Poetry Channel #44

5/16/98

IN THIS EPISODE: Tarin Towers, Swing!, Robert Williams, Crumb Family Comics, Firecracker Book Award Finalists, Chicago Book Expo, Quimby’s, Printer’s Row Book Fair, Chicago Zine Fest, Green Mill, Slam Season.

Hey y’all.

First, I wanted to tell you some really smashing news. Tarin Towers was awarded the Pushcart Prize. She found out last week. (By way of introduction, Tarin has been on the SF Slam Team, she’s a part of the 9x9 writers collective, editor of the SF Poet (subscribe at sfpoet@tarin.com), host of the Chameleon reading and all-around dreamgirl, but you already know that.)

Man, things have been swinging, and I mean that also literally. Earlier this week, I went to the book party for RE/Vsearch’s latest effort: Swing, A Guide to the New Retro Renaissance.* What a fabulous party! Hundreds of people attended. It was at Bimbo’s; everyone, or nearly, was dressed to the nines in their boss vintage wear. The Swing Set was out in full force and dancing up a storm. The girls looked so pretty, but they still talked like sailors. Of course, there were many books sold, mostly to folks eagerly looking for pictures of themselves -- it was that kind of party. It was the yearbook, and for a moment they could freeze time and forget the ugly world outside. Much like their predecessors did fifty years ago, I imagine. “If you look really close, all the boys have Misfits tattoos,” a girlfriend told me.

This Saturday, if you’re in San Francisco, Robert Williams signs his new coffee table book Malicious Resplendence.* It’s published by Fantagraphics, and I think the party starts around 6 p.m. at 111 Minna Street. On May 23, there’s a book party for the long-awaited Crumb Family Comics (Last Gasp), featuring all those lovable characters from Terry Zwigoff’s documentary and some family members you haven’t met yet. That party happens at the Cartoon Art Museum and starts at 6:30 p.m.

Here’s the list of finalists in the Firecracker Book Awards:

FICTION:

• The Drag Queen of Elfman, Lawrence Schmiel, Circlet Press
• The First Five,* Henry Rollins, 2.13.61
• In Awe,* Scott Heim, HarperCollins

NONFICTION:

• Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life,* John Lee Anderson, Grove Press
• Not Wet Yet,* Ian Shoales, 2.13.61
• Ono Ono Girl's Hula,* Carolyn Lei-Lanilau, U. Of Wisconsin Press

POETRY:

• Bite Hard,* Justin Chin, Manic D Press
• Queer Dog: Homo/Pup/Poetry,* Gerry Gomez Pearlberg, editor, Cleis Press
• Voodoo and Doll Shoes, John Gurney, Delta Press

POLITICS:

• Censored 98: The News That Didn't Make the News, Peter Phillips & Project Censored, Seven Stories Press
• 20 Years of Censored News,* Carl Jensen & Project Censored, Seven Stories Press
• The Zinn Reader: Writings on Disobedience and Democracy,* Howard Zinn, Seven Stories Press

SEX:

• Pomosexuals: Challenging Assumptions About Gender & Sexuality,* Carol Queen and Lawrence Schimel, editors, Cleis Press
• Sex, American Style,* Jack Boulware, Feral House
• The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women,* Tristan Taormino, Cleis Press

GRAPHIC NOVEL:

• Dear Julia, Brian Biggs, Black Eye Books
• Ghost World,* Dan Clowes, Fantagraphics
• Minimum Wage, Book 2: The Tales of Hoffmann,* Bob Fingerman, Fantagraphics

DRUGS:

• Buzzed: The Straight Facts About the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstasy,* Cynthia Kahn et al, editors, W.W. Norton & Co.
• The Joint Rolling Handbook,* Richard Kemplay, Quick American Archives
• Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts,* Lynn Zimmer and John P. Morgan, the Lindesmith Center Press

MUSIC:

• All Ages: Reflections on a Straight Edge, Beth Lahickey, Revelation Books
• Janis Joplin: A Performance Diary 1966 - 1970,* Acid Test Productions
• Monk, Laurent de Wilde, Marlowe & Company

ART/PHOTO:

