think my main preoccupation is to learn to self-direct my writing so I'm not so dependent on outside stimulus. Since my tutorial with Andrea ended, I think I'm suffering from the equivalent of the post-M.F.A. limbo that many students find themselves in. Our tutorial lasted about the same length of time as an M.F.A. and I think accomplished the same, more or less. Now I have to learn to do it on my own.
Another highlight of the coming year:
Portland-based Poetry Press Week will be debuting in Miami and they have invited me to be a judge, so that will be a new and fascinating experience!
Along with the publications came precious feedback from readers and fellow poets, who were very generous in their comments and it was very encouraging to realize that I am not delusional but actually making some progress in my poetry.
I was fortunate to begin this year by publishing one of my favorite poems "Nothing in the Dark" and ended with the publication of another: " "Emily Brontë Addresses Her Creation" -- as well as the acceptance of some hard-to-place longer poems in the perfect venue which I hope will go forward.
Next year begins auspiciously, (I hope!), with 1 writing workshop acceptance (with poet Campbell McGrath). They have so many activities planned--readings, receptions, sunset sailings--that I'm wondering when exactly we are supposed to get any writing done! But it all sounds like fun.
What do I want to accomplish next year? I think my main preoccupation is to learn to self-direct my writing so I'm not so dependent on outside stimulus. Since my tutorial with Andrea ended, I think I'm suffering from the equivalent of the post-M.F.A. limbo that many students find themselves in. Our tutorial lasted about the same length of time as an M.F.A. and I think accomplished the same, more or less. Now I have to learn to do it on my own.
Another highlight of the coming year:
Portland-based Poetry Press Week will be debuting in Miami and they have invited me to be a judge, so that will be a new and fascinating experience!
Monday, December 07, 2015
Sparrow's Trill - Minerva Rising's special issue on Race in America
I'm very honored that Minerva's Rising's special issue on race in America: Sparrow's Trill will include my poem "In the flesh." Poetry editor Emily Shearer's revision suggestions improved this poem quite a bit and I'm happy it will appear in such an important issue. From their page:
Subscribe to Minerva or purchase this issue here.
"After the racially charged act of hate that killed nine people in a Charleston church in June, Minerva Rising no longer wanted to be silent. We wanted to start a dialogue for social change--a dialogue based in love. We wanted to fuse the schisms and unite as one voice writing to heal the open wounds of the heart, writing to change the world we inhabit. That dialogue created this special edition."
The title, Sparrow’s Trill, comes from the poem "Tapestry I (Mississippi, 2015)" by Jessica Lanay.
the thick
rope groans against a high
bough and it sounds
so much like
the end of a sparrow’s trill that
I look for birds
Subscribe to Minerva or purchase this issue here.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Lessons learned from my first Miami Book Fair poetry reading
I know not all venues are like the Miami Book Fair but I learned so much just from this first experience that I thought I'd share what I gained from it; I also want to remind myself what worked for me and what didn't for next time (if there is one!):
- Hydrate your throat. Bring a bottle of water--the hosts didn't provide one at the tables and the lights shining on us were HOT! (This is Miami.) Also, make sure you have shine-blotting paper on hand or wear lots of make-up because those lights make you look pale (and scared!). Singers suggest warm honey and/or potato chips (something salty) to smooth the voice.
- Bring a clean copy. Bring two copies of your book--one to show, prop up on the table or have pictures taken with, the other to read from.
- Facilitate page access. Read directly from your book but use some sticky tabs to mark your pages--I noticed several readers hunting around for pages while I was able to transition smoothly from one poem to the next by using color-coded sticky tabs with a keyword from the title on each one so I could see which poem was where.
- Consolidate your notes. All your notes should be stapled inside your book so as to not be noticeable--print them out on a separate sheet and then staple or tape it inside your book (cut down to size if necessary) at the same orientation so you don't have to hold your book sideways! If you want to make a few remarks before each poem, write them at the top of the page on which the poem begins.
- Avoid fumbling. Do NOT use loose sheets with your poems printed in large print unless you have rock solid nerves because your hands may tremble. Some people suggested this and it sounded like a good idea at the time, but I'm glad I decided to read directly from the book. Most of the other writers did, also. On that note, make sure you use the book during all your practice runs. Make sure the page turns occur at a natural pausing time in the poems that run over more than one page.
- Manage your time. Know exactly how long it will take you to read each poem; that way you can mix and match them and know how long you will be reading. Your watch can fail you and the reading venue may not have visible clocks. Do NOT read over your time limit and keep in mind that things rarely begin at the exact time, so you have to subtract that time from your reading accordingly.
- Communicate enjoyment. Remember to smile and act like you are enjoying yourself (if your acting skills are up to it!)
- Connect. Bring business cards or their equivalent to hand out to the other poets you connect with or fans.
- Be grateful. Thank everyone involved in the reading and/or preparing the venue and learn the volunteers' names so next time you can greet them by name! (I hope I remembered to thank the room host in my case. He was really nice; not only did he pinch-hit when our presenter didn't show up but he also put us at ease and asked the first question during the Q & A. Unfortunately, I did not remember to get his name!)
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
2015 Miami Book Fair International presentation
I read from Shining from a Different Firmament at the Miami Book Fair International last weekend! It was a great experience but that smile on my face is the pure happiness of relief after it was over! It was the first time I'd read my poetry in public and doing so at the largest book festival in the U.S. probably wasn't the brightest idea in the world! But I'm glad to say I survived, met and heard some great poets read (Julie Marie Wade, Kay Ryan, Juan Felipe Herrera, among others) and even glimpsed some celebrities up close! (John Leguizamo and Rosie Perez were talking about their memoirs in the same building and I saw them as they were escorted to the authors' lounge.)
After the talk, the weather had cleared and we came out into a beautiful evening as the book fair volunteers began wrapping things up. I grabbed some mementos, including the sign from my autographing table!
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Pay Attention Journal acceptances; FIU News; #100!!
