My poem, Miss Sopa, is in the December issue of Plain Spoke. It’s not the same Sopa poem that appears on this blog, but it is inspired by the same woman.
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Plain Spoke is edited by Cindy M. Kelly and comes to us from Amsterdam Press in Ohio. I love all of their work and have been introduced to many poets and writers through their pages.
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This awesome cover photo, Step Right Up, is by Christopher Woods.
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The featured poet in this issue is Marty Walsh. His poems are excellent, and I am particularly fond of his poem, Ghost Town.
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Marty Walsh lives in Winterport, Maine, and his work has appeared in many journals and reviews. His book, Furniture Out in the Woods, is out of print, but I am determined to find a copy when payday comes, because I dig his style. If you have known me for more than five minutes, you’ll know that I would think Furniture Out in the Woods is the coolest title in the world. He is currently working on a second book of poetry, and I’ll keep my eyes open for that one, too.
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You can order this issue of Plain Spoke HERE. You can also order past issues and other books by Amsterdam Press by clicking on the right hand side under “seller’s other items”…or just click HERE. In addition to Plain Spoke, there are excellent books at Amsterdam Press.
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There’s also a great review about the spring 2009 issue of Plain Spoke at Newpages.com. You can read it HERE.
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Of course, I enjoyed it all. Every issue of Plain Spoke is a pleasure to read. Many thanks to Cindy M. Kelly for including my poem in this one.
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Apt title for the cover photo. Speaks of fun and challenge. Thanks for the links and the info, always glad to hear of any place your writings appear. I’m a sincere fan and plan on ordering the Plain Spoke today. Thanks, Julie.
Thanks, Technobabe! That is totally awesome. I really appreciate it. I enjoy your site very much, and I am so glad to have you as a friend.
I think you’ll love all of the work in there. I’m getting a kick out of looking up the poets from their bios. Andy Roberts is awesome, too, and I’m hoping to find his chap at Pudding House Press. It says it came out in ’08.
Congratulations on the publication. It’s always a pleasure to hear of your poems getting into print. Well deserved.
Hi, Chris. Thank you very much! I hope your week is beautiful in front of that window:)
did i say i hate to comment on blogs? well, i changed my mind because of you, julie. congratulations again on another publication and thank you for introducing me to another great read. i will read anything you’re in and love it.
Hey, Dan! Well, I’m sure glad you’re here. Just knowing you’re reading means a lot to me, but I also love your comments. You always make my day. Thank you for all of your support!
Congratulations Cuz! (You should put a link to your posted Sopa poem on the mention up there so lazy cousins don’t have to search for it.)
BTW, my mom gave me some great ideas for Southern poems, so . . . I’m workin’ on ‘em.
Hey, Cuz!! Here’s one of Julie’s trademark HA! HA’S! You just made me almost choke on my drink. That cracked me up. I wouldn’t call you lazy, though. I just love a sense of humor.
The Sopa poem is at this link:
http://juliebuff.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/miss-sopa-matriarch-of-clay/
And here’s some background about the lady who inspired the “Sopa” poems:
http://juliebuff.wordpress.com/2008/09/26/miss-sopa-a-great-woman/
In the poem in Plain Spoke, she lives on an island and is the last one living on the island. I’ve got a short story with a similar theme I’ll have to post one of these days.
I’m so glad you’re working on the poems!!! I know your mom is a big inspiration and has many stories. Moms are great like that:)
Thanks so much, Yousei Cuz!
Way to go Julie!!
You almost make me want to start that submission grind again. Almost but not quite yet. having too much fun with the Girls of Sunday Night and working on their works to be overly concerned with my own.
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Hello, WM. That sounds great. I love to see other people grow and do good work. There are a lot of people I’ve met here who started out telling me they “can’t” write. Then over the course of time, they bloomed in an awesome way. That tickles me to death. Thanks for the good words. -Julie
Thank you for the links, Julie B.Y. Following your suggestions I will be ordering a few reviews this spring. I am very happy for you – having your words out there in the world.
Your excellent work – The Fall of Miss Sopa, shows again you consistently write with depth, character and design.
Hi, Jack. I was thinking about you when I posted this one. I think you’ll like their work. The person I mentioned above, Andy Roberts, is another poet whose work I love. His bio says he is a retired wastewater treatment plant operator who lives in Columbus, Ohio. He has been published in hundreds of places over the past twenty years.
Another poem in this issue I think you’ll like is “Remote Life” by Edward Anki. It’s an awesome poem! I also loved Susan V. Carlos’ work. I hate to start mentioning specific names, because they’re all good. But these remind me of your style, so I think you’ll enjoy.
