"Orestes" by Sandra Kleven

This is a [somewhat shaky] video of Sandra Kleven reading a poem out of Stoneboat, live from Alaska via Skype, during the April 21st reading. If you like what you hear, please consider purchasing the issue -- it's packed full of amazing poetry, prose, and artwork.

That special feeling....

Okay, so there is this feeling you get when you stress and obsess about something, and then you do it--this thing you have been preparing for and worrying about--and then, before you can blink an eye or say "Ishkabibble," suddenly, the thing you have been working on is all done, completed, basta, enough.

It's Here!

In the midst of a freak mid-April thundersnowstorm, the spring issue has finally arrived! It includes, among other things, poems about Sylvia Plath and Emily Dickinson, an essay that quotes Annie Dillard, and a short story that mentions Wayne Gretzky (written by a Canadian, no less!). The issue also contains our new favorite word: "surplusage." (See if you can find it!) And, Stoneboat 1.2 marks our first foray into the world of black and white art. That's pretty cool, too. What more can you ask for in your friendly neighborhood literary journal? Not much, I say.

True Dedication

Let it be known that Signe and I drove ALL THE WAY ACROSS CAMPUS in a blazing April ice storm to pick up Stoneboat fresh off the printer's press. We managed to keep it from getting wet. And, let me just say, it looks fantastic.

We Have Achieved Skype (We Believe)

Plans are in place and equipment has been secured. We even have a technical advisor, our Lakeland College colleague, Head of IT, the ever-stellar Larry Marcus, who will be on hand Thursday evening to help us pull this off.

p.s.

And, I forgot something very important. We do have one contributor, Erin Wilcox, coming all the way from Arizona and one contributor, Ross DeRosier, who lives right here in sunny Sheboygan. They will not need ghosts to represent them. We also have three visual artists who are in Sheboygan. But so far none have indicated a desire to speak about their work. But that doesn't mean they might not step up to the mic on the night of the event.

Ghost Reading

First of all, let me say, I believe that this might be the first time I have ever posted something to the blog of my own volition, without our "Blog Mistress," Signe, encouraging me to offer some words on a given topic.

The Reading Rumor is True!

Yes, on Thursday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Paradigm Coffee and Music in Sheboygan, 1202 N. 8th Street, we will offer a reading of selections from the soon-to-be released Stoneboat 1.2. This event will highlight the fantastic contributions to be found in our second issue, due to hit the streets and the county roads on April 15, 2011.