Pay Attention Journal just accepted two of the longer (read: hard-to-place) pieces in my chapbook: "Her Last Cotillion" (about Doc Holliday's cousin) and "Richard the Lionheart's Mummified Heart Examined."
I was in Forensics in high school and I also had difficulty finding material I was comfortable with, so I ended up writing my own and performing in the "Original" category. I'm happy to know my work may be performed by others!
I never would have found Pay Attention without using Duotrope, which I can't recommend enough!
Duotrope helps you find the perfect fit for your poetry or fiction.
From the Editor:
I will probably read one of these pieces at my Miami Book Fair International poetry reading, which was advertised in this FIU News story yesterday! Many thanks to Ashley Garcia for the great article (and publicity!) I wasn't joking about wanting an empty room to read to, though! As my reading takes place at the same time as Rosie Perez and John Leguizamo's talks, not to mention Brian Weiss' of Many Masters, Many Lives fame, I doubt I have much to worry about!
Pay Attention is an annual, print literary journal founded to print verse that makes for dynamic reading performances.
The mission on the journal, in particular, is to collect and promote high quality poetry that may be performed on the high school and college forensics circuits and taught in classrooms that feature the oral interpretation of poetry.
I was in Forensics in high school and I also had difficulty finding material I was comfortable with, so I ended up writing my own and performing in the "Original" category. I'm happy to know my work may be performed by others!
I never would have found Pay Attention without using Duotrope, which I can't recommend enough!
Duotrope helps you find the perfect fit for your poetry or fiction.
From the Editor:
To tell the truth, these two poems
epitomize what I’m hoping to collect in the journal. I love the
interesting voices you’ve created and the precise images you’ve filled
these poems with. It’s very clear that you knew what I was looking for
in forensics-worthy pieces.
I will probably read one of these pieces at my Miami Book Fair International poetry reading, which was advertised in this FIU News story yesterday! Many thanks to Ashley Garcia for the great article (and publicity!) I wasn't joking about wanting an empty room to read to, though! As my reading takes place at the same time as Rosie Perez and John Leguizamo's talks, not to mention Brian Weiss' of Many Masters, Many Lives fame, I doubt I have much to worry about!
(P. S. This is my 100th post!)
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Miami Book Fair: Further Discussions
Miami Book Fair: Further Discussions
Irene Sperber of the MiamiArtZine interviews me and two other local writers in this article about the 2015 Miami Book Fair International.
Irene Sperber of the MiamiArtZine interviews me and two other local writers in this article about the 2015 Miami Book Fair International.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Minerva Rising Literary Journal publication
Minerva Rising Literary Journal's new issue "Wide Open" is now available for purchase and includes my poem "Emily Brontë
Addresses Her Creation." This poem is my current favorite!
Miami Book Fair International appearance
The Miami Book Fair International has announced its final schedule and and I am listed as one of the featured authors! My presentation of my poetry chapbook, Shining from a Different Firmament, will be on Sunday, November 22nd, at 5:30 pm, along with two other local poets/writers. Now, it's time to begin panicking! It will be in the Centre Gallery, Bldg 1, 3rd floor, Room 1365.
I'm very excited one of my favorite poets, Kay Ryan, former U.S. Poet Laureate, will be speaking earlier that day!
I'm very excited one of my favorite poets, Kay Ryan, former U.S. Poet Laureate, will be speaking earlier that day!
My poems "Renascence" and "Caernarfon Retreat" are now available on When Women Waken's Wildlife issue:
Renascence
Caernarfon Retreat
Click on the titles to read the poems and read the whole issue of poetry by women from all over the world!
Renascence
Caernarfon Retreat
Click on the titles to read the poems and read the whole issue of poetry by women from all over the world!
Banned Books Week begins today!
To celebrate Banned Books Week, I've created two different displays in the library; one is especially for Banned YA Lit Authors, since YA Lit is the focus of this year's BBW.
This is the one for adult banned books:
This is the one for adult banned books:
Friday, September 04, 2015
Old blogs, new blogs, old poems, new poems
I just realized my link to an old poem is gone from my old website, so I'm adding the image here so I don't lose it. "Respiratory Tech at the Vietnam Memorial, 1989" began my poetry for publication efforts by winning the grand prize in Writer's Digest 2nd Annual Poetry competition (out of almost 4300 entries). I was very pleased with the presentation--at that time and even now, they don't always publish the winning poem, but they paired mine with a perfect image that really captured the emotion.
Even though it took me two more years to venture into publishing, I now have more than 50 poems published in a variety of journals and websites, from children's magazines to refereed academic journals to mainstream poetry journals, both print and online. I am slow but steady, or at least I have been the past few years!
Respiratory Tech at the Vietnam Memorial, 1989
he sees the names carved on the slick black wall
the names appear in death order
he sees the letters that make up the names of the dead
but he cannot read them
he sees the light reflecting on the black wall that bears the names of the dead
he sees his face reflected on the shiny black wall
he sees the names of the dead written on his face
but he cannot read them
the black wall turns white and he sees the faces of the near-dead on their white beds
he sees the black pictures of the black lungs of the near-dead
he sees the blue lips of the black-lunged men as they rasp for breath
their lips shape the names of the dead written on the black wall
but he cannot read them
he walks and walks beside the long wall the color of old blood
he sees the names blur into shapes that writhe like the lips of dying men
he sees the first name and the last name but he knows that is a lie
the names go and on
the pain
the pain
will never die.
(originally published in Writer's Digest, August 2007)
Even though it took me two more years to venture into publishing, I now have more than 50 poems published in a variety of journals and websites, from children's magazines to refereed academic journals to mainstream poetry journals, both print and online. I am slow but steady, or at least I have been the past few years!
