My poem “Princess Tea Party” has been accepted by Songs of Eretz Poetry Review. It’s a poem about Lucy, not a fantasy piece.

My poem “Brighid,” first published in Apex Magazine, has been reprinted in the first Poetry Nook anthology, Poetry Nook: Popular Contest Winners. It is part of the King Xau epic, and is a rather dark poem about a six-year-old girl who was the servant to a demon.

I’ve been away visiting relatives and have accumulated several poetry items to report…. My poem “Daunted,” featuring both King Xau and the dragon, has been accepted by Dreams & Nightmares. Songs of Eretz Poetry Review published my poem Captain (a poem from the perspective of one of Xau’s guards) and accepted my poem “Pestilence,” (Yes, “Pestilence,” does have a comma in its title.) A poem about Lucy, “For My Life,” was accepted by The Violet Hour. Last but not least, my poem Night, first published in Ship of Fools, won the 92nd weekly contest at poetrynook.com 🙂

Here is my schedule for MidAmeriCon II, the 74th Worldcon:

Mars Needs Poets, Thursday 8/18/2016, 11:00 – 12:00, Room 2205
– Let’s talk science fiction and fantasy poetry! Where can you find it? Who’s writing it? What pieces do we love? And how is science fiction changing the landscape of modern poetry?
– Jim Davidson (M), Mary Soon Lee, Rose Lemberg, Frederick Turner, Dr. Mary A. Turzillo Ph.D., Jo Walton

Spec Fic Poets: A Group Reading, Friday 8/19/2016, 12:00 – 13:00, Room 2203
– Frederick Turner, Michael Substelny, Mr. Robin Wayne Bailey, Mary Soon Lee, Jim Davidson, Symantha Reagor (M), Bogi Takács, Erin Wilcox

Beta Readers, Friday 8/19/2016, 13:00 – 14:00, Room 2206
– What is the best way to choose beta readers, and when are they most useful? Our panel discuss how to get the best out of beta readers, who to avoid and how to deal with their critique.
– Mr. Eric James Stone, Martin L. Shoemaker, Mary Soon Lee, Shanna Swendson (M), Sharon Bass

Autographing, Saturday 8/20/2016, 12:00 – 13:00, Autographing Space
– William Ledbetter, Mary Soon Lee, Sunil Patel, Courtney Schafer, Howard Tayler

4 August 2016: Apex + Ship of Fools

My poem Not Like This is in the latest issue of Apex Magazine. It’s a Xau poem I’m distinctly fond of, in which Xau is heroic. And my poems “Bowl” and “On Vacation” are both in the latest issue of Ship of Fools. “Bowl” is a very quiet Xau poem, and “On Vacation” is a non-Xau poem about reading. I note that I have now had 25 poems published in Ship of Fools!

31 July 2016: Dreams & Nightmares + Confluence

My poem “Wolf Moon” is in the latest issue of Dreams & Nightmares. The poem was first published in “Crowned”.

Also, I have returned from Confluence, the annual Pittsburgh SF/F conference, where I had a good but exhausting time. I was on five panels, plus I held a Kaffeeklatsch on dragons and I gave a reading. I particularly enjoyed hearing other authors read; Saladin Ahmed read one of his short stories, plus I heard Darrell Schweitzer and Timons Esaias, and briefer snippets from others.

I am delighted to say that my poem “Keng” has been accepted by Ligature Works for their first issue, which should be out around the end of September. “Keng” is a poem from the perspective of King Xau’s eldest child.

Also, my poem Widow has been published in Songs of Eretz Poetry Review. “Widow” is from the perspective of King Xau’s sister.I am delighted to say that my poem “Keng” has been accepted by Ligature Works for their first issue, which should be out around the end of September. “Keng” is a poem from the perspective of King Xau’s eldest child.

Also, my poem Widow has been published in Songs of Eretz Poetry Review. “Widow” is from the perspective of King Xau’s sister.

My poem “School Library” is in the latest issue of Main Street Rag 🙂 This is my twentieth poem to appear there.

My poem “Recruits” has been accepted by Mirror Dance, and will be my fourth King Xau poem to appear there 🙂

Today was a good mail-day. I had three King Xau poems accepted, “The Imperial War: Onset” by Grievous Angel, and both “Traveling” and “Sheep” by Ship of Fools.

My poem “Stepmother” is in the new issue of Eye to the Telescope. I am delighted to be included in the issue, especially as it contains several pieces that I love, my favorite of all being John C. Mannone’s “Emancipation,” which is beautifully written, specific in its details, and universal in its theme.

I have several upcoming author appearances: I will be at MidAmericon II (the 74th Worldcon) in August and will be on the “Mars Needs Poets” panel at 11 am on Thursday the 18th and the “Beta Readers” panel at 1 pm on Friday the 19th. I am particularly glad that both Mary Turzillo and Jo Walton will be on the poetry panel: Mary Turzillo because I already know her and she will be a friendly face, and Jo Walton because her novel “Among Others” is one of my favorite books.

And I will be at Confluence (the annual Pittsburgh SF/F/H conference) in two weeks. I’m scheduled for 5 panels, plus a Kaffeeklatsch on dragons with Andi O’Connor, an autograph session, and a reading with Timons Esaias at 1 pm on Sunday.

Lastly, in 5 days time, on Tuesday 7/19/2016 at 8 pm, I will be reading at the Hemingway’s Poetry Series in Pittsburgh, a summer poetry series that has been running for over 40 years. Coincidentally I will again be reading with Timons Esaias (plus Charlie Brice, Jay Carson, Ann Curran, and Judith Robinson).