VIEWS FROM AN EXCELLENT BOOK FOR WRITERS

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to check in with Jama to see what deliciousness she's dishing up for Roundup at Jama's Alphabet Soup!

I am thrilled to share with you today my newest book love: VIEWS FROM A WINDOW SEAT by our very own Jeannine Atkins!

I LOVE THIS BOOK. Jeannine's voice is so beautiful and resonant, and there is so much wisdom packed in these pages.

For our purposes today I am sharing some bits that relate to the poetic life, but please know that this book spans several genres (picture books! historical fiction! novels) and is as much about being a human in this world as it is about being a writer. There's love and pain and fear and loss and always, always hope and beauty. And the book is divided into the seasons, which act as wonderful metaphors for the writing life. The essays are accessible and wise, and you can read them as you see fit.

Writers, READ THIS BOOK. You will feel nurtured and more courageous as you venture forth into whatever comes next on your particular path. Also, Jeannine is one of the loveliest people on the planet, both on the page and in person. You have so much to look forward to!

Straight from the pages, in no particular order:

I wish writing poetry were more like baking.

We work in a field with no finish lines so we make our best guesses as to when to let a poem rest, then come back with fresh eyes. If the poem can surprise me, or if I sense that the words were already tossed and shaken, that's a good sign.

Words should follow each other in clear ways, but leave some sense of an imperfect hand doing the arranging and room for readers to do their own shuffling.

We may say “I remember” with a swagger, but if we're truthful, much of what we claim is faint or broken. Which is all right. We can find a lot even on dim paths.

Not every mystery will be solved, but wondering may connect us as much as answers.

Sometimes we have to be the well rather than just worry about filling it.

Ideas may fall as quietly as feathers or clatter like a teacup on a saucer.

Sometimes just stopping is the best way to end.

The world is inspiration, and art is not a mirror.

We are who we are, and it shows up on our pages.

Here is where I am: green grass, yellow and black bees, white blossoms. My not-great-but-could-be-worse back on the wicker chair.

The unknown can hold more wisdom that what seems certain.

I work line by line, reeling in vagueness, trying to put small gifts in every one. A word that glimmers, a shock in the rhythm, the smack of two clashing things coming together.

My aim is to invite readers to make their own interpretations, leaving them guessing, but not deeply puzzled or lost.

There's illness and too much snow, but also friendship and somewhere singing, and another cardinal at the bird feeder.

Really the only rule is to pay attention.  

-------------------------------------------------

And now, a word from Jeannine! 

IL: "What surprised you about self-publishing?"

JA:  Thanks for asking about what surprised me. It was fun working on design and craft sorts of things, and satisfying to look at my book the way I have at scarf or two I’ve knitted, or the African violets I’ve coaxed into flourishing, or banana bread that’s just the right shade of golden brown.  Here was something I had made from inside to out. Not perfect, but I felt proud.

Another surprise was that the day my book became available, I found
myself less worried than I had when books came out that other people
had argued for or over, edited, chosen covers for, or made up cost and
balance sheets. Would we sell enough? Does anyone, ever? Now remarks,
reviews, and sales accounts come straight to me. I get to be in my own
self, which, thank goodness, is only partly a sales rep. And thanks to
print-on-demand, I don’t have to worry about stored boxes of books
either. The book can take its own pace into the world.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY!!!!

Okay. You want a copy, don't you. Not just for yourself, but for your writing friend who is struggling with revisions or beginnings or the muddly middle. You can purchase the book .... and.... if you'll leave a comment below for Jeannine by midnight CST Saturday, November 16, you will be eligible to win a copy! Good luck!! And thank you, Jeannine, for writing (and publishing!) this lovely book. xo

BIRDSEYE SKY

I captured this sky on Veteran's Day when I was at the Botanical Gardens. It made me wonder about what it's like to be a seed-eating bird, how the eyes would always be on the lookout for color. And then I thought, hmmm, I might be a little bit bird. (My father used to say so... he said I ate like a bird. Which of course means I ate A LOT, as some birds eat twice their weight in a day!) Also, birds are constantly popping up in my work. Something about their beauty and freedom and fragility....