Respiratory Tech at the Vietnam Memorial, 1989
he sees the names carved on the slick black wall
the names appear in death order
he sees the letters that make up the names of the dead
but he cannot read them
he sees the light reflecting on the black wall that bears the names of the dead
he sees his face reflected on the shiny black wall
he sees the names of the dead written on his face
but he cannot read them
the black wall turns white and he sees the faces of the near-dead on their white beds
he sees the black pictures of the black lungs of the near-dead
he sees the blue lips of the black-lunged men as they rasp for breath
their lips shape the names of the dead written on the black wall
but he cannot read them
he walks and walks beside the long wall the color of old blood
he sees the names blur into shapes that writhe like the lips of dying men
he sees the first name and the last name but he knows that is a lie
the names go and on
the pain
the pain
will never die.
(originally published in Writer's Digest, August 2007)
Thursday, September 03, 2015
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Heading to the Key West Literary Seminar Writers' Workshop in January!
I was accepted into Campbell McGrath's writing workshop: "Hearing Voices: Crafting the Poetic Voice"; they only accept 12 persons per workshop, so I'm very excited to have made the cut, based on a writing sample of five poems!
This workshop topic is extremely interesting to me, as I write mostly persona poems, and I've been experimenting with different voices.
Sunday, August 09, 2015
Miami Book Fair International, here I come!
I just heard that my chapbook, Shining from a Different Firmament, was accepted for presentation at this year's Miami Book Fair International!
I will be featured as a presenter, with an audience Q&A followed by a book signing.
Thursday, July 02, 2015
The Ghazal Page is back! (and contains three of my ghazals!)
I'm very thrilled to be part of the comeback of The Ghazal Page! This inaugural issue of the revived Ghazal Page is chock-full of an amazing variety of this fascinating and fun poetry form, collected by the new editor, Holly Jensen, who kindly included my poems "Hypatia's Revenge", "The Ghazal Ghazal (or How to Write a Ghazal), (which she uses as an example below) and "Ghazal Upon Hearing of a Mutual Friend's Death" in this new issue!
Wednesday, June 03, 2015
When Women Waken Wildlife issue goes live!
I have two poems in the new Wildlife issue of When Women Waken: a journal of Poetry, Prose and Images
Renascence and
Caernarfon Retreat
When Women Waken is a wonderful journal with gorgeous artwork and writing by women all over the world who support each other's creative endeavors.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
The Quarterday Review to publish my latest ghazal and review my chapbook!
I'm happy to have a new ghazal, "Thirteen Days and Nights" upcoming in the new journal The Quarterday Review: Poetry of Mythic Journeys. This is an ekphrastic ghazal inspired by the painting “The Amazon Queen Thalestris in the Camp of Alexander the Great” by Johann Georg Platzer, with thanks to Adrienne Mayor’s article on the subject in History Today 1/15. Her article and Platzer's painting really brought the encounter to life for me.
Quarterday's editor also kindly agreed to review my chapbook, Shining from a Different Firmament!
My latest poem in Minerva Rising's upcoming Open issue.
Minerva Rising Literary Journal will publish my poem "Emily Brontë Addresses Her Creation" in their upcoming Open themed issue. This is a persona poem from the pov of Emily addressing her most famous and infamous creation. I'm so happy this poem found a home promptly because it's my current favorite!
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I have yet to see the perfect Heathcliff personified on-screen--I'm still waiting!
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Librarything giveaway concurrent with Goodreads....
In celebration of my birth month, I'm giving away signed copies of my poetry chapbook, Shining from a Different Firmament via Librarything as well! So far 4 people have requested copies via LT and 68 and counting via Goodreads! These are early days, as the giveaways run for a month.
For those of you not familiar with Librarything, it's a great way to catalog and organize your own books, discover new books and share your libraries and book reviews with your friends. There are groups for every type of reader imaginable.
You can sign up for giveaways (a review is usually requested by the author or publisher giving away the book) or post your own! Ebooks as well!
Monday, May 11, 2015
Goodreads Giveaway begins May 18th!
I'm giving away five copies of my chapbook, Shining from a Different Firmament, via Goodreads.
Enter to Win
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Shining from a Different Firmament
by Beatriz Fitzgerald Fernandez
Giveaway ends June 18, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Thursday, May 07, 2015
Authors for Nepal
I am participating in the Authors for Nepal initiative to raise funds for the Nepal earthquake. I found out about it on facebook. Authors donate services or signed books or even a character name as incentive to donors. The books or services are being auctioned off on ebay and the author will then deliver the item or service directly to the donor. I am donating signed copies of my chapbook, here: Shining from a Different Firmament--hopefully there will be some poetry lovers out there; I noticed most books were YA.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Feature on Somos en escrito: the Latino Literary Online Magazine!
Muchas gracias to Armando Rendón for featuring my work on the latest issue of Somos en escrito! It includes three of the poems from my new chapbook, Shining from a Different Firmament: Nefertiti's Secret, The Picture of Constance Wilde and Red Light.
Monday, April 20, 2015
The new Ghazal Page will publish four of my ghazals!
Holly Jensen has re-launched The Ghazal Page and accepted FOUR of my ghazals; three for the summer issue and one for winter. I am very happy to be included in this journal that originally debuted in 1999 under the editorship of Gene Doty and features poets from all over the world. The ghazal has become my signature form poem--definitely my favorite and most comfortable poetry form!
Holly is still reading for the Summer issue until May 15th and also invites poets "to send us ghazals inspired by our Challenge topic: FLORA." by August 15th.
Holly is still reading for the Summer issue until May 15th and also invites poets "to send us ghazals inspired by our Challenge topic: FLORA." by August 15th.
Friday, April 03, 2015
30 Days of Poetry Love Q&A with Lidy Wilks
Lidy Wilks, fellow Scribber, who blogs at http://iheartallstories.weebly.com/ had the brilliant and fun idea to interview a different poet every day of the month for National Poetry Month. She was kind enough to make me her April 14th interviewee and publish a poem from my chapbook: Red Light.
Check out her website every day this month!
Check out her website every day this month!
Monday, March 30, 2015
Just squeaked one in for March! "Ode to your Code" to the rescue!
