Check Out These Peeps

Steve Fellner writes about a poem by Matthew Hittinger.

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Pre-order Collin Kelley's first novel.

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D.A. Powell and David Trinidad cooked up a little something.

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Christopher Hennessy makes an announcement.

Week 4: Guest Judge Collin Kelley

Collin Kelley is the author of the forthcoming novel, Conquering Venus (2009, Vanilla Heart Publishing), and three poetry collections, After the Poison, Slow To Burn and Better To Travel. His spoken word album, HalfLife Crisis, is available at CD Baby and iTunes. Kelley, a Georgia Author of the Year Award-winner and Pushcart Prize nominee, is also co-editor of the Java Monkey Speaks Poetry Anthology series from Poetry Atlanta Press. His poetry has appeared in literary journals around the world including Atlanta Review, Terminus, MiPOesias, Tears in the Fence, New Delta Review, Chiron Review, Blue Fifth Review and many more. Click here to visit him on the web.

Poets do the Colonnade

I just returned home from a dinner with great people as well as great poets. In attendance, at what I hope to be the first of many, were Rupert Fike, Collin Kelley, Karen Head, Christine Swint, Julie Bloemeke, Chelsea Rathburn, Cleo Creech, and "little" ole me.

The food was great, but the conversation was even better. I was thrilled to finally meet Christine Swint and Julie Bloemeke. I have only had the pleasure of chatting with them via Facebook. Hopefully, I didn't give them too big of a dose of Dustin-- Christine was across from me during dinner and Julie was to my right. It was great to see Karen, Chelsea, and Rupert as I haven't seem them in a while. Well, Collin and Cleo, I see your mugs each month for the AQLF meetings. (See the two of you tomorrow!)

I would love for each poet from the dinner to post one of your own poems in a comment to this post. Please.

Video from ATL Prop 8 Protest ~Rep Karla Drenner

First: A huge thank you to Justin for recording the speakers at the Prop 8 Protest at the Georgia Capitol.

In case you missed it: Yesterday, I posted pictures snapped with my trusty phone. Also, check out Collin Kelley's blog for more pictures.

The video below is of Representative Karla Drenner. Rep Drenner mentions something I have been fearing during the past couple of General Assembly sessions-- some of our elected officials will try to pull what I will tag Pulling An Arkansas. As Drenner says in the video, we need to wake up now. We need to have our game plan ready in December because we need to hit the ground running in January. You'll see more on this topic in my blog over the next couple of months.

Limp Wrist Launch Party!

Last night was the Limp Wrist launch party at Outwrite, and it was fantastic event. We started off with a minute silence in memory of Lawrence King. If you haven't heard of Lawrence King read the NY TIMES article that I've linked; then take a moment and Google his name. His story is tragic and needs to be shared.

Laure-Anne Bosselaar was the guest of honor and started off the night. Then I read followed by Collin Kelley and Stacie Boschma. Lisa Allender and Genevieve Lyons rounded out the night-- these talented poets graciously read in place of two other poets. Lisa read for Beth Gylys and Genevieve for Denise Duhamel.

There was such good energy in the bookstore for which I am glad and thankful. The evening went off without a hitch. A dear friend of mine, Greg, took tons of pictures of the event. I'm going to meet in a week or so for a drink and to receive the CD with the pictures. (can't wait!)

I have to give a shout out to Cousin's Bakery for donating cookies for the event as well as Jenny Allen for donating some her tasty Jenny J's Cheese Dip. Please contact me if you'd like more information on Cousin's or Jenny J's.

I give a hearty THANK YOU to Phillip Rafshoon, Outwrite owner. When I contacted Phillip about wanting to do the launch party at Outwrite, there was never a hesitation about making it happen. Phillip is unbelievably supportive to the GLTB community in Atlanta, so stop by Outwrite when you're in the city!

Blogosphere, Movies, and Poetry

Friend and poet, Collin Kelley, has been nominated for 2007 Poet Laureate of the Blogosphere, and today is the last day for voting. Take a moment to check out his blog, and I'm sure you'll want to cast your vote for him. (CK, hope you win!)

Within the past few weeks I've seen Notes on a Scandal, Thank You for Smoking, The Last King of Scotland, and finished season two of Carnivàle. NOTES kept me on the edge of the couch; Judi was amazing in her role. THANK YOU kept me laughing-- "The great state of Vermont will not apologize for its cheese!" THE LAST KING depressed me because a dear friend of mine has loved ones who've experienced atrocities in Uganda. Carnivàle didn't leave me too happy. I didn't realize HBO pulled the plug on the show after season 2; now, I must live my life without Carnivàle closure.

In honor of National Poetry Month I posted a few poems in my Myspace blog:

"With Mercy for the Greedy"

"Tragedy"

"My Savior in the Form of a Bus"