Small Business Saturday includes Poets & Artists!

Here are a few suggestions from blogger mama extraordinaire, Kait De Luna Sea !

http://www.lauriemcclave.com/
the art of Laurie McClave
The Art of Laurie McClave fine arts painter, digital painter, photomanipulations

https://www.facebook.com/redravengallery
Red Raven Gallery
We are open Daily on Water st in Historic Port Townsend. A Gallery cooperative

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosarium-Blends/142475375789051
Rosarium Blends
Catamara Rosarium Purveyor of Alchemical Concoctions to Enliven the Senses~

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brew-City-Botanicals/78256681752
Brew City Botanicals
Nothing artifical, nothing synthetic. All products are handmade with natural ingredients.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Howling-Pig-Smelly-Soap-Other-Stuff/118916917043
Howling Pig, Smelly Soap & Other Stuff
Howling Pig is the not-so-average soap company for not-so-average people.

https://www.facebook.com/JUSTCOFFEE.COOP
Just Coffee Madison WI

https://www.facebook.com/orcabooks?ref=pb
Orca Books
Books are not life, but then what is?

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Visual-Alchemy/307201723841?ref=pb
Visual Alchemy
My Name is Bill Brouard. I was born in Mauritius where I lived till I was 17…

https://www.facebook.com/MiaKodaDesign
MiaKoda Design
I have been making beaded, wire wrapped, crocheted, hemp, and tatted jewelry…

All those I’ve posted above are able to ship in the USA (many worldwide) For those in the Milwaukee, WI Are also: https://www.facebook.com/events/148965171871878/
RRRAGs, Riverwest Random, Recycled, Art, and Gifts Fair 2012
Sunday, December 18 at 2:00pm at Polish Falcons Nest 725 Milw, WI.
RRRAGS – all proceeds go to buy art and school supplies for Riverwest School kids who cannot afford them. Last year we filled the principles office at Fratney Escuela w/ stuff. Check out the Riverwest Neighborhood Association photos.

https://www.facebook.com/events/189995024410580/
Art vs. Craft
Saturday, November 26 at 10:00am

And then there is this: https://www.facebook.com/events/275714819137586/
OMFG I’M HAVING TWINS, Fundraiser Auctions
(which offers worldwide shipping)

 

For my own crafty side, I’d like to recommend the nice Buy Book Here link for my poetry book on the right. Even though you can buy it from Amazon, it’s better to buy here because then it comes directly from me with lots of love!
The Watcher: Poems by Agnes Eva Savich
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=11041547

 

http://www.rockosaurusrex.com
Rockosaurus Rex: Hard Rock & heavy metal versions of kids songs made by my husband, who used to be a guitarist in Bay Area band Horde of Torment, which in its heyday played with bands like Anthrax & Metallica.

 

The Godchild: a onesie you cannot refuse. I also own a small silk screening business, and right now we’re on hiatus with just this one design being sold online through a great family business; Cotton Baby Onesies.
http://tinyurl.com/dx4omju

HSA Education Committee

Haiku Society of America Education Committee is back! It is so important to educate other writers about the validity and true nature of haiku. I firmly support them, and when I have some available I’ll put my money where my mouth is. 

Give this a click and check it out:
http://www.hsa-haiku.org/news.htm#HSAeducationfund

Dear HSA Members:

This past year, the Executive Committee voted to bring back the HSA Education Committee. The Executive Committee has also been actively trying to get the HSA more involved with literary and academic conferences and festivals as part of our effort to educate people about haiku. To help support these projects, we have created the HSA Education Fund.

I would like to ask you to consider making a donation to this fund. Contributions are tax deductible and will greatly improve the HSA’s ability to develop educational materials, lead workshops, and participate in literary events. Please make checks payable to “The Haiku Society of America,” note on the check that the donation is specifically for the HSA Education Fund, and send the donation to:

Angela Terry
HSA Secretary
18036 49th PL NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155

Thank you in advance for helping us move forward with our education projects.

