Summer Loving Part 3.

Hi folks : Here's what's up:

1.

Saturday, August 6th · 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location	G2 Gallery, 1503 Abbott Kinney, Venice CA 90291
More Info	LMU Extension & Write Bloody Press presents BRENDAN CONSTANTINE in the release of BIRTHDAY GIRL WITH POSSUM with DERRICK BROWN &; MARK SAVAGE at 4 pm at G2 Gallery, 1503 Abbott Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA 90291

2. Asset Based Community Development (ABCD)Tuesday, August 9th 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM(Networking and registration starts at 9:00 AM) Mental Health Association / Creative Wellness Coalition 320 North Goodman Street Rochester, New York (585) 325-3145 x 142 (Call to reserve a spot by August 5.)

3.Date: Monday (Moonday) August  8, 2011 Time:  7:30 pm Place: 14839 West Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades. (Parking on side streets) Open Reading? Yes, come early to sign up. We start on time!

Questions?  Email: pero@earthlink.net  More about the poets and more poems at: www.moondaypoetry.com

4. The Tango Cafe has moved its open mic to Monday's. still 8-10 p.m. come on down ! The Tango Cafe: 389 Gregory St.

Rochester, NY . call for info (585) 260-9005    


5.Sunday, August 14, 2011 Doors open at 7:00pm - Reading begins at 7:30pm

The Good Luck Bar, 1514 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, 90027 (east Hollywood/Silver Lake: corner of Hollywood &; Hillhurst) 21 and over only. RSVP at rhapsodomancyla at gmail dot com (RSVP not required, but appreciated)
$3 suggested donation at door. There will be a cash bar.

This event is supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant it has received from The James Irvine Foundation.

http://www.rhapsodomancy.org

6.

Sunday, August 21 · 2:00pm - 4pm
Location	Ross Art Gallery, Skalny Welcome Center St. John Fisher College Rochester, NY
Created By	Frank Judge
For	Rochester Poets New Group
More Info

Dear Rochester Poets Members & Friends, Join us on Sunday, August 21, for a reading and book signing by poet MARK POVINELLI, followed by our usual open mic. , Mark Povinelli was born in Buffalo and grew up in Louisiana. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Houston and his Masters degree form Syracuse University. He's the author of two books of poetry, "Hunting for Box Turtles" and "Disconnections" (this fall). He's also the author of the book "Gram Water, an exploration of image as verse. Mark was a founding member of the art collective F.A.S.T. (Free Art Society Trend), and an artist-in-residence at Syracuse University in 2006. He's the father of three children and has lived in the central New York area since 1998. The reading is FREE, and refreshments and muchies will be served. See you there, Lots of stuff going on this week! Here's just one more: 7. 8/11/2011 7-9 PM EDT. at the Barnes & noble in Pittsford Plaza (3349 Monroe Ave. Rochester,NY 14618 (585)586-6020) will be Rochester,NY's first ever ESP reading ! No , you don't have to be psychic, just bring a typed poem and put it in the pile ! ESP stands for Everybody Swaps poetry. see you there !  Whew !  Sorry, no room for a poem this week ! but here are the links to my books:

http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000187234

 

http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Poetry-Just-Add-Words/dp/1450255523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296114461&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/instant-poetry-just-add-words

http://www.turnermaxwellbooks.com/The%20Entitlement%20Manuscript.htm

see you next week! 

Summer loving 2.

Well folks , It's a real scorcher of a day here! This is what's up:

1. Murray's feature was a complete success! He's on his way home and should have even arrived in Long Beach by now. To keep up on his further adventures visit : www.GMurraythomas.com

2. Here's a website that lists PAYING Poetry publishers :

http://qlit.blogspot.com/2010/09/50-highest-paying-journalsmagazines-for_15.html

3. The folks at the Poetry Super Highway have started their summer contest. $1.00 per poem entry fee but this is the only contest I've ever heard of where the producers try and get a prize for everybody who enters and not just the winners.  visit : Http://www.poetrysuperhighway.com   and click on the contest link for more info.

