I’m a little behind, but I wanted to finally link to Ruminate‘s review of Plum Tree, written by Hannah VanderHart, a second-year graduate fellow at The Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice in Washington, DC (Georgetown University). The Lannan Center, as many of you know, is one of the most profoundly important institutions in the poetry world. I often use clips from their reading series in class (nearly every semester I end up showing Octavio Paz reading “I Speak of the City”). So I was deeply gratified by Hannah’s reflections. She is also a poet, whose work can be found in many journals including the current issue of Rock & Sling.

Happy reading.

Secondly, I wanted to thank Holly Jennings for her wonderful thoughts on Plum Tree as well. Holly’s writing–from which I’ve often taught excerpts in my classes–is sharp, poignant, humble, and hilarious. I was so gratified to run into her at Calvin’s Festival of Faith and Writing this past weekend (which I’ll write about soon). Holly’s reflections on the book are meaningful to me on several levels, not the least of which is because she and I were undergraduates together and so we shared a formative literary experience at Roberts Wesleyan.

Here are her thoughts. Do yourself a favor and make Holly Goes Lightly a regular read.

Enjoy the reviews, and please join the conversation on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, my blog, or your own blog. Thanks!

I will help lead a writer’s retreat at John XXIII Retreat Center in Hartford City, IN, July 15th – 22nd. Make the commitment to set aside this time now.

Hey, there–it’s me again. Just wanted to get the word out about the upcoming Barton Rees Pogue Poetry and Arts Festival in Upland.

Date:     April 14th, 2012
Time:   9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Place:   Upland Community Church and Taylor University (see the website for details)

I will be leading a poetry workshop from 1:00 – 2:00 PM as part of the festival.

The keynote is Karen Kovacik, Indiana’s Poet Laureate and Professor of English at IUPUI.

Come join us!

Hey there, friends.

I will be reading and leading an open mic poetry night at Common Grounds in Hartford City.

Date:     Fri, April 14th
Time:   7:00 PM
Place:   Common Grounds Coffee Shop, 205 W. Washington St., Hartford City, IN 47348

Copies of Plum Tree will be available for the special price of ten bucks. Come on out!

The Wait (book trailer) from Eric Nystrom on Vimeo.

Many thanks to Taylor University Media Communications student Eric Nystrom for creating this book trailer using my poem, “The Wait.”

Thank you, Kelcey Parker, for the opportunity to interview over at Ph.D. in Creative Writing, an excellent series of interviews with writers, and a great resource.

Somehow, the interview resulted in my bringing together Barbra Streisand and Garcia Lorca. Who knew?

Anyway, this is my story. What’s yours?

Apologies for not keeping up with the blog.

Book reviews are starting to come in. Here’s a very thoughtful analysis from my friend Melissa Reeser at The Instant Librarian.

Check it out!

The Other Journal, Volume 18–the Celebrity Issue–is now available for Kindle. Check it out.

I’ve long admired Books and Culture and editor John Wilson, and am thrilled to have a short essay appear as web-exclusive content for the magazine.

If you get a minute, journey with me through the anxieties of influence over at B & C. Here’s ”Loving Al Zolynas in Two Worlds.”

Yesterday, I learned that my first book of poems, called A Plum Tree in Leatherstocking Country, had been accepted for publication by a small press in Chicago, and will be coming out in early 2012. I’ve spent the past two days on that proverbial roller coaster of emotion. This is something I’ve alternately dreamed of, expected, never expected, dared to hope for, despaired for desire of, been thrilled by, been terrified by, and many shades in between that I’m unaware of or don’t understand.

What I do know is this: when I was nineteen years old, a sophomore at Roberts Wesleyan College, I took a literature course with one William Judson Decker. At one point in that class, I thought to myself, “I must find a way to spend the rest of my life in this room.” I meant that I felt at home in a place where art and faith intersected, informed each other, respected the truth and dignity and complexity of the lives of all persons without reducing any to platitudes, increased me and those around me. Mystery was honored and excellence praised in that classroom.

I’ve been working ever since for two things: to become a college English professor and facilitate that great ongoing conversation for students who need it as badly I did (and do); and to publish my own writing, in which I could enter that great ongoing conversation.

I have a lot of work to do to honor and grow in both of these callings.

But here I am. After years on the outside, I never seriously thought I’d make it into this place, even just into the lobby, where I’m standing right now with a fool’s grin. Oh, I’ll get up in the morning and shut my mouth and get back to work. But for a moment I’m going to look around, give thanks, and celebrate.