Friday, May 16, 2008
 
An encouraging note:
Thank you for submitting your work. We received a large number of submissions, but yours was among those we kept for possible inclusion. However, since this issue has a special section of work by writers in residence, we actually had fewer pages than usual. We had to eliminate even some pieces we really liked, and yours were among them.

I would like to encourage you to try us again in the future...
Just getting back on the saddle.


I'm puzzling over this listing of a used copy of Mortal:
Seller:  b00kzer
Rating:99% positive over the past 12 months (877 ratings.) 1381 lifetime ratings.

Shipping: In Stock.
Ships from WA, United States
Expedited shipping available

Comments:  
Good Book sticker remains
Good Book sticker? Is that like the Bible?

Hmmm. Curiouser and curiouser.
- posted by Ivy @ 10:23 AM ¦ | ¦
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
 
I've just flown in from Alicante and boy, are my arms tired! Hee! So I guess I'll be taking it easy for the next few days hours.

Emails from journals with their responses piled up while I was away. I will need to whip my poem drafts into shape so I can send them out, maybe write some more ... and then some.

And I see news of my Switzerland poetry reading made it into the local paper... [Nevermind that it has the dates wrong. Oops!]

More good news strikes. My book Mortal is now in Hobart, Tasmania. Yay!
- posted by Ivy @ 8:57 PM ¦ | ¦
Saturday, May 10, 2008
 
Au revoir, France. Ola, España!


Holy cats, it's bucketing down today in Barcelona and will do so again tomorrow. Have planned to see the Picasso Museum, check out the Plaza Real, take in Gaudi's Sagrada Familia and either go and have paella in the Barceloneta area or visit the Plaza de la Boqueria for the food market. Hopefully I won't be soaked by the end of it.

The day's going to be packed.

Or I may just sleep in and have a late desayunos. Could happen. Hee!


There's poetry on the train here, part of the upcoming Barcelona Poesia.

I find the train/Metro system in Spain very nice indeed. Very civilised.
- posted by Ivy @ 9:16 PM ¦ | ¦
Friday, May 09, 2008
 
Thinking to stir my senses, I went for a couple of hours to La Bastide du Perfumeur [the French version of the website has more information but my Francais is very basic], a botanic garden of heady-scented plants one can touch and rub with one's fingers, and lean in and smell.

Poppies at La Bastide du Parfumeur

Oh, the tuberose! Oh, the verbena! And the absolutely steal-your-heart perfume of roses! The sun was a warm sheet falling down all over and it was nice to find some shade and listen to the water trickling through the rows and rows.

Sign at La Bastide du Parfumeur

While resting at a spot, sitting very still at a log-bench, a small, jolly green lizard came very close and climbed over a backpack, crept past my feet and went under into the shrubs, probably in search of lunch.

Went into the shop and bought three bars of soap [two verbena and one honey] and a cookbook. Today felt very content.
- posted by Ivy @ 7:50 PM ¦ | ¦
Thursday, May 08, 2008
 
By David Lynch's hand
The official poster image for the Cannes Film Festival is by David Lynch. There also seems to be a short film component this year — that's neat.


More Switzerland pictures...

Sundial and clock
Above one of the doors of Basel Fun with perspective
VIDA, my lucky buddha
And the last one is VIDA, who wanted to have a look at the world as it is in Zürich.


Andrew Shields blogs about the University of Basel poetry reading here [with image].
- posted by Ivy @ 4:11 PM ¦ | ¦
 
My friend has heard some sad news about the motorcyclist: he died.

I feel a bit confused about it all, I guess. Sad that he died. Angry that he took that wild chance to overtake on a winding, dangerous road. Worried about my friend and their state of mind over it. Grateful that we're alive.

Does the rock feel guilty for the ribs that break upon its surface?
- posted by Ivy @ 2:36 PM ¦ | ¦
 
Images from my trip to Basel...

Sleeping moon
Doors of Basel Doors of Basel


I had an interesting discussion about an audience's qualities of listening during a reading. I think you can tell if an audience is really listening hard and enjoying it. Huzzah!

Susana Gardner blogs about the poetry reading.


Arrived in Cannes late last night. Apparently, it's Bonne Semaine and the week before the actual film festival itself. So there's an increased risk of being attacked by paparazzi and celebrities in the next day or so.


I'm enjoying dipping into Jill Alexander Essbaum's Harlot [other buying options at No Tell Books].


The latest issue of qarrtsiluni, Nature in the Cracks, is now done and a new call for poetry, prose and art on the theme of water is up. Well done to editors Brent Goodman and Ken Lamberton!


Because of my work in the anthology of Filipino-Australian writing, Salu-Salo, I've heard from a book chain in Australia, interested in stocking Mortal, to coincide with the anthology's launch for the Sydney Writers Festival. That's pretty cool. I hope the stars align and make it so...
- posted by Ivy @ 8:24 AM ¦ | ¦
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
 
The poetry reading at the University of Basel went a treat! Hearing and seeing Jill Alexander Essbaum read and perform her work [some of which she knows by heart, most impressively] is so good! I am always glad to hear good poets because I can carry their voices in my head from now on. She's guest blogging over here.

Mural ad in Zurich


[Image from my day trip into Zurich, inside the train station.] I'll post more pictures once I get more time, most likely when I get to Cannes. Leaving after breakfast. Whee!
- posted by Ivy @ 6:28 AM ¦ | ¦
Monday, May 05, 2008
 
On the river Rhine

A marathon 10-hour drive from Perpignan later, am finally in Basel. After all the kerfuffle, all's well. Thank goodness. Now to get ready for my poetry reading tonight.


Thanks to the kindness of virtual friends, I am staying at the Poet's Loft, a warm and light-filled apartment, close to the middle of town. How lucky am I!

I'm excited to meet Susana Gardner, Jill Alexander Essbaum and Andrew Shields.


Mayapple Press are selling springback binders! Great for holding your manuscript together before it becomes a book and looks neat for when one gives readings 'cos one's not forever shuffling papers. Whee!
- posted by Ivy @ 6:54 AM ¦ | ¦























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