Friday, December 26, 2014

Crisis Chronicles Press releases #ThisIsCLE: An Anthology of the 2014 Best Cleveland Poem Competition

cover photo by Steven B. Smith
Crisis Chronicles Press is thrilled to announce the imminent publication of #ThisIsCLE: An Anthology of the 2014 Best Cleveland Poem Competition on 5 January 2015. 

The second annual Best Cleveland Poem Competition was held on Sunday, June 1, 2014 at the Willoughby Brewing Company.  #ThisIsCLE features contest highlights including poems by Geoffrey Landis, Theresa Göttl Brightman, Jeffrey Bowen, Mary Turzillo, JP Armstrong, Anita Herczog, Danya Eichhorn, Michael Murray, Steven B. Smith, Frannie Lograsso, S. Renay Sanders, two-time Best Cleveland Poem winner Dianne Borsenik and competition emcee Ray McNiece.

The book is 40 pages, perfect bound, 6x9" and a steal at only $10 from Crisis Chronicles Press, 3344 W. 105th Street #4, Cleveland, Ohio 44111.


Available now by mail and online — and soon from particular independent bookstores across the country!  Please join us for the official #ThisIsCLE release party on January 5th 2015 during Mondays at Mahall's Poetry and Prose series at Mahall's 20 Lanes, 13200 Madison Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio.  Meet and hear many of the contributors there. 

Project editor for #ThisIsCLE: Dianne Borsenik 

Executive editor: John Burroughs
ISBN:
978-1-940996-13-4

For more information about the annual Best Cleveland Poetry Competition sponsored by attorney Tim Misny, please click here.


https://www.facebook.com/events/570764059724426/

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

2nd edition of my Electric Company released with three new poems added

The self portrait I took is in color, but we ultimately
chose to use black and white for the book cover

I hear that the folks at Writing Knights have just released the 2nd edition of my classic 2011 chapbook Electric Company. Merry Christmas!  This version includes three new bonus* poems that appear nowhere else.  I've also revised a couple of the book's other pieces.  Here's the new order of poems:

I Hear Change 
For One*
Out and In Audible
Strongsville Coffee
Kiss
More, Man*
Mercy Less
Cannot Believe William S. Burroughs is Dead
Zzzz Bra
Plus Sighs*
Tell Them I Am Sent You
Think You Very Much
Come Pass
A Poem Like John Dorsey
Alarm Blocks
Electric Miasma

Speaking of order, click here to get your copy of the new 2nd edition of Electric Company for $8 from Writing Knights Press.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Ohio Poet Laureate Established

You may recall that I was one of several Ohio Poetry Association members who testified at the Ohio Statehouse earlier this year in support of Senate Bill 84.  I am now pleased to report that the General Assembly has passed the bill and created the position of Ohio Poet Laureate. 

Read Senator Kearney's announcement at the Minority Caucus Blog.

An excerpt from the bill (as passed by the House):

Sec. 3379.12. (A) The position of Ohio poet laureate is hereby created. The Ohio poet laureate shall be appointed by the governor from a list of not less than three candidates recommended by the Ohio Arts Council based on qualifications developed by the arts council under division (F) of section 3379.03 of the Revised Code. The arts council shall submit its list of candidates to the governor not less than ninety days prior to the beginning of the Ohio poet laureate's term of office.

(B) The term of office for the Ohio poet laureate shall be for two years. The initial term shall begin on January 1, 2016.

(C) In the event of the death, resignation, or any other vacancy or inability to perform the duties of Ohio poet laureate during an individual's unexpired term of office, not later than sixty days after the vacancy occurs, the Ohio arts council shall recommend a candidate to the governor to serve as poet laureate for the remainder of that unexpired term of office.

(D) An individual may be reappointed to subsequent terms of office, at the discretion of the governor.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Monday at Mahall's to feature Jeffrey Bowen & the #ThisIsCLE anthology release


The Monday at Mahall's Poetry Series and Crisis Chronicles Press will kick off the new year with a special event on Monday January 5th at 7:30 p.m. at the now 90-year-old Mahall's 20 Lanes, 13200 Madison Avenue, in Lakewood, Ohio.

Cleveland poet/musician Jeffrey Bowen will perform. Plus Crisis Chronicles Press will release #ThisIsCLE: An Anthology of the 2014 Best Cleveland Poem Competition. Book contributors will also read. An open mic emceed by John Burroughs will follow.