• Art of the Fillmore: The Poster Series 1966 - 1971,* Bill Graham Presents, Acid Test Productions
• Devil Babe's Big Book of Fun,* Isabel Samaras, Manic D Press
• Dirty Boulevard,* Tony Fitzpatrick, Hard Press

ZINE:

• Black Sheets
• Bust
• The Onion

KIDS:

• Chancing the Game: The Inside Story of Tennis Champions Alice Marble and Althea Gibson, Sue Davidson, Seal Press
• In Daddy's Arms I Am Tall, African Americans Celebrating Fathers,* Javaka Steptoe, editor, Lee & Low Books
• Open Me. . . I'm a Dog!,* Art Spiegelman, HarperCollins

OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT PRESS:

• Manic D Press
• Seal Press
• 2.13.61 Publications

SPECIAL RECOGNITION/WILDCARD CATEGORIES:
(This was the fun one. . .)

• Best Distraction from the E. Coli Blues:
  Red Meat,* by Max Cannon, St. Martin's Press
• I Always Knew Kirk & Spock Were Lovers!
  Nasa/Trek: Popular Science and Sex in America, by Constance Penley, Verso Books
• ‘If I Didn't Do This I'd Kill People!'
  Original Sin: The Visionary Art of Joe Coleman,* by Joe Coleman, Heck Editions

HarperCollins? Norton? If I had known it was that kind of party, I woulda pushed Please Kill Me* by Penguin.

The awards will be presented at the Book Expo in Chicago on Saturday, May 30. It’s hosted by Eileen Myles, and presenters include Shannon Wheeler (Too Much CoffeeMan), Jeff Kelly (Temp Slave), Chris Conolly (Ministry), Cynthia Plastercaster (artist), Jimmy Jazz (The Sub), Luis Rodriguez (author of Always Running: La Vida Loca* and publisher of Tia Chucha Press) and Aileen Marron. I’m presenting the award for the poetry category. Fun! The Revival anthology was a finalist a couple of years back.

Book Expo is a huge affair; all the booksellers and publishers converge annually. Next year, after four years, the Book Expo will return to Los Angeles (you should go -- it’s scheduled May 22-24, 1999). Famous authors are milling around tailed by their publicists, distributors get to meet their retailers in person, business attire is de rigeur unless you’re the talent. Los Angeles was more sequins and bikinis, I seem to remember as I was skulking around to the free panel discussions. At night all the monied presses have beautifully catered parties and wine flows like water.

If you’re pals with a press that has a exhibition booth at Book Expo there still might be time to see if they can get you a pass to the trade show. You can get a bag full of free books and catalogs that way. Don’t forget to take your business cards. This is the schmooze fest.

Quimby’s is hosting a handful or readings and signings during the Book Expo. On Friday, May 29, it’s Chris Ware (Acme Novelty), Jay Lynch, Jeff Kelly (Temp Slave), Dan Kelly (CopPorn) and Hy Ross. On Saturday, from 3-5 p.m., there will be signings by Dan Raeburn (The Imp), Ellyn Maybe (Cowardice of Amnesia), Shannon Wheeler (Too Much Coffee Man) and Josh Houghton (Punk Planet). On Sunday, from 3-5 p.m., it’s Jimmy Jazz (The Sub) and Doug Martin (Haiku Year).

The Printer’s Row Book Fair happens the same time in Chicago. Here are some of my picks:

SATURDAY, MAY 30:

• Lambda Literary Award finalists read (Justin Chin is one of the Lambda finalists for Bite Hard* -- I hear he may be there), Grace Place, 637 S. Dearborn, 11 a.m.-noon
• Poetry from the Guild Complex, Poetry Tent, Polk & Dearborn, noon-3 p.m.
• Adrienne Rich reads at Dearborn Station, 47 W. Polk, 2-3 p.m.
• “Is Laughter Literary?” A panel discussion with Mark Leyner, Maggie Estep and James Finn Garner.

