Hello
I am a Southerner, a poet, mom of 2 daughters (with another on the way), a wife, a believer, an English professor, the oldest of three daughters.
I believe in singing each and every day, a clean kitchen, and the ever-sustaining powers of coffee.
I like baking things with my daughters, long walks in spring weather, the power of syntax, honest-to-goodness letters, and when it rains all day long.
I am always looking for: yardsale vintage typewriters, poets I’ve never read before, the quiet moments in busy days
My writing process is translating the beauty in the every-day
~
THE BIG POETRY GIVEAWAY!
2 FREE BOOKS GIVEAWAY–
Book 1: Keeping Me Still, by Renee Emerson
I am giving away a copy of my book, Keeping Me Still (Winter Goose Publishing, 2014).
Keeping Me Still is about being a wife, mother, sister, daughter in the South; the spiritual and physical wrestling with questions that are only answered in the living through them.
A sample poem:
Ascension
I spend my days at the farmhouse.
Always the sound of cows;
at night, the dreams of cows.
Their paths through the grass,
the way they watch
when we walk in the yard.
The blue wildflowers break
underfoot; a first frost, winter’s ritual.
At church the other women
say I should know, by now,
my baby’s differing cries.
That I should be well-versed
in the language of need.
Among the cows, a line of geese
moves through the blank repetition
of pasture. Modest as nuns.
Finally, one rises to flare its wings.
___________________
for my second book giveaway–
“Best New Poets is an annual anthology of 50 poems from emerging writers. Each year, a guest editor selects 50 poems from nominations made by literary magazines and writing programs, as well as an open internet competition.”
I think this series is a great read, not only because of all the fresh voices included, but also to keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening in poetry today.
A sample poem:
The Mackerel
by Carey Russell
They lie in parallel, a fabric
of tails and heads, each inch
iridescent like sunlight
on gasoline. Their eyes,
a frozen phalanx
of the same singular
expression, push outward,
watery prismatics in a soap
bubble. Grey shadows
tiger-stripe the scales
into radiant sections,
a lived wallpaper.
Even now they appear
to be bolting forward.
How happy they seem to be
together, a collected self,
selfless. They don’t care
they’re dead, ice-packed
in a mold-pocked crate
dripping on Canal Street.
We talk as if death were a line
to be crossed. But look at them.
Tell me where they end.
________________________
To enter to win a book, please leave your name and email address by midnight, April 30th, 2014, in the comments of this post, and I’ll draw two names from a hat the week of May 1st, 2014.
Don’t forget to check out Kelli Russell Agodon’s blog where she has the complete list of poetry blogs participating in the giveaway this year. Good luck and happy poetry month!
Would love to enter! jessica goodfellow jagueno [at] gmail [dot] com
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Your poetry is beautiful! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that I am able to win a copy. Thank you for the giveaway, and Happy National Poetry Month!
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I forgot to include my email theresamacnaughton(at)gmail(dot)com.
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thank you so much, glad you like it!
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sign me up please. love Southern writers.
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I’ve had to sign in twice so if this is a duplicate please forgive.
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eahelfgott2@comcast.net
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Would love to dig into both of these. Sign me up for the draw.
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Would love to enter! Thank you. djvorreyer@gmail.com
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I really would love to win these beautiful poetry books!!! Thanks so much for this giveaway.
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Your book cover is beautiful and I enjoyed your sample poem. I’d be happy to win either of these books.
Linda Hofke
Lnshofke(at)yahoo(dot)com
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thanks so much Linda!
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I’m glad to see you participating in NaPo and the giveaway! It would be a treat to win either of your selections. Please add me to the drawing.
And a glorious Easter Sunday to you!
Rodney Wilder
roquedog504[at]gmail[dot]com
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Hi, Renee. Please add me to the giveaway list… lkkolpbmt@yahoo.com. Thanks, and Happy Easter!
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This is wonderful. Thank you for hosting the giveaway.
– Andrea Blythe
andreablythe at hotmail dot com
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What a great giveaway!
Erinhmount@gmail.com
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Hi. Please enter me in your giveaway.
~ Robin A Sams
robinasams[at]gmail.com
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Hi Renee!
Thanks so much for doing this giveaway. I’d love to win either book! My name is Brian Wong and my e-mail address is: thebripod@gmail.com
Happy Poetry Month!
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Very cool giveaway !
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Count me in! Great selection you’ve posted!
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Please enter me in your generous drawing, and thanks! I especially like that you shared a sample poem from each book.
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Hi Renee,
I would love to win either of these books, especially “Keeping me Still.” I grew up in the lushness of the Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia mountains and love to read the work of poets from that area. If you like it when it rains all day, you’d be happy here in Seattle today where it is pouring right now and does so frequently! So glad I gathered the lilacs and peony blooms before it began! Please enter my name in your drawing and I look forward to exploring your blog.
Thanks! Marianne Mersereau – marianne4art@yahoo.com
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Well, hello there, Renee. Don’t you love Poetry Month? I’m happy to find you and your blog. Both books look like keepers, but yours is especially intriguing; I’d love to win a copy. Thank you! (and thanks for stopping by my giveaway too).
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Thank you for participating in this giveaway! I just love the idea behind it. And it’s such a great way to discover new poets.
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I read your believes and became a believer, thought sadly my singing scares even my own self most of the time.
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I would love to be entered in the drawing for these books. I think I’m a bit more than half in love with them already, just from the excerpts you’ve posted here. lucindyl at hotmail dot com
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Yes please enter me into this opportunity to read a book from a third daughter who is the Mom of three daughters (almost).
I live in Blue Ridge Mountains of VA and this sounds like a poetry book that will resonate with me.
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my late response does not indicate my level of hopefulness in winning 🙂
hellojuliestuberATgmailDOTcom
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Both of these sound lovely but I would especially like to read yours! Please enter me into your giveaway.
quidam87@gmail.com
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thank you, Lissa!
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Oo, what a lovely poem (Ascension). It puts me in fond remembrance of the quiet end of a day working out on the ranch. Please enter me for your giveaway!
Kalira69@hotmail.com
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thank you!
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What’s better than poetry books~ Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks!
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