your thanksgiving annogram

Photo found by Linda SimoneA lot happening: Linda Simone's fantastic review of Face Painting in the Dark (Dos Madres Press, 2014) appears in First Literary Review East . If concerned about race relations, you will also want to read my interview with memoirist Sarah Bracey White in the Southern Literary Review . Three of my poems are also in Cicada , a hip teen journal full of intelligent cartoons. Thanks to editors of AMP, Hofstra University's new digital magazine, for accepting my poem, "Signs and Wonders," for their 2016 inaugural issue.
Kattywompus Poets read
I'll be reading with Susana Case, Robin Messing, and Margo Taft Stever this Friday, November 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Hudson Valley Writers Center in Sleepy Hollow. We'll be joined by fellow Kattywompus poet Cornelius Eady and his band, Rough Magic. Come for a fun evening of poetry and music (admission $10). You can catch this same lineup, with Leah Umansky and Kattywompus Press publisher Sammy Greenspan, at the Cornelia Street Cafe on Monday, December 14, at 6:30 p.m.
Rabbit Ears launch
Debuts December 1Congratulations to editor Joel Allegretti on the upcoming publication of Rabbit Ears:TV Poems (NYQ Books, 2015),a tribute to the medium that has influenced America's tastes, politics, language, and lifestyles. I'm pleased it includes my “Velocity" alongside work from Billy Collins, Ellen Bass, Dorianne Laux, Timothy Liu, and Tony Hoagland. The poems are funny, poignant, witty, mysterious, and educational, much like TV itself. You can hear mine in this short YouTube film.
One Hundred Years of Marriage
Louise Farmer Smith’s One Hundred Years of Marriage (Upper Hand Press, 2014) is an extraordinary novel, and as poet Terry Dugan says, “It’s the perfect book club book”; also for academic courses on American women or our literature. While noting great books, be sure to get Kevin Pilkington’s latest Where You Want to Be (Black Lawrence Press, 2015), and a charming collaboration between poets Eric Greinke and Glenna Luschei, Zen Duende (Presa Press, 2015). Happy holiday gifting and reading!   Peanuts are back!
Congratulations to Anthony Nisi, Blue Sky Studio production manager, on the new Peanuts Movie. It has an important message about values and highlights all the great characters and lines we've always loved—"Good grief!", "Curse you, Red Baron!" and "You blockhead!" My favorite: seeing all those Peanut dance moves again, which I could probably perform from memory. The Peanuts Movie also utilizes innovative 3D animation. Be sure to take the little Peanuts in your lives to this fun family movie!
"Yellow Lit" by Diane GreenDiane Green at Madelyn Jordan
You are invited to a champagne brunch at the Madelyn Jordan Gallery this Sunday, November 22, 12 noon – 2 p.m.  Art Historian Beth Gersh-Nesicwill host a Q&A with artist Diane Green on her work in the exhibition The Space Between.  RSVP info@madelynjordonfineart.com
Poetry readings / conversation / music
Kevin YoungThursday, November 19, 7 p.m. - Nick Flynn and Gregory Pardlo, Fordham University, Lincoln Center Campus, 113 West 60th Street, 12th FloorThursday, November 19, 7 p.m. - Kevin Young and Gabrielle Hamilton, New York Public Library at 42nd and Fifth, register Rosamond KingFriday, November 20, 7:30 p.m. - Susana Case, Ann Cefola, Robin Messing, Margo Taft Stever, and Cornelius Eady and Rough Magic,Hudson Valley Writers CenterSunday, November 22, 1:30 p.m - Susana Case, Sally Blumis-Dunn, Jennifer Franklin, and Margo Taft Stever, JCC on the HudsonFriday, December 4, 6:30 p.m. - Rosamond King, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gallery 681Sunday, December 6, 4:30 p.m. - Nick Flynn and Kathleen Ossip, Hudson Valley Writers CenterTuesday, December 8, 7 p.m. – Helen Vendler, New York Public Library, tickets $20-45, register Golda SolomonFriday, December 11, 7 p.m. - Sharon Olds and Cynthia Nixon, New York Public Library at 42nd and Fifth, registerFriday, December 11, 7:30 p.m. - Three local MFA poets, Hudson Valley Writers CenterSunday, December 13, 4:30 p.m. - Golda Solomon, Hudson Valley Writers CenterMonday, December 14, 6 p.m. - Susana Case, Ann Cefola, Robin Messing, Margo Taft Stever, and Cornelius Eady and Rough Magic,Cornelia Street CafeSaturday, November 28, 8 p.m. - Jay Shulman, cellist with Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra, Doctorow Center, Hunter, NY; ticketsSunday, November 29, 6:30 p.m. - Jaime Lee Lewis, Bowery Poetry Club
Moosewood Pumpkin Pie
In time for Thanksgiving!  From Mollie Katzen’s Moosewood Cookbook (Ten Speed Press, 2014), this recipes depends upon fresh pumpkin for its wildly satisfying flavor. Remove seeds and stem from a sugar pumpkin, then cut into chunks. Boil or steam until a knife glides easily through pumpkin. Drain, remove and discard skin from each chunk, and puree with handheld blender. Makes two and sometimes three pies, depending on size of pumpkin.
