Kelli Russell Agodon's Blog, page 89

Aimee Nezhukumatathil and her new book Lucky Fish

Deb Ager of 32 poems (& me On the left)

AWP reading Busboys & Poets: Susan Rich, me, January O'Neil

Thankful Thursday - A Favorite Blog on Organizing

As you know, I'm using Thankful Thursday to showcase other people, things, events, artwork, etc. that I am thankful for rather than using this post as yet another way to say I'm thankful for my family, friends, coffee, and chocolate.



So I thought I'd share a favorite blog I read this week because well, I have organization on the mind and I know a lot of you have resolved to be organized in 2011 (whether with your writing or with your life).  And it's STILL January, so you're not too late!



By the way, if organizing makes you squirm and sweat, run fast away from this blog as she's an organizing pro--





Honey, We're Home -- Capricorn & Virgos unite.  This blog is all about organizing.  If you're looking for any ideas on how to organize something in your home (from pantry to photos) go here.



Honestly, it frightens me what I rush I get reading this blog, my OCD comes sailing to the surface and I want to put everything in its place.



~

Visit Me at AWP from 3-4 pm Thursday at the White Pine Press table in the bookfair

Me in my happy place at The Postal Museum

Confession Tuesday

Dear Readers,

I confess I've been trying to post photos to my blog, but for some reason, they aren't posting.

I confess I'm currently in DC for AWP and I thought blogging from far would be easier than it is, especially posting photos (I must determine what is up).

I confess I didn't fly in early because "I'm smart" and wanted "miss the storms.". I made these reservations months and months ago and flew in early because I wasn't flying all the way across the country and not seeing the sights.

I confess the postal museum was my favorite.

I confess I went up inside the Washington monument and didn't think about something terrible happening (I confess I usually imagine some terrible event happening, but I was so into the history and the moment, I forgot to play the "what if" game.)

I confess there are no lines or crowds in DC because no one is here because of the weather.

I confess the weather here has been dry and cold,perfect for walking.

I confess if I can get my iPhone to post to my blog, I'll be posting about AWP in real time. Or check out my twitter acct-- kelliagodon I'll be posting there too just search #AWP or check out my Twitter feed.

I confess I'm sorry not to have posted yesterday but I was in over my head with rocks, bones, and dead things at the Natural History Museum. Can I tell you I never need to see that museum again, I could walk it in my sleep, and may have.

I confess I bought jellybellies and Hershey kisses in the Fossil Cafe. Can I tell you how incredibly happy I was to find a museum that sells Jelly Bellies. DC is incredible just for that.

Amen.

Googling Oneself - The Art of Ego

So I had to laugh this morning, I have two "Google Alerts" set up, one for my name & one for the title of my book.  Whenever someone posts something about my book or my name on the web, I get an email in my inbox that says something like "Web - 3 new alerts..."



And today's google alert where my name has appeared?  Student sites about Greek Gods.

Well, I'm honored.  I hadn't realized I had moved up so far in the world.



I did go to the site and it's also a huge advertisement for mozzarella cheese.



Though there's definitely a poem in this.  The website where I'm listed is one of those spam websites to get ad dollars by mixing words and links together. A favorite combo is the "Sea World Water Park" mixed with "and Nordic Gods."  Though I also love "Facts about Camel Spiders" mixed with "Lesson plans for Ancient Greek Gods and Powerpoint format for Rags to Riches Stories About Women."





Here's my showing:







"Mt St Helens Facts About Name - at Mycenaean and Minoan sites is While the age About Kelli Russell Agodon 3   Trivia About Philippine Constitution - of gods often has been of more interest to contemporary students of"I especially like the "3" after my name, reminding me that there have been many Kelli Russell Agodon's throughout history as I have such a common name. ~By the way, if you haven't created a Google Alert for your name or your book or your ex-boyfriend various interests you may have, you can do so signing into Google then choosing "more" in the upper left corner, scroll down to "even more" and that will get you to a page where you'll see Alerts.  You can create an alert on anything you are researching or interested in. I also have one for "crab creek review" in case anyone blogs about our literary journal.  Google Alert catches most postings, it will occasionally miss one, but it's a pretty good way to see what's being said about you or your book on the web, and especially wonderful to see if you've become a new Greek god or part of an advertisement for cheese.  Who knew?

Thankful Thursday: Sandy Longhorn & a Review on Letters from the Emily Dickinson Room

Sandy did an incredible review of my book, Letters From the Emily Dickinson Room  on her blog here.



As a poet, it always makes me so happy when readers/reviewers really *get* what's happening--





Here we have a speaker adrift in a world that often feels directionless, a speaker who desires nothing more than connection and yet finds that connection difficult because of the very fact that she is a poet: "the broken ones become artists," says the father in "Letter to a Past Life."  









And I loved this paragraph --









In "Quiet Collapse in the Dharma Shop," we are told:

"I celebrate small things

.......--apples, beetles, faith---"



I love that 'faith' is a 'small thing' here.  Throughout the book, Kelli manages to take the ordinary moments of a woman's life and transform them into the extraordinary, the special, the saved.  She is unafraid to tell the truth about what it means to be a poet as well as a mother, daughter, wife, and lover, and how sometimes those worlds don't always mesh.



~



Yes, exactly-- sometimes those worlds don't mesh and as I wrote this book, I struggled through them myself.



There were anxious times that challenged me personally and throughout the manuscript.  I didn't want the book not to risk, so I included difficulties I dealt with as well as poems that still make me feel a little vulnerable.



I think that's important though.  I think we all need to risk something when we write.



I've been thankful others have connected with the book and thankful for Sandy for taking the time to read it and write such a thoughtful review on her blog.  

AWP Starts Next Wednesday in DC - Who's Going?

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We're counting down to AWP as it's one week away.



What I can tell you is I have only been to one AWP and while I loved it, I also was quite overwhelmed and many times had to retreat back to my hotel room for quiet time.  (This tends to be my style, lots of talk and contact, then alone time...lots of talk and contact, then alone time.  I'm an introvert with extroverted tendencies.)



The best part about AWP was that it was great to finally meet people I had only known through blogs and email.  Now, I have Facebook friends I've never met.  I heard last year's AWP was the first "Hey, I think we're Facebook friends" conference, as that was overheard more times than not.



You will recognize me at the conference because I will be a) drinking coffee b) snacking  c) taking a photo  d) looking confused/wandering aimlessly e) reading the program.  I am always looking at the program.



I hope to run into some of you there.  This will be my first AWP since Vancouver.  I'm out of practice, but looking forward to attending.



I'll be at the White Pine Press book table from 3pm- 4pm for a booksigning on Thursday, Feb 3rd.  And then I'll be reading with Susan Rich at Busboys & Poets (the 4th & K street location) at 7 pm that same Thursday evening.



These are the only places I know I'll be for sure.  All the rest is up in the air.



If you do go to AWP, do introduce yourself.  While these events can feel big to me, meeting people helps me make it feel a little smaller.



~

And for good laughs--



Nin Andrews has some great AWP comics on her blog.





~



P.S.  Leave a comment if you're going to AWP and any panels or reading you're on or going to.  I have yet to read the schedule.