Thur., Mar. 27: LILA poetry reading at Circular Church

How I'm looking forward to reading with my talented poet friends tomorrow night at an event sponsored by the Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts (LILA)! Here are the details:

THURS., Mar. 27
READING by poets

• Richard Garcia
• Barbara G. S. Hagerty
• Susan Laughter Meyers
• Marjory Wentworth

7 p.m.
Circular Church 
150 Meeting St., Charleston, SC
Book signing to follow
$5 suggested donation

All four of us have new books out or forthcoming shortly:

• Richard Garcia: The Other Odyssey, winner of the American Poetry Journal Prize (Dream Horse Press)
• Barbara G.S. Hagerty: Twinzilla, winner of the Hilary Tham Capital Collection Prize (Word Works)
• Susan Laughter Meyers: My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass, winner of the Cider Press Review Editors Prize
• Marjory Wentworth: New and Selected Poems (University of South Carolina Press)

 Please join us if you're in the area!

Mar. 11: Reading & workshops at The Cooper School

The morning of Tuesday, March 11, was my time at The Cooper School in West Ashley, near Charleston. First I gave a brief reading to a room full of young students seated before me in a semi-circle on the floor. The room was full of windows, so I had the joy of seeing the children's smiling faces and, behind them, the sun shining on the lovely small campus. I read a few of my poems and a couple by other poets.

Afterward I met with two classes for workshops—a 4th- and 5th-grade class and a 2nd-grade class. The first workshop had about 18 students and the other about 14—ideal for a workshop to generate new poems. We wrote a group poem in each workshop and then spent time starting individual poems. Such delightful, enthusiastic students, who are lucky to have such dedicated, caring teachers. Thank you, Cooper School!

The Columbia Broadside Project celebrates its success

On Friday night the Columbia Broadside Project, directed by Darien Cavanaugh, held a closing reception at Tapp's Arts Center to celebrate its month-long exhibit there. The reception included music, poetry readings, and a panel about the collaboration process. The Project, funded by a Kickstarter campaign, brought about the collaboration of 28 visual artists and poets to result in 14 beautiful broadsides by the participating pairs. Such an imaginative and talented group! I was honored to participate and to collaborate with artist Matt Catoe on our broadside entitled Lately She Falls to Dreaming.

The broadsides, as well as a chapbook of the broadside art and poems, are available for sale. For further information, check at the Columbia Broadside Project page on Facebook.

Monday Night Poetry & Music reading, Feb. 24

What a joy it was to read in the Monday Night Poetry & Music Series last Monday! The Series always has a supportive audience, which includes a lot of talented poets who typically read in the open mic. Thanks to host Jim Lundy for having me—and to all who came to help me continue celebrating the release of My Dear, Dear Stagger Grass.

Poets in the region, this Series is a wonderful place to read. The events are weekly and held at the charming East Bay Meeting House in Charleston, SC.