Book update

I haven’t written much about my upcoming book here because, well, I was worried I might jinx it. That’s not quite true. It’s been more because I was nervous. The economy hasn’t been kind to university presses, and the university system in Louisiana, where my book is being published, has been particularly savaged, both by economic decline and a governor/legislature which doesn’t value higher ed to the same degree it values tax cuts for the wealthiest. But the press’s budget came through, and now there’s a bit of a mad scramble to get the book designed and printed before the state claws the money back.

The poems are chosen and put in order; the cover image has been selected. I wrote my bio last night and have hit up three poets for blurbs, one of whom has already responded (and written nicer things than I could have ever hoped for). I’ll be working with the editor on designing the inside of the book over the next couple of weeks. We haven’t talked printing dates yet, but I hope to have copies in my hand by year’s end. When I get a prospective shipping date, I’ll start working people over for places to read, and make plans for AWP and potentially MLA as well.