Laraine Seidl is (gasp!) Stitched Together!

O my gosh, NightBallet Press has learned that Laraine Seidl is Stitched Together!

Noooo, she didn't have an accident...she had a chapbook!  That's right, NightBallet Press is enormously pleased to present Stitched Together, poems by Laraine Seidl! 

Stitched Together is a 20 page chap of 15 poems detailing the arc, angst, anticipation, agony, and amor of a relationship in the way that only Seidl can do it—with wry, self-deprecating humor, and a wink at the world.  Her observations are consistently right on target, and you will feel yourself inexorably drawn into her world of Bukowski tattoos, text messages, and hippie iced tea; you'll find yourself immersed in the lives of an "adorable temptress" and "the reincarnation of Jack Kerouac".

 

Stitched Together features an ice-white cardstock cover with an olive cardstock insert.  The stark, stunning feather photo is by Ohio photographer/visual artist Chandra Alderman (a.k.a. Peggy Honeydew on Facebook).  The text is printed on white cotton paper...but the true treasure is found in the lines of the text; each poem by Seidl is a glistening gem.  Stitched Together is available beginning today, June 30, 2013, through PayPal right on this website for only $5 plus $3 postage!

Of course, if you are truly fortunate, you'll catch Laraine Seidl at a local poetry reading and buy it directly from the poet...be sure to have her sign it for you!

Laraine Seidl was born in Cleveland and grew up in Parma, Ohio.  She spent five years living in Columbus with her cat Zoe, and they are currently in the process of relocating.  Seidl has a BA in Psychology and a BA in Political Science from Ohio State University.  Previous publications include her chapbook The History of Chickpeas (The Poet's Haven, 2010).  She also enjoys expressing herself via photography, and spends her free time obsessively listening to music, reading, and collecting vintage glassware, clothing, and jewelry.  She is a welcomed guest at many featured readings and open mics; if you get a chance to meet her and hear her read, you don't want to miss it!

John Dorsey Is Responsible for the Fall of the Ramen Empire!

It's true, I tell you!  NightBallet Press has learned that John Dorsey is responsible for the Fall of the Ramen Empire!

 

...and what a resounding fall it is!  Fall of the Ramen Empire is the latest chapbook by the one and only John Dorsey. His fourteen poems of longing and remembrance, of wonder and wisdom, fill this 20 page chapbook with a haunting beauty. 

S. A. Griffin, co-editor of The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry and contributing writer for The Underground Guide to Los Angeles says of John Dorsey and Fall of the Ramen Empire:

 "John Dorsey is simply one of the best wordslingers on the scene, a small press legend in the making. In his ghost world of the Ramen Empire, lovers pray to Godzilla under crumbling drive in signs for clean sheets as the moon shines down upon the beautiful madness that is John's poetry.”

With a warm dove-gray cardstock cover and a textured turquoise cardstock insert, Fall of the Ramen Empire boasts a simply gorgeous illustration by artist Elizabeth Soroka.  The text is printed on soft-white cotton paper. Published Monday June 24 2013, Fall of the Ramen Empire is immediately available to order for $5 plus $3 postage. You may order Fall of the Ramen Empire directly through PayPal on this website, or you can get your very own signed copy from the poet himself.  John Dorsey's books are much sought after and always go quickly, so get your copy today! 

 

                                                             
John Dorsey holds a BFA in Writing for Film & Television from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.  His short "Buffalo Diamonds" was made into a full feature independent film by producer/director Chris Lance of Paladin Knight Pictures.  He is the author of numerous collections of poetry, including Teaching the Dead to Sing: The Outlaw's Prayer (Rose of Sharon Press, 2006), Sodomy is a City in New Jersey (American Mettle Books, 2010), Leaves of Ass (Unadorned Press, 2011), Street Maps for Lost Souls (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2012), and White Girl Problems (NBP, 2012).  His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. 