Additionally, if you would like to participate on the HSA Education Committee and/or volunteer at literary events next year, please contact me at rosenowce@gmail.com. I welcome the chance to work with you!

Thank you,
Ce Rosenow
President
Haiku Society of America

on being a working poet

Oh I’m working all right, just not on poetry. My best poetry was written when I had loads of idle time, only at the time it felt like I only had small pockets of time in an otherwise non-poetry-conducive environment such as full time corporate work or full time University. But now I REALLY don’t have an creative idle time. My time is so saturated that idle time is almost equivalent to sleep time. It’s a chance for my brain to shut off a little bit and just catch up on Facebook or play some (usually word game related) apps on my iPhone.

I have a very complicated schedule and many jobs. I try to look at the world with at least haiku eyes but other than the initial observation – “leaves gently sway on the bushes” – I have absolutely no meaningful juxtaposition to add.

leaves gently sway

on the bushes -

not much else, really

Yawn, right? A real “so what?” moment. I was so good at poetry when it was an escape from working by rote. I’m disappointed in my inability to find poetic meaning in everyday life, but I also am looking forward “to my 40′s” when I imagine that life will be simpler and different. My 30′s are all about raising two kids out of babyhood. They’re about cobbling together part time jobs to make the supplementary income to my husband’s full time job. They’re about spending as much time with family as possible, and being master of my own time. No matter what, I come back to the idea that I’m ok with that.

I have this beautiful poetry book out there like a 3rd child and I’m not doing much to sell it. I mean, I don’t even buy new poetry myself unless it’s someone I know, I have a bit of extra money, and I want to support them enough. My friends and family have been lovely in acquiring their copy. I hope there are some poetry fans in the wild that will choose to purchase those contents of my heart. And that will make me happy And some day I’ll write more. Thanks for reading, as always, my sparse blog output!

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day

For all the hard shit we go through raising these monkeys.
For the lack of sleep, the bodily fluids and the laundry.
For the whole heart walking outside your body thing.
For the way your consciousness has to split into parts equaling your # of kids
For giving up Alpha Dog status in your own life
For all the sunshine their little smiles bring
And for truly understanding unconditional love
Happy Mother’s Day

Talking back to Kerouac

In a recent article by Ariel Gore, Can You Be a Writer AND a Mother?, she mentions the challenges women face when they strive to wear many different hats. To be a writer and a mother is a challenge that I definitely face (not to mention all the other things I work at to support those two things), so this article resonated with me.

Gore mentions writer Diane di Prima’s experience leaving a poets’ gathering, which included Kerouac, because she had to relieve her babysitter from watching her daughter. Kerouac drunkenly turned to her and said, “DI PRIMA, UNLESS YOU FORGET ABOUT YOUR BABYSITTER, YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO BE A WRITER.” Well she did go home, and went on to be a successful “mother of five children, author of thirty-five books of poetry and several memoirs.”

Reading about this encounter put me in the scene, and I imagined what I would have said to Kerouac in my anger at being labelled, pigeonholed, and dismissed in such a way. So here is what I would have retorted back to Kerouac:

Mr. Kerouac,

I say to you with sarcasm, oh sure, let me give up on my duties of humanity to the whim of my selfish poet self… let me ignore the next generation and common human courtesy all in sacrifice of completely unfettered artistry. Well there is more than one type of poet. I will be that voice of the triumph of creative spirit over the mundane and wonderful aspects of responsibility. I will be that voice of the compassionate, the mother, the dreamer, the caretaker. And you, drunk old white man, poetic genius though you might be, solitary thinker though you might be, ego man, watcher man, standing as a beacon of all a poet could be if he were like a general leading the army of the subconscious to new standards of American lore, you, Kerouac, do your own thing, and respect the path of mine.

Happy National Poetry Month!

Here is a fun poem from my book!

