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Talking to Jen Knox
Talking to Dorianne Laux
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Talking to Lori A. May
The Poetry of Lori A. May
Talking to Laimdota Sele
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The Editors

“A fine cigar and good literaturetwo of life’s most enduring pleasures.”

I watch for the blizzard as I pack up my winter camping gear—I am hoping for it. Three winters ago, I camped at Fort Custer, near Battle Creek, Michigan, in the midst of a blizzard, pitching a tent with my camping companion, Mary the dog musher. It was New Year’s Eve, crossing the threshold into 2008 (scroll down for the story and photos) and we stood in the shimmering white at midnight, three dogs around us, and held our blue tin cups up to the fleecy sky in a toast to the New Year. On the morning of the New Year, Mary harnessed the dogs to the sled and I hopped on for the ride. This silent slide over the snow, beneath the white-laced trees, was an experience to remember.

So, this New Year’s Eve, crossing the threshold into 2011, I’m doing it again. You’ll find me on the dog trail, racing through the snow. In my book, there is just no better way to slide into new beginnings.

Speaking of books …

And, speaking of beginnings, new starts, open doors, crossing thresholds, clean slates, fresh adventure—we bring to you a winter issue like none other. It’s a chatty one. We talk to some fascinating people. Dorianne Laux, poet extraordinaire, talks to us about her fifth poetry collection, The Book of Men. Lisa Hickey, publisher of The Good Men Project Magazine, talks to us about good men, and why we love them that way.  Michael Loyd Gray talks to us about his novel, Well Deserved, in four voices. Jen Knox shares with us her remarkable story, Musical Chairs, of her journey from being a stripper to becoming a writer, editor and teacher. Lori A. May talks to us across a wide range—she does everything in writing.  And, from Latvia, Laimdota Sēle talks to us about researching the many centuries-old history of Ventspils, city on the Baltic Sea, for her newest novel, Cērt Zibens Marmalē (Lightning Strikes the Sea).

The artwork for this issue, in fact, is also from Latvia. The photos you see throughout our winter pages were taken by me and by coeditor Andris Sīlis. We met again this past fall, after 17 years, in Ventspils, Latvia, and spent a day exploring Cape Kolka at the northernmost tip of the Kurzeme province, where the Baltic Sea crashes up against the Gulf of Rīga. It was a day of wonder and mystery, swathed in fog, and we wandered among the fallen pines along the Baltic shore. Enjoy the photos—and the travel essay.

As always, our pages are filled with stunning contributions of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and cigar reviews. Book reviews and music reviews will be continuously refreshed throughout the coming season, so read them now and keep coming back for more. Links and Resources are ever expanding. Kalamazoo & Beyond shows off local talent.

For the first time, we are especially excited to open the doors of Our Gift Shop. All proceeds go to support our ongoing efforts to showcase the very best in literary talent. Shop, enjoy, and do good for writers who work hard to excel.

We want to wish all of you a wonderful winter season, celebrating holidays, beginning a new year, stretching your literary muscle to reach your fullest potential. If there is space on your gift list, please consider a gift to The Smoking Poet, to support our efforts to shine a light on some of today’s brightest and most promising new and established talent.

A special thank you to my editors Joannie Kevran-Stangeland, Mick Parksons, and Andris Silis for all they do.

May 2011 be a year of great adventure.

 

With a good word,

Zinta Aistars, TSP Editor-in-Chief

 

Andris' Blue Note

 

Namaste by Various Artists

 

Wild Angels by Mary Ann Hobbs

 

Cigar Lounge

 

Kandahar 286 by Cpt. Earl E. Weigelt

 

Deadlines: Our Mick smokes a Cuban Robusto Reject

 
 

Book Reviews

 

The Book of Men, poetry by Dorianne Laux

 

Cabbage, Strudel and Trams by Ivana Hrubá

Cērt Zibens Marmalē by Laimdota Sēle

 

The Good Men Project: Real Stories from the Front Lines of Modern Manhood, edited by James Houghton, Larry Bean, Tom Matlack

 

I Want What She's Got! The Secrets of Creating an Outrageous Life by Bette Laughrun and Kathie Nelson

 

Island Farm by Arthur Versluis

 

Looks Easy Enough by Scott Stevenson

 

The Merry Baker of Rīga by Boris Zemtzov

 

Musical Chairs by Jen Knox

 

stains, poetry by Lori A. May

 

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 

 

Well Deserved by Michael Loyd Gray

 

Woodswoman I by Anne LaBastille

 

Woodswoman II by Anne LaBastille

 

Woodswoman III by Anne LaBastille

 

Woodswoman IIII by Anne LaBastille

 

 

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Fallen Trees at Cape Kolka, photo by Andris Silis

THE SMOKING POET is raising funds to become an LLC, a limited liability company, so that we can begin taking in revenue from appropriate ads and, from that revenue, to pay our hardworking editors and excellent writers. Thank you to all our writers, editors and readers. You are helping us grow. You are helping us continue to develop a place where we can help your art shine.

Please visit our Marketing, Advertising and Donations page to learn more.

We appreciate your gift.

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The Smoking Poet

WINTER 2010-2011 Issue #17

 

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