Cover To Cover interview tonight on GPB

Novelist Man Martin (Days of the Endless Corvette) interviewed me for Georgia Public Broadcasting's literary radio show, Cover to Cover, a few weeks ago and it will tonight at 8 p.m. If you live in Georgia you can hear it on the radio or visit the Cover to Cover site and listen online. Man asked some insightful questions and I read a passage from Conquering Venus.

UPDATE! You can now listen to the podcast of the Cover to Cover interview at this link!

Pam Grier & More Reviews

Creative Loafing is posting a Poem-A-Day at its website in the run-up to the Decatur Book Festival and "Why I Want to Be Pam Grier" is featured on the site today. Thanks again to writer Curt Holman for asking me to participate in the Loaf's coverage of the festival.

Two more fabulous reviews of Conquering Venus from Lisa Allender and Stacey Lynn Brown. I especially love that Stacey had to use her little book light to keep reading late into the night. A number of folks have called the novel a "page turner," and that's high praise in my book.

Articles & Reviews

Many thanks to Curt Holman at Creative Loafing for the article in this week's edition about the upcoming Decatur Book Festival. He quoted me at length -- mostly about poetry -- but there's also a plug for Conquering Venus. The magazine is also starting a "poem-a-day" on its website leading up to the festival, and one of mine will appear their soon. It might be something new.

Helen Losse, wonderful poet and Dead Mule School of Southern Literature poetry editor, has written the first long review of Conquering Venus and its now posted at Blogcritics. Here's a taste:

Kelley carefully and masterfully creates characters who must deal with the difficult situations in their various pasts — broken marriages, betrayal, sexual confusion and dishonesty, death, suicide, and family acceptance or denial of these — and a plot that draws them together on a trip to Paris.

Read the full review at this link.

It's up to you, New York...

Book PR guru Russ Marshalek has worked his magic for my trip to New York in October for back-to-back readings from Conquering Venus at The Tank space. On Sunday, Oct. 18, there will be a "literary burlesque show" and I'm reading with Elise Blackwell and other writers Russ has assured "will make me pee" when I find out who they are. Then, on Monday, Oct. 19, Elise and I will co-host Just Working On My Novel, where we'll read from our just-published work and something in progress. Hmmm... that should be fun.

I'm also excited that I'll get to see my friends Jackie and Vanessa and generally just have a few days to hang out in Manhattan. Must not shop, must not shop, must not shop...

I'm thinking about joining the 21st century and getting ride of my landline and strictly using my cell phone. I'm having anxiety. Somebody talk me down.

Saturday Notes

I interviewed the fabulous Cecilia Woloch yesterday for an upcoming feature in Ouroboros Review. Her new collection, Carpathia, is out now and I'll be doing a review here on Modern Confessional soon. Cecilia will be in Atlanta in October for the annual Voices Carry reading and a fun Atlanta Queer Literary Festival fundraising event called "I See Straight People." More details on both of these soon.

Thanks to everyone who has bought Conquering Venus. I hope you're enjoying it! If you have time, please write a review on Amazon.com, BN.com or other online point of purchase. Even if you bought it directly from a bookstore, you can still put up reviews. I'm also trying to get reviews and press in other magazines, journals and online, so if anyone has a suggestion, please leave a comment. There's also a photo essay of inspirations for the novel at the book blog at this link.

I was absolutely outraged that Scotland let the terrorist who blew up Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie go on "compassionate grounds" because he's dying of cancer. He should have died in prison. Instead, he goes home to Libya to a hero's welcome and to say goodbye to his family. The people on flight 103 and those who died on the ground didn't have the opportunity to say goodbye, so why should this madman? Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill should resign and if it comes to light that the UK made a deal with Libya for trade and oil in exchange for his release, they should all be removed from office. Of course, even if that proves to be true, nothing will happen. Just like here in America with the revelations of Bush-era shenanigans, including raising terror alerts before the 2004 election to scare the public, no one will ever be punished.

