Category Archives: Poetry

Jun12

Performances and upcoming schedule (oh, and WHY CAN’T I WRITE?!?)

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It’s been a busy time of it these past couple of months. Many performances in the books, and I still have a couple of more coming up.

On May 29th, I had the privilege of performing in Cincinnati at Word of Mouth. Mark Flannigan puts on a heck of a show. The crowd was very welcoming and I felt really good on stage. I performed from I Speak Hick, and Fully Formed. 

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This past weekend, I was honored to perform at the Columbus Arts Festival at the Word is Art stage. I performed a couple of pieces from Fully Formed, and a lot of new work from 2018’s 30/30 in April. Besides the heat, it was a really great show. There were a lot of wonderful poets performing, and it was an all-women lineup. That doesn’t happen too often. I was proud to be a part of that.

 

And now I’m on break until later this month when I’ll be performing at Comfest (Community Festival) on June 23rd. That’s always a fun show, and the poetry is very good.  In July, I head to Akron to perform, and then I’m off for a few months. Maybe between now and some of these other performances I can actually get something written.

I haven’t written more than two poems since the end of National Poetry Month. I feel rather pathetic about that. I have not one ounce of imagination, right now. I know, I know… Write every day! you say. I get that. I even tried that, but all that came out was I dont’ know what to write, I don’t know what to write, I don’t know what to write.  Guess what? I don’t know what to write and it hurts. I’m reading, listening to music, fitting in my jogging and working out, and … nothing. That blinking cursor against the white field of possibility mocks me. I don’t know what is possible, right now. I hope I figure it out soon.

May14

Busy Poet Was Busy This Past Weekend.

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Busy Poet Was Busy This Past Weekend.

This poet is tired, y’all. My husband and I did some travelling this past weekend.

Friday, we went to Canton and performed for Writing Knights, the  publishing company of three of my books. The editor, Azriel, runs a couple of different shows in the area, and it’s always a pleasure to stop up that way and perform.

Here’s a photo from that event:

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Saturday was a blessed day of rest, though the hubs and I did enjoy an afternoon at the Oddities and Curiositites Expo in Columbus. It was most definitely odd and curious.

Sunday took us all the way to Toledo for Uncloisetered Poetry. It was my first time there at that particular event, and I admit, I was nervous about this performance. I had an old friend whom I hadn’t seen in six years that was going to be there. I had two new friends who I had yet to meet who were going to be there. Couple that with the fact that one of that couple, Stuart,  is a professional comedian/ performer and his wife, Shirley, is a successful writer on her own, and my nerves were on edge. All I could do was put together my strongest set possible, take a breath, and do my thing.

And do it, I did.

I was incredibly proud of this performance. I performed pieces from I Speak Hick  and  Fully Formed. I really enjoyed performing pieces from both of these books, though, I do admit, the pieces from I Speak Hick lend themselves better to performance. I really let loose during my set, and the audience really seemed to be into it.

The crowning moment, though? When the professional performer and writer complimented me on how tight my writing is. I damn near wanted to cry. That is always something I worry about as a poet. It was nice to hear those kind words come from them. I’ll carry that with me for a good, long, time.

Here are a couple of pictures from Uncloistered Poetry:

 

After this past weekend, I thought my May was over. I was fully intent on preparing for Columbus Arts Festival in June. My, oh, my, how things change. I received a message from a show I’ve been hoping to feature at for quite some time, asking me if I’d fill in as feature on the 29th. So, it looks like I’ll be road-tripping to Cincinnati to perform at Word Is Mouth. I’m excited for the new show and seeing a whole slew of new poets.

This little poet is tired, but I’ll not have it any other way.

 

May7

Rejection… and an opened door

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I recieved a(nother) rejection email last night. No biggie, I’m used to it. They did open the door to discussing my work in further detail. Would I take them up on that offer?

Damn right, I would.