BECAUSE POETRY IS A PUZZLE

Last week I had the most marvelous school visit with creative writing students at Shades Valley High School/JCIB. We talked about the writing life, and the students told me about their works-in-progress. We did some writing exercises and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves -- thanks largely to dedicated librarians Carolyn Starkey and Carla Crews, and to teacher Becky Dobelstein. Thank you!

One of the students said she loved poetry because "it's a puzzle."

Isn't it?!

Thank you, students, for your brilliant words, and for sharing your stories with me and the world. Hope to see you submissions at Birmingham Arts Journal!

Here's some pictures from the event.

Carla, me & Carolyn

yes, I do the writing exercises, too!

chatting with students over pizza

students writing brilliant pieces

Poets: Sarah, me & Maria

NOVEMBER SKY

I took these within minutes of each other ... same tree, same sky. And yet... not the same at all!

 Also, allow me to introduce you to Jenny Paynter, fabulous librarian at Fairview Elementary in Heiskell, TN. Please read her response to my sensory query, "What does 1,000  sound like?"

1,000---
look like? crows sitting on a power line
sound like? a playground filled with squealing children
smell like? the loose powder my grandmother used to powder her nose
taste like? a cherry tomato right off the vine 
feel like? a cool breeze after an uphill hike

Thank you, Jenny! You're a poet!! Happy November, all.

COLUMBIANA QUILT WALK

Saturday was a perfect day for quilts! I loved walking around the charming town of Columbiana, Alabama, looking at all the art and color --- and meeting quilters and quilt-lovers at every turn! And yes, I took pictures, so, you too, can enjoy these wonderful works of art:

display in front of the courthouse, during the Quilts of Valor presentation

inside the library

close-up of one of my favorite "patterns"

doesn't this remind you a bit of a Gee's Bend quilt?

outside Mayor Handley's office

inside Mayor Handley's office! (for you, Pat Weaver!)

Mayor Handley with a Civil War quilt - what stories this guy has!

inside the Shelby County Museum & Archives (housed in the old Courthouse)

cardinal in stitch!

one of the many fabulous volunteers (with quilt) for this amazing event!

my new treasure: a gift quilted by Sheila with blocks created by kids! Also pictured: Dutcha Lawson, Amazing Library Director! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

an old-fashioned sampler quilt that includes quilters' names (both stitched and inked)


SUCH a beautiful day! I loved meeting so many new friends and sharing a few hours celebrating the creative art of quilting. Do this again next year, I will be there!

TITANIC POEM

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Lovely Linda has Roundup at Teacher Dance. Linda is one of those people who brightens the planet with a verse, a smile, an inspiring thought.... I know all of you know what I am talking about!

I'm excited to share with you a poem inspired by history: "Titanic Remember April 16, 1912," as it appeared in Scholastic's Storyworks magazine. Elementary teachers, if you are not getting Storyworks, you should! It's an awesome classroom publication, covering all sorts of high-interest topics. I am super-proud and honored to have my own work appear in their pages. Enjoy!

EDGAR ALLAN SCARE-POE & FRIENDS

Happy Halloween!!!! 

When we visited Mentone, Alabama, earlier this month during ColorFest, they were having a scarecrow contest. Here are the ones we voted for:

Edgar Allan Scare-Poe

Mermaid (my favorite!)

 Cheerleader (Paul's favorite)

Artist (artsy-kids' favorite)

...and here is a close-up of what he was painting. :)

WRITERS, WHAT'S YOUR PRISON?

me &  Sherman Alexie in Las Vegas (2012 NCTE)

Earlier this month I read an article in The Atlantic entitled "The Poem that Made Sherman Alexie Want to 'Drop Everything and Be a  Poet.'" It's part of as series in which authors share works of literature that meant a lot to them. 

It reminds me of Robert Pinsky's Favorite Poem Project, of which I have long been a fan, and after which we model our own My Favorite Poem event here in Birmingham every year.

Alexie reveals the poem and talks about his literary life, and he also says something that really resonates with me (and apparently with the editors of The Atlantic, because they use the quote as a pull-out):

"I think every writer stands in the doorway of their prison. Half in, half out. "  - Sherman Alexie

Alexie's prison is his culture, his upbringing. 