O'Miami and WLRN of South Florida are starting off their National Poetry Month celebrations with a fun tumblr poetry challenge: write an ode to your zip code consisting of as many words in each line as indicated by your zip code: mine is 33185. I wrote this:
http://zipodes.tumblr.com/post/114664222011/33185
published on their Ode to Your Zip Code tumblr on March 26th:
Ode to Your Zip Code archive
Miami Herald reporter Kathleene Devaney also interviewed me and discussed my poem in an article just published on the 29th:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article16841207.html
And so it begins!
Another nice surprise today, I finally received my poetry chapbook from the publishers--
https://finishinglinepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=2243
Blurbs for my book, kindly provided by Andrea Hollander and Julie Marie Wade, FIU Creative Writing professor:
The poems in Beatriz Fernandez's Shining from a Different Firmament do just that. They shine light on women history has slighted, mistreated, or forgotten altogether. They give us "Hypatia's Revenge," "Nefertiti's Secret," and "The Picture of Constance Wilde." They also consider Dante's passion for Beatrice and examine Richard the Lionheart's mummified heart. This collection is pithy and surprising, rich with persona poems rendered as ghazals, epistles, and ekphrastic musings. Julianna Baggott's Lizzie Borden in Love: Poems in Women’s Voices has found a worthy companion in Beatriz Fernandez's stirring debut. Like the women she embodies, Fernandez writes with the vision of one who "chart[s] the oceans of the night."
--Julie Marie Wade, author of Without, Postage Due, and When I Was Straight. www.juliemariewade.com
Amid this era of poetry that runs the gamut from solipsism to impenetrability, how refreshing to find a poet of intelligence who writes with clarity about those whose lives, whether actual or fictional, deserve more notice. Reminiscent of Robert Browning in his ability to vividly inhabit voices other than his own, Beatriz Fitzgerald Fernandez is a welcome master of both open and closed forms, as she brings together history, compassion, and music to each poem in this fine first collection.
—Andrea Hollander, author of Landscape with Female Figure: New & Selected Poems, 1982 – 2012
http://zipodes.tumblr.com/post/114664222011/33185
published on their Ode to Your Zip Code tumblr on March 26th:
Ode to Your Zip Code archive
Miami Herald reporter Kathleene Devaney also interviewed me and discussed my poem in an article just published on the 29th:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article16841207.html
And so it begins!
Another nice surprise today, I finally received my poetry chapbook from the publishers--
https://finishinglinepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=2243
Blurbs for my book, kindly provided by Andrea Hollander and Julie Marie Wade, FIU Creative Writing professor:
The poems in Beatriz Fernandez's Shining from a Different Firmament do just that. They shine light on women history has slighted, mistreated, or forgotten altogether. They give us "Hypatia's Revenge," "Nefertiti's Secret," and "The Picture of Constance Wilde." They also consider Dante's passion for Beatrice and examine Richard the Lionheart's mummified heart. This collection is pithy and surprising, rich with persona poems rendered as ghazals, epistles, and ekphrastic musings. Julianna Baggott's Lizzie Borden in Love: Poems in Women’s Voices has found a worthy companion in Beatriz Fernandez's stirring debut. Like the women she embodies, Fernandez writes with the vision of one who "chart[s] the oceans of the night."
--Julie Marie Wade, author of Without, Postage Due, and When I Was Straight. www.juliemariewade.com
Amid this era of poetry that runs the gamut from solipsism to impenetrability, how refreshing to find a poet of intelligence who writes with clarity about those whose lives, whether actual or fictional, deserve more notice. Reminiscent of Robert Browning in his ability to vividly inhabit voices other than his own, Beatriz Fitzgerald Fernandez is a welcome master of both open and closed forms, as she brings together history, compassion, and music to each poem in this fine first collection.
—Andrea Hollander, author of Landscape with Female Figure: New & Selected Poems, 1982 – 2012
Thursday, January 29, 2015
2015 Off to a Good Start!
Words Dance Publishing will feature two of my poems on their site in the next two months: "Late Night Shift" (inspired by a late night visit to a Waffle House many years ago) will appear Jan 29th and "Heartless" (based on a memory of Raggedy Ann dolls and books) on Feb 24th. This means I can coast until March, right?
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Writing year in review: 2014--not bad!
8 acceptances (individual poems)
1
individual poem awarded, 3rd place.
2
chosen as readers’ favorites (#1 and #3)
1
chapbook runner-up award
1
chapbook accepted (20 poems)
1
Pushcart Prize nomination1 interview to be published (for Arte Latino Now, at Queens College at Charlotte)
I am most pleased with the Readers' choice and Pushcart nomination!
Fall was slow, but things picked up in the Winter:
"Nothing in the Dark" a poem inspired by the eponymous classic Twilight Zone episode was published by FLARE: the Flagler Review, Fall edition, page 39.
And "Late Bloomers" was just chosen to be the poem for May in the Writer's Rising Up 2015 calendar.
The calendar will be available to download for free in January: Digging to the Roots .
Fall was slow, but things picked up in the Winter:
"Nothing in the Dark" a poem inspired by the eponymous classic Twilight Zone episode was published by FLARE: the Flagler Review, Fall edition, page 39.
And "Late Bloomers" was just chosen to be the poem for May in the Writer's Rising Up 2015 calendar.
The calendar will be available to download for free in January: Digging to the Roots .
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
Readers' Choice: Letter from Lara and Point of No Return chosen as readers' favorites.
I was very happily surprised to come across this post from Spark: A Creative Anthology--they had a vote on which pieces, either prose or poetry, from each volume over the last two years were the readers' favorite pieces and two of my poems were chosen! "Letter from Lara" was chosen as the number one favorite from Volume V, which was an excellent volume of stories and poems, so I am extremely flattered!
Spark: Readers' Choice--The First Two Years
Spark: Readers' Choice--The First Two Years
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Shining from a Different Firmament: my first chapbook of poetry!
