Madison Poet Announces New Chapbook
Bent Paddle Press has announced the forthcoming publication of a new chapbook of poetry by Madison poet Ron Czerwien, “a little rain, a little more.” Sample poems and an opportunity to place advanced orders is at the publisher’s website, https://www.jeanietomasko.com/bentpaddlepress/.
Ron is the owner of Avol’s Books LLC, which sells used and out-of-print books on the Internet. More about Avol’s Books at www.avolsbooks.com. Ron’s poems have appeared online and in various print journals. He is a member of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets and serves as treasurer on the board for the Council for Wisconsin Writers.
Poems By and Thanks from Lorine Niedecker Contest HM
Wisconsin poet Margaret Benbow sends a note of thanks for winning the Lorine Niedecker Poetry Contest honorable mention this year for work published in 2017, along with two of the five poems she submitted for the contest:
News from the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets
Monday, May 21
The Draw, 800 S. Lawe Street, Appleton
7 – 8:30 pm
Open mike follows our featured readers.
Judy Kolosso divides her time between a home in southeastern Wisconsin and the the 80-acre farm west of Neenah on which she grew up. She obsesses over saving wild lands and Wisconsin’s barns. She writes both free verse and formal poetry. Her poems have appeared in Wisconsin Academy Review and People and Ideas, Midwest Prairie Review, Wisconsin Poets’ Calendars, Fox Cry Review and have been anthologized. She received the Wisconsin Writers Assoc. Jade Ring for both poetry and essay. She has published a book of poetry titled In The First Place, a chapbook, Aubade, and a recent chapbook titledCOWS–Living the Paradox.
Andrew McSorley is a graduate of the MFA program in creative writing at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. His poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has appeared or is forthcoming in journals such as The Minnesota Review, Gingerbread House Literary Magazine, SOFTBLOW, and Blue Earth Review. He lives in Appleton, where he works at the Seeley G. Mudd Library at Lawrence University.
NOTE: There is a NEW parking lot across the street from The Draw.
ON DECK:
Jun 11 Andrea Potos and Katrin Talbot
Jun 18 C. Kubasta and Austin Segrest
Jul 16 Sharon Auberle and Jeanie Tomasko
Aug 20 Louis Clark and Lisa Vihos
For more information about the poetry reading series in Appleton, contact Sarah Gilbert at pses@sbcglobal.net
This event is brought to you, in part, by the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP), an organization founded for the creation, promotion and enjoyment of poetry throughout the state of Wisconsin. To learn more, visit www.wfop.org.
OTHER READINGS & EVENTS IN THE AREA
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ANNE BARNGROVER
Monday, April 30
7:00 pm
Wriston Art Galleries
Lawrence University, Appleton
Poet Anne Barngrover, author of the poetry collections Brazen Creature (University of Akron Press, 2018) and Yell Hound Blues (Shipwreckt Books, 2013) and co-author, with Avni Vyas, of the chapbook Candy in Our Brains (CutBank Books, 2014), will be reading at Lawrence University as part of the 2017-2018 Mia Paul Poetry Series. The reading will be followed by a Q&A, book sales and signing, and informal reception. Free and open to the public.
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CHRISTINE HARTJES WITH STUDENTS FROM OSHKOSH NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Caramel Crisp and Café
200 City Center # D, Oshkosh
6:15 pm
An open mic will follow where participants may read a poem of their own or one that they love.
For further information you may contact Mandi Isaacson at mandiisaacson@gmail.com or Frankie Mengeling at mengeling.frankie23@gmail.
WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES
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Let your writing talent bloom with a Mill class.
Classes in every size – from one to eight weeks. This is the season to explore, grow, and write with the Mill. Explore the Mill website for classes and more – Click Here
· Poetry Nuts & Bolts with Wisconsin Poet Laureate Karla Huston (2weeks)
· Idea Generation: Write a Short Story in 3 Hours with Nikki Kallio (1 week)
· Writing a Query Letter with Jill Swanson (1 week)
DEADLINES & SUBMISSIONS
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Marian University is starting a micropress, The Muriel Press, and will be publishing a book of contemporary poetry next year, providing an opportunity for students to learn editing, book design, and marketing, while working with the author. They’ll be reading submissions from upper-Midwestern authors with a social justice focus. More info at: https://www.
