Interesting Take on Writing a Poem

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05p3l96

Dana Gioa, California Poet Laureate on the BBC. 

A Few Irons in the Fire

     That is usually the case with me, and has been for years!What I will say now is that I sent off the final ms. for the Saluda Reflections and regained the rights to Accents.

Last Week for an Awesome Poetry Class

     Here's a confession. I should be paying the college for the chance to teach poetry, not the other way around. It has been an excellent semester in a small class. I have learned a lot from the students, and for the first time, one of my books is on the syllabus (Places and Times).

     Since we are approaching the final week, I am feeling a little wistful. Here is a video of an excellent poem read by one of my favorite poets. I use it also in my high school Mythology class.

     My hope is that you have at least one thing in your life that gives you joy, as this class ( and other things) have done for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpblaBb93fo

Graca Costa's Book Arrived!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214493518153348&set=a.3964603195127.171614.1281784341&type=3&theater

A wonderful day! First book by my dear friend and fellow poet arrived today!

Tagged by a friend and fellow poet!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=546519662406845&set=a.373059846419495.1073741828.100011464476062&type=3&theater

Great to read a poem by Alicia Salabert, but to be tagged by her!   Priceless! Gracias!

Insightful Review of "Accents" in JASPER Magazine

Jumping on that Holiday Gift Bandwagon

     And why not? If you live in the USA or Canada, I can easy send you signed copies of either or both books! If you live elsewhere, let me know if you have difficulty obtaining a hard copy. E-versions are always an option. If you would like a signed card, let me know and I can send one to you! All you ave to do is post a picture of you and your book (you can hide if you want to- I understand). Let me know where to send the card!

     Accents is $15 US, Places and Times $12 US.
   Blue Deco Pubishign      eLectio Publishing

I might have won on Jeopardy tonight!

      At least on this question. The Final Jeopardy was tricky!   Have to love Rilke!

http://www.sporkworld.org/guestartists/picot/rilke.html

"Saluda Reflections" sometime in 2018

   I have a contract to sign with Finishing Line Press and will have it back to them in a few days. It is exciting to have my third book in the works. Much more to come of course, but I better continue the final edits.

Book-give-away from a friend and fellow author

https://twitter.com/i/notifications?lang=en&lang=en

Thanks to H.A. Callum, you mgiht win a copy of Accents! 

Submitted Another Poem

 The online journal has published me before, and I do feel good about this one! Wish me luck!

Woman Warrior- Jenna Lé

     I have admired Jenna Lé's poetry for a few years, and have read both of her books. In this short interview i like how she tries to write 20 good liens of poetry a week. But I can't write during my commute, since I drive!

      Well-earned honor!


https://www.stephaniehan.com/woman-warrior-iv-jenna-le/

Blog Rejuvenation: The Life of a Poet

     A few months ago I was thrilled to see that the blog reached 100,000 hits!  Since then action has slowed down. That caused me to wonder what I was doing, or not doing, to hold people's interest.

I looked over some statistics, and saw that My music-related posts do well, and that while the majority of my audience is from the USA, there is a healthy world-wide readership, which pleases me no end. Take a look here:

About Nick Drake on the 42th anniversary of his de... Nov 25, 2016,	449
Bob Dylan's Nobel Acceptance Speech Dec 12, 2016,	406
David Crosby on Kanye West Oct 30, 2016,	392
Reformation Day Oct 31, 2016,	381
A Poem of mine from the latest Our Poetry Archive Dec 14, 2016,	375

Entry	Pageviews
United States	92014
Russia	4594
France	1704
South Korea	1545
Germany	1474
Portugal	1143
United Kingdom	514
Poland	406
Ukraine	206
Canada	195

     I have had a busy few months, and have not been as disciplined about posting. Maybe that is part of the reason. Nothing bad has happened: quite the contrary! In May I became a grandfather, and spent a lot of the Summer with Holden Allen Turfa.  Accents came the same day that he did, and I have spent some time promoting the book. This semester has been busy, but it getting better. There are a few other things, but they can wait for later. 

     I will post more frequently, I promise. Let me close for today talking about mentoring. There are a few poets out there who have been kind enough to let me advise them. They are literally from around the world, have fascinating backgrounds, and are at different stages in their poetic lives. I learn from them as well, and the results are wonderful!

  If you want me to write about something specific, please do! Contact me here, or at:

https://www.facebook.com/ArthurTurfaPoet/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4616169.Arthur_Turfa

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-arthur-turfa-23444914/

https://twitter.com/DrTurfa

"Saluda Reflections" from Finishing Line Press

    Sometime in 2018 my third book of poetry, Saluda Reflections, will be released by Finishing Line Press. I am thrilled to announce this, even before the contract is signed. Pre-orders will be taken; keep checking here or on my other accounts (Facebook/Twitter) for updates!

https://www.finishinglinepress.com/