My first chapbook will be published just in time for Valentine's Day (and Women's History Month in March)!
It can be pre-ordered at the publisher's site:
https://finishinglinepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=
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The Table of Contents:
Hypatia’s Revenge
I designed the cover and Jim took the picture of the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy and my author pics!
It can be pre-ordered at the publisher's site:
https://finishinglinepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=
The Table of Contents:
Hypatia’s Revenge
Sister
Mary Melanie’s Last Cotillion
Nefertiti’s
Secret
The
Picture of Constance Wilde
Heloise
Alone, Argenteuil, 1118
On
Viewing ‘Dante and Beatrice’ by Henry Holiday, 1884
Very
Truly Yours, Irene Norton, née Adler
Rachel’s
Reasons
Monody
for Pierre by Marie C., Paris, 1910
Cassandra
Austen Writes to Jane’s Faithless Lover
The
Amazon Warrior Champion
Letter
from Lara, Yuriatin, 1920
Richard
the Lionheart’s Mummified Heart Examined
Red
Light
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Why Write?
I've been thinking about why I suddenly decided to begin publishing my poetry and trying to improve my writing in order to make it publishable. I certainly don't intend to supplement my income or launch a career at my age, but I notice the poems I'm writing are like a file card index of my memories. My new poems reflect seemingly random flotsam and jetsam that got caught in my imagination and never left me. But why we notice one thing and not another--how we filter the stream of our life's events through our psyche--these things make up a person. My touchstone moments are being manifested and recorded via my poems.
We are happy to inform you.....
I really love emails that begin with those words!
I am happy to inform you, dear Imaginary Readers, that FLARE: the Flagler Review just accepted my poem "Nothing in the Dark" inspired by a classic Twilight Zone episode and more distantly by William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying.
I am happy to inform you, dear Imaginary Readers, that FLARE: the Flagler Review just accepted my poem "Nothing in the Dark" inspired by a classic Twilight Zone episode and more distantly by William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying.
Saturday, August 09, 2014
My first Pushcart Prize Nomination!
I just received a letter from the editor of Falling Star Magazine that the he and his staff had nominated my poem, "Lincoln's Long Trip Home, 1865" for a Pushcart Prize! As far as winning, this means nothing because tens of thousands of poems are nominated by small literary journals and presses worldwide, but as it is my first, I am still excited and pleased to have written one of the six poems nominated by Falling Star this year. The editors put a lot of faith behind my poem and I'm happy they liked it enough to nominate it. As it came on the heels of several rejections (my record of at least one acceptance a month which began last June was broken in July) it was even more appreciated.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Poetry Chapbook Accepted by Finishing Line Press
My poetry chapbook entitled "Shining from a Different Firmament" was accepted for publication by Finishing Line Press. (I had entered their yearly New Women's Voices chapbook contest and although I didn't win, they still offered me general publication.)
The chapbook consists of 20 mostly persona poems about historical and legendary women, among them:
Hypatia of Alexandria
Irene Adler, Sherlock Holmes' nemesis
Doc Holliday's cousin Sister Mary Melanie, the model for Gone With the Wind's Melanie Hamilton later Wilkes.
Madame Curie
Beatrice, whom Dante loved and featured in his Inferno.
Constance Wilde, wife of Oscar
Queen Nefertiti
Heloise
Rachel of the Bible
Cassandra Austen, sister of Jane
Lara, a character in Boris Pasternak's sole novel: Doctor Zhivago
The chapbook consists of 20 mostly persona poems about historical and legendary women, among them:
Hypatia of Alexandria
Irene Adler, Sherlock Holmes' nemesis
Doc Holliday's cousin Sister Mary Melanie, the model for Gone With the Wind's Melanie Hamilton later Wilkes.
Madame Curie
Beatrice, whom Dante loved and featured in his Inferno.
Constance Wilde, wife of Oscar
Queen Nefertiti
Heloise
Rachel of the Bible
Cassandra Austen, sister of Jane
Lara, a character in Boris Pasternak's sole novel: Doctor Zhivago
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Those who can't write....submit!
The past few months have not been very productive for me, poetry writing-wise, so I'm taking advantage and concentrating on submitting my backlist of poems. Some of my best haven't been published because they need particular markets which I haven't found yet (or haven't been invented yet!) Well, that's my take on it,anyway!
It's one way to stay productive in those sparse writing months--no one can publish it while it's sitting in your computer! And waiting for acceptances is excruciating, so you want to have a constant rolling submission rate to ensure the flow of acceptances is a stream (or at least a trickle!) and keeps you encouraged.
Somewhere I read that if you are a writer who needs encouragement to write, then you can forget about being a writer! But that's a little harsh, don't you think? Everyone needs encouragement; sure, there are writers like Emily Dickinson who write in isolation but even she sought out encouragement--that she didn't receive as much as she deserved is another thing. Genius is often not rewarded in its own age, but most of us aren't geniuses, so we can expect some encouragement, I hope!
I have now passed the criteria (which does not include publications in children's poetry magazines, by the way, which I think is a shame, since writing for children is much more difficult than for adults! But they were very prompt in adding some journals that were not listed in their publications list, so I can't complain!) to be listed on the Poets & Writers directory, click on my name to see my listing:
Beatriz Fernandez
Saturday, May 10, 2014
More Poems Finding Homes
I'm very excited to be published by a journal I've submitted to several times, Boston Literary Magazine, whose Editor-in-Chief Robin Stratton just accepted "Fourth Grade Dance" for their summer issue.
Last month, Falling Star Magazine, a paying market, accepted "Lincoln's Long Trip Home" for their upcoming issue themed "Point A to B."
Friday I received my contributor's copy of Spark: A Creative Anthology, volume V, so my birthday month is replete with writing pleasures!
I'm busy at work for Spellbound, who solicited world-wide fairy-tale related poetry with a diverse background for children aged 8-12. Writing for children is always a challenge for me, but this is such an interesting anthology, I'm giving it my best effort!