4. Saturday Night Special, an east bay open mic Saturday, July 30 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location Nick's Lounge 3218 Adeline St. Berkeley, California Created By Hollie Hardy, Tomas Moniz.  Come join us the last Saturday of every month for an evening of literary performance, including a guest reader, a nightly drink special, and an open mic. Schmooze with other writers from the Bay Area as we share, support, and encourage our practice...Don't miss our inaugural event featuring the fabulous fictions of
Rose Tully!..Saturday, July 30th 7 - 9 pm Nick's Lounge (21+)3218 Adeline St. Berkeley, CA
(one block from Ashby BART)FREE! But bring CASH if you want to buy drinks Hosted by Hollie Hardy & Tomas Moniz.ROSE TULLY is a writer, teacher and discoverer of the moon, which she spotted in space, with a great deal of excited pointing, and has never been the same since. She is currently looking for other discoverers of the moon to compare notes with. Rose was selected for the RADAR Lab 2010 Retreat in Akumal, Mexico. Rose got her MFA in Creative Writing at San Francisco State, where she received the Leo Litwak Award in Fiction, and where she taught for one semester. This year two of Rose's fiction stories have found homes, one in San Francisco State's 100th Anniversary edition of Transfer, and another in University of Wisconsin Press's Windy City Queer: Dispatches From the Third Coast.

 That's all for this week!  Here's a poem and the book links :
 

Surprise

by Lawrence R. Berger 

There is a reason for everything!

Today

My mother insisted that we go to a

Laundromat that we have not been to in a year

because someone stole a comforter straight out of the machine

the last time we were there.

I was wary but she insisted and since she was driving we went.

 

It turns out  that the Chinese lady who ran the place

was very happy to see us!

The reason being  she had found the comforter

in the machine next to the one we had claimed it was stolen from

and had been saving it for us all this time!

 

She had been scared too because it meant

that she was not safe in her own shop! 

if someone was desperate enough to steal laundry

out of the machine what would they do to her? 

 

We found out she goes by Kathy in English

and we'll be washing our rugs there exclusively now as long as she keeps it open!

you never know where you'll find a true friend! 

 

Neat huh? yet absolutely true! 

 

Here are the book links: 

 

http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000187234

http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Poetry-Just-Add-Words/dp/1450255523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296114461&sr=1-1
 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/instant-poetry-just-add-words#sf
 
http://www.turnermaxwellbooks.com/The%20Entitlement%20Manuscript.htm
 
and finally there are two "collectors edition " copies of Working title, an anthology from a contest I ran a few years back, at  Liftbridge books in Brockport, NY contact Joe Hoffman at: jhoffman@liftbridgebooks.com   for details.
 
See you next week.

Summer Loving 1

Hi folks: It's been nearly 80 degrees out here all week! Talk about fun in the sun! Here’s what’s crossed my desk this week:

1. Please note that due to the call for a General Strike throughout Spain, The 6th Mad Open Mic: Captured Words will be held on Wednesday, October 6, 2010. This is the new date. Come to read perform or just to listen in. Now open for registration. Registrants to date posted below. Cafe Concierto La Fídula Calle Huertas, 57 Madrid in the Barrio de las Letras Metro: Anton Martin, Sevilla, Banco

Performing will begin at 9 pm. To register and for further information, contact: margiekanter@gmail.com or www.elasunto.com/mkd.htm

Come to present your own work or just to listen in. Open to the public. No entry fee. You pay (only) for what you consume.


2.  http://artistsbreakfastgroup.com/ : Meets Tuesdays in Rochester, NY visit the site for details.


