Thursday, April 1, 2010

Book Give-Aways for National Poetry Month

Today, April 1, begins the start of National Poetry Month. To celebrate, I'm joining a fabulous group of other poet-bloggers who plan to give-away two collections of poetry of my choice to two lucky people. (Go here to find out where I learned about this initiative; then, if you wish to join others who are giving away volumes of poetry, go here for some guidelines created by Kelli Russell Agodon. Agodon plans to create a master list of links to all the poet-bloggers participating in the celebration.)

The books I will give away are new copies of Best New Poets: 50 Poems from Emerging Writers (edited by Kim Addonizio) and 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East by the wonderful Naomi Shihab Nye. I will pay the postage.

Here's the deal: Anyone who leaves a comment on this post will be eligible for a random drawing for Best New Poets. You must comment here by April 30.

For the second giveaway, of Nye's 19 Varieties of Gazelle, I plan to do something a bit different: Between now and April 28, I will publish a number of poetry-related items, such as my continuing features on state Poets Laureate and examples of work of poets I particularly admire or have recently learned about. On April 30, I will post a challenge that will ask you to answer a few questions about content in a selection of those posts. The first person who responds by 5:00 p.m., April 30, with all-correct answers to the quiz will receive the second book of poetry.

Both winners will be announced in a May 3 post.

I will publish a sneak-peek at one of the give-away collections later this month.

Have fun, read for enjoyment, and find out why poetry, like art, can be like a "sweet unconscious prayer".*


About the Quote

* Art is a sweet unconscious prayer. ~ Artist James A. Mangum

Mangum — known as the "Saintmaker from Shinerville" — is an award-winning folk artist and novelist who lives in Shiner, Texas. He is the author of The Vinegaroon Murders, which received the 2006 Violet Crown for Best Work of Fiction from the Writers' League of Texas; Dead and Dying Angels; and, with Sidney Spires, The Fairy and the Chupacabra and Those Marfa Lights, a children's fable also illustrated by Mangum.

Resources

Transcript of Naomi Shihab Nye's interview with Bill Moyers

Video of Kim Addonizio discussing her writing

42 comments:

Glynn said...

Cool giveaways, Maureen. Thanks for helping celebrate National Poetry Month.

Diane Lockward said...

Please add my name for the drawing.

Marcus Goodyear said...

I love that book by Naomi Nye. It's one of my favorites on the shelf and I use it all the time. She's from San Antonio, so I've actually been in a few workshops with her over the years. She's a wonderful person.

Louise Gallagher said...

This is ... waaay cool! Wicked awesome. -- and if I could think of more 'hip' superlatives I would write them here. But I can't so -- suffice to say -- Exciting!

Thanks as once again, you've lit the fuse under my 'thinking' and catapaulted me into writing!

Kathleen Overby said...

As you expose me more more, I feel more and more illiterate. Lots of catching up. Think I'll begin with Marcus' fav. You are an illuminator Maureen. :)

Anonymous said...

Maureen, you are building an empire! Sounds very cool.

S. Etole said...

Such an apt description of art ... thank you for expanding our knowledge of what's available.

Andrew said...

Count me in for this one, and I'll be sure to check back for your other giveaway. Cheers!

Heather said...

How fun!!

jama said...

*waves to fellow Virginian*

Count me in! My own giveaway is at:
http://jamarattigan.livejournal.com/401121.html.

Thanks, Maureen!

Molly said...

Please add me in, too. Thanks. And feel free to add your name to my giveaway if you like: http://bothfires.blogspot.com/2010/03/spread-poems-giveaway.html

Kristin Berkey-Abbott said...

Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

Torie Michelle said...

Please add me in as well. Thank you!

Justin Evans said...

Please include me in your drawing. Thank you.

Sandy Longhorn said...

Sign me up too, please. For all interested, I've got a chance for free books at Myself the only Kangaroo among the Beauty .

Suzanne said...

Count me in! I'm also participating in the giveaway over at http://www.litwindowpane.blogspot.com.

S

Susan Rich said...

Love the name of your blog~
Feel free to participate at my blog, too.

http://www.thealchemistskitchen.blogpost.com

jublke said...

Please count me in for the drawing, too. I'm also participating over at Stars in my Sugar Bowl.

sunt_lacrimae_rerum said...

Please add my name to the list of poetry mendicants.
Thank you.

Unknown said...

please count me in!!

moriahaskenaizer@yahoo.com

Beth said...

me too - green_alligator_2000@yahoo.ca

n.w.d.s. said...

I would love to be entered. Thanks. (n_schuurman1@hotmail.com)

Anonymous said...

Me too!

navear@gmail.com

newzoopoet said...

Most exciting!
Angela
newzoopoet@aol.com

Totalfeckineejit said...

Count me in please Maureen!

Chad Scheel said...

include me, please

Carl Palmer said...

Please add my name, Maureen.

Jé Maverick said...

Thanks for this wonderful opportunity, Debbi. Please consider me for the draw. Cheers. :)

Jé Maverick said...

So sorry, maureen. I was talking with my housemate Debbi while I was typing the comment here. Men are not so gifted at multitasking. Cheers. :)

kelly@thebluemuse said...

Both look wonderful, please count me in!

kelly@thebluemuse said...

I am loving this giveaway...please count me in!

Remy said...

I love this idea.

Frogtown said...

Sounds great, count me in.

frogtown (at) gmail.com

Lindsay said...

Thanks very much for this opportunity!
Would make some great post-exams reading :)

you can contact me at,

lindsay.veenstra(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Please count me in too!Thanks!
Nandini
(nandinikolkata@gmail.com)

Unknown said...

me too!
suezette (at) aol (dot) com

Ron Lewis said...

Thank you so much for this opportunity - such a great idea! I produce the Vermont Poetry Newsletter & Poetry Event Calendar, so am looking forward to promoting your book, if I'm lucky enough to be a winner! Ron Lewis

Ron Lewis said...

Thank you so much for this opportunity - such a great idea! I produce the Vermont Poetry Newsletter & Poetry Event Calendar, so am looking forward to promoting your book, if I'm lucky enough to be a winner! Ron Lewis

~L said...

Hello and thank you for this offer. I am new to poetry writing and new follower of She Writes. Looking forward to more!
peace,
L

Stacy M.S. said...

thanks so much for hosting this giveaway.

please add me!

stacylynnmar@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Great to see another person participating in this generous giveaway!

cj.anythingeverythingnothing@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

♥n.