SUNDAY, MAY 31:

• Joyce Carol Oates reads at Dearborn Station, noon-1 p.m.
• Robert Stone reads at Dearborn Station 1-2 p.m.
• “Publishing in the National Market,” a panel discussion with Luis Rodriguez, Jane Hamilton, Caroline Carney, Susan Bergman, Mary Rowles and Tim W. Brown.

(Call them for a full schedule: 312-987-9896.)

And there’s a Latino Book Summit at Book Expo on May 29. It’s free if you preregister, $35 at the door (760-434-7474 to preregister). Panels include Whats New in Book Publishing in Latin America and Spain, the State of Books Aimed at Latinos in the U.S., What’s New in Book Publishing in the U.S., How Are Latino Authors and Illustrators Being Received?, How Are Bookstores Treated By Publishers?, Roundtable Discussion.

Is there more? Sigh. Yes, there is more. How about a Chicago Zine Fest? Yep, same weekend. May 29 and 30 at 1750 N. Wolcott. They promise dead speakers as well as live ones. Participants include The Onion, Probe, King Velveeda, Scab City, Rocktober, Silly Daddy, TV Ministry, Quimby’s and many more. Call 773-918-8698 for info.

The Green Mill’s feature that Sunday is Sean Shea. I hear that Ellyn Maybe may be reading a little something. The Feminist Bookstore Network is hosting a two-day conference starting on Thursday, May 28 (415-642-9993 for info).

Here’s a panel discussion not to miss: Biblio-palooza! Reaching ‘Generation X’. Lord, the title made me wince, but it creates that hook, I suppose, that mainstream America media identifies with. John Davis, of Koen Book Distributors, is the moderator. He’s also the Big Kahuna who organizes the Firecracker Book Awards. The panelists include Craig Gilmore, AK Press Distribution; Paul Harrington, Gates of Heck; John Hennessey, Tower Books & Records; Patricia Nelson, Page One Bookstore, Albuquerque; and John Valentine, Regulator Bookshop, Durham, N.C.

I think that’s it about the Book Expo. Like I said, if you don’t go this year, definitely make plans for Los Angeles in 1999. Now, a peek into the world of slam poetry:)

>>>From Arkansas: This year’s slam team consists of Lisa Martinovich, Brenda Moosey, Pat Jackson and Bob Haslam. The alternate is Troy Benowitz, team mascot is Sloan Davis.

>>>From Albuquerque: Danny Solis has been busy working one-on-one with the slam finalists before the big night. Since he started a slam at the Gold Coast, the team is shared with the original home of the slam, Poetry and Beer night at the fabulous Dingo Bar. I heard slam coaches on the west coast are videotaping his techniques (hand movement, dramatic pauses, etc.) and showing them to their teams.

>>>From Venice: What’s this I hear of the new Venice slam team? I heard that Jeff MacDaniel and Ellyn Maybe are on it. . . I dunno. . . this is a rumor I can’t confirm, but it was so delicious, I couldn’t resist repeating it. And Ellyn says she never gets out of town, but I don’t believe her anymore.

Okay, that’s it. I’m talked out. Email to Poetry Channel c/o sofasurf@usa.net. Please be brief. Subscribe and unsubscribe at the Mining Company or by emailing Margery Snyder there. (Thanks, Margery!). If you view this online at the Mining Co., you can see all the cool links.

To answer a few questions: 1) yes, Frank Kozik posters from the Albuquerque Poetry Festival are still available, $10 plus shipping; 2) yes, I do take a lot of latitude in my Spanish interpretation; 3) yes, there’s still room at my family’s place during the Taos Poetry Circus.

xox
juliette torrez

New this week at poetry.about.com

• From a passage in Eldridge Cleaver's Soul on Ice, "If I Were Chubby Checker, How I Would Change the World" by Steve Greenberg.
• Starting Tuesday, "Zen and the Art of Poetry," Parables by Mike Topp.
• New links every week to the best of poets & poetry on the Net. . . . and, of course, the Web version of Poetry Channels. . . .

*As a result of a commercial relationship between About.com, its Guides and Amazon.com online booksellers, these titles can be purchased directly from Amazon.com by following the links above. (Note: Amazon.com is solely responsible for fulfillment of book orders placed through these links.)

Free Poetry Newsletter!Sign Up