AWP 2019 went down in Portland, Oregon, and it was a messy, sunny blur. Spent most of those days pinballing among hugs in the convention center Book Fair, crisscrossing the river, and eating noisy glorious meals surrounded by friends old & new—all writers, far-flung, brilliant and lovely. I emceed a poetry reading at the Heathman Hotel featuring Will Brewer, Eduardo C. Corral, Hafizah Geter, Edgar Kunz, Paige Lewis and Marcus Wicker. So good, so fun, can’t wait for all their next books.
In other news, I got word I was a finalist for the Emerging Writers Fellowship at the Lighthouse Writers Workshop this summer in Denver. When I lived there, I would go to the public readings & receptions at night, and it’s a truly exceptional, still under-the-radar conference with good vibes & stellar faculty. They offered me a spot in Melissa Febos’ workshop, but I can’t afford to go. But the sweet consolation was that they passed along comments from the jurists who supported my work, and the feedback was deeply encouraging. My fave part: “If you’re tempted to worry it’ll wallow in grief, you’re quickly and expertly assured it won’t.”
No wallowing here!