THE FIRST HAY(NA)KU BOOK IN FINLAND!

Heikki Lahnaoja, a poet, librarian and animator, has come out with the first hay(na)ku book in Finland!  Puitten uni, which can be translated to Sleep of Trees -- you can see more information HERE.  And here's its lovely cover:

I'll be interviewing Heikki soon. Watch for details on that!

Meanwhile,
Thank You
Heikki for yours...

PANIC AS A MUSE

Yesterday morning, I couldn't find the print-out of a manuscript-in-progress.  I could feel my heartbeat elevate as I scoured the house top and bottom looking for the print-out.  I had an electronic file version in my computer but I also knew that I had written various notes on the print-out that the e-version doesn't capture.

Well, I couldn't find it.  So, in a panic, I went to the computer and printed out the e-version just to have something in hand and to look at it closely and perhaps redo some notes on it to the extent I could remember such notes.

My husband tried to calm me down but observing, "You're having a First World Problem."  That didn't help.  (Well, okay, it was amusing but I didn't laugh until the end of the day for reasons I'll  note below.)

So, I then had this print-out and started looking at it.  And looking at it.  And looking at it I realize that, actually, I might have enough in it already to create a new book!

So I formatted and edited and, actually, wrote 3 more poems to flesh out what I had and, Yep: I had a new book!

Then I checked my emails, learned about gradient press, a new press focused on experimentation and headed by the brilliant Jukka-Pekka Kervinen.  I emailed out a query to him in Finland (I adore these RADIANT FINNS and, truly, Jukka's radiance is linked to his brilliance!).  And, yep, this morning, my manuscript was accepted.

All in 24 hours and started by a panic attack.  This, my friends, is how I get my books published.  And, as it turns out, this book will probably be published sooner than my Fall 2014 scheduled release, SUN STIGMATAS.  Jukka doesn't mess around.

INSERT DRUM ROLL and entonces dear friends, I am pleased to announce the forthcoming release of my new 20th poetry collection--and the first book-length haybun collection:

147 MILLION ORPHANS (MMXI-MML)

I hope you'll find interesting this book that, in addition to addressing the plight of orphans worldwide, also addresses the poetic authorial persona and boxing.  More on such later as, for now, I just want to wallow in the feeling of birthing a new book.  It's a moment -- thank you, Poetry: you always like to mess with Moi but are also so generous with your rewards...under the category, "Poetry as a Way of Life."

A SHIRT FOR YOUR BACK!

Didn't I just write about Timo Tuhkanen, a Finnish composer, artist, translator and poet?  Yes I did!  And I'm writing about him again as he extended his play (pun intended) CUT to become a shirt just dying for your sweat!  Order yours HERE!

To think, it all began with poetry...

CUT TO VALENCIA!

In my prior blog, I presented Timo Tuhkanen, a Finnish composer, artist, translator and poet who had created some new compositions related to the Enheduanna and Gabriela Silang poems in ny book, MENAGE A TROIS WITH THE 21^ST CENTURY.  Timo had sent me some visuals of his composition “CUT” and I had remarked to him that the scores could be visual art.  Here’s one:

Well, Timo’s scores just got exhibited at the Railway Gallery in Valencia (Spain) and I am so pleased to see and share some shots of the exhibit viz photos by Toni Calderon:

(click on images to enlarge)

More photos are available at http://un---fold.blogspot.fi

Whenever I "meet" a Finnish poet, I'm awed by their radiance.  

Thank you again, Timo Tuhkanen!  The all of this is just lovely!