It’s so rare to find a publisher who is willing to give personalized feedback on your work. I’m absolutely going to avail myself to the opportunity to make my work better and possibly get published with them.

I’m getting downright serious with these publishers. If they want something changed, I’ll change it. If they open the door for giving feedback, I’ll take the feedback. I have worked my way into getting two submissions published by listening to what an editor wanted. I got published by asking whether I can submit again with edits. I got published because I communicated.

It never hurts to ask an editior for feedback if they open the door. You just might get the feedback you need to find that poem a home. 

May4

Alexis-Rueal is Up and Running!

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Book collection

Hello Poets and Poetry Lovers! After a couple of year hiatus, I have decided to bring the blog back up. Here, you will find out about work that is getting published as well as any performance or video information. There might be a photo or two of the goldendoodle interspersed throughout.

I’ll update my performance schedule monthly.  I’ll add any work accepted for publication as they are published.

I hope you enjoy the blog, and I’ll catch you later!

Feb7

“Letter to 20” Published! A Dream Come True and so Much More

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On February 1st, my very first chapbook, “Letter to 20,” was release by the Poet’s Haven Press. Last weekend, I was honored to be the featured performer at Canton’s First Friday Poetry Spectacular to help celebrate the release of the book. It was the first time I was  a main feature at a show and the first time I had performed in the Canton/Cleveland area. In fact, last Saturday, I also featured at a Writing Knights show in Cleveland– another great show.  Many thanks to  Vertigo Xavier and Azriel for welcoming me to their venues.

It’s always interesting to see a different poetry scene. I love hearing different voices and stories that are unique to a particular area. You can also see how the people of a particular are influenced by each other’s styles. I enjoyed listening as much as performing last weekend. I hope to be able to do it again.

It really does feel like a dream-come-true to see an entire book with my name on it. It is something that, for a long time, I didn’t think was going to happen. I didn’t know if I had enough story in me to tell. I didn’t know if I had enough eloquence to tell it. Well, I do. And I have more in me; I haven’t even begun to write!

In case you are wondering, you can purchase my book “Letter to 20,”  here.  You even get to choose what color you want your cover!

Dec28

Links to my published and soon to be published works

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It took some digging, but I finally found all the links to my work, both online and in print. My very first piece in All Things Girl didn’t pull up, so there’s that. I do have information on the rest, though.

“The Fairytale is Over” Rose and Thorn Journal Spring 2011

“Meet Me in the Middle” Vagina:: The Zine March 2012

“Statue” New Verse News July 19, 2012

“A Sidewalk in Need of a Day Off” and “Weight” Loch Raven Review Fall 2012

And in print or soon to be printed:

“And at the End of the World”  Buzzkill: Apocalypse- An End of the World Anthology, Nightballet Press

“Summer Afternoon” — Hot Summer Nights  by Inner Child Press

“House Tour” — Some Weird Sin Literary Magazine  ( You can buy a hard copy or read it online)

And my first chapbook, “Letter to 20”— published by Poet’s Haven Press. The price is $6.00 and you have the choice of 4 cover colors. They are taking pre-orders, now, and the book will be released on February 1, 2013

 

As  more things get published, I’ll keep you posted.

Dec28

It’s been awhile….

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So what have I been up to? Lots. Many life changes have occurred since last I’ve posted. I got a new job that I love, I won my very first slam (’bout damn time), continued to shadowcast movies (and even got my Mister to perform in a couple, himself), and worked on publishing work. 

Speaking of which:

I have had a banner year for pieces being published. I will put out a post with links to all of my published pieces and a site where you can pre-order my.new.chapbook.  My FIRST chapbook, “Letter to 20.” I’m so proud of this. It’s the culmination of many years’ worth of dreams to see a book with my work and my name on the front cover. It’s an amazing feeling. 

I promise I won’t leave the site hanging like I did before. You’ll be hearing more from me– for better or worse. 

Love to all. 