3. The second most important date in the history of American poetry is September 3, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. This is when poets from all over the country will gather at A Different Path Gallery to read poems announcing and supporting the I-90 Poetry Manifesto. http://www.differentpathgallery.com/



4. Creative Wellness Coalition 320 N. Goodman Street Suite 201 Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: 585.325.3145 showing of Jim Sturtevant’s art work for August. reception 8/5/2011 6-9P.M.



5. MURRAY HAS LANDED! G. Murray Thomas came to Rochester, NY last night and wowed them at a surprise reading for the Just Poets group. He's the featured artist for the July 24th reading at the Skalney Welcome Center's Ross Art Gallery : 3690 East Ave. on the St. John Fisher College campus call (585) 260-9005 or email sns1@msn.com for further info.

6. http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolbookreview/784126/ for those of you interested in writing for children.

Whew! Lots of stuff going on! for those of you who don't know , I get all this stuff because I run a literary based Public relations firm called Skysaje Enterprises. We are a full service firm offering marketing and business strategies to poets and artists . We also offer training seminars and of course "Laughing" Larry Berger is wiling to tour. and we have a few upcoming books and ones on the market . Those are:

Instant Poetry (Just add words!): a compilation of "Laughing" Larry Berger's earlier poetry. This book is currently in it's 3rd edition and has already sold over 2,100 copies. See why for yourself!  It is available in Paperback and in both the Nook and Kindle formats. Here are the links where you can get copies:

http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000187234



http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Poetry-Just-Add-Words/dp/1450255523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296114461&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/instant-poetry-just-add-words#sf

The Entitlement Manuscript: This is the follow up book to Instant Poetry (Just Add Words!) containing some 80 pages of works using theInstant Poetry (Just Add Words) form. It is currently only available as a manuscript from Turner Maxwell books. here's the link to that : http://www.turnermaxwellbooks.com/The%20Entitlement%20Manuscript.htm

Working title:  The anthology from a poetry contest we ran a few years back . It contains some excellent work! There are two signed "collectors edition" copies available at Liftbridge books in Brockport ,NY please contact the Liftbridge store manager :Mr. Joe Hofffman at: jhoffman@liftbridgebooks.com
you may also be able to find copies available from the editor Mr. Frank Judge . contact him at sns1@msn.com

The Green Lantern: a Guide for Achieving the American Dream Volume two, How to Survive in a Modern Economy ( Even on a Poets Income!): This one's due out in January 2012  but I am taking
pre-orders . this is a revised and updated version of my self help guide . the original version sold 1200 copies at poetry readings. This book contains 36 ideas for surviving in today's economy and a few  "secrets" from the world of marketing  thrown in for good measure. $15.00 post paid for delivery upon release.

Well now you know all about me and what I'm up to.
I don't think there's room for a poem this week  so I'll just say till next time.

Born on the fourth of July Part Three

Hi folks : Well the fireworks are over. and it's on to bigger and better things ! Here’s what’s come across my desk this week:



1. Thursday July 14, 2011, 11:00AM -Thursday July 14, 2011, 05:00PM EDT

Event Type: Networking/Meet up Location: Ellison Park (Hazelwood Lodge)Rochester, NY US

Price: $5.00 per Adult Plus a Dish to Pass (Serves 10). Hamburgers, Hots; Rolls provided. Kids under 12 free. Please RSVP by Wednesday, July 13th, by 12 Noon. Cash / PayPal accepted (lynn.prytula@lhh.com)

Website:

 http://www.monroecounty.gov/File/EllisonPark.pdf


2. Sunday July 24, 2011, 2:00PM- Sunday July 24, 2011, 05:00PM EDT Location: Skalny Welcome Center Art Gallery St. John Fisher College Rochester, NY 14618 US Price: Free event; donations welcome! Website: http://gmurraythomas.com/About_Me.html

Industry: performing arts Intended For: Anyone interested in poetry, writing, memoir, story telling, and/or literature. Organization: Rochester Poets. Join us on Sunday, July 24, 2 pm, for featured poet G. MURRAY THOMAS, followed by our open mic Refreshments will be served; the author will have books available for purchase. Murray Thomas is a Spencerport native who moved west and has been a longstanding figure in the Southern California poetry scene. From 1994 to 1998, Murray published and edited "Next... Magazine," a monthly poetry calendar and news magazine that was distributed free throughout Southern California.
His most recent book, from which he'll be reading, is "My Kidney Just Arrived (Tebot Bach Press, 2011). The volume deals with his experiences as a dialysis and kidney transplant patient.