3 cups pumpkin puree¾ cup honey2 Tbsp molasses¼ tsp ground cloves3 tsp cinnamon1 ½ tsp ginger 1 tsp salt4 eggs, slightly beaten1 12-oz can evaporated milk (or 1 cup scalded fresh milk, or nut milk for a dairy free option)frozen or homemade pastry pie shell
Combine ingredients in order given in a very large bowl.  Pour into two pie shells and bake 10 minutes at 450 degrees, then 40 minutes at 350 degrees, or until center ceases to wobble when gently shaken. Or omit pie shell for a delicious pumpkin pudding. Bake filling in buttered baking dish and serve with vanilla ice cream or heavy cream.
’Round the Net
Congratulations and/or thanks to the following for news and links:
Actors Jane Bradley and Chris Coffey
read Terry Dugan's poetrySinger/songwriter Eric Andersen on writing fourteen new songs based on Byron's poetry
Memoirist Sarah Bracey White on receiving recognition as one of the YWCA's "Mover and Shaker" this year

Guitarist Michael Cefola on great musical discoveries, Vintage Trouble and guitarist Neil Zaza
Artist Lidia Chiarelli, via poet Neal Whitman, for this video of an exhibit based on Ferlinghetti's “Chagall's Magic Lantern” poem
Poet Terry Duganon having her work read by actors Jane Bradley and Chris Coffey at Bellevue Literary Review' s poetry event last month
Self Portrait, Paula Moderson-BeckerArt Historian Beth Gersh-Nesic for this exhibit of work by Paula Moderson-Becker(1876-1907) and for Beth’s wonderful PostModern Mom blog
Poet Gary Glauberfor his poem in Bookends Review and Calliope M agazine
Writer Carolyn Gregoire on this new look at the creative brain
Poet Cindy Hochmanon having five poems appear in the fall Muddy River Review
Novelist Laura Morelli on the publication of her short story, "The Tapestry," now available
Gail and Frank ZappaTranslator Cindy Schuster on recommending this Paris Review interview with poet/translator Peter Cole
Publisher James Sherry on Roof Books' new Parsival by Steve McCaffery and we plié by Patrick R. Phillips
Music archivist Jay Shulman for this tribute to Ringo and remembering Gail Zappa Poet Laureate Juan Felipe
Herrera and  Linda Simone
Poet Linda Simoneon meeting US Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, and for this article on grammar distorting history
Actor Dagmar Stansova for sharing this rare film clip of her in an early acting class with Angelina Jolie
Publisher Ann Starr for this great review of Cuban-born Dominican artist Quisqueya Henriquez
Photographer Joe Vericker on covering Pope Francis's visit to New York in September
We close with love and prayers for dear friends in France, especially poet Hélène Sanguinetti and our mutual friend Claire Barre. There’s no explaining such tragedy, but this father made a good attempt helping his son understand. Wishing us all candles and flowers, and deep gratitude this Thanksgiving for those we love and the life we cherish.
Until next time,
Ann