This is a special edition of the Coffeehouse Junkie audio podcast.
A couple years ago I composed a list of twelve Advent poems that has become on of the most read blog posts of Coffeehouse Junkie.
This episode features “Annunciation” by Denise Levertov, “Advent” by Donald Hall, “Into The Darkest Hour” by Madeleine L’Engle and a selection from the Book of Common Prayer.
This weekend something new is on the way.
During the last couple years one of the most popular blog posts written is about Advent poetry. So, as a special treat (to you, friends, readers and listeners), I have produced a series of audio podcasts featuring some of those poems and related literature.
The first of this new series of podcasts publishes this weekend. Hope you enjoy these special edition broadcasts from the Coffee Den!
As many listeners know (and readers of this blog), books are important here at the Coffee Den. First segment features three books and a question, where have all the fathers gone? Next, a tale of two city libraries. Sort of. And poets. And books. Finally, a glimmering coming-of-age story by author Justin Grimbol.
If you would like to read along as well as support the authors, here is a list of their books: Memory Won’t Save You: A Haibun by Mimi White; After the Steaming Stops poems by Alice Osborn; Somewhere More Holy by Tony Woodlief; The Kid Who Climbed the Tarzan Tree by D. W. Rozell and Drinking Until Morning by Justin Grimbol.
And finally (because it is mentioned in the podcast), if you would like to support the podcast please consider purchasing Late Night Writing.
Listen to the episode Books on the menu:
PodOmatic: coffeehousejunkie.podomatic.com
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/coffeehousejunkie
The next episode of the Coffeehouse Junkie audio podcast is all about books. Mostly. And libraries.
And the podcast is almost ready for release. Should be ready before the holiday. If you are traveling to visit family for Thanksgiving (or avoiding family on Thanksgiving Day), you can download past episodes (here) and listen to them at your leisure.
“We need writers who know the difference between the production of a market commodity and a practice of an art.”
—Ursula K. Le Guin
(image via npr.org)
Spoiler alert: Ursula K. Le Guin won the National Book Awards last night. All of them.
Okay, perhaps that’s misleading. Le Guin took home the 2014 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. In the process, she stole the show (and our book loving hearts) with her acceptance speech, in which she warned against confusing a “market commodity” with “art”:
“Right now, I think we need writers who know the difference between the production of a market commodity and a practice of an art.”(via Publisher’s Weekly)
She went on to say:
“I have had a long career and a good one, in good company. Now, here, at the end of it, I really don’t want to watch American literature get sold down the river. We who live by writing and publishing want and should demand our fair share of the proceeds. But, the name of our beautiful reward is not…
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New for me anyway. Discovered a book of poems by Raymond Carver. Amazing. Why have I never read his work before? That is all. I need to plunge deeper into his work.
Is it difficult for you, as a writer, to classify your literary work? You have spent much of your time writing it and rewriting it, but when someone asks you what it is how do you respond?
That is a challenge I am struggling through with novella-length non-fiction manuscript. One publisher seeks manuscripts that focus on spirituality, personal growth, women’s interest and religion. The manuscript I completed includes two out of the four — and loosely at that.
Should I rewrite chapters to fit the publisher’s preferences? Or find a different publisher? Or better yet, find a literary agent to help get the manuscript published so I can work on the next project?
So many questions.
Other than “To an Athlete Dying Young,” my familiarity with A. E. Housman is very limited. But serendipitously a published lecture of his found me and I have been deeply reading it for a couple of months now. The lecture is titled The Name and Nature of Poetry.
In contrast, another book found me in late August. It is Finding the Islands by W. S. Merwin. This too have I read deeply for the last few months (and I dare not confess how much my library fine is to date).
These authors speak to be in a manner that few contemporary writers do. Modern readers consume modern fiction and poetry, but modern literary works seem less and less able to engage me. I feel — at times — as if I am drifting backwards in time as my years advance.
A few years ago I posted a question: Why is it so difficult to find well-written Advent poems? There was little to no response to that post.
Undeterred, I collected a few poems that are good examples of poems of the Advent and posted either web links to the poems or the poems themselves.
Each year, around mid-October the traffic to those Advent poem posts increases dramatically. By the end of the calendar year they are in the most visited posts on this blog.
This year I am considering an audio podcast production featuring readings of selected poems. Here is where I could use your help:
Thanks for your support. I look forward to your feedback.
“I’d recommend aiming for 30k-50k. . . . So it’s up to you, depending on how much time you’ve got, how fast you type, . . .
What would you tell someone if they told you that your internet behavior was categorically a mental illness? How much time do you spend on Facebook, Tumblr? or other social media sites? How does this affect your real life relationships? Do you prefer e-books to physical pulp and ink books? These and other confessions are the topic of this episode of the Coffeehouse Junkie audio podcast.
Listen to the Coffeehouse Junkie on:
PodOmatic: coffeehousejunkie.podomatic.com
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/coffeehousejunkie
Special thanks to Naomi Marie for permission to use her song on the show. She is a born and bred Midwestern minstrel or sorts. Transplanted from the rich musical culture of the twin cities, she has discovered a fresh folk sound and form from the third coast of Lake Michigan. Having recently released her first full length, Primary Colors, in May of 2014, she sets to connect with friends, fans and artists in continued pursuit of her music’s authentic expressions.
Here are some links:
twitter: @naomimarieandco
website: naomimariemusic.org
facebook: /naomimariemusic
iTunes: Album – Primary Colors
After reviewing the near final edit, my wife commented, “That is your most personal podcast yet.”
Now I am really nervous. I look forward to learning your response to the upcoming audio podcast. It delivers tomorrow. Here’s an extended teaser:
What would you tell someone if they told you that your internet behavior was categorically a mental disorder? How much time do you spend on Facebook? These and other confessions make up the content of the next Coffeehouse Junkie audio podcast.
Putting final touches on the upcoming Coffeehouse Junkie audio podcast.
The podcast is exciting, to me anyway, because it explores a topic that interests many — social media. As a teaser, here’s a question: would your internet behavior be considered a mental illness?
The podcast makes me nervous because it is part confession.
For readers of this blog, it will be available before the weekend.
Are you participating in National Novel Writing Month 2014?
What encouraged/inspired you to join the many people who plan to write a 50,000-word rough draft in the 30 days?
“The process of writing . . . is . . . a journey by boat. . . . If you get distracted or allow yourself to drift, you will never make it to the destination. . . . The journey is your narrative.”
—Walter Mosley
Coffeehouse Junkie 