Dive into a MOSAIC of Beauty and Truth!

 

NightBallet Press is enormously pleased to present a brand new chapbook:  Mosaic by Margie Shaheed!



Mosaic is filled with storytelling poetry about the glory, the mystery, the promise, and the pain of being a Black woman.  Shaheed's poetic Voice is strong and clear, and she offers unflinching glimpses of her struggles, her dreams, and her treasured memories.

Mosaic—packaged between double cardstock covers of ivory and rust, and with soft ivory paper—contains 11 poems on 24 pages.  The cover boasts a beautiful photo by Clevelander John Burroughs (www.crisischronicles.com).  You may obtain a copy from NBP for only $10 plus $3 postage right here on this site...simply look in the right column and click on the PayPal button.  Don't wait until they're all sold out—get your copy today!

For those of you in the Memphis, Tennessee area, Mosaic's official book release and reading will be held this coming Tuesday,  June 18, 2013:


                

 Margie Shaheed is a community poet, writer, and performance artist who conducts creative writing workshops for children and adults in a variety of settings, including traditional classrooms, libraries, theatres, community arts centers, mental health centers, and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs.  Her poems have appeared in Essence Magazine, Black Magnolias, the Mom Egg Review, Blackberry: A Magazine, and Femficatio.  Her work can also be found in Liberation Poetry: An Anthology, edited by Tontongi and Jill Netchinsky (Trilingual Press, 2011) and Lipsmack! A Sampler Platter of Poets from NightBallet Press Year Two 2013.  She currently works in Memphis, but returns frequently to Cleveland.

(Bio photo photo by Coco, used with permission)

This Just In! Video by Alex Gildzen!

Alex Gildzen, who turned 70 on his birthday April 25, made this wonderful film!  In it, we celebrate his birthday, his visit to Elyria, Ohio, and the release of his new book Blossoms-a collection of poems (1955 to 2013) in celebration of the poet's 70th birthday!  Thank you and congratulations, Alex! 

Join Alex in his ongoing celebration of life and growing- growing up, growing older, growing on, blossoming at 70!  You can purchase your very own copy of Blossoms right here on this website- see the sidebar to the right of this blog...or better yet, order directly from the poet at http://www.arroyochamisa.blogspot.com/!

Alex Gildzen's 70th Birthday BLOSSOMS into Being TODAY!!!

NightBallet Press is enormously pleased to wish Santa Fe, New Mexico poet Alex Gildzen a very Happy Birthday today, and to celebrate his birthday with the publication of Blossoms—a collection of poems (1955 to 2013) in celebration of the poet's 70th birthday!

Blossoms—a collection of poems (1955 to 2013) in celebration of the poet's 70th birthday is exactly that- a marvelous book-length collection of poems ranging from Gildzen's earliest surviving poem, "Blossoms, Blossoms, Oh Lovely Blossoms" to one of his most recent ones, "Hawaiian Coffee and Bartok".  Blossoms is a bright, lush garden full of plant life and real life:  rosebuds, lilacs, poppies, mulberry, basil, aloe, hollyhock, orchids, and cereus snuggle and thrive next to celebration, contemplation, loss, remembrance, love, enlightenment, and joie de vivre. 

With 60 pages of 42 poems, 2 portraits of the poet, 3 breathtaking "Moonflower" images from photographer extraordinaire Chandra Alderman, and an introduction by poet Tom Kryss,  Blossoms is a tribute to and testimony of a life well-lived for 70 years.

Take time to stop and savor the sweet scents of the flowers, celebrate Alex Gildzen and celebrate life—get your copy of Blossoms—a collection of poems (1955 to 2013) in celebration of the poet's 70th birthday today!  Available on this website for only $10 plus $3 shipping and handling!  And very soon, this title will also be available on Amazon!

Twice the punch! Twice the poetry! CHANSONETTE BUCK & WILLIAM MERRICLE!!!

