Exhibit 20.21

Things That are Good

Octopus 12


Interview with Christy Call


This Recording's 100 Greatest Authors
(So far they've done Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3)

Exhibit 20.20

Sewanee Book Wrap-Up

First things first, I should just say that I can't recommend the Sewanee Writers' Conference enough. I'd been hearing about how great it was for a year from Dave and Ryan, not to mention sharing a dinner table with several of the people who were there with them. It was odd, I thought, watching them come together and hug and scream. As I put it to someone at the conference, it was like watching the reunion of people who'd been involved in something either truly horrible or truly amazing. Smiles that genuine can only be brought about when you re-meet someone you survived a mountaintop plane crash with (and didn't have to eat) or, apparently, someone you've been to a fishing hole with (and didn't have to eat).

The bar was set so high that I began sending sarcastic text messages to Dave from the Nashville airport. Then 10 minutes later it got fun and I stopped. The conference is remarkably well run and beneficial and, as important in a way, just a good time. Last year, applications were accepted beginning January 15th and presumably it will be similar this year. So, yes, apply. I can't wait until next year's AWP when I get to see all of these people and we'll smile and scream like something truly horrible/amazing happened to us and then we'll look guiltily at the spot where Phyllis would have stood/go get a drink.

Part of what makes it so fantastic is that in addition to a great deal of writers, there are a great deal of books. Since I'm moving and just couldn't face the prospect of buying these books and then having to move them across the country, I had to watch with jealousy as they were all snapped up by people who I suddenly wanted to eat at one of the fishing holes. I'm not sure how I made it--or how cannibalism became a running joke here--but I did and now I want to make sure I pick up everything I need once I get where I'm going.

So, a not entirely complete list of books I plan on buying and maybe you should too:

Fiction
What Happened to Anna K. by Irina Reyn - great to have in workshop
The New Valley by Josh Weil - ditto. Plus, novellas!
The Southern Cross by Skip Horack - loved his reading
Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch - ditto. I thought I was going to cry
The Summer of Naked Swim Parties by Jessica Anya Blau - ditto (-crying +laughing)
Red Weather by Pauls Toutonghi - ditto
The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard by Erin McGraw - ditto

Poetry
City of Regret by Andrew Kozma - person/book=awesome
Blue Colonial by David Roderick - ditto. Loved his reading, too
Now You're the Enemy by James Allen Hall - ditto. Funny, heartbreaking
Begin Anywhere by Frank Giampietro - ditto. ditto.
Midnight Voices by Deborah Ager - ditto.

That might not be a complete list (I actually did make a list which is currently lost somewhere among approximately 18,000 manuscript pages). Those are mostly from fellows and there were some more books by the faculty and staff on there, I know, but I'll at least mention Alice McDermott's incredible That Night and Tony Earley's Here We Are in Paradise both which I own and you should too.

Also be sure to look for books coming out this fall from Caitlin Horrocks and Laura van den Berg which should both be incredible.

Anyway, I'm sure I'll say more about all of these when I get them. Then you'll get them. Then we'll talk about them. Then we'll look guiltily at that spot where Phyllis would have stood.

Exhibit 20.19

If You Have Been Introduced to Me Recently

Me: Hello.
You: Hi, nice to meet you.
Me: [looks awkward]
You: So, what do you do?
Me: Look, I know I need a haircut.
You: [looks awkward]
Me: [smiles winningly]

Exhibit 20.18

I Don't Know

There was already
one memorial
dock floating in the reservoir
but I appreciate
the gesture
of giving me mine
now that I've drowned
and hate those who've drowned
before me
like you
dock rival

Exhibit 20.17

I Don't Know

I cannot read
these comments of yours
because your handwriting
is bad
but that's okay
you said them in class
and I appreciate and agree
with everything
especially the part
about the dog
not having super powers
but I want to ask
if in these scribbles
you gave to me
a new title
for Ultrapuppy

Exhibit 20.16

I Don't Know

What is important
is never forgetting
who is best
at cards
because it's me
so say the test results
but not your slip of paper
liar you liar

Exhibit 20.15

I Don't Know

At the dance
I should have
said I'm sorry
for your injury
instead I said
Michael Jackson
who is dead
which you don't appear to be
because you eat
lunch
I am sorry
about lunch

Exhibit 20.14

I Don't Know

Suite-
mate
you can
lock me
out
of the bathroom
but not
your heart
Kevin
Kevin

Exhibit 20.13

I Don't Know

Old man
you walk slowly
we all agree
queued up behind you
except for maybe
the turtles
but they don't
say anything
only shake
so excited
for Diane Johnson's
craft
lecture
turtles love Diane Johnson
like old men
love Diane Johnson

Exhibit 20.12

I Don't Know

Osmosis has me writing poems
or maybe
waiting for lunch is what
makes every thought
sound like it's being spoken
slowly
meaningfully
into a microphone
but I won't take your meter
never
William Logan
can I have your fortune cookie
tomorrow

Exhibit 20.11

I Don't Know

Maybe
tomorrow
rain will
show us how
to run
where we're going
rather than
my flipflop
saunter
but the blisters

Exhibit 20.10

I Don't Know

You told me about a place
where some of the others go
but when I asked you where it was
you did not know
so we found a different place
where the people confessed
this is the place
we were looking for initially
this might be true
Tennessee

Exhibit 20.9

I Don't Know

Yesterday was Italian Day
today is Indian Day
talk is Chinese, tomorrow
I tell anyone who will listen
that this is what the cafeteria in the UN
must be like
only if the UN had to guess
what it was
the other countries ate
and the UN
was not good
at guessing

Exhibit 20.8

I Don't Know

I've developed a Phantom Lanyard
even in the shower I can feel it
pulling me down
by the neck
but this way they'll know
my name
when I get there
and I ask them what
they write

Exhibit 20.7

Look, it's becoming more and more clear that I'm just not going to have time to blog successfully while I'm here. Or maybe it will calm down. But today I'll just give you what you come here for:

* News about The Cupboard - Dave explains how we ended up with and why we like Caia's piece here.

* News about friends - Chris Higgs is now writing for HTML Giant and Bright Stupid Confetti has become a weekly publication. Look for it Wednesdays because it's a site that always makes me happy.

* Puppy Brett