Hum

Hum

along, coworker

to the music on my pc

Off-key

your mindless drone

a fly

buzzing in my ear

but just discretely

barely above

the volume

whether it

be high or low

as if

i wouldn’t know

it’s you

i have tried

adjusting

yet your little moans

rise and fall

with it

your voice box

i fear

has a mind

of its own

and i try

to pretend

hushlittlebaby

ancientwoman

grandmothercroon

but

no, the drone

distinguishes not

from classical

to heavy metal

or techno

i’m too nice

to let you know

there’s an army

at my ear

fighting off

each

MmmmHhhh

and

HhhhMmmm

Borders, here I come!

I have a reading scheduled at Borders on Sunday, April 11; noon to 2pm! It’s the south Austin Borders at Westgate, details below. Yay! Perfect for national poetry month. I’m curious to see how the big box store experience will compare to Book Woman. That particular branch prides itself on a thriving local section, and the manager has been a sweetheart so far. I know from attending Nadia Sahari‘s Border’s signing that the potential for walk through traffic exposure in national chain stores is amazing. If you’re local & free, please come by for some Seattle’s coffee and stop by to say hi and make me look popular. Oh and help show Borders that even a little ole local poet can sell books, I must obligatorily add But I love seeing you just in pure support no matter what!
The Facebook-inclined can rsvp and invite more friends here:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=113086638702968&ref=mf

Sunday, April 11, 2010

12:00pm – 2:00pm

Borders, Westgate Marketplace, 4477 South Lamar, Austin, TX 78745

Come celebrate National Poetry Month at Borders Westgate in South Austin! Agnes Eva Savich will be reading and signing copies of her debut poetry book, The Watcher: Poems.

A little about Borders Westgate location, from Shauna Johnson, General Manager:
Welcome to Borders at Westgate in Austin, at the corner of South Lamar and Westgate Boulevard. Stop by our local interest section and ask for Michael. This huge history buff has been at our location for eight years. Currently, he recommends the book Every Town Needs a Trail by Jen Ohlson, a beautiful photography book on Lady Bird Lake and the walking trail surrounding it. This selection should appeal to residents and visitors alike. However, don’t miss other members of our dedicated and knowledgeable staff who are also passionate about other topics; they want nothing more than to pass their passion on to you! To enhance your enjoyment of our location, don’t forget to stop by our Seattle’s Best Cafe and ask our great baristas to whip you up something tasty!

A love poem for Valentine’s

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day this weekend, I’d like to share a love poem from my book.

Creating Eden

in the garden
our walls melt

we dig deep
in each other’s soil

you root in me
i bloom

we are spiraling
humid winds

i breathe you in
you exhale me

our touch defines
the soft faces of petals

my curve of waist lands
your smooth shoulder

we are the sun
always beyond the storm

the fire that welds
by God’s hand

two souls together
into paradise

Agnes Eva Savich (c)2010

Beat poet Gary Snyder writes a Mac poem

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/technology/personaltech/22sfbriefs.html?scp=1&sq=beat%20poet&st=cse

I love it when a writer can slay me with the first line. “Because it broods under its hood like a perched falcon,” dear Mr. Snyder, that is a kick ass opening line to your poem. When I look at his picture, I imagine a deep poetic voice intoning them (I kind of hear it like Sean Connery,) and it has such a cool impact.

I remember my AP English high school teacher, Mr. Hunt, ’94-95 Maine South HS, talking about the importance of a work of literature’s first sentence. If it can hook you in right at the gate, and even manage to encapsulate the theme and the plot in microcosm, then it’s a successful classic first sentence. In poetry, where every line is important to create a whole world in a few stanzas without the luxury of an entire novel to develop it, the first line is a powerful tool for drawing you into the poem with an immediate payoff of connection.

Because of Mr. Hunt’s lesson, I have always strived to apply this principle to my writing. Some poems start with a killer opening line. But I must admit that some of my other poems focus more on a journey towards a powerful finishing line, with the opener being more of a setting layout. A few manage to achieve both. Having only one book under my belt so far, I hope to merge the two concepts more and more as I grow as a writer.

