S as in Sam, Z as in Zebra

Dear Friends,

Since there is lots of exciting news about Handmade Love, I'm sending another newsletter. Please forgive the extra email, but some news is just too good to not share!

Upcoming Readings

New York City

On Wednesday, 12 May 2010 at 6 p.m., I'll be reading with three other fabulous lesbian writers, Elaine Sexton, Sarah Van Arsdale, and Patricia Grossman, at the New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center, 208 W 13th Street, NY, NY 10011. As you can imagine, it's very exciting to me to be reading at a LGBT Community Center as I spent many years working at one. Tickets for this event are $8 in advance. If you are in the New York area, please join me for this event.
More information:
http://www.gaycenter.org/node/5084

Washington, DC

On Sunday, 16 May 2010 at 7 p.m., I'll be reading as a part of the Cheryl's Gone reading series at the Big Bear Cafe, 1700 1st St NW Washington DC (at 1st and R). This should be a great fun, relaxed evening and I would love to see local friends there.
For more information:
http://cherylsgone.com/?p=93

On Tuesday, 8 June 2010 at 7:30 p.m., I'll be reading as a part of the Miller Cabin Poetry Series in Rock Creek Park. The series is held at Joaquin Miller Cabin in Rock Creek Park, Picnic Area #6, Beach Drive at Military Road Overpass. I'm excited to be reading with Jericho Brown, a fabulous poet. There will be a rain location though it has not yet been announced. If it is raining that day, call Kathi Morrison-Taylor at 703-820-8113 for information about the location. The entire Miller Cabin Poetry Series is always magical. Please join me and Jericho Brown for a great early summer evening of poetry.

Reviews

I'm thrilled to share some of the good reviews that Handmade Love has received. Rigoberto Gonzalez mentioned Handmade Love at Critical Mass, the blog of the National Book Critics Circle. You can read his words here:

http://bookcritics.org/blog/archive/small_press_spotlight_april_poetry_month_edition/

Richard Labonte, author of the bi-weekly column, Book Marks, wrote a lovely review of Handmade Love that has been syndicated to a number of LGBT newspapers. Here it is in the South Florida Gay News:

http://www.southfloridagaynews.com/arts-and-entertainment/book-reviews/1261-handmade-love-by-julie-r-enszer.html

The Lambda Book Report reviewed the book on their fabulous new website.

http://www.lambdaliterary.org/reviews/poetry/04/28/handmade-love-by-julie-enszer/

I've been crowing about this quotation from Courtney Gillette's review at Lambda Literary:
"Anyone who’s loved Dorothy Allison’s early chapbook of poetry, The Women Who Hate Me, will recognize the same brash confidence and articulation in Julie Enszer’s work."

My friend Merry Gangemi wrote a lovely blog about her experience reading Handmade Love. You can read it here:
http://merrygangemi.blogspot.com/2010/04/some-thoughts-on-julie-r-enszers-new.html
(And if you are a blogger, think about writing your own block about the book!)


Other Writings

Lambda Literary has been very generous to me in the month of April (National Poetry Month!). I was a featured interview for the Book Buzz column. You can read the interview here:
http://www.lambdaliterary.org/interviews/03/31/julie-r-enszers-archival-instinct/
And included in the series, 'Five Poets Who Changed My Life."
http://www.lambdaliterary.org/features/5-poets/04/22/5-poets-who-changed-my-life/
This month an article I wrote about The Furies was included in the new issue of Beltway
http://washingtonart.com/beltway/furies.html

Order the book

Still don't have your copy of Handmade Love? You can order it through the publisher's website here:

http://amidsummernightspress.typepad.com/amsnp/2010/02/handmade-love.html

It is shipping from Amazon.com as well:

http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Love-Julie-R-Enszer/dp/0979420857/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267904433&sr=8-1

If you prefer to support independent distributors, order it from Small Press Distribution here:

http://www.spdbooks.org/Producte/9780979420856/handmade-love.aspx

How You Can Help

I'd love it if you would pass on the word about the book to your friends and family, encourage people to order it or buy extra copies and give it as a gift. If you liked Handmade Love, please think about leaving a comment on Amazon.com, GoodReads, or LibraryThing. Your kind words and good wishes are greatly appreciated.

All in all, a busy and wonderful month. Now I'm deep in writing my last qualifying exam for my PhD program. Great fun with a little bit of stress thrown in. Think of me at the end of May when I am defending it!

I hope this newsletter finds you well and thriving!

Julie