A Question for You

     You can comment here, or if you can access me in other ways, please do that! I have been advised to have a fan page. The title would be something like "Arthur Turfa Fan Page". I am a little uncomfortable calling it that. I would love to tell the whole world about Acxents m coming out on 19 May from Blue Deco Publishing.   But do I have fans?

     Originally I thought about a Facebook page for the book. As you know, I am on Facebook as a poet, but do I need to have something not only for the coming book, but to include Places and Times form eLectio Publishing?

     You are creative people, and I am eager to hear from you!

     My thanks in advance!

Reading at Blythewood High School

  I read as part of National Poetry Month at my school. Since it was at lunch, time was tight; I had an Open Mic. Two colleagues and five students read. ll went very well with 25 in attendance.

Look Who is at Number Four!

http://bestread.net/directory/

    Soon there will two books! Feel free to vote for my book! Better yet, get a copy for yourself or a friend! Signed copies available if you contact me! Thanks.

Next year, "Accents" will be there, too!

Great time in Aiken! The table will be a bit more crowded next time! 

To Aiken, SC tomorrow...or, back to Aiken!

http://www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org/aws-authors-blog/author-arthur-turfa

From Ray Davies' New Album

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM_x6C-MGkE


     The title, "Poetry", fits this National Poetry Month. Ray is backed by the Jayhawks on this album, and asks the question in the face of commercialism and excess, "Where is the poetry?" I ask that myself quite often. Sir Ray, as he is now, is someone I mention as an influence in Accents,  my soon-to-come second book of poetry.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/04/18/beast-exclusive-ray-davies-returns-with-new-americana-music-video.html

Cover Reveal for "Accents"

     "Accents" will be available from Blue Deco Publishing in May! Thanks to Colleen Nye and Carol Worthington-Levy (her second cover for me.). They really did a fantastic job on this. By the way, the inside of the book is pretty neat, also! This book is more intentionally put together. 

'Poet Arthur Turfa's life is peppered with intriguing accents, revealed to him through the many places he's lived, the people he's known, the music that moves him, and even through his dreams. They're his inspiration for the thoughtful, moving, and often humorous poetry you're about to read. '

That;s what one early review says! 

"Accents" Cover Reveal This Tuesday

 Need I say more? From Blue Deco Publishbing in late May.

Reading from "Accents" at Mind Gravy

   We are about five weeks from official launch, but a few poems from Accents were very well-received at Mind Gravy last night at Cool Beans, Columbia, SC last night! Some long-term friends were there, and I made some new ones.

    This morning I found that Places and Times is still on the shelf at Barnes & Noble in the Richland Mall, 3400 Forest Drive, also in Columbia. I had an event there last July.

https://www.facebook.com/aturfa

    

To Aiken, SC, agian!

     I am thrilled to head back to Aiken on Saturday, 22 April! Come and see me!

   
http://www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org/aws-authors-blog/author-arthur-turfa

First time reading from "Accents"

https://www.facebook.com/events/237495723390510/

    I am excited to be back for the third time in Mind Gravy, but the first in this venue! Come on down! Accents will be released on or around 19 May by Blue Deco!

Preparing first reading list including some of "accents"

     What a milestone! On 12 April, 8 pm, I will be back at Mind Gravy, the poetry-music venue created by my energetic friend, Al Black. This will be my first time at Cool Beans, Columbia, SC (near the University of South Carolina Campus     http://coolbeanscoffeecompany.net/

     This means I will retain some favorites from Places and Times and elsewhere, but I will start with some selections from Accents, which will be released around 19 May from Blue Deco Publishing! It will be available at the usual places or you can contact me about a signed copy!

     Now that is what this tea-drinker calls cool beans!  But I do drink some coffee!

Yevgeny Yevtushenko, RIP/Memory Eternal

     Back when I was a teenager I read in TIME Magazine about Yevtushenko has his problems with the Soviet system. It struck me odd that anyone would get so worked up over a poet. But I have come a long way from that naive opinion.
   
     I am glad that the fall of Communism meant that he could travel and write more freely. Reading about his time in America at the University of Tulsa, one sees a picture of a great poet who made poetry come alive for all sorts of students.

     And that is what it

's all about, in any language. Below some links:





https://www.poemhunter.com/yevgeny-yevtushenko/poems/page-2/?a=a&l=3&y=

http://remember.org/witness/babiyar

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/apr/01/yevgeny-yevtushenko-russian-poet-babi-yar-dies-84

How Spaghetti are Harvested

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVo_wkxH9dU