The Boi Who Drew Cats by Jay Wilburn
Black River, Blue Sky by Pamela Love
The Frog and the Condor by Christina Tesoro
The Four Skilled Sisters by EM Beck
The Key by Alex Townsend
Queenie the Beautiful and her Magical Doll by Szmeralda Shanel
Mirror Image by Beth Rodriguez
Counting by Jennifer Moser Jurling
The Coquà Captain by Beatriz Fernandez
After the Nettles by Sara Cleto
Vasilisa the Beautiful by Sharon Fedor
Last month, Falling Star Magazine, a paying market, accepted "Lincoln's Long Trip Home" for their upcoming issue themed "Point A to B."
Friday I received my contributor's copy of Spark: A Creative Anthology, volume V, so my birthday month is replete with writing pleasures!
I'm busy at work for Spellbound, who solicited world-wide fairy-tale related poetry with a diverse background for children aged 8-12. Writing for children is always a challenge for me, but this is such an interesting anthology, I'm giving it my best effort!
Spellbound Table of Contents
Fiction
Jacinta and the Cornstalk by Kari CastorThe Boi Who Drew Cats by Jay Wilburn
Black River, Blue Sky by Pamela Love
The Frog and the Condor by Christina Tesoro
The Four Skilled Sisters by EM Beck
The Key by Alex Townsend
Queenie the Beautiful and her Magical Doll by Szmeralda Shanel
Poetry
What you need to know about fairy godmothers by Laurel KleinMirror Image by Beth Rodriguez
Counting by Jennifer Moser Jurling
The Coquà Captain by Beatriz Fernandez
After the Nettles by Sara Cleto
Vasilisa the Beautiful by Sharon Fedor
Artwork
Jane Baker, Paul Davey, Melanie Gillman, Charli Gunn, Tory Hoke, Susan Knowles, Nilah Magruder, Marta Milczarek, Audrey Roche & Steve Wood.Saturday, March 08, 2014
"Letter from Lara" to be published by Spark
Spark, A Creative Anthology will publish my poem "Letter from Lara, Yuriatin, 1920" which won 3rd place in their "Winter" contest--Spark is a beautiful publication consisting of an eclectic mix of writing styles, short stories and poetry. I am so fortunate to have discovered them and feel very proud to be published there. They offer fair compensation for publication and excellent prizes in their quarterly themed fiction and poetry contests! The artwork is also standout, as exemplified by this cover art by Casey Robin for their Volume V, where I hope the poem will be included:
Thursday, February 20, 2014
The Best Rejection Letter.....
I just heard that I didn't win the Minerva Rising Literary Journal chapbook contest, but the Editor sent me such a wonderful rejection letter that I am just as excited as if I had won! They will be awarding me a runner-up prize and publishing one of my poems in a later issue. I am very honored to be a finalist in their first chapbook contest and look forward to seeing one of my poems published in their journal this year!
Northern Liberties Review publication and Label Me Latina/o acceptance!
Northern Liberties Review published my poem "Demo Session at the Newport Guitar Festival" this month! They are published from Philadelphia, my hometown, so I was particularly happy they accepted it.
This was followed by an acceptance from Label Me Latina/o, "an online, refereed international e-journal that focuses on Latino Literary Production in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The journal invites scholarly essays focusing on these writers for its biannual publication. Label Me Latina/o also publishes creative literary pieces whose authors self-define as Latina or Latino regardless of thematic content."
They will publish my poem "Poem for My Father" in this year's Spring issue. I am very excited to be published there, as I enjoy their unique mix of scholarly articles with creative works, and I admire all the poems they have featured.
This was followed by an acceptance from Label Me Latina/o, "an online, refereed international e-journal that focuses on Latino Literary Production in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The journal invites scholarly essays focusing on these writers for its biannual publication. Label Me Latina/o also publishes creative literary pieces whose authors self-define as Latina or Latino regardless of thematic content."
They will publish my poem "Poem for My Father" in this year's Spring issue. I am very excited to be published there, as I enjoy their unique mix of scholarly articles with creative works, and I admire all the poems they have featured.
Friday, January 03, 2014
2014 auspicious beginnings...
2014 seems to be getting off to a good start--I just found out yesterday that my poem, "Letter From Lara, Yuriatin, 1920" won 3rd place in Spark, A Creative Anthology's Contest Four!!
"Letter From Lara" is a persona poem written from the point of view of a fictional character from Boris Pasternak's novel Dr. Zhivago. Pasternak was a Russian poet; Dr. Zhivago was his only novel besides one written in verse. The prompt for the contest was "winter," so the frozen steppes of Siberia inevitably came to mind!
"Letter From Lara" is a persona poem written from the point of view of a fictional character from Boris Pasternak's novel Dr. Zhivago. Pasternak was a Russian poet; Dr. Zhivago was his only novel besides one written in verse. The prompt for the contest was "winter," so the frozen steppes of Siberia inevitably came to mind!
2013 in review
Writing-wise, 2013 was a great year for me:
- 11 publications
- 2 radio appearances on WLRN (one reading and a reading/interview)
- 2 writers conferences/workshops (resulting in 3 poems)
- 1 guest blog
- 1 Quote of the Day
- 1 poetry contest award
it will turn out to be turning point in my writing.
Next year I already have made commitments for two poetry
events in April, National Poetry Month! 2014 is shaping up!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Random House's "Zombies Take Back the Library" contest winner
I just found out my zombie library display was one of the winners! We won four free books for the library!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Interviewed for WLRN-Miami Herald News --Miami Book Fair International takes off!
I received an email from WLRN-Miami Herald news wanting to interview published poets who have another job during the Miami Book Fair International. Because of my participation in the O'Miami Poetry Festival, they must have had my name on a contacts list. The feature article, "These Are the Day Jobs of Miami Bards" by Rachel Morello aired on 91.3 FM, November 22, 2013.
