Settling slowly into a new season. This past week I have been lucky enough to scope out some local literary treasures, and meet inspiring writers and readers of multiple genres. After one event, I spoke with a group of local poets who agree that we are blessed to live in an area with a multitude of opportunities to experience literary art first hand. Other cities, other regions, other states, do not have access to our unique belletristic culture. (I learned some new words this week, too).
On Monday I attended my first ever sci-fi reading group at the Waltham Public Library. The featured book was Isaac Asimov's "I, Robot." The conversations, information, ideas, and hilarity that came from this book discussion was awesome! All week after that, I noticed more articles about AI, references to Asimov in the news, and saw mind blowing videos of modern robots. It is a surreal feeling when, after reading and talking about a book, you become keenly aware of its connections in your life. Often, truth truly is stranger than fiction!
Tuesday was the 9-11 Anniversary, Rosh Hashanah, and Suicide Prevention Awareness Day. I attended a poetry event at the Newton Free Library. It seemed to me that the poetry, without plan, circled around these three important aspects in our culture, and touched on them in beautifully unintentional ways.
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I arrived early so I could observe and listen to the "pre-game." The vibe was lovely: laid-back, calm; open. I appreciated the quiet friendliness of the featured poets, and of the other participants.
The poetry reading and open mic series was coordinated by Doug Holder. He dedicates his life to poetry and other literary arts. Teaching, publishing, writing, promoting, encouraging; he does it all. You have probably read his poetry in the Globe .
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The poetry was so powerful! I used my gas money to buy Susan Eisenberg's "Stanley's Girl." Her personal story is breathtaking, and her poetry struck me with its humour, matter-of-factness, and reliability beyond shared circumstances. I never thought construction work could be expressed so dearly in poems.
Eisenberg is an artist, educator, and poet. She is a Resident Artist/Scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University. En route to her life in academia, she became one of the first women in the country to earn her journeyman title from the IBEW. As a master electrician, she worked locally in the field for fifteen years, during which time she also birthed and raised two children. Can I just say, HER picture should be on the "Rosie the Riveter" poster.
"Stanley's Girl" is separated into two parts. The first half focuses on life in construction, and in particular the local industry. Eisenberg's unique viewpoint allows us all to understand what life is like as a laborer in the Boston area. The shenanigans, the alliances; the disappointments and learning curves: through one woman's eyes we can see the danger and mystery that we never knew before.
Later in the week, I read some of these poems to friends of mine who have been career local laborers. They laughed, nodded their heads in agreement, and lowered their eyes in grim understanding. Eisenberg's words are real, and relatable.
The second part of "Stanley's Girl" details an early childhood fraught with abuse, fear, and trauma. Through it all, there is an underlying strength and will to survive.
Next in the poetry reading, Doug Holder introduced Marguerite Guzman Bouvard. She is a local author and poet with a passion for human life and respect. Her long list of local service includes her time as a professor of Political Science and Director of Poetry Workshops at Regis. In addition to her writing, she is now a Resident Scholar at the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis.
This soft-spoken, beautifully worded woman read her poems of empathy, social awareness, humanity, and womanhood with such tenderness, the audience was spellbound. Her message was equally gentle and powerful.
On Thursday, Somerville poet laureate Gloria Mindock launched her new book, "I Wish Francisco Franco Would Love Me."
The revelers at the Armory in Somerville were lined up out the door to don masks and party!
Publishers Annie Pluto and Michael McInnis started the night off with a reading and introduction before turning the stage over to the intuitive author. Her poems of satire, power, corruption, and inhumanity penetrated the darkened room with flickers of forewarning light.
New England Review celebrated their 40th Anniversary at Porter Square Books on Friday. In attendance were Kim McLarin, associate professor at Emerson; Oliver de la Paz, teacher at Holy Cross in Worcester; Steve Almond, indie author and correspondent on WGBH and NPR's "Here and Now;" and Mary Clark, author of the Cambridge based story, "Many of the Men." What a line-up!
Louise Miller celebrated her second novel Saturday at Belmont books: Great Late Bloomers' Cake Baking Contest. Cake. Lots of it. So. Much. Cake.
Rest up Sunday for a full week ahead of bookish fun!
September 18: First and Last Words Poetry at Arts at the Armory (Somerville) 6:30PM
September 19: James Woods presents “How Fiction Works” at Harvard Book Store, 7-8:30PM
September 20: WPL Book Club discusses “The Evidence of Things Not Seen” by James Baldwin at Waltham Public Library, 7:15-8:45PM
September 21: Writers’ Craft Series: On the Dark Side: YA Authors Talk Craft at Belmont Books, 7-9PM with Holly Black!
Oh yeah. In other local literary news, my fun alternate history novel about Waltham is published! On Sunday only, "Watch City: Waltham Watchhttps://www.amazon.com/Watch-C..." paperback will be half-off on Amazon. If you are curious about what steampunk Waltham looks like on days after the Watch City Steampunk Festival, you definitely need to treat yoself. Cheaper than a movie ticket and twelve times as exciting. Appropriate for tweens, teens, and grown people.
In the spirit of the poets and other writers I was privileged to hear this week, I am continuing the theme of local women supporting each other. All this week, the Fabulous Liz King is hosting a FaceBook PartyLite party, and EVERY order will include a bonus FREE signed copy of "Watch City: Waltham Watch."
http://www.partylite.com/regio...
Simply check out the link, and message your order to Liz. Fun way to support local arts!
https://www.facebook.com/lizk2...
I can totally see my gals from "Watch City: Waltham Watch" vying over this hurricane lamp from locally owned and operated PartyLite!
SAVE THE DATE:
I am honoured to have the Waltham Historical Society host my book launch. We will be hosting at 260 Grove Street, the former Bright School at 7PM on September 27. We are gonna party like it's 1899!
See you soon!