Confessions

After a week of Mass Poetry Festival planning in overdrive, no fewer than six (not one, not two, not three ... but SIX) rejections, and back-and-forth changes on my next book cover, I'm finally able to share some good news. A drum roll, please ...

I have been invited to be a part of the Dodge Poetry Festival lineup!!! Here's the full schedule.

Woo hoo! If you could see me doing backflips--you would be delusional because I don't do backflips. Just the metaphorical kind.

I've been attending Dodge since 1996 when I was in grad school at NYU. The festival is every two years and I've not missed one. (Now that I think about it, my kids were born in odd-numbered years and Dodge happens during the even-numbered years. No reason not to go--ever.) This year I will be on stage--I get butterflies just thinking about it.

*Big Smile*

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I am in NYC on a beautiful April afternoon. If I could have stopped on the Henry Hudson to take pictures of the cherry blossoms, I would have. Tonight, I'm attending the Academy of American Poets' event Poetry and the Creative Mind. (Thanks, Nicco, for the tickets!) Bought a new dress and slammin' shoes for the occasion.

Pictures to come. Kinda hoping for a selfie with Tina Fey or Meryl Streep! Hey, a girl can dream.

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Sitting at Starbucks. Taking a few minutes for myself before doing a bit of festival work, and then swanky cocktails with Joseph Legaspi.

*Breathe*

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Today is Poem in Your Pocket Day. What's in your pocket?

Me? My poem is Tess Gallagher's "I Stop Writing the Poem."