Quite a few of my favorite poets are appearing at the Book Fair this year, beginning with Sharon Olds, Mary Jo Salter, Robert Pinsky, Campbell McGrath and Richard Blanco and ending with a reading by the Miami Poetry Collective!
My retired colleague and friend Andy Grof, will be reading from his novel as well!
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| Photo Courtesy of Rachel Morello, WLRN Miami News |
Quite a few of my favorite poets are appearing at the Book Fair this year, beginning with Sharon Olds, Mary Jo Salter, Robert Pinsky, Campbell McGrath and Richard Blanco and ending with a reading by the Miami Poetry Collective!
My retired colleague and friend Andy Grof, will be reading from his novel as well!
What happens when you google yourself....
I found out that I was "Latino Quote of the Day" on November 14th! Thanks to Bobby Gonzalez for the honor! He quoted from my Latina Book Club guest blog about writing.
He shared my quote on his syndicated site: Latino Quote of the Day
“At 50+ I can claim many freedoms I did not possess before—my hair is thinner but my skin is thicker—I can take rejection and criticism and stand my ground better…”
- Beatriz F. Fernandez, Puerto Rican/Peruvian author.
Latino Quote Of The Day™ is curated by Bobby Gonzalez.
Bobby González is a nationally known multicultural motivational speaker, storyteller and poet. Born and raised in raised in the South Bronx, New York City, he grew up in a bicultural environment. Bobby draws on his Native American (Taino) and Latino (Puerto Rican) roots to offer a unique repertoire of discourses, readings and performances that celebrates his indigenous heritage.
He shared my quote on his syndicated site: Latino Quote of the Day
“At 50+ I can claim many freedoms I did not possess before—my hair is thinner but my skin is thicker—I can take rejection and criticism and stand my ground better…”
- Beatriz F. Fernandez, Puerto Rican/Peruvian author.
Latino Quote Of The Day™ is curated by Bobby Gonzalez.
Bobby González is a nationally known multicultural motivational speaker, storyteller and poet. Born and raised in raised in the South Bronx, New York City, he grew up in a bicultural environment. Bobby draws on his Native American (Taino) and Latino (Puerto Rican) roots to offer a unique repertoire of discourses, readings and performances that celebrates his indigenous heritage.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
FIU Writers Conference Wrap-Up
I fought burn-out and migraines during the FIU Writer's Conference but it was well worth it! I attended sessions held by Frances de Pontes Peebles, Lynne Barrett, Campbell McGrath and the keynote speech by Dennis Lehane, who is very funny! He told the audience to get used to being "mutants" who care about this weird thing called writing and not to expect others to understand (paraphrasing wildly from memory here, but you get the idea!)
The best experience for me, naturally, was the poetry workshop held by FIU professor and poet Campbell McGrath. We discussed various styles of poetry and then he assigned us two poems and then we read them and discussed them in class. He said one of my poems was "terrific" and told me to go home and write some more! When Campbell McGrath tells you that, you dare not disobey!
Lynne Barrett led us through a breakdown of good fiction-writing practices by using Hansel and Gretel as an example of an enduring and effective story. This was a very interesting method which clarified many things in my mind even though I'm not writing fiction right now.
I wish I could have attended all the sessions and events but I wasn't able to--the activities began at 7:30 in the morning and lasted until the evening with breaks for meals. I met many nice people and was very impressed with the level of writing of the participants,
The best experience for me, naturally, was the poetry workshop held by FIU professor and poet Campbell McGrath. We discussed various styles of poetry and then he assigned us two poems and then we read them and discussed them in class. He said one of my poems was "terrific" and told me to go home and write some more! When Campbell McGrath tells you that, you dare not disobey!
Lynne Barrett led us through a breakdown of good fiction-writing practices by using Hansel and Gretel as an example of an enduring and effective story. This was a very interesting method which clarified many things in my mind even though I'm not writing fiction right now.
I wish I could have attended all the sessions and events but I wasn't able to--the activities began at 7:30 in the morning and lasted until the evening with breaks for meals. I met many nice people and was very impressed with the level of writing of the participants,
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Irene Adler haunts Sherlock's mind....
My poem, "Very Truly Yours, Irene Norton, née Adler” which won 2nd place in Spark's Contest Two, will be published in Spark, A Creative Anthology Volume III on Halloween!
“To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen.... And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
“To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen.... And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.”
― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Marissa Ball made this great pastiche of photos from my Zombie Halloween display for the FIU Green Library!
Love Letter Ekphrastic Ghazals for October
Evan Mantyk of the Society of Classical Poets was kind enough to accept my companion ghazals, under the title "On Viewing Dante and Beatrice by Henry Holiday, 1884" for publication on his site.
The poems were inspired by Holiday's beautiful painting, shown below and on the website.
The Society consists of a group of poets dedicated to the revival and proliferation of good, new poetry that follows classical forms. See the website if you are interested in joining.
Read my poems here.
The poems were inspired by Holiday's beautiful painting, shown below and on the website.
The Society consists of a group of poets dedicated to the revival and proliferation of good, new poetry that follows classical forms. See the website if you are interested in joining.
Read my poems here.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Hot, hot, hot!
I was just rejoicing in an acceptance of "Letter from Marie C., Paris, 1906" from Yellow Fox Quarterly, when I noticed another email in my box from When Women Waken: a Journal of Poetry, Prose & Images, also accepting my work for their August "home" themed issue! When it rains, it pours! They are publishing three poems: "Summers at Star Lake," "In the Garden," and "Sentinel." I'm very excited to be a part of both these up and coming journals!
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Scribophile: a wonderful writer's resource
--Speaking of the necessity of feedback, I've just joined Scribophile, an online writing group, courtesy of my Spark award, and I'm extremely impressed with the quality of the critiques I've had and the works posted.
Scribophile works on a karmic point system--you aren't obliged to post work at certain intervals, like some writers' forums, but you have to earn karma points by posting critiques of others' works in order to post your own.