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This fall Bards Against Hunger (www.bardsagainsthunger.com) will publish a book of poems exclusively from Wisconsin poets. The book will be used to raise funds for food pantries in Wisconsin. Poems should address the theme of hunger and issues related to hunger (poverty, income inequality, homelessness, nutrition, etc.). Submit one or two poems as an attachment in Word or Word compatible format. Use Times New Roman or similar 12 point font. 30 line limit per poem. Do not use ALL CAPS in your titles. Poems not adhering to these guidelines will not be considered. Previously published poems will be considered. In your email please include your address and a short bio (strict 50 word limit). Also indicate if you would be willing to organize a poetry/fundraising event for a food pantry in your area. This will not affect the likelihood of your poem being accepted. Poems will be judged on their own merit. Send one or twopoems to:
wisconsinhungerchapbook2018@
Millwork is now accepting poetry and short fiction submissions!! Millwork is a new online literary magazine, centered in Wisconsin, seeking submissions of poetry and short fiction for 2017/2018. Millwork publishes original poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction prose in English. There is no reading fee. Please, send us only your unpublished work. We do not accept previously published pieces. New, emerging, and established poets are encouraged to submit. For further submission details or to check out Millwork’s inaugural issue, please visit http://millwriters.org/m
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Fox Valley’s The Scene features a poetry column by Troy Schoultz, covering poetry readings, events, happenings, etc., and will feature a poem or two from local and statewide poets. Per Troy, submission process is ridiculously informal: email poems with your name and city of residence to troy.schoultz@gmail.com
WFOP News & CWW Contests Deadline
Don’t forget, the Council for Wisconsin Writers’ contests deadline is Jan. 31, 2018 — just two weeks away!
Two contests for poetry–The Lorine Niedecker Award for individual poems and the Meudt Book-Length Poetry Award, one for a book-length poetry. Winners receive $500 and writing residencies. Details at http://wiswriters.org/contest-entry-forms/
The following courtesy of Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets’ Cathryn Cofell:
NO POETRY READING AT THE DRAW FOR JANUARY! Join us next for:
THE 2ND ANNUAL POETRY RECITATION EVENT
Monday, February 19, 2018
The Draw, 800 S. Lawe Street, Appleton
7 – 8:30 pm
Open mike follows featured readers. FREE and Open to the Public!
Calling all readers, any readers, to recite a favorite poem (not your own) by heart.
Interested? Please reply to Cathryn Cofell at ccofell@gmail.com so we can add you to our list of featured readers.
Our traditional open mike will follow. The evening will include book giveaways and cash bar with beer, wine and root beer, plus light snacks on us.
NOTE: There is a NEW parking lot across the street from The Draw.
ON DECK:
March 19 Michael Koehler and Richard Merelman
April 16 Andrea Potos and Katrin Talbot
May 21 Judy Kolosso and Andrew McSorley
For more information about the poetry reading series in Appleton, contact Sarah Gilbert at pses@sbcglobal.net
This event is brought to you, in part, by the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP), an organization founded for the creation, promotion and enjoyment of poetry throughout the state of Wisconsin. To learn more, visit www.wfop.org.
OTHER READINGS & EVENTS IN THE AREA
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FAVORITE POEMS
Tuesday, January 16
6 – 8:30 pm
THELMA Center for the Arts
51 Sheboygan Street
Fond du Lac, WI
Enjoy a night of great poetry featuring some of Fond du Lac’s community members, including Rick Moulton, Patty Lehn, Paul Krikau and Al Schumacher.
Bar opens at 6 pm
Readings begin at 6:30 pm
Open mic to follow after reading in Cafe 1906
On Deck: February 22 – Bonnie Jo Campbell with C. Kubasta
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BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF
Annette Grunseth & Bobbie Lovell
Thursday, January 25
The Reader’s Loft
2069 Central Court, Green Bay
5:30-7 pm
Open mike follows.
On deck: February 22 – Emilie Lindeman & Laurie MacDiarmid. More info here: http://www.houseofthetomato.com/poetry-events/
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MANDI ISAACSON, FRANKIE MENGELING & KAY SANDERS
Tuesday, January 23
Caramel Crisp and Café
200 City Center # D, Oshkosh
6:15 pm
An open mic will follow where participants may read a poem of their own or one that they love.
Mandi Butterfield Isaacson was writing a mystery when, late in life, she fell in love with poetry and has been writing poems ever since. She is a member of two Oshkosh writing groups and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Mandi assists in running the monthly poetry readings at the Caramel Crisp Café. She has been published in many issues of the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar and has placed twice in the Reedsburg Fermentation Fest poetry contests.