Last night at Outwrite

Conquering Venus had its official launch last night at Outwrite Books here in Atlanta, and I was thrilled to see so many friends in the audience. Folks were standing in the aisles and I signed a bunch of books. I was nervous as hell and had a bit of Broadcast News flop sweat (watch the video below...not quite as bad as Albert Brooks, but it felt like it), but I got through the prologue and first chapter and everyone laughed in the right places and had insightful questions.  You can read Christine Swint's review of the evening at her Balanced on the Edge blog. She also took the picture at left. I also must thank the staff at Outwrite for making the evening such a success. If you live in Atlanta and want an autographed copy of Conquering Venus, Outwrite has some!

For the Decatur Book Festival reading, I'm going to read the second chapter, which introduces the other main character, Irène Laureux. She's been getting short shrift and it's time to put her voice out there. So, if you couldn't make it last night or if you just want to hear more of the story,  come out on Sept. 5 at 1:45 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Decatur.

I'll also be reading at The Tank performance space in New York on Oct. 18 with the fantastic author Elise Blackwell. Literary PR guru Russ Marshalek set this event up and there will also be a "literary burlesque show." Can't wait to see what that's all about. More details soon!

Vanilla Heart alerted me that the novel is available for purchase at a number of other locations both here and abroad, including Powell's Books. A number of you had asked, and it's there now. You can see more over at the Conquering Venus blog. 

Conquering Venus launch

Tomorrow night (Aug. 19) is the official launch of  Conquering Venus at Outwrite Books at 7:30 p.m. I'll read a couple of chapters followed by a Q&A and signing. Outwrite is located at 991 Piedmont Avenue in Midtown Atlanta. www.outwritebooks.com.

The novel is also now available for purchase at Amazon.co.uk,  Amazon.fr, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.de, and Amazon.ca. As a matter of fact, all the Amazon stores have it except China. If you're a reader from abroad, please purchase a copy and let me know what you think of Conquering Venus.

Yesterday afternoon, I recorded an interview and reading for the Georgia Public Broadcasting radio show, Cover to Cover. Fellow author Man Martin interviewed me and asked some insightful questions. Not sure when it will air, but I'll put up a post and the link to the podcast that will be available afterwards. 

A few small repairs...

I've given Modern Confessional's sidebar a makeover. It was becoming cluttered and repetitive with information that can be found on the new Conquering Venus blog and with the About Collin Kelley space, which has my full bio, reviews, press, photos, links to my poetry online and a complete bibliography. Links for both sites are permanently in the sidebar.

I've been in a streamlining mood lately, which has carried over to my apartment as well. A number of furniture items are going up on Craigslist soon. It's time for a bookshelf/movie/music cull, too. Do you ever get that feeling that you have way too much shit in your house? I've got that feeling big time. Maybe it's because my 40th birthday is a month away, but I feel the need to unburden myself from the materialism of the past.

New interview in Southern Voice

Many thanks to Southern Voice editor Laura Douglas-Brown for the article and her thoughts on Conquering Venus in the new edition. You can read the interview at this link. It's perfect timing before next Wednesday's reading at Outwrite Books. 

There's been discussion about who would be cast in the main roles of Conquering Venus if it's ever made into a film. The book is now listed at StoryCasting.com, which allows you to select actors and discuss/debate/argue the merits of a certain actor in the role. 

For those who have asked, the novel will be available at Powell's Books soon. I'll keep you posted. 

Republican fear-mongering on health care

The Republicans – and the right-wing conservative Christian terrorist base it panders to – are fear-mongering experts. They whipped the US into a fearful frenzy after the 2001 terrorist attacks, which led to an unnecessary war with Iraq and sank the US economy into near Depression. Bush Jr. fiddled while America burned, leaving Obama to rebuild from the ashes. On the campaign trail, Obama promised health care reform and he's been pushing Congress to move on an overhaul all summer. Cue Republicans to send the fear-meter into the red.

Local town hall meetings have turned into brawls and shouting matches, with conservatives showing up with signs and screaming SOCIALISM at every news camera in site. One woman was weeping uncontrollably about how she "wanted America back" as if it had been wrenched from her arms. And because crazy loves crazy, the right wingers praised their own messiah Sarah Palin, who decried the "death panels" Obama would be setting up to decide who lives or dies under his fascist health care plan.