Oct2

Life and Publishing Updates

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Been rather busy these past few weeks. Mainly, it’s been job hunting; like it or not, 20 hours a week does not a decent paycheck make. But… BUT… I did find a full time job. I’ll be doing pretty much what I am doing now, but full time. 

I, well, am  happy to have this opportunity. There is a part of me, though… a part that looks at friends who have jobs that seem to be what they want. They can survive on their job, and they seem to do interesting things. At least, that’s what I read about and hear. And I look at my situation. It’s a job… it will do what I need it to do (i.e., pay the bills), but there is still something missing.

I can’t feel this way… I shouldn’t feel this way. I have bills, I have to live and survive day to day. I need a job for that.  I should be thankful. There is something in me that longs to have a job I want, though. One that can use my writing in ways that can help people. I know that job is out there. Right now, though, I have to focus on what I need to do to survive. And I have the job that will help with that. 

Anyway, on the publishing front, I have two pieces that will be published in Loch Raven Review  in a couple of weeks. This is the first time I’ve had multiple pieces published at once. Feels good to see it happen, finally. 

Sep6

End of Another Slam Season and an Art Project

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Last week marked the end of the Individual World Poetry Slam season for Writers’ Block. I and four other wonderful poets competed in the Grand Slam to determine who would represent WB in Fayetteville later this year. I went into this pretty certain I was not going to win this season (No, this is not the way you should go in… but I’ve become something of a realist… a realist who still loves poetry, but still a realist.)

Anyhoo, I had a different goal for this slam: I was going to perform all three of my pieces from memory. Three minutes, two minutes, and one minute. I rehearsed for the better part of a month, and wanted to say I had performed to the very best of my ability.  And, in the end, I did.

I won’t go over every single detail from the three performances… except to say, they felt good. I felt strong on stage, and thought my work could stand up with everyone else’s that night. Well, according to the scores  (which is not the point of poetry, and so on and so forth), my pieces did NOT. I ended up fourth out of five. But, damnit, I still achieved my goal. I performed. I presented my work how I wanted to present it…. that part no one can take away from me. No one ever will.

I just still want to know what the people want to hear. I write what moves me, and I write it as eloquently as I can. And I did have some of my friends and fellow poets say that my work was some of the best I had ever written/performed. That was a solace. That means I have been learning and applying what I have learned in a way that can be noticed. So, I don’t leave this season without anything. I leave a little more experienced and a little stronger on the stage. I know that *someday*my chance will come. I just have to keep on keeping on.

In case you were wondering, a wonderful poet named Ed Plunkett will be representing Writers’ Block at IWPS. He’s a great friend, and wonderful poet, and he will represent us well. We wish him the best of luck.

In other artistic news,  the Midnight Shift is performing “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” this month. I’m Jessica… and directing. It keeps a girl on her toes. Even my Mister is going to be in this… as Lena Hyena. Yeah, baby.  No way better to break them in than in DRAG.

I’ve also been painting. Yes, an actual painting. On canvas even.

I call it “Cat at the well.” It’s acrylic on an 11×14 canvas. I’m really happy with how this piece turned out. It was quite enjoyable trying to figure out sunset and how to paint the well. Believe it or not, the cat was pretty simple to paint. Can’t beat simple, sometimes.  Anyway, I want to hang it somewhere, just have to figure out where.  It’ll come.

So, that’s me. I work, I write, I shadowcast, and now I paint. Why not?

Jul19

Published in “The New Verse News”

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I told you yesterday that I would post a link if my poem, Statue  was published by The New Verse News.  Well, lo and behold, it has been. I have to admit, this was a goal of mine. I have read NVN for quite awhile, submitted to them, and been rejected by them. They publish very good poetry, and some very good friends of mine have been included on their site. It was a lovely thing to learn that my piece will be included.

I’m feeling stronger, poem by poem, and I can see it reflected in what I write. There is so much still to learn, though. That’s the lovely thing about art… you can never learn enough.