“A fine cigar and good literature―two 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.
With much gratitude to my co-editors Joannie Kevran-Stangeland, Mick Parsons, and Andris Sīlis.
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
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
The Merry Baker of Rīga by Boris Zemtzov
Musical Chairs by Jen Knox
stains, poetry by Lori A. May
Well Deserved by Michael Loyd Gray
The Smoking Poet
WINTER ISSUE 2010-2011 ISSUE #17
Contributors
Sara Basrai
Stefano Cagnato
David Corbett
Erik Fassnacht
Ruth Foley
Kimberly Grabowski
Michael Loyd Gray
Lisa Hickey
Jessica Barksdale Inclan
Grace H. Jung
Dorianne Laux
Colleen Little
Amy MacLennan
Kristina Moriconi
Thomas Naber
Scott Owens
J.R. Pearson
Gabrielle Rose
Kristi Petersen Schoonover
Laimdota Sele
Ian D. Smith
Melissa Studdard
Ray Succre
Jari Thymian
Marc Taurisano
Margaret Walther
Earl E. Weigelt
Sarah White
Desmond Kon Zhicheng-Mingdé
Follow us on Twitter!
@TheSmokingPoet
@ZintaAistars
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