The misinformation spread by frothing idiots like Hannity, Limbaugh and Beck on the radio and Fox "fear-monger central" News about America "losing its freedom" is straight out of the Republican playbook on how to scare a nation into submission. They're going to let old people die, strip them of Medicare, your insurance will be taken away and given to illegal immigrants and on and on the lies go.

Obama has repeatedly stated that Americans who like their health care plan can keep it with no changes. How many times does he have to say it? Since there are five different plans floating around the Capitol, it's hard to get a handle on just what might be in the final draft, but I think we can safely rule out "death panels" and old people dying in the street for lack of care.

The right wingers continually cite the UK's National Health Service as a giant failure. Many Britons would beg to differ. The NHS is not perfect, but everyone -- EVERYONE -- gets medical care for free. The Guardian had a great piece in yesterday's edition where it takes the right wing's claims about the NHS and dismantles most of it or gives the facts, which Republicans are distorting in mailed and televised propaganda. Read the article here.

In my opinion, Republicans and conservatives don't want health care reform. They get big money from drug companies and healthy people make for more active, educated people who might upset the power balance. There's a little racism thrown in, too, but that's another post for another day. More than 40 million people in this country have no health care, but these wingnuts screaming and crying at town hall meetings (coordinated by the right -- you betcha!) don't give a damn.

Obama is exactly right that insurance companies are holding this country hostage and rationing health care. He needs to keep hammering that message home and the next time he goes on TV, he needs to tell the Republicans to roll their fear-mongering tactics up tight and cram it.

Conquering Venus & Me

My box of author copies arrived today. This terrible photo doesn't do the cover justice. It's a deep, warm vanilla sky and the clouds seem to glow. Many, many thanks to Vanilla Heart and Kimberlee Williams for doing such a beautiful job with Conquering Venus!

Poets On Twitter 2.0

In May, I posted the first Poets on Twitter list in response to the Mashable.com list of 100 writers on Twitter, which didn't include any poets. That list brought thousands (more than 4,000 in just two days) to Modern Confessional and prompted publisher Didi Menendez to suggest we co-edit an edition of OCHO literary magazine featuring poets on Twitter. It was an amazing experience.

Of course, there were many poets who didn't make the list or who weren't on Twitter at the time. This list is by no means complete, and if I overlooked you -- all apologies. I used the same criteria as the last list: individual poets who identify themselves by their real name and are actively tweeting. Following the denial-of-service attack on Thursday, Twitter has been acting up and some folks accounts no longer seem to be active. If that's the case, let me know and I'll make sure to add you.

There are familiar names here and not-so-familiar names. That's what the list is for -- to introduce poets of all sorts. So, without further ado: Poets on Twitter 2.0

