Dreaming in Iambic Pentameter

December 23, 2011

And breathe…

Filed under: Family Stuff,Poetry — Anna_Evans @ 3:51 am

Xmas BOTBM!The Best of the Barefoot Muse anthology is now in the hands of its contributors, subscribers and other people who for one reason or another scored free copies. I have just 31 copies left in my office from the first print run of 200. The anthology has received its first 5 star Amazon review, and response from the recipients is overwhelmingly positive so far. I think I can call the project a success. Financially it’s a break even, assuming I sell all the remaining copies I have. Of course, it could suddenly take off on Amazon…

Next year’s projects for the press include a chapbook of my own translations and a chapbook contest. I’ve got to get to work on the latter–the admin could be a headache.

I will also be teaching Rhetoric and Composition at Richard Stockton College of NJ next semester. Odd, how things happen. Right after I graduated from Bennington I sent my resume to all of the local colleges and community colleges, hoping to get an adjunct job. I think only one even gave me the courtesy of a reply–a rejection, naturally. After a year or so I sorta gave up, assuming my unconventional resume was never going to get me a look in. Of course I know people at Stockton, so when I heard they were looking for adjuncts I dusted off my resume and sent it in. I went down for interview on the 14th and they offered me the position on the spot. It’s a wonderful campus and the professors I met with all seem like interesting and lively people, so now I just need to construct my syllabus.

Christmas is largely (and somewhat unbelievably, under the circumstances) handled. I’ve even wrapped the majority of the gifts. It’s a quiet one at home this year, which helps. I’m looking forward to seeing the girls’ faces when they open their gifts; it was fun shopping for them this year: no more fiddly plastic toys–it’s all jewelry, cosmetics, clothes and other stuff that makes up the kind of Xmas stocking I would have wanted at 12-14 (actually, that I’d still like now!)

So, here’s a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holidays to all my readers, and I wish you all the best for 2012. Don’t expect too much in the way of blogging first quarter–I’m going to be too busy to close parentheses!

December 6, 2011

And So What Do YOU Do?

Filed under: Family Stuff,Poetry,Technogeek — Anna_Evans @ 7:21 am

I’ve always found this question difficult to answer, but lately it’s becoming a little ridiculous–I feel like I have as many hats as Imelda Marcos has shoes. Let’s recap the day so far and see if it helps.

I got up, woke the kids (sequentially), made their lunches, and saw them onto their respective school buses. I’m a Mother, then, that much is both crucial and important.

I went to the gym. To an extent that makes me a Lady of Leisure, I suppose, or at least someone who is in control of her own time.

I paid in some checks at the bank–the checks were either for teaching (One private lesson, one WWAC session, one Care 1 session) or for pre-orders of anthology copies.

I walked Sam. Dog-owner, then. Yes, for sure.

The second proof of the Best of The Barefoot Muse anthology arrived, and I spent some time with it, also setting in motion the next steps towards making copies generally available. I am the Managing Editor of Barefoot Muse Press! Yay me! Seriously, this is perhaps the thing that is currently giving me the most satisfaction–I love playing with the technology and the project plays to all my organizational strengths.

I went to the Care 1 facility to do a Christmas poetry project with my Alzheimers seniors. Teacher, then, yes. But even that is partitioned further–WWAC, Care 1, plus I have a residency coming up at Hainesport Elementary School and an interview next week to adjunct at Richard Stockton College of NJ.

I came home and drove Becky to Gymnastics practice. Ah, Mother again. Goodo!

I checked in on the online quantitative research I am managing for my husband’s company, Global Bridge. Oh, that’s right–I’m the Vice-President and Junior Partner in an International Sales & Marketing consultancy–I forgot that part.

I rated a couple of poems for Reena Heenan’s forthcoming online website of weddings poetry. Yep, Judge.

I haven’t written any poems recently but I’ve had acceptances from Verse Wisconsin and 32 Poems, so I guess I could call myself a Poet.

I didn’t do anything on the Raintown Review today but I’m definitely the Editor of that, in addition to being the Online Architect of the Schuylkill Valley Journal and Essay Co-Ordinator for the Mezzo Cammin Women Poets’ Timeline Project.

So, yeah. And what do YOU do? Oops! It’s time to take Lorna to dance class…

November 8, 2011

The Best of the Barefoot Muse

Filed under: Poetry,Technogeek — Anna_Evans @ 8:09 am

I enjoyed playing with Createspace so much I bought the company…No, of course I didn’t, but I did buy in to the idea of using the POD service to produce a Best of the Barefoot Muse print anthology.

You remember the Barefoot Muse, of course? The formal poetry e-zine I began in 2005 that ran for 11 issues before I finally realized something had to give? It had always been my intention to use the material to create a print anthology one day, but this intention crystallized as I worked through the CD production process. How hard could it be to do a book? The material already existed, and poets tend to jump at the chance to have their work anthologized, even if all they get out of it is a contributor copy.