Thaaaat's riiiiiight, NightBallet Press presents, for your reading bliss, to continue the grooviness throughout National Poetry Month, and to celebrate the poetry extravaganza of the Broken Pulpit weekend here in Cleveland, Ohio, not one but TWO über-fantastic chaps!

                                  

                                        

 



IT'S A MERRICLE!

NightBallet Press is tickled (hot) pink to publish Ohio poet William Merricle's brand new chap, Chaos Theory!  Merricle does for poetry what Dali did for painting; his writing is a surreal romp through landscapes of sight and sound, of sophistication and silliness, of chaos and construction, of  "The Y Chromosome Polka" and "Creation Porn". 

Here's a delicious sample poem from Chaos Theory to whet your appetite!

What Is the Distance Between
Rahway and South Plainfield?

Virtually all the evil in
this world is in the
form of information.
Morning is too late at night.
Every pixel tells a story.
Sexual fulfillment formats itself
as the frost on the pumpkin.
Every question contains an answer.
Better probes are required.
All my learning comes
face-to-face with
the prosecutorial moonlight.
High hopes are difficult to master.
One can’t make a circle with one.
Satire is the best credit card.
Your shadow delivered
an erudite lecture on
the frailty of your love.
Every answer births a question.
The golden age of wisdom
was the Middle Pleistocene.
I learned that online.

 William Merricle's previous publications include Heimlich the Donut (Pudding House Publications, 2010) and Grace, You Let the Screen Door Slam (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2011).  His poems have appeared in Pudding Magazine, Portland Review, Slipstream, and in the Crisis Chronicles Online Library.

 

Chaos Theory is 36 pages long and contains 28 poems.  The cover is a (very) pale green with a charcoal gray cardstock insert, and the text is printed on a creamy, soft-white paper.  You can obtain your very own copy for only $5 plus $3 shipping and handling! 

YOU CAN BUCK THE SYSTEM!

NightBallet Press is extremely honored and excited to announce the publication of Berkely, California poet Chansonette Buck's newest chap, talisman!  George Wallace says of talisman:

 "One cannot fail to be impressed with the courage of poets who lay bare their most troubling personal moments in their work.  But it requires a special level of courage—and talent, as in adroitness of expression and dispassionate perspective—for such poets to stand out in the crowd.  That's Chansonette Buck's achievement in this fine little collection.  Yes, she has experienced pain, risen from it and found sustenance in the telling.  But more than that, she has approached the telling with an unflinching eye and a sure technical hand, and produced poem after memorable poem."

Chansonette Buck, who holds a PhD in English from the University of California, has been published in, among others, Why We Ride: Women Writers on the Horses in Their Lives (Seal Press, 2011) and Polarity eMagazine (Fall, 2010).  Previous chapbooks include blood oranges (NBP, 2011) and desire lines (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2012). 

Here's a teaser from talisman:

pain-body

she writes
i need him...then
rushes, retching
to the sink. later,
drained, she lies
on her bed, willing
hard winter rain's
change to rose
petals, watching
the sky clear
and pale to silver
under the full moon
so the pepper-tree's
leaves flicker
like tiny diamonds
in the wind,
she wonders
how such
a bright sky
could empty
so much loss
into her world.

                                                          

talisman is 32 pages long and contains 20 poems.  The cover is a pale ecru with a brilliant turquoise blue cardstock insert, and the text is printed on a creamy, soft-white paper.  The cover and inside pages feature photos taken from a beautiful mixed-media collage by book artist Bonné de Blas.  Get your copy today for only $5 plus $3 shipping/handling! 

Twice the punch!  Twice the power!  Twice the poetry!  Merricle and Buck!  Buck and Merricle!  Order your copies today!  Available through PayPal right here on this website, and through Amazon!

 

Can We Be Frank(e) With You?

 

NightBallet Press is enormously pleased to announce the publication of Christopher Franke's new chap, As the Caffeine Kicks In!

