We’re back, and getting into the current, bringing all the news. This issue, I do have to point to my favorite piece, Bruce E.R. Thompson’s look at one of our earliest Utopias. He separates the myths from the potential reality in “Memories of Atlantis.” And big apologies to new EAP member Joel Glover. He sent me the sly “Profile,” and my bad, I just glanced at it and thought it was an actual pitch by an agent for his client. When he tactfully disabused me, I read it more carefully, and just kept laughing out loud. You will too. Especially at the footnotes.
Also we welcome back David Griffith, with his “Bottom of the Heap” excerpt from his just published book of gritty and beautifully illustrated essays. And Zhinia Noorian and Brian Griffith just signed a publishing deal with Palgrave MacMillan Press to bring out their book, “Mother Persia”. It comes out in September, but in the meantime, you can read a great excerpt, “The Female Touch in Iranian Filmmaking.”
Barry Vitcov, who our poetry editor is always delighted to hear from, has a new book of poetry out–“Structures.” (You can find all three of his books here, and if you want a signed copy, just contact him directly.) When Barry joined us at EAP, I had no idea he lived just a hop, skip and a jump away from EAP Headquarters, or that he’d been doing a poetry corner article for our local newspaper for years. When those papers folded, and a group of philanthropists funded our online Ashland.news, I coaxed Barry back into the newspaper fold. Here’s his Poetry Corner. If you subscribe to the paper, it’s free (nonprofit, of course), and you can not only read local poetry there, but . . . as it happens . . . my dog Strider is the paper’s advice columnist. “Ask Strider.” He’ll wag not bark.
More congratulations are due to EAP community members Giles O’Dell and Rue Matthieson. Giles just sent me a pile of his amazingly elaborate and imaginative zines, Zoonbats. A phenomenal amount of work, not to mention a look into what must be the labyrinthine mind of the Giles.
And Rue has just published her book, Castles & Ruins. Great stuff.
As if that wasn’t enough, Terese Svoboda reports a full page review in the New York Times for her two books, “The Long Swim” and “Roxy and Coco.” If that doesn’t rate awed applause, I don’t know what does.
EAP members, don’t forget to let me know your successes. Love to link, you know that.
Welcome back.