For more information, contact Rochester Poets president Frank Judge, rochesterpoets@gmail.com,
 260-9005



3.Sunday, July 31 • 5:00pm - 7:00pm Location The Flying Squirrel Community Space 285 Clarissa St

Rochester, New York Created By Paulette Swartzfager. More Info The Flying Squirrel Poetry Series presents POETRY FOR ALL! A SLAM/JAM for poets and performance artists free of charge to participate…..Prize 2 movie passes. For info, contact:
 pswartzpk@gmail.com



4.NYS REGIONAL MULTICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Town Hall Meeting for the Western Region Rochester Psychiatric Center Building 16 Rehabilitation Auditorium1111 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620 Friday, July 29, 2011 10:00 a.m.-3:00p.m.Open to: people who use mental health services, families, providers and other stakeholders!

Here are the book links:

http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000187234


http://www.amazon.com/Instant-Poetry-Just-Add-Words/dp/1450255523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296114461&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/instant-poetry-just-add-words?r=1#sf

and a short poem this week:

Life is good!

By Lawrence R. Berger

Bills are paid

friends are here

There is food in the fridge

What more could a poet ask for?



( I may have written this piece or a version of it before . It feels familiar but I can't remember if I did it before or not anyway, some of you are new and might not have seen it before . So enjoy!)

See you next week!

Born on the fourth of July Part Two

Hi folks! I had a lot of fun at the family reunion!!! 350+ plus relatives got together for the second "Shryb tribe" reunion and it was much More fun than I thought it would be ! I even got invited to read in Canada by a few relatives from that area and sold three books!  I hope you all had fun over the 4th weekend too!  Here's whats going on in this weeks post:

1. Tuesday, July 12 · 8:00pm - 11:00pm  Location Tango Cafe 389 Gregory Street Rochester, NY
for Rochester Poets  Join us this Tuesday, July 12, 8 pm, for featured poet BERNIE QUETCHENBACH at the Tango Cafe. Bernie's performance will be followed by our popular open mic. Don't forget that we welcome singers, musicians,  comics...you name it...at our open mic.Bernie was born in Rochester and graduated from the creative writing program at SUNY Brockport before earning a PhD in American literature from Purdue University.

His latest volume is "The Hermit's Place," a collection of haiku-ish poems published by Wild Leaf Press in 2010. Earlier collections include "Everything as It Happens" (2007, FootHills) and two chapbooks, "The Hermit's Act" (2004, Finishing Line) and "In the Distance" (1979, Mammoth).  "Back from the Far Field," a book about post-World War II American poetry, was published by University of Virginia Press in 2000. His poems, essays, reviews, and articles have appeared in a variety of magazines and anthologies. He edited a journal, "The River Review"/La revue riviere (1996-9), and is poetry editor of the new e-magazine "Pellucid Duck."He lives in Billings, Montana, and teaches literature and writing at Montana State University Billings.
See you on July 12th,

2. The address of our July reading is: 14839 West Sunset, Pacific Palisades. CA This is just East of Drummond and West of Chattauqua. Plentiful parking on side streets.Date: Monday (Moonday) July 11, 2011 Time: 7:30 pm  Place: 14839 West Sunset, Pacific Palisades.  Open Reading? Yes, come early to sign up. We start on time!Questions? Email: pero@earthlink.net or call the bookstore at: 310-454-4063

