Western Maryland Independent Literature Festival: Sept. 28-30 in Frostburg, MD

 

28 thru 30 September 2023 in Frostburg, Maryland
The Frostburg State University Center for Literary Arts presents their 18th annual Western Maryland Independent Literature Festival.

• 9/28: Savage Mountain Punk Arts poetry slam featuring John Burroughs, 7:30 pm, at Clatter, 15 S. Broadway, 21532.
  
  
• 9/29: Featured reading by Joseph Bathanti at Clatter, 15 S. Broadway, 21532.
  
  
• 9/29: This Close to Vertigo Release Party at the Deep End, 16 W. Main Street, 21532.
  
  
• 9/30: Indie Lit book fair (including Crisis Chronicles Press, Venetian Spider Press and many more), 11 am to 4 pm at City Place, 14 S. Water Street, 21532.
  
  
• 9/30: Readings/workshops/panels from 11 am to 4 pm, including a 3 pm reading by Rolling Stock poets William F. DeVault, John Burroughs, Carlo Parcelli and Daniel McTaggart at City Place, 14 S. Water Street, 21532.
  
  

Special thanks to Jennifer Browne, Savage Mountain Punk Arts, Gerry LaFemina, Mercedes Hettich, and the Frostburg State University Center for Literary Arts.

What's up with Crisis Chronicles Press in Fall 2023?

Apparently, the rumors of our demise are slightly exaggerated. Although we are not accepting submissions at this time (because someone always asks), Crisis Chronicles Press will have a busy Fall: releasing a long-awaited book by Brandon Johnson this month, plotting the production of Oct Tongue 3, and participating in book fairs at the Western Maryland Independent Literature Festival and Lit Youngstown's 7th annual Fall Literary Festival.

If you feel inclined to buy a book or otherwise donate to the cause, please visit us at http://ccpress.blogspot.com/p/crisis-chronicles-press-catalog.html.

 

National Beat Poetry Festival happening September 1st thru 3rd

I am thrilled to be participating in the National Beat Poetry Festival again this year in Connecticut. Here is the schedule of events:

Friday September 1st 2023 from 7 to 10 p.m. (In Person)

 Location: Canton Town Hall, 4 Market St # 100, Collinsville, CT 06019.

7pm to 8pm – Beat Poets Laureate from around the country read.
8pm to 8:30pm – Open Mic.
8:30pm to 9:45pm – Do It Now (poet Paul Richmond, percussionist Tony Vacca, and guitarist John Sheldon) perform.


Saturday September 2nd 2023 from 1 to 9 p.m. (In Person)

Location: 22 River Rd, Pleasant Valley/Barkhamsted, CT 06063 (outside in back of the house, under the tents; park along the side of the long driveway).

1pm to 2:30pm – New Beat Laureates receive their awards and read.
2:30pm to 4:30pm Open Mic (sign up when you arrive).
4:30pm to 5:30pm – Ernest Brute & Object Echo perform.
6pm to 9pm – Beat Laureates celebration continues.


Sunday September 3rd 2023 from 1 to 3 p.m. (In Person)

Location: 22 River Rd, Pleasant Valley/Barkhamsted, CT 06063.

1pm-3pm – an informal gathering of poets with readings.


Sunday September 3rd 2023 from 1 to 6 p.m. (Online)

The festival will also include an online component for those who cannot attend the in-person events. To participate, email a photo of yourself to nbpf15@gmail.com and say what state or country you live in. Then a few days before the event, you will receive the Zoom link in a email. Those unable to come to the online zoom may also participate virtually by sending in an up to 3 min video using the free program  WeTransfer.com

So many thanks to the National Beat Poetry Foundation, CEO Debbie Tosun Kilday, as well as Paul Richmond and Chryssa Velissariou, for all they do to make these events happen and support the work of poets.

For more information, visit https://nationalbeatpoetryfoundation.org/.

State Fair and Poets Baseball Cards

Surreal. A week ago today, I was the keynote poet at the Ohio State Fair, reading from the same stage as some of my favorite folks [photo of me to the right by Sandra Feen].

 

And then I came home to see this [below]. I feel so honored to have been included in Justin Hamm's fine Poets baseball card series alongside so many other poets I respect and even admire. I'm gonna have to collect them all.

 

Contact Justin Hamm to order your set of The Poets baseball cards. Or click here for more info.

 

Ohio Poetry Showcase August 3rd at the State Fair in Columbus

I very much look forward to reading with some fabulous poets from around our state tomorrow, August 3rd, during the Ohio Poetry Showcase at the Ohio State Fair. 

