Book Publication/TLS Review
 

The bridesmaid is finally a bride. After finalizing thirteen times on the contest circuit (and draining my bank account), my first book of poems, WAVE, has been published in Main Street Rag's Editor's Select Series.

The response has made me pinch myself. In her review, Rachel Hadas wrote in the April 1st TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT: "Sofer is a master of pantoum, and the book includes a villanelle, several excellent sonnets and a curtal-sonnet, but his authority, skill and ease are equally evident in blank verse and a range of stanzaic forms." And Alicia Stallings was kind enough to comment that "unshowy mastery of technique contrasts with strong, deep undercurrents of emotion."

Having just read at Rhina Espaillat's Newburyport Literary Festival with the wonderful Maggie Dietz and Charlie Pratt, I'm excited to be reading from WAVE at the First Books Panel at West Chester on June 8th. Hope to see some Spherical folk there!

To master the pantoum is truly something! Major congratulations on your stunning breakthroughs, Andrew!

Big time, Andrew! Finally, some significance is given to the number 14 (in addition to the sonnet line-count, that is). Congrats!
RM

Wonderful reviews, and wonderful news in general, and I'm more sorry than ever that I can't go to West Chester. Congratulations, Andrew.

Brilliant, Andrew! Many congratulations.

Cripes! Well done. I never get reviews like that - except from Sam, God bless him.

Andrew, we'll be meeting at West Chester on the first books panel. Congratulations on your book and the great reviews!

Congratulations on getting reviewed in TLS, let alone being reviewed so positively.

I look forward to hearing you. The review in the TLS is a coup.

Susan

I saw that review and I've been meaning to check out your book. Warm congratulations, Andrew.

Warmest congratulations and greetings!

Congrats! See you at WC.

It was a pain in the ass having Andrew in a repeating forms class at West Chester last year because our roles should have been reversed, I the student, he the teacher. It's a really good book. Congratulations!

Sofer, so good! (Couldn't resist.)

Saw your earlier announcement, and was sorry not to have seen you around here more often since. I do hope you'll be able to comment on Eratosphere's upcoming repeating forms event on the Distinguished Guest board.

Zowie! Another proof that Perseverance Pays!
Good job, Andrew.

Thanks to everyone for their kind words and wishes! Enjoy some samples from WAVE at <http://www.mainstreetrag.com/ASofer.html>

Andrew

Congrats, Andrew, both on the publication and the great review. Well done indeed!