[Terese Coe]

Our Lady of the Spheres, Rhina Espaillat, has a new book of poems just out, Her Place in These Designs, published by Truman State University Press.

Here's the website, with warm praise by Lewis Turco:
http://tsup.truman.edu/store/ViewBook.aspx?Book=940

Congratulations, Rhina! The mere mention of "childhood wordplay" in the blurb intimates there's some of that in the poems. Can't wait to see if that's true! And I see how the Mujer show dovetails with the title of your new book--auspicious timing!

To explain, I saw Rhina and Alfred recently at a visually enchanting event up at the City College of NY, my alma mater, where Rhina was among the honorees at the opening for a large-format photo exhibit--127 photos of Dominican women both in New York and Dominican Republic. The show was called Mujer. If I'd known it was a public event, I would have put up an announcement here, but the mention of an invitation list led me to believe it was private. Loved hanging out with Rhina and Alfred, as always--they always manage to fill their guests with laughter and--dare I say it?--love. I don't know where they get the magic, but they've got it bigtime.

Here's an article about the event. The second link is to photos of the exhibit--unfortunately, without the very youthful, low-key and lovely photograph of Rhina, which caught the seer in her.
http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/20...an_women_.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/ga...jer/mujer.html

[Mary Meriam]

Congrats, Rhina! I love the title of your new book.

[Gail White]

This is wonderful news. Rhina keeps going from strength to strength -- & I'm sure the new book is essential reading.

[Susan McLean]

It's wonderful to hear that Rhina has a new book out, an event I always look forward to. Fortunately, it has been a common event in recent years.

Susan

[Rhina P. Espaillat]

Thanks, guys! And thanks for posting this, Terese. The "Mujer" exhibit was a delight, because the women selected for inclusion by Giovanna and Nicole are from all over the Dominican map professionally and every other way, so it was a celebration of "the woman" in all her roles and aspects.

My interview by both young women was done in Santo Domingo in July, and covered so much that I was surprised at the variety and intelligence of the questions, which I answered while Nicole snapped a zillion pictures in order to choose one for the book.

Terese, thanks for turning up at CUNY! It was great to see you there. And great to be back in Manhattan's West Side, my old stamping ground.

As for the new book, that will be out in November, with a cover that bears a photo--taken by my son Philip--of one of Alfred's sculptures, so it's a family effort.

[Michael Juster]

Congrats! Now we hafta get an Espaillat "Collected."

[Alex Pepple]

A new Rhina book is wonderful news. Congrats!

[Catherine Chandler]

This news has made my day! Congratulations, Rhina!!

[Tim Murphy]

Guess what! I got to read it looseleaf on the smoking porch at Charron Drive while Rhina mopped the blood of Walt Whitman and Lew Turco off the planking. It's a terrific book.

[amacrae]

I can't wait!

A.