The mark of a great poet is to have both the powerful first line, and the thought provoking end line to leave a taste in your mouth you can chew on (not to mention an enjoyable development of all the middle lines.) Snyder concludes his poem with “[We] Feel rich, relax, I throw it a scrap and it hums.” I love that image of throwing the computer your idea scraps after you’ve been out in the world. As an avid Mac user myself, I know that feeling of connection to it, as the safe storage space for all your ideas and thoughts. Ones just such as these on which I’m about to hit “Publish.”

Erotica & Chocolate Feb. 12

I’ve just been finalized as a reader in this Valentine’s event at Book Woman in Austin, TX. A selection of the poems from my book, which are from the booklet of 35 love poems I gave to my husband on his 35th birthday, are definitely in the erotica category. I’m looking forward to reading them, with or without blushing. Now I don’t have to worry about making anyone uncomfortable, because we’ll all be reading erotica! Permission to get turned on, granted. What a perfect V-day event. Hope to see you there!

BookWoman Celebrates Valentine’s Day
Friday, February 12th, 5-9pm

Jewelry Trunk Show + Acoustic Guitar
and also Chocolate Tasting + Erotic Poetry

We have some very special treats planned for this evening that will engage all of the senses! Your browsing will be enhanced by corridosromanticos delicioso offered to us by Francisco Villamizar on his acoustic guitar from 5-7pm. We are calling this our Happy ”in love” Hour. Additionally, BookWoman will be offering 10% off our entire Erotica collection. Refreshments will be served.

Senufa Salley: Jewelry Trunk Show
Inspired by her lifelong love of our natural environment and the human form, Senufa Salley integrates precious metals with organic materials and precious stones to create ageless jewelry pieces that are never boring and always memorable in their simplicity. Every element is given singular attention to insure the quality and distinctiveness of each piece.

One of her signature collections is the Real Woman series, begun 25 years ago when she was discovering methods for sawing into sheets of silver. Other trade mark works include hammered oval links, carved tagua seeds and mahogany seed pods. New jewelry for this Trunk Show includes silver and bronze goddesses and some new yummy leather cuffs! Visit her website at http://senufa.com for more information.

Chocolate + Erotic Poetry Reading
After you have feasted your eyes on Senufa’s jewelry, and enjoyed the soothing sounds of Francisco’s music, stick around and feast your soul on chocolate goodies and erotic poetry. Great night to bring a date or BFF, or come solo and surround yourself with talented women’s voices! The chocolate tasting and seating will begin at 6:30 pm and the reading will begin promptly at 7:00 pm.

Featured Readers
Lisa Estus is a writer of fiction and poetry, and aficionado of applied chemistry (candles, chocolate, toiletries). Her work has appeared inArray Magazine, Ajax Anthology, Rain City Review, Dog River Review, Drop Forge, Pacific Coast Journal, and Reed Magazine. She is the recipient of the James Phelan Literary Awards in the categories of Free Verse Poetry, Short Story, and Critical Essay.

Cindy Huyser is a poet, computer programmer, and former power plant operator. A co-editor of the Texas Poetry Calendar, her work has appeared in many publications, including The Comstock Review, Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review, and each of the anthologies of the Austin International Poetry Festival.

Jennine “DOC” Krueger has been performing poetry for over seven years. She is a member of Austin Poetry Society, Huston-Tillotson’s Quiet Storm Poets, and she is an original member of Austin’s Neo-Souldiers. She recently made the Killeen Poetry “Rhyme or Die” National Slam team and she hopes to continue in competitive poetry. She has performed in numerous venues and is now working on a CD and chapbook.

Agnes Eva Savich was born in Poland and grew up in Chicago. She is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she began her college career as an Oboe Performance major, but earned a B.A. in Comparative Literature. Currently, she resides in Texas with her husband, two young children, and two cats. To make ends meet, she works as a preschool teacher, designs websites, and co-runs a children’s t-shirt company. The Watcher: Poems is her first collection of poetry.

Allyson Whipple is a writer, dancer, and bookseller. She has been writing and publishing erotica since April under the name Dorla Moorehouse. Her erotica has appeared at Black Heart Magazine, Bare Back Magazine, For the Girls, and Pink Flamingo.