Jeffrey Bowen’s poetry has been published by ArtCrimes, Cicada, Cool Cleveland, Crisis Chronicles, CSU Poetry Center, Dimensions, Doan Brook Watershed, Excursions, Green Panda Press, Hessler Street Fair, Procrastination Press, Poet’s League of Greater Cleveland, The City, The Cleveland Reader and Whiskey Island Magazine. He is one of six poets profiled in the 1995 documentary, “Off the Page”. Four of his poems are featured on Cleveland Tumbadors, an album of Traditional Afro Cuban Music and Latin Jazz on Fame City Records. Jeffrey is the resident poet & conga player with the band, Cats On Holiday, and his poetry appears on their CD, Holiday in a Box from COHTONE Records. In addition to his poetic work, Jeffrey’s writing has appeared in Call & Post, City News, Cool Cleveland, EcoWatch, Elephant Journal, Girl Scout News, GreenCityBlueLake, Live Cleveland, Neighborhood News, Nonprofit Notes, Sun News and various Habitat for Humanity publications.


For more information about the Best Cleveland Poem Competition, sponsored annually by Tim "I'll make them pay" Misny, click here.  To check out last year's book, Songs in the Key of Cleveland: An Anthology of the 2013 Best Cleveland Poem Competition, click here.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Video of my reading at the Writing Knights Apocalypse last night

Thank you, Writing Knights!  And thanks to Journey Art Gallery and the evening's other featured artists: Zach, Andi Line and Styles83.



My set list:

Poetry [by Christian O'Keeffe]
(Dis)quiet Illusion
Plus Sighs
In Due Season
Milk Stout
Need Not
Bloodshot
Lens

Thursday, December 11, 2014

GTK Creative Journal #2 Out Now!

photo by JB
Guide to Kulchur Press has recently published volume two of the GTK Creative Journal edited by Krystal Sierra, and I feel honored that two of my poems ("No" and "Aye, Pod") appear in it.  It's a lovely book, with cover art by Marlee Pickles.

Other contributors include Bree, Zena Smith, Holly Jensen, Michelle R. Smith, Pedro Sarsama, Miles Budimir, N.I. Nicholson, John Dorsey, Joel Allegretti, Patrick Falconi, Carly Haufe, Kushal Poddar, Alan Cliffe, Matt Margo, Howie Good, Sarah Marcus, Molly Fuller, Mary Owen, Doug Mathewson, Rob Jackson, Lynn Brearley, Steve Kleptetar, Robert Beveridge, Alissa Nutting, Jason Wright, Barton Smock, Janet Veil, Christopher Quinn, Judith L. Harper and Patricia Harusame Leebove.

The GTK website says the journal is published in a handcrafted edition of 200.  That means you should probably get yours soon while you still can. 

Guide to Kulchur: Text, Art and News
1386 W. 65th Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44102

guidetokulchurcleveland.com
www.facebook.com/GuideToKulchurCleveland 

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Knotted and Nominated - The Eater of the Absurd

http://www.knotlitmagazine.com/#!the-eater-of-the-absurd-a-book-review/c14qm
cover design by Dianne Borsenik

Thank you to Kristen D. Scott for her new review of my book The Eater of the Absurd (from NightBallet Press) in the Fall 2014 issue of Knot Magazine.  Among other things, she calls me "bodacious, and at the same time graceful, a gentleman and a conveyor of no nonsense tolerance."  I hope I can live up to that.


I'm also pleased to report that The Eater of the Absurd has been nominated for an Ohioana Book Award, as has Songs in the Key of Cleveland: An Anthology of the 2013 Best Cleveland Poem Competition (published earlier this year by Crisis Chronicles Press).


Click here to read Kristen's full review of The Eater
Click here to buy the book and decide for yourself.
http://www.knotlitmagazine.com/

Monday, December 8, 2014

My last Ohio reading for a long time

This is the last Ohio reading I'll be giving for a long time, and I hope to make it a doozie.  This is the third Apocalypse I've read for - and this time it's in a new (for me) and exciting location.  Andi Line, styles83 and Zach will also be featured performers.  Check us out Friday December 12th, 7 pm, at the Journey Art Gallery in Canton, Ohio.