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.

»»The 2002 KotaPress Anthology Contest is now OPEN!!!!! Peg Rousar has volunteered to be your Anthology Contest Editor, so be kind to her when sending in your works! Check out the Guidelines and other information under the left-hand, side-bar menu item for the Anthology Contest!!!

»»The Creativity Workshop's goal is to help individuals believe in and develop their creative process and break through the fears and blocks that inhibit creativity through using memoir, creative writing, visual arts exercises, and storytelling. The end product is expanded perception, innovative problem solving, and ways of looking at one's life and work as exciting and transformative. People from all different disciplines, interests, and levels of experience come together to explore their creative process. Whether you are a writer, a business person, a teacher, or an artist, we can help you discover and nurture your particular way of expression and break through the fears and blocks that inhibit creativity.

»»Comfort Call for Entries: Stories Celebrating the Magical (and Sometimes Maddening) Bond Between Sisters

• For publication consideration in A Cup of Comfort for Sisters, the 5th volume in the bestselling Cup of Comfort series.
• Stories must be true, uplifting, original, 1000-2000 words, and in English.
• Submit by: August 1, 2002
• NOTE: Finalists are selected throughout the submission period, so early entry is strongly encouraged.
• Each contributor receives monetary fee, story credit, and complimentary copy of book.

  For detailed submissions guidelines (choose one):
  Website: www.cupofcomfort.com
  Email: wordsinger@aol.com
  SASE: P.O. Box 863, Eugene, Oregon 97440, US

»»KotaPress has a new mailing address:
KotaPress
PO Box 514
Vashon, WA 98070

»» 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!

Register today! Click here to go to the eStore and then click thru to the Classes!

»» 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.

»»Lifeboat: A Journal of Memoir - Submissions wanted for a new print publication. The debut issue is Autumn 2002; deadline, August 1, 2002. We seek literary autobiographical writing—prose, poetry (including haibun), as well as book reviews (please query), oral biographies (please query), and B&W photography. Each issue will have a theme; the first is Leaving Home. Please see the website for all submission guidelines: www.lifeboatjournal.com.Allegra Wong is the poetry editor of the journal. Brief poetry guidelines are as follows; please see the website for further suggestions:

Poetry: Please submit 3-5 poems that reflect the theme of the issue. Poems should be typed single-spaced, on one side of the page. We favor free verse (and its challenges) over forms, and weseek something richer, more complex, poignant, and resonant than memory alone.

Haibun: Please submit 2 haibun, up to 750 words each, that reflect the theme of the issue. We seek haibun that is imagistic, somewhat objective, and terse like a prose poem. Haibun should be typed single-spaced, on one side of the page.

»»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.)