Here's a photo I love from the 2019 State Fair with current Ohio Beat Poet Laureate Sandra Feen (who's also reading tomorrow) and recent Ohio Poetry Association President Chuck Salmons.

But here's more info about our 2023 event, from the Ohio Poetry Association website:

Again this year, OPA will partner with the Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Program and the Ohio Arts Council to coordinate the Ohio Poetry Showcase. For our third-annual showcase, in addition to some of Ohio's Poetry Out Loud winning students, we will feature as many of Ohio's poets laureate as possible. Our keynote poet will be U.S. Beat Poet Laureate John Burroughs! Numerous other county, city, and regional poets laureate will join us as well.

The State Fair opens at 9 AM. Get complete State Fair information at ohiostatefair.com.

AGENDA
1:00–2:00 PM, Poetry Out Loud student reading

2:00–6:00 PM, Ohio Poetry Showcase (poets will include Geoff Anderson, Karen Scott, Jonie McIntire, Jeremy Jusek, Doc Janning, Stephanie Kendrick, Erica Manto Paulson, Sandra Feen, and Siaara Freeman)

6:00–7:00 PM, U.S Beat Poet Laureate Reading w/Q&A

LOCATION
Ohio Expo Center & State Fair - Cox Fine Arts Building
717 East 17th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211

Parking is free to all fairgoers. Join us for this terrific showcase of Ohio's poetic talent!

South Euclid poets at the Bexley Bash August 1st

8/1 at 6 p.m., the Bexley Bash will present a reading by South Euclid poets John Burroughs, Shelley Chernin, Raja Belle Freeman, Amy Kesegich, Amanda Terman, Abdul Ghani, Akaiya Abdullah and our moderator, South Euclid Poet Laureate Doc Janning, at Bexley Park, 1630 Wrenford Road.

Landing in Portsmouth (7/13), GonzoFest in Louisville (7/15), OddMonth in Pittsburgh (7/29)

It's been a rough past month, but I'm shaking the dust off and girding my loins to hit the road again. Couldn't be more happy to be sharing poetry in three amazing places with some of the best folks I know.

13 July at 7 p.m. in Portsmouth, Ohio
Poets John Burroughs, Jennifer Browne, Ezhno Martín, Nova Pax Thrasher, and W.J. Allard, as well as musician Kris River, will perform, followed by open mic. Hosted by J.I.B. at The Landing, 217b Market Street, 45662.

14-15 July 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky

GonzoFest: a tribute to the late Hunter S. Thompson will feature myriad bands and poets including Ron Whitehead, Frank Messina, John Burroughs, Tommy Twilite, Jean Kizer, Joe Kidd & Sheila Burke and so many more at the High Horse Bar, 1032 Story Avenue, 40206.

29 July 2023 at 7 p.m. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
OddMonth Poetry will feature readings by John Burroughs, Shelley Chernin and Chandra Alderman at the Bantha Tea Bar, 5002 Penn Avenue, 15224.

1 August 2023 at 6 p.m. in South Euclid, Ohio
The Bexley Bash presents a reading by South Euclid poets John Burroughs, Shelley Chernin, Michael Ceraolo, Raja Belle Freeman, Amy Kesegich, Adrian Schnall, Amanda Terman, Abdul Ghani, Akaiya Abdullah and Doc Janning at Bexley Park, 1630 Wrenford Road, 44121.

3 August 2023 from 1 to 7 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio
The Ohio Poetry Association presents an all-day Ohio Poetry Showcase featuring poets laureate from around the state during the Ohio State Fair. John Burroughs' keynote performance will take place at 6 p.m. Happening at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair - Cox Fine Arts Building, 717 East 17th Avenue 43211.

Maries County Advocate article about our recent reading in Belle, Missouri

So grateful to John Dorsey for sending me this article from the Maries County Advocate about our April reading at Barb's Books in Belle, Missouri.

Video of that reading is available for viewing here.

Poem for Cleveland anthology release on 6/24

I'm happy and honored to have work in the fantastic Poem for Cleveland anthology curated by Ray McNiece and newly published by Red Giant. We hope you'll join us at the book release on Saturday 24 June 2023 from 2 to 4 pm at the main branch of the Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior Avenue E.

More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/791491969152635.

Video: Poets Building Bridges featuring poets from Cleveland, Wales and Červená Barva Press

On June 10th, I had the privilege of taking part in an event called Poets Building Bridges, hosted by George Wallace and the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association. The three Cleveland poets I chose to  feature are Doc Janning, Shelley Chernin and Christine Howey. Three poets from Wales (led by Ian Griffiths) and three poets from Červená Barva Press (led by Gloria Mindock) were also featured. Here's the video: