Welcome to Issue VIII, Volume IV: April 2013 of Connotation Press: An Online Artifact.
We’ve got an especially strong issue this month and I want to get right to it, but I must take a moment to thank everyone that has purchased a copy (or two or in some cases three or in one case 15! YES!) of our first print collection, “Smoking Mirrors.” Thank you, also, for the kind words of encouragement. By your 100% positive response we feel confident in continuing to develop our print division. Woohoo!
Oh, and thanks for telling your friends! I’m glad I remembered that— we’re getting a number of sales in friend-clusters and it not only cracks us up but it’s just so cool to know people are reading it and then telling their friends. It’s almost as if our horrendously weak AA inspired “attraction rather than promotion” campaign is working. HA! You guys, rock.
Anyway, if you haven’t already purchased a copy, here is a link for “Smoking Mirrors” or you can just use the ad on the front page. And THANK YOU!
Now, let’s kick this pig and see what it’ll do!
I was approached by Connotation Press contributor Adam Tavel recently who wanted to know if I’d be interested in taking an interview he’d done. We’re not in the habit of taking unsolicited interviews here at ConPress because our staff of over 20 folks is enough to get all the interviews we can use, but I did make Adam an offer: would he like to guest edit a column wherein he could place that interview? To my great joy he jumped at the chance and this month we’ve got the fruits of that project. Adam welcomes his featured poet, Eric Anderson, with a grip of new poems and a compelling interview, and they’re then joined by Mary Ruefle, William Hathaway, Ashley Seitz Kramer, Stacy Heiney, Kyle Dargan, Steve Healey, Tiffany Midge, and Casey Thayer. Outstanding!
As the Featured Guest Editor for April 2013 Adam now joins a special group of rarefied air folks who have hosted a guest column for Connotation Press (seriously, look it up), and I’m grateful and thankful for his hard work and sublime choices in authors. Well done Adam, and THANKS to all our new contributors!
As if that isn’t enough, John Hoppenthaler delivers another stellar Congeries this month with a group of poets divers in both style, location, and form. John launches with another strong discussion in his preface about the world of crazies and right-wing psycho bastards as seen through the eyes of a poet. From there he features new poems and an interview with Jane Varley, and translations from Adam J. Sorkin & company of the poetry of Romanian “blue-jeans generation” poet Mircea Cărtărescu. From there John finishes strong with new poems from Shanna Compton, Michael Simms, Susan R. Williamson, Samantha Settimio, darlene anita scott, and Alex Chertok. Not to be missed!
April brings with it the return of our intrepid Travel writer Nicholas Baker who has been on vacation turning 50 and gathering new stories from around the world. This month, Nicholas & Freddy Discover Kuala Lumpur! Gorgeous images, interesting info, posh surroundings…it all leaves me wondering why have I not ventured to Kuala Lumpur and the STUNNING Shari-la Hotel? Thank you for doing what you do so well, sir, and welcome back, Mr. Baker!
Erica Goss, editor of The Third Form, our name for the film-poety genre currently sweeping the universe, (poetry-1 + film-2 = film-poetry-3!) delivers this month a review of Circle, Swoon’s first long video, based on the work of eleven Belgian poets, and an interview with Nic Sebastian, a poet, video artist and innovative publisher. We have SEVEN videos to go with the reviews and interviews. This is an especially strong column this month. Great job, Erica!
Our California wine guy with the new rag-top tan, John Turi, spends some time discussing ways he thinks he can help in assisting you in choosing the perfect wine for yourself, and he reviews another Pinot Noir-- this time from Pisoni (2006). In this issue John lays down the $100 dollar challenge and we’re interested in hearing from those of you that take him up on it. Fun! Thanks, John.
Finally, our featured Fiction & Creative Nonfiction authors this month are Howie Good from Fiction (with ukulele videos, too!), and from Creative Nonfiction, William DeGenaro from sabbatical in Sarajah, UAE. And we remind you to return on the 15th of the month when our entire Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction columns run along with a number of interesting surprises. Woohoo!
That’s it for now, kids. It’s been great spending a few moments chatting into the Ethernet to you and we hope to see you on our Facebook page where we feature a new artist every single day.
Connotation Press: Three-Quarters Full & Rising Fast