Events
Upcoming Events
Reading
Sunday June 2, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Lit Live Reading Series
Skydragon Centre, 27 King William Street, Hamilton
Griffin Poetry Prize Shortlist Readings
June 12, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Koerner Hall
273 Bloor Street West, Toronto
You can get tickets here.
Griffin Prize Announcement
June 13, 2013, 7:00 p.m.
Awards Evening
Corus Entertainment Centre, Toronto
By invitation
Reading
Thursday July 4, 2013, 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 7:30)
With Jim Johnstone and Jeramy Dodds
Livewords
Black Swan, 154 Danforth Ave, Toronto
Reading
Thursday July 25, 2013, 8:00 p.m.
With Jan Zwicky
Leacock Summer Festival
Orillia
Details forthcoming
Reading
Wednesday September 28, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Poetry London
Landon Branch of the London Public Library
167 Wortley Road, London ON
Reading
Monday October 7, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
Rowers Reading Series
Victory Cafe, 581 Markham Street, Toronto
Past Events
Reading
Tuesday May 7, 2013, 5:30 p.m. (reception begins at 5:00)
With Sara Peters and Paul Vermeersch
Arts and Letters Creativity Showcase
Theatre, Trafalgar Campus, Sheridan College, 1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville
Reading
Sunday November 18, 2012, 3:00 p.m.
Draft Reading Series
Only Cafe, 966 Danforth (at Broadview and Donlands)
Toronto
COMMENT: Neat premise: this series asks writers to read from new and unpublished work.
Reading
Thursday September 27, 2012, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
With the wonderful Steven Heighton and David Helwig
Kingston WritersFest, "Life is Short"
Islandview Room, Holiday Inn Waterfront
Kingston, ON
COMMENT: Looks like a line-up of great panels and great authors this year. Michael Ondaatje and Teju Cole kick things off on Wednesday night at 8:00. I always love reading at festivals.
Reading
Thursday September 20, 2012, 8:00 p.m.
Hot Sauced Words
154 Danforth Ave (east of Broadview), Toronto
COMMENT: Really unique event. James, the host, asks the audience to shout back phrases to the reader after the set. The room becomes a massive lake of floating yellow words.
Reading
Sunday August 12, 2012, 3:00 p.m.
Dusty Owl Reading Series
The Elmdale House
1084 Wellington St. W.
Ottawa
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Personals Launch, Toronto Reading Tuesday April 30, 2012. Doors at 7 p.m., readings at 7:30 p.m. Gladstone Hotel, the ballroom, 1214 Queen Street W.Toronto, ON. |
Route 2 Launch
Tuesday April 24, 2012, 3:30
I'm not reading, but join me and a roomful (new word) of high school and college students as they read their work.
Reading
Monday April 23, 2012, 3:30
Presidents' Hall, Mazzaferro Center
A reading with other Fitchburg State University faculty members, Margarite Landry and Steven Edwards.
Journal Alert
"Please Print Clearly in Block Letters," which placed third in the Poem of the Year Contest, is now out in the latest issue of Arc.
Readings at WordFest, Calgary and Banff
1.
Wednesday October 12, 2011, 5:00 p.m.
Art Gallery of Calgary
- Writers read from their new works, discuss their personal libraries and share how books have inspired them. Hosted by Suzette Mayr. Other readers: Tim Bowling, Linda Grant, and Lev Grossman.
- I'll read from Not Anyone's Anything.
2.
Saturday October 15, 2011, 9:30 p.m.
The Banff Centre, Margaret Greenham Theatre
- A talented mix of poets and storytellers read from their new work accompanied by the WordFest House Band. Musical Direction by Mike Lent. Other readers: Rosemary Griebel, Ann Snowcroft, Anne Simpson, and Richard Wagamese.
- I'll read from You Know Who You Are.
You Know Who You Are shortlisted
You Know Who You Are has been shortlisted for the ReLit Poetry Award. The Globe and Mail calls it, "The country's pre-eminent prize recognizing independent presses." I've always thought of it as Canada's pluckiest prize.
Third Place in Arc Competition
My poem, "Please Print Clearly in Block Capital Letters," won third place in Arc's Poem of the Year Competition.
Reading
Tuesday June 28, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
Bryan Prince Bookseller
1060 King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario
I had to cancel this reading because of the fire. Kristen den Hartog was fantastic, I'm sure.
Reading
Joaquin Miller Cabin Poetry Series 2011
Thursday June 16, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
Rock Creek Nature Center
5200 Glover Road, NW, Washington DC 20015
Follow up to this reading: Karren Alenier included one of the Emergency Codes, "Code Blue," at the end of her blog post on an opera called The Dresser.
Online Alert
Quill and Quire recently featured an article about the cover of Not Anyone's Anything, designed by the talented Natalie Olsen. Covers don't grow on trees. Click here to see how they grow.
Reading
Joint celebration of Not Anyone's Anything and Ben Railton's Redefining American Identity
Tuesday May 5, 2011 at 12:30 p.m.
Center for Teaching and Learning, Fitchburg State University
Reading
Wednesday April 27, 2011, 7:00 p.m.
25 Main Street, Southborough, MA
Not Anyone’s Anything Canadian Reading Tour
1. Toronto
Reading. Tuesday April 19, 2011. Doors at 7 p.m., readings at 7:30 p.m. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street W.Toronto, ON.
2. Calgary
Media: Interview with Brenda Finley for Bookmark, CKUA 93.7 Calgary, AB. April 20, 2011.
Media: Interview with Paul Kennett for Writers Block, CJSW 90.9 April 20, 2011.
Reading. Wednesday, April 20. Doors at 7 p.m., readings at 7:30 p.m. Endeavour Arts Space, Calgary, AB, 1209 1st St SW, upstairs.
3. Vancouver
Media: Interview with Sean Cranbury for Books on the Radio, Vancouver, BC. April 21, 2011.
Reading. Thursday Apil 21, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.. Ardea Books & Art, 2025 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC.
National Poetry Month Readings
Four evenings. Eight poets.
Thursday April 7, 2011: Margaret Lloyd and Bill O'Connell
Thursday April 14, 2011: Ian Williams and Francine D'Alessandro
Wednesday April 20, 2011: Jonathan Blake and Beth Sweeney
Thursday April 28, 2011: Anne Marie Lucci and Jim Beschta
All events take place at the Mazzaferro Center, Fitchburg State University at 7:00 p.m.
Finalist for the Long Poem Prize
My poem, "Rings," is a finalist for the Malahat Review Long Poem Prize.
Reading
Barnes and Noble
Saturday March 26, 2011. Open mic starts at 7:00 p.m.; feature around 8:00.
541 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA
Finalist for the CBC Literary Awards
CBC has announced my entry, "Immigration Poems," as one of the Poetry Finalists for the CBC Literary Awards. They received 5000 submissions in all genres this year.
Literary Journal Alert
Three new poems in Fiddlehead. You can read one poem, Missed Connections: Walmart automotive dept - w4m, online.
Literary Journal Alert
"Cactus," a new flash fiction story is in the January issue of ragazine. The first sentence is almost a quarter of the story.
Review
And here is another great review of You Know Who You Are, this time by Sima Rabinowitz for newpages.com (January 5, 2011).
Review
Here is a fantastic review of You Know Who You Are by Naomi Benaronin Poets Quarterly (December 2010).
Poetry Reading
Wednesday November 17, 2010, 8:00 p.m. Feature starts around 10:00, realistically.
738 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Mass.
Warm feelings. Cantab is one of the two hottest poetry energies in Massachusetts. To be the feature here is just wow.
Radio Interview
Tuesday November 9, 2010, 10:00 p.m.
Interview with Nancy Bullis
HOWL, 89.5 FM CIUT
Listen live in Toronto or online
Ontario Reading Tour for You Know Who You Are
1.
Tuesday November 2, 2010, 8:00 p.m.
Clinton's, 693 Bloor Street W, Toronto, Ontario
Cool factoid: The Art Bar Poetry Series is recognized as the longest running poetry-only reading series in Canada.
2.
Wednesday November 3, 2010, 8:00 p.m.
Live and online, streamed from St. Catherines/Niagara Falls, Ontario
This isn't your typical reading. First there's dinner, then the reading, which is recorded and streamed live online; the majority of the audience is an online audience. Says the promo material, "Think Masterpiece Theater, with good food."
3.
Thursday November 4, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
Hart House Library, University of Toronto
Sentimental fact #137: As undergraduates, Jim Johnstone and I used to go up to the Hart House library and read old issues of Hart House Review then sit in the big comfy couches and talk about poetry.
4.
Friday November 5, 2010, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Wilkinson Room, Art Gallery of Windsor, 401 Riverside Drive West, Windsor, Ontario
The festival runs from November 4-6. It appears to be spectacularly organized, Singaporean in its pristineness.
5.
Sunday November 7, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
The Sky Dragon Centre, 27 King William Street, Hamilton, Ontario
Formerly (or perhaps also) known as the excitable "LiT LiVe" Reading Series.
Poetry Reading, Vancouver
Thursday October 14, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
Robson Reading Series
University of British Columbia Library/Bookstore at Robson Square
Plaza Level, 800 Robson St. (between Howe and Hornby streets)
Note 1: Vancouver will shortly take the record for the furthest west I will have been on the continent.
Post Note: No doubt, one of the best places to live in the world. Toronto's also on that list, by the way. The rivalry continues [cue Rockymusic].
Poetry Reading
DelRossi's Trattoria
Sunday September 19, 2010, 5:00 p.m.
A quartermile north on Rt. 137 from junctions 137 & 101, Dublin, New Hampshire
Lest you book a non-refundable, trans-Atlantic flight, note the location is Dublin, New Hampshire. Dying of curiosity.
Literary Journal Alert
New poem in Mythium:"Too Far." Vol. 1.2 (2010).
It begins: "One day you will go too far."
Literary Journal Alert
New story in Fractured West: "Don't Travel With People You Love." Vol. 1 (2010). Fractured Westis a new journal based in Scotland with a great editorial team.
Prize-Winners' Reading
Honorable Mention for the Frank O'Hara Prize.
September 12, 2010, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Bancroft Room, First United Church, 90 Main Street, Worcester, MA
Literary Journal Alert
New poem inThe Caribbean Writer: "To Reduce the Size of My Carbon Footprint." Vol. 24 (2010).
Fellowship
Cave Canem
Sunday June 20, 2010 - Sunday June 27, 2010
Greensburg, PA
The Heinz Endowment featured Cave Canem "In the Spotlight" and I'm honored to be CC's face.
Residency
Vermont Studio Center
Sunday June 6 - Saturday June 19, 2010
Johnson, VT
Grant
A Ruth Butler grant to buy violins and a double bass for community use.
Literary Journal Alert
New poems in the latest issues of Confrontation, Ellipsis, and Folio.
Semifinalist
Semifinalist for the 2010 Sozopol Fiction Seminar in Bulgaria. 168 applications. 15 countries. 10 finalists. 9 English-speaking semifinalists. View the shortlist here.
Newspaper
"Suddenly everywhere" by Victor D. Infante.
The Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Thursday April 22, 2010.
The word yowza appears.
Poetry Reading
Thursday April 29, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
Worcester State College, Blue Lounge
Poetry Reading
Wednesday April 28, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
25 Main Street, Southborough, MA
[Note: Fantastic, diverse, and interesting line up for National Poetry Month.]
You Know Who You Are Toronto Book Launch
Monday April 26, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
45 Front Street East, Toronto, ON
[Summary: A life highlight.]
You Know Who You Are Reading and Signing
Tuesday April 20, 2010, 3:30 p.m.
Center for Teaching and Learning
Fitchburg State College
[What to expect: If the weather cooperates, we'll have the best sunlight on campus that time of day.
What happened: Yes. Great light. Great reading.]
