Minneapolis Observer Quarterly - Making Book

How to Be Perfect: Poetry by Ron Padgett

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:07:25 -0600

About three quarters of the way through his poetry collection How to Be Perfect, Ron Padgett describes his “method”: “. . . my method I guess I’d call it / is to start and go / wherever the poem seems to lead”. That is, in fact, how many of these poems read, with a rhythm and play of words that tumble along with surprising fluidity.

Twin Cities by Trolley Authors in Fireside Chat at Hennepin History Museum

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:09:59 -0600

John Diers and Aaron Isaacs will discuss their book, Twin Cities by Trolley, this Saturday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m., during a Fireside Chat at the Hennepin History Museum in Minneapolis. Craig Cox reviewed the book for MOQ this summer, so we thought we would share that with you here.

Pass the Poetry: Laurel Poetry members support and inspire one another

Sat, 02 Sep 2006 15:30:07 -0500

The St. Paul-based Laurel Poetry Collective was formed in late 2002 with a four-year charter to publish a book for each of its 20 poet members and an annual anthology with contributions from all members. As they near the end of their fourth season, we thought this would be a good time to find out how they are coming along with their publications and where they will be going from here, so we contacted co-founder Deborah Keenan and member Eileen O’Toole, each of whom have a Laurel book coming out this fall. Keenan and O’Toole will be reading from their books at Micawber’s bookstore in October, check with the store for date and time (2238 Carter Ave., St. Paul. www.micawbers.com, 651/646-5506). The entire collective will hold a reading on Nov. 4, 2 p.m., at the Central Library in Downtown St. Paul. www.laurelpoetry.com

Ed Bok Lee: Song, Catharsis, Re-invention

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 08:36:51 -0600

Ed Bok Lee attended kindergarten in Seoul, and grew up in North Dakota and Minnesota. His various writing awards include grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Loft Literary Center, the Minnesota State Arts Board, SASE, and the Jerome Foundation. Lee is a former state Grand Slam Poetry champion and holds an MFA from Brown University. His first book, winner of the Many Voices Award at New Rivers Press, is Real Karaoke People: Poems & Prose.

Alison McGhee: Placing Pattern to Chaos

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 08:43:45 -0600

Alison McGhee’s first novel, Rainlight, won the 1999 Minnesota Book Award and numerous other kudos. In 2001, her second novel, Shadow Baby, again won the Minnesota Book Award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Literature. Her third novel, Was It Beautiful?, was published in 2003, and she has also published children’s books, including Countdown to Kindergarten, Snap, Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth, Some Witches Like Sprinkles, and her first young adult novel, All Rivers Flow To The Sea. McGhee teaches creative writing at Metropolitan State University, where she is the coordinator of the creative writing program.

A Conversation with Daniel Slager

Tue, 07 Feb 2006 09:22:06 -0600

Daniel Slager is the new editor-in-chief and co-leader of Milkweed Editions, the nation’s largest independent nonprofit literary press. Prior to joining Milkweed, he was an editor at Harcourt Trade Publishers and Grand Street, a leading quarterly magazine of literature and fine arts. Slager is also a widely published translator from the German, and serves on the board of directors for the Ledig House International Writers’ Colony, as well as the advisory board for Archipelago Books, an independent publisher in New York.