Thanks so much for the good words. You know I appreciate you, so I won’t start gushing
I know you hate that…haha! But I do thank you so much, my friend. I hope your week’s going well.
Thank you for the introduction to Plain Spoke. You are a fountain of delight for me as an aspiring poet. (deep bow to you)
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Terresa, you are a huge inspiration to me! Thank you! -Julie
Hi Julie,
I’m happy, too, like Jack says, that your work is out in the world. I’d love to see a volume of your poems published by a major press, as well. Through this blog, literary journals, and small press publications, the characters you capture so perfectly, will always live on. Thank you for all the links, and the links to your Miss Sopa poem here. I hadn’t read it before, and it has become another memorable favorite.
Hi, Annie. Again, you make my day bright. I doubt I’ll ever be in anything major, which is why I appreciate and support the small presses so much. Without them, many of us “little fellers” wouldn’t have a voice out there in the world. It’s also exciting for me when I see small presses bloom and grow. Many poets we know as “big” started out with a small press. Or a friend who started a press…or maybe they started their own. And some poets remained with small presses by choice. Of course, small press is a relative term. Some are very small, and some are what I consider to be huge.
Again, I ramble! So I’ll stop myself from doing a dissertation about the small press…haha! Thank you very much!
I’m another quiet fan but want to say how much I love your work. You have touched my heart and changed it.
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Thank you, anon! Just knowing you’re there means the world to me. I love it when quiet readers say hello. I don’t expect it or demand it, but I love it when it happens. Thank you so much for your kind words and for being a reader. Best wishes to you. -Julie
Congratulations, Jules! I loved Miss Sopa, Eater of Clay, so I know I’ll love this one. As a matter of fact, I haven’t read one of your poems yet that I have not loved. Plain Spoke is a great name for a magazine and for one that describes you.
I’m finally got Price Reduced Again, and I’m making myself read only one a day. They are wonderful!! More about this later. Right now, just congratulations on the well-deserved recognition you receive.
Hello, Karen. I’m always so tickled to see you. I hope things are going great for you this week. Thank you so much for purchasing Price Reduced Again! And I really appreciate the good words. You’re a great friend, a thoughtful reader, and an awesome poet. Okay, I’m gushing again…haha! But know that I mean every word of it!
I’m glad you mentioned the title. Isn’t Plain Spoke a great title? I discovered them when I lived in Ohio and was looking for journals in the area. Just to see what/who was out there. When I saw that title, it instantly caught my eye. I also loved their submission description. So I conned a friend into buying it for me…haha! Naw…I’m just kidding. She wanted to give me a gift for my birthday. Anyway, I’ve been a fan ever since.
Yes congratulations! and that is an amazing title of Marty Walsh’s, superb.
How nice too, that you’ve been able to inspire yourself with one of your own poems!
Small Tall
Long Tall
Hi, Ash! I love your picture! But even more so, I love your work! It has been a pleasure to meet you here. Thanks for the good words:)
Thanks Julie! Right back at ya!
re: the pic, it made me laugh when I saw it first, not sure how much it resembles me however!
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Ashley, I laughed when I saw my bio picture…and it wasn’t even a cartoon…haha!
Nah, you look a lot better than the pic, but I do like it. Maybe I should do that for my next bio.
I’m headed over to your place during lunch hour to see what you’re up to. I hope your week is going well:) -J
Let me add my congrats to the rest. I’m always happy to hear about people getting published but knowing your words are getting out into the world is priceless.
Hi, Brig! I appreciate you very much! Thank you for reading and for your continued support.
Wonderful news, Julie. Congratulations on the publication of ‘Miss Sopa’. And thank you for the links to Plain Spoke. I love Christopher Woods’ imaginative and unusual cover photo.
Hello, Michelle! Thanks very much! It’s so good to see you.
Isn’t that cover photo awesome? I love scenes like that. It reminds me of street fairs and carnivals I have seen.
What a perfect journal for Miss Sopa to appear in. I wonder if you’ll end up writing a whole collection about her? She’s so real to me. She is real! Congratulations on the publication, Julie.
I just ordered this issue. I love the title of the journal, the fact that your Miss Sopa is in it, and that it costs only $ 6.00!
Thank you so much, Christine! That is awesome. And I have to say…not just as an exchange of niceties, but because I really mean it…I am SO PROUD OF YOU! Your work is beautiful. Congratulations again on the Pushcart nomination. It is so well deserved!
I think you’re right. I’ll probably end up with a Miss Sopa collection. Right now, I’m thinking of a collection with a theme that would fit her well. She may end up in that with some other characters. I’m not sure yet, but seeing where it will take me is three fourths of the fun, right?