So, you find me well into the production process. Indeed, I have well over half of the book in place. Createspace provides handy templates to use in Word to make the formatting easier, and there are several excellent free tools for converting said Word file into a pdf when it’s quite ready. I’m a little nervous about doing the cover, although the lovely Erin McGee Ferrell who provided the artwork for issue 3 has agreed to provide one of her images. And I’ve learned lots of things I never knew about Word. (I’m SUCH a geek!)

Seriously though, I now understand all about section breaks, headers and footers (which is essential–one easy way to tell an amateur POD book from a professional one is to examine the complexity of the footers). I know how to use styles to generate a clickable Table of Contents.

And the best thing is, I’m getting to reacquaint myself with all the excellent poems I published over the years.

October 27, 2011

Hats Off to Amazon’s Createspace!

Filed under: Poetry,Technogeek — Anna_Evans @ 3:48 am

It literally took me 12 days from having the idea that I should use Createspace to market my CD, to making my first sale. Wow!

Some quick pointers for others planning on doing this:

  1. Every time you make changes to the artwork files or even the setup details for your project, they have to be resubmitted for the review process, so don’t submit them the first time until you are sure you have them right. I had to go through this process twice because of changing my website to www.annamevans.com halfway through.
  2. The artwork production software at Createspace is actually very versatile. Lots of clipart photos and variations on the basic designs. Spend some time drilling down to find suitable unique images and don’t just settle for the first thing you see. You can also upload your own photos, such as a picture of yourself.
  3. Once your files have been reviewed and okayed, you need to order a proof and check it carefully. I played my CD on my Mac, on our antique CD player, on my daughter’s PC and in my car.
  4. Choose all three distribution channels–that way you will have the CD available from Createspace the minute you hit “Approve proof.” (It takes a little longer to be available on Amazon.)

Gotta take Becky to the gym. It simply remains for me to give you a link for purchase! ;) Buy now!

 

October 21, 2011

Tonight!

Filed under: Poetry — Anna_Evans @ 11:50 pm

Come join myself and Quincy R. Lehr at a reading to celebrate the launch of Issue 10.1 of The Raintown Review. The event starts at 7 p.m. “The Parlors”, St. Joseph’s College, 245 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn. There will be wine…

Also, don’t forget to check out the latest Flea, in which I have two poems.

October 18, 2011

What Technology Means To Me

Filed under: Technogeek — Anna_Evans @ 1:10 am

Welcome to the first blog post from my blog’s new home at www.annamevans.com/wordpress/. Yes, having succumbed to iPhone madness in my last post (although in my defense this was several months ago!) I have now succumbed to ‘Own Your Domain Name’ fever and purchased annamevans.com.

In case you are interested, I’ll run you through the thought processes.

  1. At the marvelous Push To Publish conference this past Saturday, I was introduced to the capabilities of Amazon’s Print on Demand company, Createspace, and determined to, at the very least, attempt to market the recorded CD that I had previously home produced using my Mac and printer in a more professional fashion.
  2. While entering artwork details for said CD it became very clear that http://home.comcast.net/~evnsanna/poems.htm a) didn’t fit well on the glossy jewel case insert, b) contradicted the professionalism of the operation
  3. While investigating domain name purchase I discovered that the business hosting I use through Godaddy for our Consultancy company, Global Bridge, was a) vastly superior to Comcast’s b) with a minor upgrade, able to support an unlimited number of independent domain names.
  4. Hence I can also transfer the domain name barefootmuse.com, which I desire to remain in my possession for the foreseeable future, to the Godaddy servers, and stop paying Yahoo small business $12.95 per month for what is, again, an inferior service. I’m in the process of taking this step (Domain transfer is a little more complicated than new domain registration) and ultimately expect the decision to pay for itself in short order.

So that’s all good then, plus it has inspired me to actually write a blog post, PLUS the transfer of the files has automatically upgraded my WordPress to the latest version. (I do believe I must be the worst techno geek poet I know!)

I’m now trying to think if there is anything else I ought to update my long-suffering readership on before leaving this to go update some blog links. Hmm! Sammy the Face Destroyer is on a diet, and suffering with it! Becky seems to be dealing with High School. Poetry stuff is largely going well. Oh yes, and we are having a reading to celebrate the launch of the new issue (10.1) of The Raintown Review this coming Friday at 7 p.m. The Parlors, St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn. Maybe I’ll see you there and I can bore you some more about website administration!

August 13, 2011

New Things

Filed under: Family Stuff,Poetry — Anna_Evans @ 4:04 pm

Sorry! I’ve been busy, and there’s been stuff happening, of which more later.