                                           

Christopher Franke is something of a legend in the Cleveland area.  He has been an integral part of the Cleveland, Ohio poetry scene since the early 70s, and has been widely published.  His unique poetic voice shines through clearly in the poems collected in As the Caffeine Kicks In.  Utilizing agrammatical punctuation, neologistic spellings and puns, varying font sizes, and a stunning vocabulary, Franke expresses his views on religion, politics, the economy, society, ecology, the writing life, growing older, and love in a way only he can do.  This editor feels his poems are nothing short of genius.  Known for his unflagging support of poetry venues, and for passing out his and others' poems at readings, Christopher Franke continues to enrich the poetry community in Cleveland, and beyond.

As the Caffeine Kicks In is 56 pages long and contains 30 poems.  The cover is a pale ivory cardstock with a coffee-brown cardstock insert.  The text of the poems is printed using Goudy Old Style, the poet's preferred font, on soft, creamy ivory paper.  At only $5 plus $3 shipping/handling, this book is a must-have.  NBP promises you, you won't be able to put it down once you've begun exploring the World of Franke!

April is National Poetry Month and NBP Will Be Celebrating ALL MONTH LONG!

April is National Poetry Month, and here at NightBallet Press, we'll be celebrating all month long!

                                          (poster design by graphic artist Jessica Helfand)


This will be a very busy month, with poetry events and poetry books busting out like daffodils and crocuses everywhere you look! 

NightBallet has not one, not two, not three, but FOUR books of poetry by four different poets planned for publication in April.  These books will be announced and debuted at various poetry events throughout the month.  Stay tuned to this blog for details! 

Check out the following links for exciting and intense poetry events, most of which will find NightBallet Press in the audience or on stage:

Writing Knights Presents at the Literary Cafe, featuring John Burroughs -- Saturday April 6 at 7pm -- although NBP has to work and can't attend, this event promises to rock and roll -- kick off the month in fine style with NBP performing poet John Burroughs!

Artomatic 419 in Toledo, Ohio, featuring NightBallet Press -- Saturday April 13 -- featuring J. E. Stanley, Zach Fishel, and John Burroughs, with poetry by editor/publisher Dianne Borsenik (we'll be on the Third Stage between 5 and 6 pm)

Broken Pulpit Tremont Crawl in Cleveland, Ohio's Tremont neighborhood -- Saturday and Sunday April 20-21 -- During the NBP hour ( Sunday April 21 Visible Voice Books at 2:30pm) featuring NBP poets J. E. Stanley and William Merricle (whose brand new NBP chap Chaos Theory will be debuted!), along with poetry from dan smith and Eris Zion Venia, plus poetry by Dianne Borsenik.  During the Crisis Chronicles hour (Sunday April 21 Grumpy's Café at 4pm), NBP cross-over authors John Burroughs, Chansonette Buck (whose new NBP chap talisman will be presented for the first time!), and Heather Ann Schmidt will feature, along with CCP author Tracie Morell.  Buck is traveling from Berkeley, California, and Merricle is making the trek from Lima, Ohio, so you won't want to miss out on this singular opportunity to hear them!

2nd Annual Posies Open Slam Competition at Jitters Coffee House in Millersburg, Ohio -- Saturday April 27 -- featuring a performance by NBP poet John Burroughs, with NBP editor/publisher Dianne Borsenik competing in the Slam!

...and these are just a smattering of the awesome events happening in and around the Cleveland poetry scene during National Poetry Month!  Check out the N. Ohio Poetry Calendar at Crisis Chronicles for more dates and venues throughout April and beyond!

Stay tuned this weekend for a major publication announcement...here's a hint.  NightBallet Press is going to be completely frank(e) with you... wink, wink!

Innocence May Be Transitory... But Eberhardt Shall Endure!

