Six weeks ago I'd announced the publication of my fourth poetry collection ROAD WORK AHEAD from Sibling Rivalry Press and released a subtitled trailer in which I'd talked about the book. Over on Deaf Echo, I also talked about the peculiar challenges of marketing a book that has nothing to do with my deafness and yet here I am, signing with my hands and not using my voice. (The piece was called "If You're a Deaf Writer, How the Heck Can You Get More 'Famous'?")
To celebrate the official publication of ROAD WORK AHEAD on March 1st, I'd uploaded a YouTube clip of yours truly performing his poem "Jules" from ROAD WORK AHEAD. Please check it out if you haven't already! It was shot outside Marshall, Texas last October. The grungy background of abandoned road signs was a most unexpected find on my friend's lot, so I had to use it.
As I'll be giving readings in New York City (more details are below) and classroom talks in Washington, D.C., I've just uploaded my next clip from ROAD WORK AHEAD. The poem is called "Dupont Circle, 3 A.M."
Not even three weeks old, ROAD WORK AHEAD has already earned two raves--one from Amos Lassen on his reviews blog, and one from Grady Harp via Amazon. Sibling Rivalry Press and I are waiting to hear what other critics have to say. In the meantime, please help support Sibling Rivalry Press in their mission to provide superlative poetry to the masses by buying a copy of my book at this link. You can download a free PDF sampler from the book on SRP's site if you like.
My previous poetry collection MUTE still continues to get attention more than a year after its publication. Moving Poems, a web site focusing on video renditions of poems, chose to feature my poem "Orphans" on their home page a few days ago. I was most surprised and delighted.
Now what's this about my coming to New York this week to give two readings from my books ROAD WORK AHEAD and MUTE? Details are below. Both events will be VOICE-interpreted for those who don't know American Sign Language (ASL).
Wednesday March 23rd
7 p.m.
Bluestockings
172 Allen Street (Lower East Side)
New York, NY 10002
212.777.6028
Saturday March 26th
2 p.m.
Rainbow Book Fair
208 West 13th Street (Greenwich Village)
New York, NY 10014
Rainbow Book Fair is the largest book festival for the LGBT community in America, and the admission is FREE. If you're in need of ASL interpreters, there will be a pair available all afternoon. Please check out Rainbow Book Fair's web site where they list readings and panel discussions in the right-hand column, and then email me directly (eod2eod2 >at< gmail com). That way I can be sure to forward your request to the interpreters, and they'll contact you to confirm.
Golly. I'm so psyched. Can't wait to come back to New York and catch up with old friends as well as make new friends! Hope to see y'all there! (And yes, my service dog Rocky will be tagging along. That's HIM below, alright!)
Best,
Raymond
P.S. Yes, I'm officially on Twitter: my handle is @deafwoof.
P.P.S. I'm so glad that spring is nipping at my heels! This winter has gone on a wee too long. (Right, Rocky?)