A native Southerner, Kay N. Sanders married a Connecticut Yankee and the two of them settled a “civil war” by moving to Wisconsin and making Oshkosh their home. She has worked in a variety of positions, including substitute teaching which hones a person (in case raising five children didn’t) to do almost anything else she has a mind to. Her work has appeared in Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar, Wisconsin People & Ideas, Fox Cry, and a number of other venues. Her chapbook, That Red Dirt Road, was published by Parallel Press (2010). Kay will be reading from her labyrinth poems.
Frankie Mengeling grew up in Sheboygan and spent many a day on the beaches of Lake Michigan. She lives on Oshkosh’s only hill, with her husband Marvin, son Tom and cat Katrina. She is the author of the blogwww.ridingthebeertrail.wordpress.com began in the summer of 2009 after the three couple beer trail began. She’s been writing poetry since 6th grade when her school ran a contest on why the new blackboard was green.
For further information you may contact Kay Sanders at rksanders42@gmail.com or Frankie Mengeling mengeling.frankie23@gmail.com.
DEADLINES & SUBMISSIONS
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COUNCIL FOR WISCONSIN WRITERS (CWW) OPENS 2017 WISCONSIN WRITERS CONTESTS
Awards must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2018.
Work published by Wisconsin writers in 2017 is eligible in seven categories, including book-length fiction, nonfiction and poetry; short fiction and nonfiction; a set of five poems two of which must have been published in the contest year, and children’s literature.
First-place winners receive $500 and a one-week writer’s residency at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point, WI. Honorable mention recipients receive $50 and a one-week writer’s residency at the Painted Forest Study Center in Valton, WI. Entries for this year’s Wisconsin Writers Authors who enter must be current Wisconsin residents.
The entry fee is $25. Membership in CWW is not required, but members are entitled to one free entry. Out-of-state judges will make the selections. Awards will be presented at a banquet in May 2018.
Specific guidelines, entry forms, and important additional information for each award category are available in the 2017 Entry Forms section of the CWW website, wiswriters.org: http://wiswriters.org/2017-cww-contests-opens-nov-1-entries/
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WFOP CHAPBOOK CONTEST – Deadline February 1
More details here: http://www.wfop.org/chapbook-contest
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WFOP MUSE CONTEST – Deadline February 1
More details here: http://www.wfop.org/muse-contest
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Millwork is now accepting poetry and short fiction submissions!!
Millwork is a new online literary magazine, centered in Wisconsin, seeking submissions of poetry and short fiction for 2017/2018. Millwork publishes original poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction prose in English. There is no reading fee. Please, send us only your unpublished work. We do not accept previously published pieces.
New, emerging, and established poets are encouraged to submit. For further submission details or to check out Millwork‘s inaugural issue, please visit http://millwriters.org/millwork/
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Fox Valley’s The Scene features a poetry column by Troy Schoultz, covering poetry readings, events, happenings, etc., and will feature a poem or two from local and statewide poets. Per Troy, submission process is ridiculously informal: email poems with your name and city of residence totroy.schoultz@gmail.com com.
Life & Legacy of Poet and Former CWW Board Member, Susan Elbe
It is with heavy hearts that we, the Council for Wisconsin Writers, join Susan Elbe’s friends, colleagues and writing community in wishing Susan farewell.
Susan, who died suddenly of a heart attack last month, was a lifelong award-winning poet whose poems and books of poetry received a number of honors and prizes from CWW and other organizations. She served on CWW’s board of directors for nearly a decade during which she created and maintained the organization’s website.
For more information about Susan and her legacy of poetry please see her obituary, her website and the CWW website.
Deciding
Morning, and the river
gives up its cold.
Sit. Breathe. Each moment
its own kerning.
Listen for the breath behind a breath,
the river rivering.
Light angles down and through,
returning light,
green gesso of water.
The artist says on canvas, layers
of clear varnish allow luminosity—
Vermeer’s bruised-pear light.
Everything’s allowed
but now, you’ve learned
light has a price.
Only shade exposes ledge
and drop-off, what light hides.
A dry stone–blue dust, chalk.
It says stay.
A wet stone—black, unblinking lizard eye.
It says go.
Whatever you decide, this day will go.
One bird’s song
can pull you from your breath.
Sit. Breathe.
There’s kindness in the world,
small, silver, out of reach.
© Susan Elbe
First appeared in 88: A Journal of Contemporary
American Poetry, Issue 6, (October 2006)