Monday, May 2, 2011

Acceptance of Third Poetry Collection: Labor Day at Venice Beach

Now that National Poetry Month is over, and I have learned that the answer to the question "Where's my cut?" is "nowhere", I can share some good news I learned of in mid-March and formalized in recent weeks.

To wit, my third book of poetry, Labor Day at Venice Beach, has been accepted for publication by the Cherry Grove Collections imprint of Wordtech Communications, which also published my second collection, Settling for Beauty, in 2005. Publication is scheduled for August of 2012.

While not all of the poems in Labor Day at Venice Beach have been published, the majority have. The title poem and another, "Four Fires", nominated for a Pushcart Prize, appeared in the Los Angeles Review, the periodical wing of Red Hen Press. Other poems appeared in a variety of print and online publications, including the following:








Hiss Quarterly




Poems Niederngasse





I am grateful to the editors of all of these journals, and I am pleased to have met several of them following the publication of my poems. If other individual poems in the collection are published in journals I will update this space and my acknowledgments page accordingly.


Some have said that writing is the easy part, though I'm not so sure about that. At any rate, now begins the part that's more than a little challenging for a dreamy introvert, such as many poets are. I have to obtain blurbs and locate venues for readings on whatever my book tour may turn out to be. I also have to cast about and see which journals are willing to review the book. In fact, I might even gear up for a launch party and a house reading or two.


Suggestions on these issues are welcome in the comments or by personal message.


In contrast to 2005, though, in 2012 I will not be planning a book launch at the same time as a wedding. With some lead time and a lot more knowledge than the last time out, I might get more recognition and maybe even some more sales.


This space will feature many more updates on book preparation and launching, but in the meantime, you read it here first.


Coming in August 2012: Labor Day at Venice Beach.



10 comments:

James said...

Congratulations, J.D.--that's great news!

J.D. Smith said...

Thank you very, very much. Once a guy gets published in FLYMF the sky's the limit.

Sue Guiney said...

I'm so so thrilled for you, and for all of us....how great to have another one of your collections on the shelf. As far as readings go, I was going to write to you. Although the timing won"t be right, I have a wedding to go to in DC on Saturday Oct 22. I was wondering if we could do a joint reading or something either immediately before or after that weekend. What do you think? Would that be fun??

J.D. Smith said...

Sue,

Thank you muchisimo. The poem you et al. helped with in Anam Cara is in the collection.

The reading series where I know people are already booked up a long way in advance, alas, and I am hoping to get a slot or two locally when the book comes out in 2012.

We are likely to be in town around the date you mentioned, though. We could have a house reading somewhere (our place is too small) or something like that.

At any rate Paula and I will be glad to see you, and you might even get to meet Roo the Rescue Dog.

Unknown said...

Congratulations! That's wonderful news. We're proud to have published some of the poems.

donnadcowan said...

Congratulations! I just found your blog, but I live in the DC area and had seen and liked your work previously.

I found out a few months ago that my first book, "Between Gods," will be published next March by Cherry Grove Selections. It sounds like you had a good publishing experience there, despite planning a wedding simultaneously! If you'd like to do some joint readings, let me know.

Take care, Donna Lewis Cowan

J.D. Smith said...

Thank you, Donna. I will have to acquaint myself with your work.

I would very much welcome the chance to do a joint reading with you and perhaps other WordTech authors in the DC-Baltimore area, whether close to here or at AWP in Chicago next year.

Congratulations on your achievement. We both know how difficult it is to get a collection of poems published.

donnadcowan said...

Hi,

Just bought your book, will probably read it tonight. It looks impressive!

I just started a blog and posted some of my previously published work at
http://donnalewiscowan.wordpress.com/poems/

J.D. Smith said...

Donna,

Thank you very much!

If you are out and about on Thursday, June 16, I can sign the book for you at a reading that includes both myself and my friend and colleague Eric Hendrixson. We will be at the Westover Market Beer Garden in Arlington (http://www.westovermarket.com/), which is about a mile from the Ballston Metro stop.

The starting time is 7:30 p.m., and the theoretical end time is 10:30 p.m.

donnadcowan said...

I plan to be at the reading - I know that neighborhood well. May arrive late and/or leave early due to kid issues. It will be good to meet you!