Diane Lockward’s marvelous Blogalicious has an interesting exploration of Diane’s poem about a bumblebee, and how Adele Kenny blogged about it and it found its way into an Italian translation. Diane even has a movie of the poem. I love it when poems transmogrify into other things — videos, illustrations to an illustration, and increasingly little animated movies. Speaking of Adele Kenny, her blog has an intriguing poetry prompt today about towns and home. And…
First he did Paris. Now my favorite city, Rome. I can’t wait to see Woody Allen’s new film To Rome With Love. It will inspire me to tweak the descriptions in my novel, but I bet he didn’t do much with St. Peter’s in the movie. How would you describe that largest church in Christianity? I have been wrestling with descriptions of this monumental Renaissance and Baroque piece of sacred architecture that covers more than…
Found a wonderful new zine that spans cultural matters, from film, theater, dance, and plays, to poetry and fiction, to reviews and critical essays. Scene 4 Magazine, based in England, is a rich offering of international voices, views, and images. In the June issue, my favorite is a poetry feature by a friend — four surreal, witty poems by Alan Kleiman. Take a look at What A Holiday and enjoy a fun ride. Sheryl Luna’s…
Hoping to entice you with installments — hey, it worked for Dickens! — I present the second half of Chapter Two of my novel The Renaissance Club. In this section we meet some of the travelers as they wrestle with jetlag and various personal problems while trying to get to sleep on their first night in Italy. And downstairs in the hotel, a backroom deal is being made. Chapter Two. Rome. Day One. Down…
I’m so pleased to have interviewed Barbara Ellen Sorensen for Fringe. She’s a Colorado poet and author of Songs from the Deep Middle Brain (Mainstreet Rag Books, 2010). We have a terrific conversation on the topic of poetry, spirituality, and healing. She’s fearless as an interview subject and as a poet, and she also writes essays and poetry on the topic of illness and often set in the beautiful landscape of Colorado and the Rockies.…
Another installment of my new novel, The Renaissance Club — I won’t publish it all here on the blog, at some point I’m going to leave you hanging, but I haven’t decided where. You can vote for me to continue — or stop! Chapter Two. Rome, Day One. While Jacob and his friend George were having their conversation downstairs, upstairs in a tiny, high-ceilinged room, May Perl sat down on the bed. Then she stood…
I’m spending this morning in Assisi, writing my magical realism novel set partly there. I feel the rosy glow of the Subasio stone reflected throughout Assisi. All my characters are affected by this pink atmosphere, so vibrant with the spirit of Francis. Their marital, personal, parental, and artistic dilemmas take a turn here as Italy’s magic begins to take hold and love blossoms. Visit https://racheldacus.net for more information and writing by Rachel Dacus.
Ah, Italy in the spring — who can resist a trip, even if just in my magical realism novel set in present-day Italy, The Renaissance Club. The Renaissance Club — Chapter One, conclusion: “We have to get a guide fast,” Kathleen said. “If we miss one reservation, it’s dominoes. The schedule falls apart. We don’t want to wind up in bad hotels.” “Marianna and I can’t stay in any crap-hole,” Rick said. Kathleen’s cheeks were…
I found two new literary journals you may like a lot. The first, Stone Path Review, is a new creation of The Edge Magazine poetry editor William Ricci. I like the look and content of this slim new magazine, which is sure to grow. This is the spring issue’s lead poem. Look at the editor’s statement about his plans, A Work in Progress. Sounds definitely worth following. And then there’s the pithy Right Hand Pointing,…
I’m so pleased to have a new poem in Ed Byrnes’ excellent Valparaiso Poetry Review. “Flight” is from my forthcoming book Gods of Water and Air, to be published by Kitsune Books later this year. Visit https://racheldacus.net for more information and writing by Rachel Dacus.