AWP in Minneapolis--Who's Going?
 

I am just curious about who will be at the AWP conference in Minneapolis on Apr. 8-11. I am going, along with many of my colleagues and students from Southwest Minnesota State University, because it is so near this year and therefore more affordable than usual. There is a very low number of sessions about formal poetry, a rather higher number about translation, and vast numbers about free verse, fiction, and nonfiction writing.

Susan

Well, I'm going to be there, though I may be in and out and not at the convention center the whole time.

Anna Evans's panel entitled "The Sonnet: Not Just for Men in Tights" is on Friday morning at 10:30, and the panelists are Marilyn Nelson, Allison Joseph, Nasir Sakandar, and me, with Anna moderating.

I'm also coordinating a table for WordTech, the publisher of my first book. So I'll be around and findable, I hope, at the start (9 am) and end (5pm) of the bookfair each day, at table 1830.

And we're having a WordTech reading on Friday night at 7, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, in the Meisel Room.

Most of what I know about who is going, I know from Facebook. I'll try to make a list. Toni Clark and J.D. Smith, occasional Sphere members, will be there.

And Susan, I'll have my cell phone. You may still have my number!

Editing back to add: Julie Kane will be there, and is hosting a reading.

Love the title of that sonnet panel! Wish I could be there.

Maryann,

Ah! Sounds great. I'll try to make it.

Best, TB

Susan, I'll be there, but a little late. Arriving Thursday afternoon. I've been trying to email you, but got failed delivery, so looked in here. I'm staying at the Hyatt with Lynn Levin. Will be at Anna's panel on Friday morning. My book will be at the WordTech table (1830) asap after I get there. And I'll be at the table from 3-5 on Saturday. toniclark@earthlink.net.

Someone I know is going. Neil Astley of Bloodaxe Books is there to launch Ploughshares Spring 2015, a "transatlantic poetry" issue of which he's the editor. The launch is on Friday evening and he'll be on the Ploughshares stand #914 on Friday morning 10-12am. Feel free to mention my name.

I'd be interested in attending Anna's panel to see if there is anything else I might wear.

Have fun, folks. I travel a good bit, but I have never been to that fair
city. This almost brought me out. But AWP has always struck me as a huge airplane hangar filled with tables and tables of books and aisles and aisles of people promoting themselves mawkishly, which is to say that the only reason I'm not there is that I really can't afford it.

Rick

I'm waiting for 2016, when it will be in Los Angeles! Hope some of you make it here.

But enjoy, everyone who's going. I've never been either.

Charlotte

Thanks for the good word, Maryann. I plan to attend tonight. I hope you will read from Mid Evil!

I was waiting for 2017 (Washington, D.C.) but it's in early February and I'll be in Uruguay! Oh well, it does look somewhat overwhelming. :eek: