Ok – the amount of awesome I need to discuss is a bit daunting so I’m just going to dive in!
The photo I have included MAY be part of the cover design for my upcoming chapbook An Amateur Marriage which (for those who haven’t clicked through yet) is now on early pre-order at $12 from Finishing Line Press. I’ll be doing some additional mailings (snail and virtual) about this soon because it won’t be released until March but the pre-order time period (now until early January) determines the size of the press-run as well as how many contributor copies I receive. If you confirm you order a copy after reading this blog post, I will send you (or someone you designate) one of the last signature, limited edition copies of The Wait of Atom as a thank you.
Speaking of chapbooks, but Fat Girl was just reviewed in decomP. I LOVE decompP the magazine.
And now – not speaking of chapbooks, how about I had one poem publication to let you know about, but then (while checking my list) realized I had four others out there! So here are the links:
- Ode to the Perpetual Loser – H.O.D. (Handful of Dust) pdf file that you can scroll through to find me and some other terrific writers and artists
- Blank Page and Dread – Tuck Magazine
- (Re)imaging - Specter
Then to speak not of my own poems how about the fantastic ones by Elizabeth Glixman up in Frigg where there are some equally amazing short stories by Erin Fitzgerald? See I told you there were layers and layers of awesome!
And now for the work in progress
–and the poem has a commute now!
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Feel free to discuss my poem below and/or to post your own works in progress (or link to them). All poems will be removed this time next week.
Hoping to squeeze in a few minutes before heading to a training class to work on some submission packets. Have you guys been sending work out? Working on new stuff? Doing any variation of NaNoWriMo or NovPad Challenge?
Or not reading as much (or writing as much) but storing up new stuff like watching Married in America 2. What is it to be married in this day and age? Even us amateurly married for 13 years could use that as a writing prompt 
You really did pack this with awesome! I am lost in all of your poetry, Jessie. A new chapbook? WOW! Poems up everywhere that are amazing? more WOW.
One of these days, I want to turn left.
Liking Commute a lot. A lot! Wizard of Oz tornadoed into place is wonderful and I loved the ending and whole idea of this.
Rose worked her editing magic on the swing poem I left here a few weeks ago, for unFold. Had to laugh, because I didn’t even like it. There you go!
I am doing the NovPad challenge. It’s going okay so far. At least I’ve gotten something down, which is good for me. And here’s something I wrote after talking with a friend.
–and the poem is gone
Thanks, Debbie! I just went back to read my post and poem and I feel like some of the lines are too choppy or something, but that’s why I post it here for consideration !
Glad you are working the challenge. I may take one on myself during the semester break because I have some loose ends on pending projects.
I really like your piece! Such a compelling moment captured. Love love love the ending
Jessie, these little guys wanted to start a book club . . .with just them. It sounded like my friend and I.
haha! Off to see Elizabeth’s work!
Congrats Jessie! And Debbie, I like the ending too!
I am trying to write today, off my feet, broke my toe, but no big deal…
Put an attempt of a poem up on my sight, needs more food visuals, and could be two piece’er if I rework…
Go over I cannot do HTML for it…No Photo
Sorry about your toe! What you won’t do so you have time to write.
And I liked your poem, and all that is going on in it! Your images are great and I could picture it without a picture. 
Oh what Debbie wrote us cracking me up! But still sorry about the toe
I’m laughing and I’m not hehe
Kinda Wallace Stevens + E.A.Poe Tell-tale deer thing, there Jessie..
fun riffing.
That’s a funny juxtaposition Debbie…one hopes the heavy metal phase
fades early..
I got errors posting on the blog Chef. Yummy visit! Maybe
smoothed for more ‘flow”.
I’ve been dulled after the power failure.
Here’s a diar-etic riff:
————
and another terrific poem is taken down
jim this is another one that sounds like the pre-amble to a post-apocalyptic series or something. really like it! especially “they actually knew
when you had enough funk”
Heh…life as post-apocalytic..that’s about right
though….on smaller scale to be fair.
It’s a rough draft, but I had to add that twist of
rind per strophe before willful forgetting erases
some of the event.
Then again, we have you and your tornadoes
and cinematographic deer.
I’d like to see Bob Ross try to paint all that!
Your ‘series talk’ has me thinking books themes.
Problem is…too ,many. Maybe chapters.
So many chapters; so many little happy trees
Thanks for mentioning my poems at Frigg and big huge congratulations on your last chapbook and new one. The cover for An Amateur Marriage is intriguing!
Commute has great line breaks and rhythm. I like how it explains a ‘waiting” moment in time with keen observation.
I really loved reading through your work in Frigg. I haven’t tried subbing to them in a while, but I think I need to put them back on my list. Such great stuff they are putting out!
I can’t wait to see what FLP decides to do for the cover. I’m open to other photos/art because I had a hard time narrowing down something for it.
Oh I love how you pick up on the waiting. I may want to play that up even more as I work on revisions next week
There are so many mags, so little time. I’d say put Frigg back on your list. I think they do a great job of “showcasing” work and choosing unique work that sometimes other mags might overlook.
Amateur Marriage is such a great title. My first thought is is there a professional marriage? Then I start thinking about relationships of commitment and I haven’t read one poem yet!The title is a story in itself.
Waiting stood out strong.I hope you’ll post a revision.
Elizabeth
Thanks Elizabeth! I’m really looking forward to putting together a new list of places to sub. I love journals that look great and have great material like Frigg. I really wish I was a better programmer so I could take Referential to that next level of aesthetics
Awesome poem
Thanks!