M.J. Arcangelini and Friends at Visible Voice Books on 10/6

I'm thrilled that poet and friend M.J. Arcangelini is returning to Ohio this week and reading at Visible Voice Books (which now has a patio!) on October 6th at 7 p.m.. He will be joined by poet friends Steve Thomas, John Burroughs, Shelley Chernin, Marc Mannheimer, Adam Brodsky, Terry Provost, Russell Vidrick, Charles Cicirella, Ben Gulyas, Smith & Lady, Steve Goldberg, and Christopher Franke.

M.J. Arcangelini (b.1952) was born in western Pennsylvania, grew up there & in Cleveland, Ohio. He has resided in northern California since 1979. His work has been published in print magazines, online journals, (including The James White Review, Rusty Truck, The Ekphrastic Review, The Gasconade Review, As It Ought To Be, Live Nude Poems, North of Oxford, Rye Whisky Review) & over a dozen anthologies. The most recent of his five collections are: What the Night Keeps (2019, Stubborn Mule Press) and A Quiet Ghost (2020, Luchador Press). 

 

Visible Voice Books
2258 Professor Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
info@visiblevoicebooks.com

Get Bowled Over by Sara Holbrook & John Burroughs at Mahall's, January 6th

My first reading of the new year will be alongside the fabulous Sara Holbrook at Mahall's 20 Lanes in Lakewood, Ohio, and I couldn't be more excited. A homecoming of sorts! Monday January 6th at 8 p.m.

The last time I played the role of featured poet for Monday at Mahall's was July 13th 2013 when Catherine Criswell still ran the series. JJ Haaz accompanied me on guitar. A lot has changed since then. I took over running the series in April 2014, when Catherine took a job in California, and enjoyed playing the curator for about a year and a half until my wife Geri got so sick I decided to hand off hosting duties to the wonderful Terry Provost in October 2015. Now Terry's still going strong as host and I'm thrilled to be returning as one of his first featured poets of 2020 in support of my latest book, Rattle and Numb: Selected and New Poems, 1992-2019 [Venetian Spider Press]. Did I mention it's with Sara Holbrook?!?

John Burroughs & JJ Haaz, 7/13/2013 at Mahall's
photo by Michael Spear

Bowled Over by Holbrook/Burroughs
Monday January 6th 2020 at 8 pm
Open mic will follow the features.

Mahall's 20 Lanes
13200 Madison Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107

Monday at Mahall's on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mondayatmahalls/.

Pulling Out

I used to pride myself on never missing a poetry event I was scheduled to read at or host, whether it meant driving hours in a blizzard, wearing a mask while wiped out with the flu or even going without sleep for several days.  But there are more important things than poetry events.

On April 28th I had to cancel a reading in Mount Vernon at the last minute (luckily, Dianne Borsenik was available to read in my place) and on June 12th I couldn't go to the big Crisis Chronicles Press book launch in Erie (Dianne was available again to make sure Tracie Morell's books got there in time).  On June 1st, I had to leave my monthly Mahall's event after 20 minutes (fortunately, Ray McNiece was there as guest host for the evening).  And now I've withdrawn from the Lake Effect Poetry team that is scheduled to represent northeast Ohio this weekend in Rockford, Illinois.  Team "Slaministrator" Vertigo Xavier knew this was a possibility and is prepared to step into my slot since he's making the trip anyway.

While I always hate to let my friends and fellow poets down, it is more important for me (and to me) to stay close to home for the time being while a loved one is having health issues and needs me near.  I realize that's vague, and I'm sorry, but I can't be more specific publicly and still respect that loved one's wish for privacy (which I hope you too will respect). 

So I won't be taking on any more out of state readings for the near future, though I am hopeful that I will still be able to keep my upcoming Ohio reading commitments since they don't require me to be as far from home for as long.

All this has also played a role (though it's not the only factor) in my recent decisions to hand off the reins to the Monday at Mahall's poetry series to Terry Provost this fall and to wind down the breakneck pace of Crisis Chronicles Press by the middle of next year, by which time I expect I will have fulfilled all our pending publication commitments.

More soon (maybe).  I remain grateful for your patience, support and good wishes.

Peace, love and poetry,
John

July 7th Installlment of Monday at Mahall's will feature Jack McGuane, Chuck Joy, Eva Xanthopoulos, and be guest hosted by Terry Provost

This month's installment of the Monday at Mahall's Poetry and Prose Series is a triple knock out featuring poets Jack McGuane, Ēva Xanthópoulos and Chuck Joy - plus, for any who dare, brews, bowling and a bowl-you-over open mic. Our guest host for the event will be Terry Provost! You won't want to miss this! July 7th at Mahall's in Lakewood.

Jack's and Eva's photos lifted from their Facebook pages. Chuck's photo by Chandra Alderman.

Jack McGuane age 86, has been a resident of Lakewood, Ohio, since 1974, when he moved there from New York’s Long Island. Jack has been married to Kathleen (Moriarty) for fifty-seven years and is the father of five, grandfather of six. He retired in 1997 from his position as Regional Manager for Fireye, Inc., and has been a poet ever since. He served for three years as poetry editor of Whiskey Island Magazine, won the Haiku Death Match (sponsored by Heights Arts), and was named Poet Laureate of Lakewood 2006-2007 by a board of judges and by proclamation of the Mayor. His poems have been published in the anthologies Family Matters (Bottom Dog Press), Come Together, Imagine Peace (BDP), and Lipsmack! A Sampler Platter Year One 2012 (NightBallet Press), and in Whiskey Island Magazine, Moonlit Magazine, ArtCrimes, the November 3rd Club, The City Poetry, and other print and online journals. His chapbook Sleeping With My Socks was published in 2008 by Deep Cleveland Press, and his collections Chickenhawk (2011) and Unfinished (2013) were published by NightBallet Press.

Eva X. is a Greco-American writer, mystic, and multimedia artist. She received her BA in Creative Writing from Cleveland State University. Many of her works are published both in print and online (The Golden Lantern, Mystic Living Today, The Journey Magazine, etc.) and she's the author of several poetry books (Sacred Shapes, Water Walker, and Cumulus). Eva is the founder of Poehemian Press and is the co-founder of Etheric Archives. Find her at www.theartisticmuse.com

Chuck Joy is from Erie, PA. His poems have appeared in Great Lakes Review, Ampersand Review, intentionalwalkreview.com, Medicinal Purposes, Lilliput Review, and Bogg, as well as anthologies edited by Sean Thomas Daugherty, Berwyn Moore, and Jack Coulehan. His publications include All Smooth (Destitute Press) and Every Tiger Wants To Sing (Poets' Hall Press). A poet impressed with the music and drama of lines, Chuck has brought poetry to the stage at The Orange Bear, Blue Planet Cafe, Confluence, every Snoetry, the Erie Book Store, Authors Books, Woodlawn Diner, and Mac's Backs. Chuck is excited to return to Mahall's!