I know what mine is.

What's yours?

THE SOUND OF 1,000 BLOG POSTS

Hello, and welcome to Poetry Friday Roundup! I'm so glad you're here. So much to celebrate in this gorgeous, inspiring world... and today is my 1,000th blog post!

A little blog history: When I started this blog, it was called DAYTIPS FOR WRITERS and usually included a quote. I love quotes! Here's the first one I posted... advice for a life:

1. Never Quit.
2. Be Yourself.
3. Don't Put Too Much Flour in Your Brownies.
- Katharine Hepburn

Later my blog was called LIVE. LOVE. DISCOVER!

It's current incarnation LIVE YOUR POEM still feels good to me. Who knows what will happen next?

Some stats: My most viewed post of all towns, mountains and planets was posted back in December 2009, as part of my Author ABCs series: Z is for ZZZZZ (I suspect the reason for the views is actually the "z" image! Here's to the power of pictures!)

My most viewed post for 2012: TORNADO POEM
for 2013: my page, HOW TO LIVE YOUR POEM

Top three tags, in order: writing, poetry, travel

Special Blog Things:
1. Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem. (See 2012 and 2013 tabs above!) I love collaborating with all of you! This Poetry Friday community is one of the Best Things Ever.
2. Valerie Worth poem series. (See top left sidebar.) I want to do more of this... featuring classic poems/poets to inspire. Suggestions, anyone??
3. Getting a bound, printed copy of my blog from blog2print.com. It took two volumes to do it... and now I am on the "every two years" plan and will be printing another one as 2013 comes to a close. (For whatever reason, it is often easier for me to find a post by looking through my bound books rather than using the search feature on Blogger.)

Words, words words:
The word "thousand" has appeared in my poems a number of times, including the following two phrases:

"After One Thousand Miles the Road Rises"
"the weight of a thousand birds" (from a poem "If Not for Starlings")

In DON'T FEED THE BOY:

Whit had heard the story a thousand times. It was his parents’ third trip to Africa. Along with the two white rhinos they helped capture, they brought home a bad case of dysentery and a tiny bunch of cells that would eventually become Whit.

-----------------------

“That trunk is composed of tens of thousands of muscles. Lila here can pick up a penny with that trunk. Or pull a tree right out of the ground.”

In LEAVING GEE'S BEND:

I was on the river! For the first time in my whole life there wasn’t a bit of solid dirt under my feet. Just thousands of buckets of water.

--------------------------

"Over three thousand chapters of the Red Cross all across the country, but every year ours is one of the most generous.”

And that's enough for the number 1,000! Thank you so much for sticking with me. Please leave your links below, and have the happiest of Poetry Fridays! xo

THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF ART

Check out these wondrous works of art we spotted in Mentone, Alabama. The first three shots are all by the same artist: Scott Thomas. Love how he transforms ordinary items into beauty:

These final three shots were taken in our rental cottage, High Horse Lodge. The owners are artists, and it shows in the decor. All the iron work was crafted by them! Lovely! (and yes, you might notice a horse-y theme... right up this horse-girl's lane.) Art immersion... definitely transformative for the creative spirit that resides in all of us.

Coming Friday: I'm hosting Poetry Friday Roundup...and...it's my 1,000 blog post!!

HIGH HORSE SKY

We traveled this past weekend to Mentone, Alabama, which, if you don't know, is a charming mountain town right on the Georgia border and not far from the Tennessee border. It was ColorFest weekend, which meant a nice arts festival. No real color yet -- late this year, I guess because of the alternating drought and flood weather over the summer months. 

Anyhow, here's some sky pics. The first is at a pond located on the property near our rental cabin, which was named High Horse Lodge and was such a fantastic place to stay that we've decided it's where we will stay from now on!

This next one I took on our walk down to the waterfalls at Cloudland Canyon State Park:

...and this last one was taken on the East Rim of the canyon, which is the deepest canyon east of the Mississippi River. Really beautiful place, and I have lots of warm, wonderful childhood memories here. So fun to enjoy it with some of the people I love best!