AWP Reading and Book Signing
Friday April 9, 2010, 2:45 p.m.
Association of Writers and Writing Program Conference
Signing sponsored by Cave Canem
Denver, CO
Dance Workshop
Tuesday March 30, 2010, 3:30 p.m.
Sponsored by the Falcon Players
Weston Auditorium, Fitchburg State College
[What to expect: "Professor Ian Williams uses the movement vocabulary of ballet and modern dance to convey principles of balance, control, simplicity, strength, and musicality. Please wear comfortable clothing and dance footwear."]
TV Interview
Coffee with Konnie with host Konnie Lukes
Airs on WCCA TV and streams live on www.wccatv.com
Saturday March 20, 2010 at 1:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.
Sunday March 21, 2010 at 5:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 10:00 p.m.
Audio Alert
A new poem, "Hero," was Rattle's poem of the day on February 13, 2010. Listen here.
Discussion with Inmates
Thu Feb 26, 2010, 1:00 p.m.
Black History Month event
MassachusettsCorrectional Institution- Concord
965 Elm Street, Concord
Literary Journal Alert
Issue 17 of jubilat: "All night a woman prays for girls she does not know by name." Read the poem on the jubilat site.
Black History Month Panel
Thu Feb 4, 2010, 3:30 p.m.
Main Hammond Lounge, Fitchburg State College
Interview: Part 2
Wed Jan 27, 2010, 12:00 -12:30 p.m.
Interview with Jonathan Blake
WCUW 91.3 FM, Worcester
Listen online at wcuw.org
Interview: Part 1
Wed Jan 20, 2010, 11:55 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Interview with Jonathan Blake
WCUW 91.3 FM, Worcester
Listen online at wcuw.org
Literary Journal Alert
Read a new poem, "All night a woman prays for girls she does not know by name," in the winter 2010 issue of Arc.
Reading
Thu Oct 29, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Local Harvest of Worcester Poets
HarringtonLearning Center
QuinsigamondCommunity College
670 West Boylston Street, Worcester
Roundtable discussion
"Absence in the Post-American City"
Oct 16-18, 2009
New EnglandAmerican Studies Association Annual Conference
Lowell, MA
Reading
With Dara Wier and Eve Rifkah
Thu Oct 15, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Massachusetts Poetry Festival- Worcester Launch
Worcester State College, Blue Lounge
Reading
Thu May 14, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Street Beat, Worcester County Poetry Association
1 Ekman Street, Worcester
Poetry Writing Open Mics
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Thu Apr 23, 2009, 7:00 p.m. |
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Tues Apr 14, 2009, 7:00 p.m. |
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Thu Apr 9, 2009, 7:00 p.m. |
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Thu Mar 19, 2009, 7:00 p.m. |
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Discussion with Inmates
Thu Feb 19, 2009, 1:00 p.m.
Black History Month event
MassachusettsCorrectional Institution- Concord
965 Elm Street, Concord
Radio
Sun Feb 8, 2009, 11:00 a.m.
AM 1280 WEIM
Host: Randy Feldman
Panel discussion
Thu Feb 5, 2009, 3:30 p.m.
New Generation of Black Leadership in America
Main Hammond Lounge, Fitchburg State College
Reading
Thu Dec 18, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Johnsonia Cultural Series
Johnsonia Art Gallery
516 Main Street, Fitchburg
Television
Wed Dec 10, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Inside Fitchburg, FATV
Lecture
“First—Chill—then Stupor—then the letting go”: Recording Emily Dickinson’s Subjectivity”
Mon Nov 17, 2008, 3:30 p.m.
Miller Oval, Fitchburg State College
Reading
With Boston 30/30 poets
Wed Nov 12, 2008, 8:00 p.m.
Cantab Lounge, Cambridge
Workshop
“If I told him would he like it”: The Other Way to Read Poetry
Tue Oct 21, 2008, 3:30 p.m.
The Underground, Fitchburg State College
Reading
Wed Sep 24, 2008 , 3:30 p.m.
Center for Teaching and Learning
FitchburgStateCollege