My Op-Ed in Tangle

I subscribe to Tangle, this great news source that deep dives into a major story each day and aggregates a spectrum of perspectives on it. They just started a new Sunday Edition and called for reader op-ed pitches, and they chose mine to print first!

They’ve reprinted my “Con Pane” poem (first published in Limp Wrist) along with a short essay about the importance of Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe in my life (and I could’ve said so much more…). ❤️

Note: You do have to be a subscriber to read the op-ed in full on the Tangle site.

My Jeff Goldblum Thirst Poem!

Remember my Jeff Goldblum thirst poem? Well, Faith Allen of Geez Louise Productions loved it so much that she licensed it, created an image, and put it on some items. So now there’s a version of my poem shaped like Jeff Goldblum that you can purchase as a mug. Or a poster. Or a tote bag. Or…

I’m so tickled by this! I can’t wait to receive my items in the mail. If you love Jeff Goldblum and/or poetry and/or me and/or supporting a mom’s small business, I hope you’ll get yourself something and perhaps do some Christmas shopping too! Visit GeezeLouiseProductions.com to see all of the fun stuff she’s got available.

Last Syllable is live!

I’m so thrilled to share that we’ve published Issue 1 of Last Syllable, the new online literary journal created and run by the students in PLNU’s M.A. in Writing program!

My Editing & Publishing class created this journal from scratch this semester—everything from choosing the name to designing the website to reading over 500 submissions to curating, setting up, and promoting this first issue and more! They did an incredible amount of work, and this gorgeous issue that they’ve produced is such a great way to bring this new journal to life.

I knew there was a gap in publishing venues for longform writing (which is why that’s our focus!), but I never dreamed that over 500 people would give Last Syllable a chance during this first reading period. I’m so proud of my grad students, who are not only incredible writers themselves, but also such thoughtful and engaged editors who are so fun to be with each week. And I’m grateful for all of the writers—those published in this issue and not—who trusted our new journal with their work! I hope many readers let themselves get lost in this first issue for awhile.

Publications & Reviews & Readings… Oh My!

I just read the last words of this post’s title in George Takei’s voice rather than as the end of “lions and tigers and bears” from The Wizard of Oz, and I’m loving the collision of pop culture references that’s happening in my head!

The last couple of months have been a busy blur, not always in the best ways, but sometimes in wonderful ways. Here are some poetry highlights…

Courtney LeBLanc came to town in September, and I got to read with her at the CHE Cafe! What a brilliant poet, and what a wonderful space!

At the end of September, I hosted PLNU’s 25th Annual Poetry Day. I had the idea to have an ensemble reading of 25 poets for this special occasion, and we pulled it off! San Diego poets and a few guests from LA turned out for this incredible event, and we filled the auditorium. People stayed around talking for a long time afterwards too, and that’s how I know it was a good time. The whole evening felt magical.

In October I was a featured reader for Hafez Day in San Diego alongside some incredible poets. I chose the poems I read that night using Hafez divination: I opened the book of poems and let the lines I landed on point me toward which of my poems I should read. (I loved this! I need to let Hafez choose poems for me more often). This was such a beautiful night of poetry by a gorgeous variety of people.

Jennifer Pollock Michel interviewed me about Hereverent alongside Heather Lanier for The Englewood Review of Books podcast.

My poem “Who Is Like God?” was published in the latest issue of The WIndhover!

Psaltery & Lyre published Jennifer A. Sutherland’s incredibly thoughtful review of Hereverent last week.

The grad students in my Editing & Publishing course in PLNU’s new MA in Writing program are creating a new online literary journal that focuses on longform work, and it’s amazing: Last Syllable. I’m so proud of the work they’re doing. They’ve already had their first reading period and chosen work for the first two issues, and the first issue will be out in December!

I’ve also gotten to be a guest at a poetry salon, attend some delightful readings, receive a couple of exciting acceptances… and I made some fun arrangements that involve licensing “This Poem Is about Dinosaurs” (my Jeff Goldblum poem). More info on that coming soon!

Nominations from Minyan Magazine

The past two months have been so busy that I’m behind on sharing news here!

I’ll begin with this: I was already so honored to be published in Minyan Magazine this spring, and then they went and nominated my poem “Wrestling with God” for Best of the Net in September.

Now they’ve nominated my other poem that they published, “When God Looked Down,” for Best Spiritual Literature. If it’s possible to be honored to bits, I think that’s what I am now. ❤️

You can find my poems in the company of the rest of these incredible pieces at this link.

Review of Hereverent in Englewood Review of Books

This week, Englewood Review of Books published a review of Hereverent written by Katie Karnehm-Esh. I can’t explain what a gift it is to have someone spend the time and attention on my book that this kind of thorough, thoughtful review takes. I’m deeply honored and grateful.

SDU-T Festival of Books!

I had so much fun being a featured poet at the San Diego Union-Tribune Festival of Books on August 19 alongside wonderful poets, including some brilliant students (Ell Huang and Jaden Goldfain) and friends (Jane Muschenetz & Jason Magabo Perez), and I completely fell in love with Marilyn Chin and her poetry too. Thank you to everyone who showed up for this special event, especially right before a storm. ❤️