Firstly on the list of new things is the lovely iPhone I got for my birthday on July 23rd. Yes, I had resisted iTech successfully for the last few phone upgrades, but I couldn’t swim against the tide any longer. And boy, am I glad I stopped trying. I love my iPhone. I can think of no gadget more suited to a girl like me, who operates by the clock, has lists of lists, and believes information is power. (more…)

June 29, 2011

Travel & Injury Update

Filed under: Family Stuff — Anna_Evans @ 1:21 pm

The UK is much as I left it last September, although we did do a really interesting day trip to the National War Memorial and Arboretum at Alrewas, about 15 miles from my parents’ house. Apart from that, in-laws a bit more doddery (I can say that because they still don’t have a computer.) I’m writing this on my mum’s computer in between hands of Mah-jong.

But I know, dear readers, you all really want to know about my injuries. How has it been, traveling with a broken face? Will I be scarred for life etc etc?

From the beginning it definitely looked worse than it was, especially after Rick Osler (Unusual present coming your way, Rick!) fixed my teeth. I suspect everyone in Barnsley thought Keba had beaten me up, and in fact I wanted to wear a little badge saying “My dog did it!” as I wandered round Asda.

At the start it was liquids through a straw and soft foods only, which was a bit of a PITA, but then again I did lose a few pounds. I can now chew gingerly using everything except the mended teeth, so I can eat an unlimited diet…slowly!

I suspect I am part werewolf, because I’ve always healed well and quickly. At this point the only really noticeable thing is the red and still slightly swollen patch on my upper lip, onto which I am assiduously rubbing scar cream three times daily. The knees are still a bit scabby, too.

So, all’s good. And the first thing I do when I get home will be to buy a spiked collar (Sorry Sam!) and a new non-retractable leash.

June 20, 2011

Anna’s Mouth Injury, the Scoop

Filed under: Family Stuff,In Corpore Sano — Anna_Evans @ 8:36 pm

Photo06202142Here’s the thing: I have a 115 pound golden retriever called Sammy. He’s as affectionate as he is furry (I keep a lint roller in my car), dumb as rocks, and boy, does he love chasing small animals.

Now, I weigh a little more than 115 pounds, but not that much more. And I’m not in the first flush of youth (he’s three). When I walk him, I wear sneakers, I have a special harness that goes under his belly, and I concentrate. If he spots a bunny or a squirrel (or sometimes just a particularly interesting bird) I plant my feet, hold the leash with both hands, and the belly strap brings him down. Usually.

Saturday night I took him over our good friends’ and neighbors’ house. It’s less than five minutes away. I hung out, swam; they barbecued, and, of course (This won’t surprise anyone who knows me) we put away a fair few glasses of wine. Just after midnight I started off to walk Sam home.

I was wearing flip flops; I don’t remember if I attached the leash to the chest strap of the harness or just to his collar; there’s no way in the world I was concentrating. And he saw a…I don’t even know what it was…but he went after it. Caught unawares, I couldn’t get my fingers out of the handle of the retractable leash fast enough. Smack! I hit the kerb face first and he dragged me along several feet of road before I finally managed to let him loose. Blood everywhere.

I spat out half a tooth and called my husband to come and get me. Everyone arrived–our friends, the kids, my husband. Sammy returned and got roundly beaten (Not by me.) We all went to our house and tried to assess the damage. To ER or not to ER, that was the question. We decided not. None of my wounds were gaping–mostly they were road burns. And there was a certain amount of concern that if K took me to the ER in that condition the police might be called! Anyway, the tooth was the worst thing, and the lip above it. We alternated hydrogen peroxide and ice until I was pronounced fit for bed, and amazingly, I slept.

Next day we called our lovely dentist friend, Dr. Osler, and he (Bless the man! A staunch Democrat too. Love him!) mended my mouth as best he could. The funny thing is that the worst broken tooth (there was also a chip off a neighboring one) had been crooked forever. (We don’t do so much orthodontics in the UK. Yes, cultural stereotypes often have a basis in truth.) Now it’s half fake, but straight.

So, I have kerb marks on my left cheek, a scabby and swollen lip, grazes on my chest, neck, left shoulder and both knees. I can’t chew on the fake tooth for a few weeks (and right now I can’t chew anyway, cos it hurts. It’s a struggle to open my mouth wide enough to slide in the soup spoon.) Oh and I’m leaving for our annual trip to the UK on Wednesday.

I also have a confused but somewhat sheepish oversized golden retriever, still furry, still affectionate, probably still likes chasing small animals. Anyone want one?

June 18, 2011

West Chester 2011, the Blog Entry

Filed under: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,Poetry — Anna_Evans @ 1:36 pm

We all knew that this year’s West Chester Poetry Conference would be different, but we didn’t all necessarily believe it would be different-better. Well, I’m here to report that from this participant’s viewpoint, it most definitely was.

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