POEMSTARTS from Jack Prelutsky

Hello and happy Poetry Friday! Short and sweet for me this week... October is always such a busy month. I'm missing my favorite blogs and promise to pop in very soon! Be sure to visit Cathy at Merely Day by Day for Roundup.

In Jack Prelutsky's book PIZZA, PIGS AND POETRY: HOW TO WRITE A POEM, he includes a list of 10 poemstarts. I think they are a fabulous way to loosen up, and for me, to get that wise adult out of my poems for children. Here's three to get us started... feel free to share your results in Comments!

Eleven yellow elephants
Were sitting on the floor.
They.......

This pic came up when I googled "Bandersnatch"
(from JABBERWOCKY)...found here

A Blobboloon is chasing me.
It's hot upon my trail.
That Blobboloon.....

"Tricycling Triceratops" found here

If I could have a dinosaur,
Which I do not have yet,
I'd.......

copyright 2008 by Jack Prelutsky

THE REAL SKY

"Finally, ahead of him- a hole in the forest. A swath of gaping sky where there should have been none. Like someone had taken a sword and put a great slash in the world." 
 -- THE REAL BOY by Anne Ursu


And here is a "sky" picture I took the other evening in Tuscaloosa, Alabama:

Magical, isn't it?!

RESILIENCE at the SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

Laura Golden, me, Andrea Beaty

What fun to be part of this year's Southern Festival of Books! I was on a panel with Andrea Beaty and Laura Golden, each of whom are just fabulous and should you ever get a chance to meet them you should. And if not, at least sample their awesomeness by taking a peek at their wonderful books!

Our moderator Melissa helped keep great questions coming on the topic of resilience. (Isn't every MG novel somehow about resilience?) I talked a lot about Katherine Paterson, whose book of speeches continues to be one of my favorite books ever. I also shared a letter from a reader who was thanking me for writing about "real" issues kids have to deal with. The letter helps me remember why I write what I write --- and why my work is important, even my books never hit the NYT list or win a Newbery.

I was thrilled to see some of my favorite writers in the audience, including Beck McDowell and Kristin Tubb... and several of my most favorite librarians were there too! Here's a few pics from the event:

Yes, ours was a serious topic! But we also had fun with it. :)

Our signing table, on the Plaza

Many thanks to all the organizers... what a great time, and how well-run! Special thanks to Pat for helping make it a good time. xo

FALL POEMS by Valerie Worth

Hello, and happy Poetry Friday. Be sure to visit the ever-delightful Laura Purdie Salas at Writing the World for Kids for Roundup.

I'm back with one more post of Valerie Worth poems, all celebrating fall. More Valerie Worth can be found on the left sidebar.

I've always loved fall. And I love these poems!

pumpkin

After its lid

is cut, the slick

Seeds and stuck

Wet strings

Scooped out,

walls scraped

Dry and white,

Face carved, candle

Fixed and lit,

Light creeps

into the thick

Rind: giving

That dead orange

Vegetable skull

Warm skin, making

A live head

To hold its

Sharp gold grin.

- Valerie Worth

autumn geese

One long

Ragged

Thread

Unravels

The whole

World.

- Valerie Worth

skeletons

Is it the

Curve of their

Breezy ribs, the

Crook of their

Elegant fingers,

Their eyeless

Eyes, so wide

And wise,

Their silent

Ivory laughter,

The frisk and

Prance of their

Skittering dance

With never a

Pause for breath,

That fills us

With such

Delicious delight,

While scaring us

Half to death?

- Valerie Worth

haunted house

Its echoes,

Its aching stairs,

Its doors gone stiff

At the hinges,

Remind us of its

Owners, who

Grew old, who

Died, but

Who are still

Here: leaning

In the closet like

That curtain rod,

Sleeping on the cellar

Shelf like this

Empty

Jelly jar.

- Valerie Worth

I'll be back next week with a report from the Southern Book Festival in Nashville, TN, where I am presenting a panel entitled "Budding Resilience: Navigating Adult Issues in a Young Adult World" with authors Laura Golden (EVERY DAY AFTER) and Andrea Beaty (DORKO THE MAGNIFICENT). To make things extra-fun, I am traveling with my better-than-ice cream friend Pat. Yippee!!!