Jan Steckel's Blog: Horizontal Poet Sings Bidyke Blues - Posts Tagged "irina-rivkin"

WOW! What a National Poetry Month it's been. Started out reading a friendly acquaintance's poem at his memorial -- a very moving and beautiful day. Had a three-reading weekend when I read at The Poetry Zone at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Santa Barbara, then got to hear host Suzanne Frost read in two more readings at the California Arts Forum and the Mission Poetry Series, both of which were excellent. Heard poet Michael C. Ford of Los Angeles at the Mission reading -- what a force he is!

Enjoyed reading with Jeanne Wagner at Expressions Gallery in Berkeley on Friday night-- the open mic was just as exciting as the features, with my publisher Bruce Isaacson putting in an appearance with his son Alan Isaacson -- both very fine poets and performers. Co-feature Jeanne Wagner's poetry made fireworks go off behind my eyelids.

Last night was the high point for me -- the Lambda Literary Finalists reading at the San Francisco Public Library. I got to meet Daphne Gottlieb, whom I've admired from afar for years. Her reading about her mother's dying was very moving. Also got to hear my friend Christina Hutchins read from her new book *The Stranger Dissolves* (Sixteen Rivers Press, 2011). I was scared to follow both of them, but I felt my poetry was well received. Such a wonderful, energizing event! Enjoyed meeting the other SF finalists as well as Ellery Washington(Lambda Literary Foundation Board Member), Tony Valenzuela (Executive Director of Lambda) and Karen Sundheim (Program Manager for the San Francisco Public Library). Everyone was so kind, and the event was so well executed.

Now I get to rest a bit before going to my friends Judy Wells and Dale Jensen's 10th Anniversary Reading at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts this Saturday evening in Alameda. If you live in the SF Bay Area, this is one reading not to miss.

I'll be one of several readers on May 12 at Works in Progress, a women's reading in the Piedmont neighborhood of Oakland. Irina Rivkin will be singing her wonderful Russian lesbian looping folk-rock. Write me for details if you're a woman in the SF Bay Area and you want to go. So much great queer energy! Reminds me why I moved back here.

After that, it's off to New York City the first week in June, where I'll visit the Ginsberg estate offices, read in Bi Lines at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in the East Village with the other Bi finalists for the Lammies on June 3, and attend the 24th Annual Lambda Literary Awards Ceremony at the Graduate Center, CUNY, on June 4. Heavens. What does one wear to the Oscars of LGBT writing?

Welcome to May! For this week only, through May 11, I'm offering free shipping for *The Horizontal Poet.* I'm trying to raise money to pay for my trip to New York in June to attend the Lambda Literary Awards ceremony, where *The Horizontal Poet* is a finalist. From now through May 11, you can order signed copies of the book for $14, with free shipping, by sending a check to me at Jan Steckel/PO Box 18797, Oakland, CA 94619. You can also order by PayPal at Jmsteckel at aol dot com.

Here's what Out in Print (reviews of queer authors) had to say about the book:
http://blog.outinprint.net/2012/04/23...

Thanks to AskGayWrites for featuring the book on their blog here: http://blog.outinprint.net/2012/04/23...

I'll be one of several readers at Works in Progress, an all-women's open mic, on May 12. Here's the skinny on that evening:

CHECK OUT THE NEXT WORKS IN PROGRESS,
An Open Mic for Women :
at the Fireside Room, Plymouth United Church of Christ ,
424 Monte Vista, Oakland, CA, USA

Saturday, May 12, 6:30-10:30 pm

Featuring: Irina Rivkin – Original old-world OutMusic Awardee layers poetic lyrics, rich textured harmonies and vocal beats, all created on-stage through live-looping. Her compelling, powerful songs blend jazzy folk & rhythmic world music with an all-original sound. www.irinarivkin.com.
and Sharlana Bacchus playing her recorder and sharing her poetry with us.

Plus Eight other artists to thrill and delight you!!
Come enjoy the magic!!

$7 - $10 Admission includes a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of five $25 certificates to a local restaurant.

6:30 – 7:30 Pot Luck --– Bring your favorite dish to share.
7:30 - 10:30 Performance, Fireside Room

Hosted by Feminist Author & Poet Linda Zeiser, Produced by Linda Zeiser & Carolyn Stull Zeiser. For information, contact Linda at (510) 701-1022, ZeiserpoetMC@aol.com.

Works In Progress is a creative space for women's art: Poets, Musicians, Comediennes, and Performance Artists. All are encouraged to share their works, completed or evolving. WIP is scent free and wheelchair accessible.

Thanks to Evan Karp for posting a YouTube video of the April 24 Lambda Literary Finalists reading at the San Francisco Public Library. Here’s the video of me reading four of my poems from The Horizontal Poet: “Dios le bendiga,” “Twenty Thousand Vaginas Under the Sea,” “The Rose Grew Round the Briar,” and “The History of our Love.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chWLAn...

Thanks to Marie Lecrivain of the Los Angeles Lit Zine poeticdiversity for reprinting my poem “Fourteen Crossings” from my book. The poem appeared previously in Red Rock Review. You can find it here:

http://www.poeticdiversity.org/main/p...

Picks for this week:

I’m attending Oakland poet Cassandra Dallett’s featured reading at Poetry Express at Priya Indian Restaurant in Berkeley tonight. I first heard Cassandra at Paul Corman Roberts’ and H. K. Rainey’s by-submission-only reading Anger Management at Viricocha in the Mission in San Francisco. My husband Hew Wolff will be the featured reader at Poetry Express next week, Monday, May 14. Bring a poem of your own to share, and get 20% off your delicious Indian meal if you’re there to hear poetry. 7-9 PM every Monday night, 2072 San Pablo Ave, (between University Ave & Addison St), Berkeley, CA 94702. (510) 644-3977

This Wednesday, June 9, Jeanne Lupton and I are going to hear my poetry mentor and friend Julia Vinograd featured at Sacred Grounds coffeehouse in San Francisco. Should be a terrific show. Jeanne and I will both read at the open mic, I expect. Open Mic signups begin at 7 PM every Wednesday night, with readings from 7:30 to 10 PM. 2095 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94117. (415) 387-3859

Next weekend, Saturday, May 12, I’m going to Works in Progress, a Women’s Open Mic in Piedmont, a neighborhood of Oakland. I’ll be one of several readers at this bimonthly womens’ reading, but the most exciting action for me this time is singer-songwriter/looper Irina Rivkin’s beautiful, complex music. Shar Bacchus will play recorder. Contact me for details at jmsteckel at aol dot com if you want to go.

Hope to see you around!

Warmly,
Jan