There is a free version and a paying version. Inside the system, you can join groups, gain favorites, message and
write on other writer's walls, similar to facebook or linked in.
There are more fiction writers than poets but even so, lots of quality poetry being posted!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Feedback, the essential fuel for writing
One thing I like about certain journals is that the editors take the time to provide precious feedback for the writer.
A remark by the editor of Boston Literary Magazine enabled me to vastly improve the poem I had submitted, and led me to seek more individual help, which is how I found Andrea Hollander, both a gifted poet and tutor.
In all endeavors in life, sometimes you get to the point where you can't proceed without help.
Journals like Boston Literary Magazine and Spark, A Creative Anthology, whose editors and staff provide that essential feedback, are invaluable to a writer at any stage in their development.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Birds, Cyclamens and Swords acceptance, oh, my!
Nothing as delightful as discovering an interesting new online journal and then having them
accept your poem for publication not too long afterward! Cyclamens and Swords' new themed issue, Birds, will include my poem, "Crows."
I discovered Cyclamens and Swords by reading another poet's bio! The title was so intriguing that I had to check it out!
The turnaround was so quick because I submitted my entry very close to the deadline, not deliberately--I just happened to come upon it the day before!
So far this year, I've had four poems published and one awarded 2nd place in a contest, but who's counting? I hope I didn't just jinx myself!Wednesday, July 03, 2013
Poetry Fireworks!
July began with a bang! On the 1st, I found out that my poem "Very Truly Yours, Irene Norton, née Adler" won 2nd prize
in Spark, A Creative Anthology's Contest Two! I won $100, a subscription to
American Poetry Review, a lifetime Premium subscription to Scribophile
among many other goodies! Spark has the best contests!
"Very Truly Yours, Irene Norton, née Adler" is a re-imagining of the relationship between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler. I find Irene Adler one of the most fascinating of his female characters, especially since she only appears in one story (the first!) and we know so little about her. That makes her fair game, as far as I'm concerned! In my persona poems, I like to choose voices of people or fictional characters we know very little about in the personal sense, that way I can let my imagination run free! They may be famous, but have left little correspondence, or there may be some controversy about their motivation.
Another poem, "The Point of No Return" appears in Spark's Volume II, which is hot off the presses as of today! You can buy it at Amazon or directly from their site.
Every time I start to get discouraged with my writing, something positive like this happens and motivates me to continue! I just hope I don't get too addicted to this happening in such a timely way!
"Very Truly Yours, Irene Norton, née Adler" is a re-imagining of the relationship between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler. I find Irene Adler one of the most fascinating of his female characters, especially since she only appears in one story (the first!) and we know so little about her. That makes her fair game, as far as I'm concerned! In my persona poems, I like to choose voices of people or fictional characters we know very little about in the personal sense, that way I can let my imagination run free! They may be famous, but have left little correspondence, or there may be some controversy about their motivation.
Another poem, "The Point of No Return" appears in Spark's Volume II, which is hot off the presses as of today! You can buy it at Amazon or directly from their site.
Every time I start to get discouraged with my writing, something positive like this happens and motivates me to continue! I just hope I don't get too addicted to this happening in such a timely way!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
After all the excitement....
of National Poetry Month, May has been quiet, writing-wise. I am working on a poem that tries to capture the moment when the first city in America, Wabash, Indiana, was electrified. It wasn't with Edison-type incandescent lights, as one would first guess, but with the much brighter, more economical Brush arc lights. These were better suited for outdoor lighting and large spaces than the Edison lights. The great-grandson of the original inventor Charles F. Brush was kind enough to give me some information on how the Brush lamps operated. The poem is still in-progress.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
"Point of No Return" accepted by Spark, A Creative Anthology
Spark a Creative Anthology just accepted "Point of No Return," a sonnet in two septets honoring Harry K. Daghlian, Jr., the first American casualty of the Atomic Age.
I am very excited to be part of Spark's next volume. They have great contests which award not only cash prizes and publication, but also subscriptions and books!
I am very excited to be part of Spark's next volume. They have great contests which award not only cash prizes and publication, but also subscriptions and books!
Monday, April 08, 2013
Celebrating National Poetry Month by reading my poem on WRLN as part of the O'Miami Poetry Festival.
I was just notified that my poem, Like No Other, was chosen to be read on WRLN, 91.3 FM, as part of O'Miami's 2013 Poetry Festival. Along with other submitted poems, mine was published on tumblr as part of the celebration of National Poetry month and some were chosen to be read on the Morning Edition, which reaches an audience of half a million listeners.
"Parkinson's at 60" to be published as part of my guest blog at Latina Book Club!
A nice birthday present for me, Latina Book Club will be publishing my guest blog about discovering my muse in later life on May 1st, as part of their Writers' Wednesdays monthly series. I am very excited to be published there and to contribute to encouraging the community to read and to read Latino literature in particular.
This particular poem was inspired by a cousin's visit from Puerto Rico, during which he told me of his condition. These things are hard to process without poetry--I'm even more grateful than ever that I can do so!
However, the post is mostly about finding my mentor, Andrea Hollander, and how with her help I was able to overcome mental barriers to writing poetry that I had always struggled with over the years.
Being able to express myself effectively via poetry feels like being able to take a deep breath for the first time in my life!
This particular poem was inspired by a cousin's visit from Puerto Rico, during which he told me of his condition. These things are hard to process without poetry--I'm even more grateful than ever that I can do so!
However, the post is mostly about finding my mentor, Andrea Hollander, and how with her help I was able to overcome mental barriers to writing poetry that I had always struggled with over the years.
Being able to express myself effectively via poetry feels like being able to take a deep breath for the first time in my life!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Spellbound magazine publishes "Changelings"
I just found out Spellbound, a children's fantasy e-zine accepted my poem "Changelings" for their Spring issue. Their theme for this next issue will be "Changelings and Doppelgangers" so I thought this particular poem would fit in! I'm very honored to be published by Spellbound!
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