Erika Dreifus

Quick note: I don’t expect to be online today–I’m preparing this post ahead of time and scheduling it for “normal” publication on Yom Kippur, which this year begins at sunset Tuesday evening and ends Wednesday evening.

Celebrating Staggerwing

Had a terrific time Saturday evening at the launch event for Alice Kaltman’s Staggerwing. The story collection and its author were celebrated by a lively crowd at Brooklyn’s BookCourt, one of my favorite book-event venues.

I don’t think I’ve attended a bookstore reading organized quite like this one. After greeting us, Alice explained that we’d hear first from two other people–a poet friend and a brother-in-law (who happens to have “actor” in his resume)–who would each read one section from her story “The Honeymoon Suite.” After that, we’d hear Alice read a story. And then, we’d be treated to a Q&A with Alice conducted by Sara Lippmann. (Oh–complimentary wine and beer were also available.)

It worked out so well. Definitely a strategy to consider (especially if you have friends/relatives with stage presence!).

Poetry Submissions

I feel as though it’s Waiting Season (capital “W,” capital “S”) in terms of my poetry submissions. (At the moment, I have 15 Submittable submissions “in-progress,” with five still showing up as “received.” Plus, I am waiting to hear the fate of submissions made outside Submittable.

I have to say that I also feel as though it has been a *long* time since I’ve received a poetry acceptance. (The current Waiting Season seems to be punctuated only by rejections.) It would be *so* nice to receive an acceptance sometime soon. (By the way, I have indeed submitted my September stats to the Poetry Has Value project–I’ll let you know as soon as I find out that they’ve been posted.)

New Byline

And probably goes without saying that one of last week’s personal highlights was seeing my second Lit Hub piece published.

For everyone else who may be observing Yom Kippur today, I wish you a meaningful holiday and fast. Gmar chatimah tovah.