For those of you who have been keeping up, we’ve been lucky enough to follow poet DeLana Dameron through the process that finally culminated in the debut of her first book. Recently, I was able to interview DeLana about her book, poetics, and the publishing process. And so, it was with great pleasure that I attended her official Book Release Party for How God Ends Us.
In addition to getting to hear DeLana read from her book, we also got to hear from poets like Roger Bonair-Agard, Patrick Rosal, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, and John Murillo. To say nothing of guests like the newly engaged Tara Betts & Rich Villar as well as Tyehimba Jess and Jericho Brown. With Cave Canem and poets from all over the City in attendance, DeLana’s book got the send-off it deserved.
The reason I’m drawing attention to this landmark is simple: young poets are inundated with bad news about the publishing industry and the seemingly fruitless enterprise of writing poems. While we can’t pretend that being a poetry is easy, it’s equally foolish to pretend that there isn’t joy in the struggle as well. DeLana’s party is a reminder that there is indeed enough joy for all of us.
Significantly, DeLana kicked things off by reading “won’t you celebrate with me” by Lucille Clifton, which concludes: “come celebrate / with me that everyday / something has tried to kill me / and has failed.”
Posted by Rich Villar on June 2, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Mr. Jones:
A pleasure as always to be in your company. Good to see you and our mutual buddy Brandon again, and even better in celebration of Delana’s fabulous book.
Also wonderful to read something hopeful for poets who still wish to (GASP!) publish poetry. Here’s hoping you get to participate in something fruitless right soon as well!
All the best,
Rich.
Posted by Marie-Elizabeth Mali on June 5, 2009 at 4:25 am
I so wish I could have been there! I was jealous seeing the photos of all the beautiful poets I adore who were in attendance. Thanks for blogging about it. It gives me hope. And I’m hugely happy for Delana.
Posted by Jordan on June 14, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Hi- I recently discovered your blog and saw the “featured lit mags” section and thought you and your readers might also be interested in an online lit mag called Narrative Magazine (at http://www.narrativemagazine.com). It offers its contents for free and also accepts all types of submissions (fiction, poetry, art, photography, non-fiction, etc.) Narrative also has a few contests going on now that I think your readers might enjoy. Hope you have a chance to check it out and maybe add it to your list of featured lit mags!
Jordan