3.Speaking of family reunions remember my friend G.Murray Thomas is comming to Rochester ,NY to spend time with his family and promote his new book  titled "My kidney just arrived!"  you still have time to order copies and get them signed at his reading on the 24th of July. It sells for$15.00 and can be purchased at:
http://www.tebotbach.org/publication.html#kidney  he'll be appearing at the Skalny Welcome Center's Ross art gallery at St.:John Fisher College • 3690 East Avenue, Rochester, New York 14618  starting at 2:00pm open mic follows. Further details sns1@msn.com



4. Not to compete  with Murray or anything but I've got a book out too.  for those of you who may be new, it's called Instant Poetry ( Just Add Words!) and it's available in paperr back, Kindle and NOOK formats.
here's the buy link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/instant-poetry-just-add-words?r=1#sf

5. I'm still waiting to find out if I should offer to review poetry for sale or not. see "part one" for details and I know this week was the Fourth of July but  come on, I REALLY do VALUE YOUR OPINIONS! please let me know your thoughts.

no poem this week . see you next time.

Born on the fourth of July Part 1

Hi folks : What a week! We've got a family reunion  coming up this weekend so lets get right to it, shall we?

1. Tue, Jul 12: Poet Bernie Quetchenbach (Montana State U, Billings teacher/poet and former Brockport resident) featuring at the Free Speech Zone Series @ Tango Cafe, 8 pm. 389 Greggory st. Rochester NY.

2. Sun. July 24: Rochester Poets July Reading. Featured reader, California poet (and Spencerport native) G. Murray Thomas, 2 pm, Skalny Welcome Center Art Gallery. St. John Fisher College 3690 East Ave in Rochester, NY. send email to: rochesterpoets@gmail.com for directions and details

3.Saturday, July 9 · 10:00am - 5:00pm  Location 285 Clarissa St , Rochester,NY Created By Flying Squirrel Community Space CALLING ALL ARTISTS! July 9th 10am-5pm On behalf of the Flying Squirrel Community Space, Dawn Zuppelli and I are hosting the Flying Squirrel Arts Festival! We are looking for arts and crafts vendors willing to participate by selling artwork or other creative creations.
We will charge vendors a minimum fee of $25 for an all day table—free parking. There will be a $1-3 donation door charge for those coming into the Flying Squirrel Arts Festival from outside. Vendors will set up tables inside the Flying Squirrel and we will have limited table space for 2-3 vendors outside.

We want to bring greater visibility to our community space and local artists. We are also raising funds to cover the costs of operating this grass roots space funded and supported by the community. The event will be held on the first day of the Corn Hill Arts Festival on July 9th from 10am until 5pm. If you are interested in participating, contact Dawn Zuppelli at artemiswill@gmail.com/585-415-7808 or Shermeeka Mason at twilightsfriend1981@yahoo.com.See More

4. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/instant-poetry-just-add-words?r=1#sf   The new link for the  INSTANT POETRY (JUST ADD WORDS!)  collection. The book just went Live on the NOOK format last week on June 20th 2011. I had a lot to share in last weeks post so I didn't get the chance to mention it .
Well that's it for this week's events except for the fact that the 2nd "Shryb Tribe" family reunion is scheduled for this upcoming weekend . over 350 of my mother's "relatives" are coming Including me . she's all excited but I'm a little nervous . I'll let you all know how it went in next weeks post. Here's this weeks poem.

be careful what you wish for , you just might get it!

By Lawrerce R. Berger

 

Hayrides are fun if shared

and so are a lot of other things

but getting a root canal doesn't

seem to be one of them.

 

Life gives us joy and sorrow

and helps us make it through

and if we're really lucky

it will give us people to share the journey with

 

thank you for sharing mine.

June is busting out all over ( part 4)

Hi folks: I hope you enjoyed Father’s Day as best you could. It seems there are a Ton of books due out this year! Here's what's come across my desk this week. 

