Poetry News

By Kara L.C. Jones

Poetry News:

As always there are many announcements from the KotaPress Poetry front. We hope you will find these helpful, and feel free to contact us via email at info@kotapress.com or via phone at 206-251-6706 if you need further information.

»» Do you know the business of your art? Most poets don't. Now you can take this Kota class no matter where you live and find out what the business of you art looks like.

We'll cover everything from revision to the dreaded poet voice, from self publishing to web publishing and back again. You can register online instantly though our eStore and get started right away. Don't miss out!

»» From PWJ Publishing: LABYRINTH, Poems & Prose, edited by Patricia Wellingham-Jones

In this unusual collection, thirty-three poets and writers give voice to their thoughts and experiences about the ancient symbol of life’s passage and spiritual pilgrimage, the labyrinth. Mostly poetry, the book also features articles on labyrinths of southern Oregon and northern California and the labyrinth as a tool in working with children. A few mazes crept in and, because they are close relatives of labyrinths, were allowed to stay. Photos and drawings are included in the 82-page perfect-bound book. ISBN 0-939221-18-7.

Order Labyrinth for US$12.50 post paid from PWJ Publishing, PO Box 238, Tehama CA 96090-0238. Phone 1-530-384-1341. Email pwj@tco.net.

Whine & Crackers: Musings of a High School Principal by Joe Pelanconi

If you ever went to high school, raised kids, or worked in education, Whine & Crackers: Musings of a High School Principal by Joe Pelanconi is for you. Thirty years of stories, anecdotes, and excuses are told with Joe’s robust voice and agile pen. As Mickey Bitsko, philosopher and friend, says on the back cover, “For those who value educational jargon, gentle sympathy and coddling, or politically correct deals with teachers and staff, avoid this book! My friend Joe writes about his career with joy, insight, wisdom, compassion, but never caution. For 20 years, I enjoyed his views on life, family, and school; now you can too.”

The 162-page, perfect bound, 8.5 by 11 inch, paperback book is available for $19 in US funds (including shipping) from PWJ Publishing, PO Box 238, Tehama CA 96090; phone 530-384-1341; email pwj@tco.net. See http://www.snowcrest.net/pamelaj/wellinghamjones/home.htm for more titles by PWJ Publishing.

»»15th Annual Free Verse Contest, Robert Penn Warren Awards
First $300; Second $200; Third $100; Honorable Mentions $20
Final Judge: Yusef Komunyakaa

6th Annual Short Fiction Contest, Marjory Bartlett Sanger Award
First $300; Honorable Mentions $30
Final Judge: Reeve Lindbergh

Guidelines: Open to ALL poets/writers (not just New England). Send unpublished, original, FREE VERSE poetry and /or short fiction. Limits—Poetry: 10-30 lines; Fiction: 1,000 words. Type each poem/fiction with title: please no name, address on manuscript. Include 3x5 card with your name, address and titles (separate cards: poetry/ fiction).

Contest Fee— 3 poems: $6; 1 fiction: $6 (2 or more entries, unlimited, $5 ea.); Fee total of $10: one-year NEW membership; $15: membership & anthology; SASE for winner’s list only, manuscripts will be destroyed; Winning poems/fiction published in The Anthology of New England Writers 2003 Awards announced at annual New England Writers Conference, July 20, 2002; Questions: 802-674-2315 or e-mail: newvtpoet@aol.com; Submit poems/fiction by June 15, 2002 to: Dr. Frank Anthony, New England Writers Contest, PO Box 483, Windsor, VT 05089; Postmark Deadline: June 15, 2002

»»www.ALittlePoetry.com has a brand new look for the New Year! We are actively reviewing submissions to fill up the new pages for 2002. Also, a new “Poet Pages” service is now available. Poets can put a collection on-line quickly without the hassle or expense of creating or maintaining a website—and without banners, ads, or pop-ups. We do the work! Poet Pages are featured/linked in the e-zine but the unique Poet Page address (ie: -www.alittlepoetry.com/yourpage.html-) acts as an independent web site too. There are several slick templates to choose from. Check it out here: http://www.alittlepoetry.com/poetsfad.html

»»KotaPress has landed on Vashon Island with the following new contact information:
Phone: 206-251-6706
Location: Vashon Island, WA

»» Mrs. Duck Needs You! Now you can make a donation to Mrs. Duck through our non-profit umbrella organization M.I.S.S.. You can support the Mrs. Duck Project thru SeattleM.I.S.S. which is the Seattle, WA, local chapter for the national non-profit org M.I.S.S.ing (Mission for Infant Survival & Stillbirth In Natural Grieving/ Mothers In Sympathy & Support).

M.I.S.S. recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 with a tax ID number. The national office is physically located in Arizona, and the website is hosted at www.MissFoundation.org. If you wish to support the Mrs. Duck Project, you can send a check or money order donation to the SeattleM.I.S.S. group with a note asking that that funds be earmarked for Mrs. Duck. They will use 80% of the donation to fund the outreach of the Mrs. Duck Kindness Project. 10% will go toward the local chapter so they can continue offering free support group meetings, one-on-one crisis help, and mailing outreach literature. And the last 10% will go to the national office to support their outreach and the medical research that is happening about stillbirth at The Pregnancy Institute. The SeattleM.I.S.S. is registered with the state of Washington Charities Programs. For more information, please feel free to email or call Kara at 206-251-6706.

You'll have to remember to keep checking back here for the latest and greatest, or you could just:

»» Check out our free eNewsletter! KotaPress offers an online eNewsletter free upon request. If you wish to subscribe, please email us at info@kotapress.com asking for a subscription. (We do not sell our mailing list to third parties— we will use your address ONLY to contact you directly.)

See more TRUE cartoons by Daryl Cagle