burntdistrict - Volume 3, Issue 2

burntdistrict is a journal of contemporary poetry published by the editors of Spark Wheel Press.

Volume 3, Issue 2 features work from Julie Brooks Barbour, Jackson Burgess, Adriana Cloud, Rebecca Connors, Thomas Cook, Tim Craven, Sage Curtis, Nandini Dhar, Katherine Frain, Natalie Giarratano, Charles Harper Webb, Lydia Havens, Matthew Huff, Cindy Hunter Morgan, Lillian Kwok, Diane Lockward, Adam Love, Greg Mahrer, Bill Neumire, Angelina Oberdan, Simon Perchik, Amy Plettner, Adrian Potter, Richard Prins, Kim Roberts, Todd Robinson, Steven D. Schroeder, Leah Sewell, Molly Sutton Kiefer, and William Trowbridge.

I’m blessed to have two prose poems in this issue, both pieces from The Alter Ego Handbook chapbook manuscript that I’ve been tinkering with incessantly. This is my third time appearing in burntdistrict and I appreciate the support and exposure this publication has provided. I’m only partway through reading this issue, but so far it has been an enjoyable read.

A Blues Primer.

burntdistrict is a literary journal dedicated to elevating public awareness of contemporary poetry and to the promotion of writers.  Volume 2 Issue 1 of burntdistrict will be out soon. It contains contributions from some amazing writers, including Dan Nowak, Francesca Bell, CM Burroughs, and others. This issue also includes my prose poem A Blues Primer. But I’m not just being biased when I say this issue is a great read from cover to cover. I’m keeping it real.

Thanks to the staff at burntdistrict who found my work worthy of publication. I appreciate the chance to contribute.

That silence you hear…

…is the sound of me working. Seriously. The lack of posts on this blog is not an indication of a lack of writing activity, for sure.

I will have upcoming work in publications that I failed to previously mention on here, in print in burntdistrict and online in the Bare Root Review.

In addition, I earned third place finishes in both the Art Affair Poetry Contest and the Burning the Midnight Oil Poetry Contest – no publication, but a little cash always soothes the soul.

I wrestled my inner procrastination demons in a cage match. I won and am now back on pace with a decent writing work rate in the past month. This has been partially sponsored by a new manuscript idea that I hope will lead to the promised land of publication and not another dead end.

I also have big plans to revamp this blog.

All I need to do is execute. Which means not more hiatuses, no more wandering focus.

That’s all for now. Be good.

Interview at the Spark Wheel Press Blog

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to play question and answer via email…the results of which appear on today’s entry on Spark Wheel Press’ blog.

Spark Wheel Press publishes burntdistrict, a journal dedicated to elevating public awareness of contemporary poetry and to the promotion of writers. I had the honor of having my prose poem Epiphany appear in the inaugural issue of burntdistrict earlier this year.

In the interview I talked a little about epiphanies in writing, my writing process, labels in the literary world, influences and other subjects. Huge thanks to the folks at Spark Wheel Press for the chance to do this interview with them, and to Deanna McElhatten for asking some very thought provoking questions (and for being patient as I crafted my responses). You can check out the interview by clicking here.