NightBallet Press is pleased to announce the publication of yet another poetry chap this merry month of March!  To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, we present Transitory Innocence by Cleveland-area poet Kevin Eberhardt!

 

KE's poetry sucks you in, gives you a good licking, and then releases you to ponder the ecstasy. Each of his poems in Transitory Innocence is a microcosm of teeming life under the microscope of his eye. Once you've experienced him, you'll be begging for more.  Here's an example:

a scent of humor

Neither foul nor fair
But unavoidable / a
Hint in all things
Whether serious or
Other like a carbuncle
On the hull of friend-
Ship or a pimple on
The ass end of
Propriety / it’s just the
Devil blowin’ smoke
Rings into the hairy
Nostrils of God
& God sneezes
& creates butterflies

...and another:

an Ohio evening

The moon inserts itself into
A 6 o’clock sky while a light
Plane flies underneath ain’t
Nothin’ but blue ‘cause the
Wind already herded all the
Clouds into Pennsylvania &
The humidity it’s still blowin’
A bit but the temperature’s
Tolerable & the grass is
Green as an emerald sea
Shadows creep from the
Roof of my house across
The lawn to the East like
They got some place to be
Before night swallows ‘em
Up once in a while my eyes
Move to follow a bird or my
Hands bring a sip of coffee
To my lips only this trace
Of animation disturbs what
Resembles a sentient death
& I’m reluctant to let it go
Surrounded by alone in a
Crowded world objectivity’s
That rare gift I give myself


Kevin Eberhardt is a northern Ohio poet who retired at the first of last year (2012) from one life into the next. He has been writing poetry since high school some 40 years ago. Lately, he's tried his hand at found/primitive/folk art; this has consumed most of his time. His poetry has appeared in ArtCrimes, The City Poetry, the Deep Cleveland Junkmail Oracle, the Fuck Poetry anthology (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2011), and the Cartier Street Review. His chapbook Burnin' Shadows was published by Crisis Chronicles Press in 2011. You can explore more of his poetry and see examples of his art at http://octoberconspiracy.blogspot.com.

Transitory Innocence boasts a cover photo taken by John Burroughs, seen here with Kevin Eberhardt at the 100 Thousand Poets for Change event in Elyria, Ohio, in September of 2011:

Transitory Innocence is  32 pages, with 25 poems.  The cover is a thick, creamy cardstock with a deep aquamarine cardstock insert.  There's a photo by Chandra Alderman on one of the text pages.  KE's poetry is pure gold...on this St. Patrick's Day, get lucky and buy yourself a copy!  Available now on this website (through PayPal) for only $5 plus $3 shipping and handling!

                                           

Brand(t) New Chap - and you'll be Reaching for It!

One of Cleveland's dedicated founders of the Arts scene in the Tremont neighborhood is also one of its finest poets, and NightBallet Press is delighted to present her Brand(t) new chap of poetry!

That's right, Jean Brandt's debut collection of poetry, Reaching for It, is officially published today, and is ready for you to...well, reach for it!

From "The Importance of Smiling" to "Hood Bitch", and from "Santaland and Other Utopias" to "Brain Jam",  Brandt's poems will poke you in the ribs, dap you on the shoulder, and give you new insight into the everyday workings of a well-defined Cleveland neighborhood.  Her unflinching look at relationships, social politics, and the evolution of her surroundings draws you into her world, where things might not always be pretty, but they're always honest and real.  You will often find yourself breathless as with a punch to the gut after reading one of her three-line, haiku-form poems, as she's a master of the succinct. 

Reaching for It is 52 pages long, and contains 47 brilliant poems.  The chap has a textured white cardstock cover, with a textured deep chocolate brown cardstock insert and is printed on creamy white paper.  It can be yours today for only $5 plus $3 shipping/handling- simply order through PayPal on this website.  Or if you are in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, swing by and check out the Brandt Gallery on Kenilworth, right across from the Visible Voice book store, and reach for a signed copy from the poet herself!