It's wonderful to appear in zines, in periodicals, to publish chapbooks, e-books, and all; but the poet really arrives when he/she publishes the first trade book. It gives me great delight to announce that two of our staff have arrived. Phil Hoy, publisher of Waywiser, is bringing out first collections by Deborah Warren and Clive Watkins early '03. Sample poems and early comments can be read here: Deborah's URL is http://www.waywiser-press.com/warren.html The URL for Clive's
page is http://www.waywiser-press.com/watkins.html .

Warmest congratulations to both for this milestone in their careers. As a Waywiser author I'm delighted to welcome them to our list.

I've already congratulated them both,
and warmly, too, I hope, but it never
hurts to perform that office at least
one more time. The web sites are
particularly impressive.


P.S.--To take nothing away from either Clive
or Deborah: for anyone in the area,
Tim Murphy will be reading tonight (Wednesday)
at Rhina's Newburyport Art Association site
in N-port at 7PM, then again, Thursday night
at 7:30 at the Acton town hall in...duh...Acton,
Mass.

Many thanks, Len!

And to you, Tim, especial thanks for persuading me to draw up a collection and send it off. Without your support this would never have come about.

And how exciting to be on the same list as the likes of Deborah Warren! - Unbelievable!

I am finding the prospect of book-publication somewhat unsettling but very gratifying. Mainly, I just hope to enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Thanks once again.

Clive

Congrats Dubyas.

Not only is this impressive for your gang at Eratosphere, but Warren, I believe, is a member of the Pow Wow gang that's running out of shelf space for their poets' books.

*****

A note on Tim's reading in Acton Thursday night: it's at Acton Memorial Library, not the Town Hall.

I never believe any predictions about politics or poetry-reading audiences, but a high-school teacher told our library director to expect 50-60 high-school students. I'll believe it when I see it, but wouldn't that be wonderful. They haven't heard of Tim, so Grendel's got to be the draw.

Bob

Hearty congratulations! In addition to buying the books, let's all agitate for good U.S. distribution.
RPW

Well done, both of you, and every success with your books.
Regards,
David

Warmest congratulations to Deborah and Clive! This should
be tremendously encouraging to all of us who have admired your work.I am certainly looking forward to seeing your collections.

Tony

This is big, fat, Wonderful news. Clive, I always knew it was only a matter of time.

Hearty congratulations to both of you !
wendy

Deborah, "The Armada Hedge" took me straight to England: it's a triumph. "The Size of Happiness" was also full of surprising pleasures. This opportunity to savor a sample of your originality means I'm looking forward to the book. Congratulations!

Clive, "Cherryburn" and "For a Friend on the Death of Her Husband" are each like something out of another century, which commends them to me for, among other qualities, carrying an exquisite peacefulness and sweetness. I'll be looking forward to your book as well: kudos to you! I smiled at your bit of dry wit in "took a law degree but, repenting of that profession..." If you haven't already written a poem on that subject, I suggest its time has come: light verse, of course!

Terese

Congratulations to both of you on a well-deserved achievement. Clive, To a Friend made me cry.

Carol

Wow. See, good things are happening.

Deborah Warren's "Thrift Shop" is one
of my favorite poems, and I guess it will
be in the book.

TJ

[quote]Originally posted by Robert J. Clawson:

"I never believe any predictions about politics or poetry-reading audiences, but a high-school teacher told our library director to expect 50-60 high-school students. I'll believe it when I see it, but wouldn't that be wonderful. They haven't heard of Tim, so Grendel's got to be the draw."

Well, I (and Tim) saw it, and Tim met the challenge. We had an audience of predominantly high-school students, mostly JUNIORS, honors-English students, and Tim, with some hesitations about delivering "adult" poems, definitely wowed them with exquisite readings from his own work plus his and Alan's translation of the Beowulf poet.

I honestly believe that everyone in tonight's audience has now incorporated the Anglo-Saxon SOUND of Beowulf . I found it gorgeous, and, from what I observed, it struck others in the same way.

Although I do my work "For Poetry" in a generally well-to-do white town, I was delighted to meet and talk with students of many ethnic backgrounds who not only dug Tim's reading, but bugged him and bought his books.

I hope our guy enjoyed it as much as I did.

Most sincerely,

Bob

Thank you, Tim and others. And who knows whether any of us would have books without the different kinds of boosts we get from each other. I've been more blessed than most in that department, with people like Tim, Len, and Rhina among the most generous.

My apologies to all about that
Acton Town Hall goof--it was of course
the Memorial Library.

I counted 98 people in attendance.

Did anyone tape or videotape Tim's reading, and is there some chance of posting the file online? Say yes!

Terese

[quote]Originally posted by Terese Coe:

[b]Did anyone tape or videotape Tim's reading, and is there some chance of posting the file online? Say yes!

A young exchange student from Russia audio-taped it for her brother back home. After the Thanksgiving buzz, I may make contact with her teacher and we could, perhaps, work something out. It's somewhat remote from my usual pursuits, but I might be able to make something happen.

Bob

Sorry, I've been away for a couple of weeks. Many congratulations, Clive, this is well deserved and I look forward to the book coming out. Please keep us informed.

Congratulations to Deborah as well, whose work I confess I didn't know until now, and find very impressive.

Regards,

Oliver.

Bob, I hope you have time to follow through on this, and thanks for the effort! I'd love to hear it.

Terese

Congratualtions to two fine poets -- I look forward to seeing the collections!
Esther

How wonderful!
Hearty congratulations to both of you!

(...and thanks for the links, Tim!)

---Pua