my one-town reading tour 10/26

Supercool Stone Cold Foxes Steel Toe Readings

With a name like that, how could you not want to go to these readings?! Jeannine Hall Gailey (a Siren contributor) and Mary Biddinger will be giving one reading together in Fredonia, NY (where 10,000 Maniacs got their start back in the early 80's!). And you'll have not just one but two chances to see Jeannine:

Tuesday, October 2nd at 7 PM
Fredonia, New York SUNY Fredonia Campus 202 McEwen Hall
Mary Biddinger and Jeannine Hall Gailey reading and Q&A

Thursday, October 4th at 5 PM
Akron, Ohio Ohio University of Akron The Martin Center
Jeannine Hall Gailey reading and Q&A

If you're interested in going but need a ride, or want to carpool, or carpool for part of the trip, and live in NY, PA, MD, DC, WV, OH, let me know (leave a comment here, or email me) and maybe we can save some money and carbon emissions. I'm not sure which one I'll be going to yet, but I'll be in either NYC or Pittsburgh on those days.

(Read about one of these events: http://www.wivb.com/Global/story.asp?S=7136728
Jeannine's bio is a little outdated, however.)

don't you hear this hammer ring?

-- wrote Langston Hughes over a half-century ago, and the poetry festival that takes its name from that poem will take place in 2008 on 20 March through 23 March, in DC. Split This Rock Poetry Festival: Poems of Provocation & Witness is now accepting proposals for panel discussions and workshops that explore the relationship between poetry and social change. Examples include working in prisons, the historical connection between poets, poetry, and activism and social change, using poetry to activate political participation, the role of poetry in wartime, and encouraging poetry in the schools. Proposals are due by December 1, 2007.

The festival is also looking for volunteers, and is hosting an introductory party for those interested in volunteering, on 4 October. Visit the website for more information on proposals, volunteering, featured poets, and liberal amounts of other fun stuff.