My latest book, Coltrane’s God, took first place in the Poetry Book Category in the annual New Mexico Press Women Competition.  Quoth the judge: “The poetry in this book is moving and involves the reader emotionally.” As a first place winner in a state Press Women contest, it will automatically be submitted to this year’s National Federation of Press Women contest.

Editor Betsy Anderson notified me that Comstock Review will be publishing my poem, “In a Bar Near the School for the Deaf,” in its upcoming 30th anniversary issue. This is a poem that Tony Hoagland took an interest in, so I want to thank him for his input that spurred me to make this a publishable poem.

Amanda Sutton of Bookworks in Albuquerque kindly scheduled a reading for me at 3:00 PM on June 25, 2016.  Please see the Calendar page for details.

Jules Nyquist, Director of Jules’ Poetry Playhouse in Albuquerque, is host for my reading there on May 25th at 6:30 PM.  I hear it’s a very intimate setting, so it should be quite different from the sold-out soccer stadiums I’ve been playing to. (Check out the Calendar Page for details.)

My first reading back in Nuevo Mexico after my Pacific Northwest trip will be in Santa Fe at Teatro Paraguas on May 15th.  Longview, Washington-based poet Joseph Green kindly invited me to share the bill with him at 5:30 PM. (See Calendar page.)

I’m a little over a week into my month-long artist residency at Wallapa Bay, Washington. To say it is a nurturing place for quiet writing would be an understatement. My whole-hearted thanks is due to the Founding Director, Cyndy Hayward, whose vision for a generous yet unadulterated aesthetic experience is perfectly realized in this gorgeous environment. Also kudos to Operations Manager Jeff McMahon who shepherds us, and to our beyond-words chef Darice Grass.  I am also blessed to share this experience with five other dedicated artists whom I am honored to get to know.  They include filmmaker Jeannette Louie, novelist Carin Clevidence, sculptor Dan Price, journalist Camas Davis, and Deirdre Lockwood, who a defies single-word description as she writes poetry, fiction, journalism, and is an oceanographer.

Lucky me, I get to add another reading to my Northwest gig, this one with Clemens Starck at Grassroots Books in Corvallis. Mi amigo Charles Goodrich helped set this up for us. I look forward to seeing Charles again and meeting Clemens, whose books I have enjoyed. Grassroots Books is at 227 SW 2nd St. in Corvallis (see Calendar page).

While I am in the Pacific Northwest, I am pleased to be reading with long-time Portland Poet Carlos Reyes. It will be fun to team with Carlos whom I’ve known since I used to live in Portland, decades ago. The reading will be at Broadway Books in Portland at 7:00 PM on April 27th (see Calendar page).

Mary Elizabeth Parker, Chair of the Dana Awards, notified me that my poem suite “Something of My Mother” was a finalist for this year’s Dana Awards. Congratulations to the winner, Rachel Dilworth, and to First Honorable Mention, Laura Apol, and to Second Honorable Mention, Elizabeth Carothers Herron.

Ten years ago this Oregon City, Oregon-based journal printed a poem of mine, and now they’re doing another, “Just time I figure,” about a momentary observation at a bus stop. Thanks to Janel Brubaker and Matthew J. Warren for liking the work.