1. Uber poet G. Murray Thomas is coming home to Rochester, NY (He’s a Spencerport native for those who don't know.) to help promote his new book " My Kidney Just Arrived." He'll be doing a set as the featured artist for the Rochester Poets monthly reading in the Welcome Center of St. John Fisher College: 3690 East Ave. Rochester, NY 14618 email: sns1@msn.com for directions. The event starts at 1:30P.M. On July 24, 2011. The place seats 125 with standing room for another 50 and I've made it my personal mission to do everything I can to insure we fill every space! If you’re going to be in Rochester, BE THERE!


2.My third book is being published this Fall and I've devised a blog project on the publisher's website where an editorial board (of 40+ people) critiques each of the book's 51 poems, one each day, and then everyone else can comment on the poem and/or the critique. I will then edit from the suggestions or keep the poems the same. I would love to have your comments on these poems (one or as many as you feel calls you to respond) and also post the project on your next blog so that other poets may have an opportunity to share their thoughts as well. I think we are on Day 6. So far it's been a wonderful experience. Have a great day,

Check it out at: http://booksblog.unboundcontent.com/ Thanks Alice Shapiro


3. Finishing Line Press will be releasing my new chapbook, Wild as in Familiar, in September. It was a finalist in their 2011 chapbook contest. It was also a finalist in the last Split Oak Press contest. Because Finishing Line determines the size of the print run by the number of pre-orders, I'll be especially appreciative of anyone who orders before July 14. Below is the online ordering information. And here is information to order via ground mail: $12 plus $1.49 shipping per copy to Finishing Line Press, P. O. Box 1626, Georgetown, KY 40324. I'm recording the poems in this collection, and after the book is released I'd be happy to send a recorded version to anyone who pre-orders. I'm not sure what form the recording will take yet, but if you want one, please e-mail me your street address. (Finishing Line sends me the names of pre-orders but doesn't release addresses.) Thanks for taking the time to read this and for the support I've received from so many of you.--All the best, Ellaraine. NOTE: Ellaraine was also the winner of the 2008 Skysaje Enterprise poetry contest and came back as a judge in 2009 check her work out!




4. Being a literary based public relations firm (Skysaje Enterprises as listed above) I'm wondering if there would be a real need for such a service. Like a lot of poets I get asked "where do you think I should submit this to? And “where should I go with this poem?" etc. after nearly 18 years in the business of answering these questions for both myself and my clients I'm wondering if the market would be there for a "pre -screen review" type of service that would work like this: you send $5-$10 to my PayPal account and then email me up to five poems to review. In exchange I send you back a list of publishers, magazines, venues where your work is most likely to get published/produced saving you time and money in postage and electricity costs.

Is there a place for such a service? Let me know your thoughts. Oh, book length manuscript would go at about $35-$40 for an 80 + page collection. If really interested send the payment to laughingl@yahoo.com at PayPal and we’ll get it started.


5. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/instant-poetry-just-add-words?r=1 It's now available in paperback and the Nook eBook format. Check it out!



6. We are now accepting prerelease orders for The Green Lantern: A Guide for Achieving the American Dream. Volume 2 How to Survive in a Modern Economy (Even on a Poets Income!) Final price will be $14.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling costs. Advanced books may be ordered for $10.00 each plus $3.00 shipping & handling for books due out in January of 2012. Send payments to laughingl@yahoo.com via pay pal to place order. .


7.The woman show Featuring Allison Nichols : July 1, 2011- August1, 2011 contact:  creativeframing@yahoo.com  for details


Whew! That's quite a list of books this week huh? Here's a short poem to close out:

Reading is fundamental

By "Laughing" Larry Berger

We take it for granted sometimes


But it has become a necessary life skill


Some learn in childhood and find it easy


Others much later in life but they too become skilled.






Much has changed in this modern world!


Books have almost become obsolete


And these days "writer's" are a dime a dozen.


And we should thank God for it!




see you next week!