January O'Neil: @januaryoneil

Joseph Quintela: @josephquintela

Martha Silano: @marthasilano

Robin Kemp: @profkemp

Robert Peake: @peakepoetics

Pamela Ross: @writerross

Mary Cronin: @maryecronin

Jason Davis: @jazzone

Cara A. Mulheron: @rainbowmagick

Leslie DeJesus Marson: @phatgyrl

Allen Taylor: @worldclasspoet

Jacob Sam-La Rose: @jsamlarose

Liz Harward: @labgal

Chris Twitery: @christwitery

Anthony C. Howe: @sirwumpus

Alberto J. Trevino: @atetal

Guy Vincent: @guy_vincent

Phil Boiarski: @boiarski

John Ladd: @paradisetossed

Kerry Slavens: @kerryslavens

Brian Pike: @paiku

Kristy Westendorp: @bettieboudoir

Dave Morris: @davemorrisisa

Jake Adam York: @jakeadamyork

Julie Bloemeke: @juliebloemeke

Rebecca Loudon: @rloudon

Sam Rasnake: @samrasnake

Brian Campbell: @passengerflight

Diane Lockward: @dianelock

Barbara Jane Reyes: @bjanepr

Larry "Lorenzo" Fish: @theamericanpoet

Jon London: @jonlondonpoet

Carolee Sherwood: @caroleesherwood

Bernard Fraely: @bernfraley

Melissa Fondakowski: @mfondakowski

Dana Guthrie Martin: @mygorgeous

Mike Dockins: @sloucher72

Patrique Vosges: @patriquevosges

Paul Badger: @paulpoetry

Nathan Deen: @braindog242

Carmen Palmer: @carmencpalmer

Edward Byrne: @edwardbyrne

Suzanne Frischkorn: @litwindowpane

David-Matthew Barnes: @xoxodmb

Belinda Subraman: @belindasubraman

Theresa Davis: @piraterockstar

M. Kei: @kujakupoet

Jeffrey Thomson: @jeffreythomson

Stephen S. Mills: @stephenscott22

Bryan Borland: @poeticgrin

Alonzo Rumfelt: @homericgeek

Ellen Hopkins: @ellenhopkinsya

Courtney Ray: @melancholyroot

Jen Campbell: @yellowstring

Gillian Sze: @gilliansze

Eduardo Ribeiro: @edoowado

Francis Scud: @franscud

Bernadette Geyer: @bernadettegeyer

JC Reilly: @aishatonu

Heidi Colthup: @heidi_colthup

Keith Wilson: @robottomulatto

Julie Dill: @gatewaygroupie

Stephanie L. Brown: @1stephzen

Anne Boyer: @anne_boyer

Peter Ciccariello: @ciccariello

If you want to be on the Poets on Twitter 3.0 list, which will post before the end of the year, leave your name and @name in the comments.

Conquering Venus out now!

Conquering Venus is now in stock at Amazon.com in both the print and Kindle editions. Vanilla Heart also alerted me that it's been shipped to the distributors, including Ingram and Baker & Taylor.

While some bookstores will have the novel on their shelves, I encourage all of you to ask your local bookseller to stock Conquering Venus to make it more widely available.

Also, please rate and review the novel at Amazon.com to help improve the sales rank and make it more noticeable to potential readers. Even if it's just a few lines, every review helps.

A nearly 15-year dream is finally realized. I hope you enjoy the novel and look forward to hearing your thoughts.

We have embarked...

Issues with Amazon

If you pre-ordered a copy of Conquering Venus from Amazon.com, you might receive a message today telling you that it is unavailable and that action is required on your part to keep your order active. Amazon is dragging its feet in getting the book listed as available -- it was supposed to be out yesterday -- and is now sending out this automated message. If you receive this email, please click the link and keep your order active. Vanilla Heart is working (as much as one can work with Amazon) to try and get the book listed in the system so orders can be fulfilled. My apologies for the delay, and thank you for your patience and support.

Solar Anus reading tonight

If you're in Atlanta tonight and show up at Beep Beep Gallery at 7 p.m., you might -- just might -- hear a chapter from Conquering Venus. I'll be reading with the talented Ben Tanzer at the hilariously named Solar Anus series, which is named after the surrealist text of George Bataille. My ass is on fire just thinking about it.

No Paula, No Idol

Paula Abdul tweeted last night that she's not coming back to American Idol for its ninth season in 2010. Shortly thereafter, Fox confirmed it. Immediately afterwards, I decided not to recap Idol on Modern Confessional next year. 

The decision does not weigh totally with Paula's departure (although that sealed the deal), but because my schedule won't allow it. I'll be doing a good bit of touring and promotion for Conquering Venus, plus working on the sequel. Devoting two -- and sometimes three -- nights a week to the show is no longer possible. As I've stated the last two seasons, I also believe Idol has run its course. While Adam Lambert added a much-needed jolt to the proceedings, his loss was disappointing, but I'm sure Fox isn't ready to kill the cash cow just yet. 

Paula's antics on Idol -- drunken, pill-induced or just plain loopiness -- were an integral part of the entertainment factor. On many nights, she was the only entertainment. I rag on Paula, but I also love her crazy ass. The show will not be the same without her. Why Fox wouldn't pony up more cash, after throwing insane millions at Simon and Miss Seacrest, is beyond me. Apparently, they were able to get useless Kara DioLaguardiaAirport back for chump-change. There are rumors floating around the blogosphere that Paula might become a judge on Dancing With the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance. I hope she lands somewhere soon.

Update on ebook versions of Conquering Venus

The Kindle edition of Conquering Venus has been taken down because of formatting issues. As soon as it's available, I will post the info again.

In the meantime, you can download the novel now from these ebook sites:

• Scribd
  
• Omnilit
• Smashwords

Seth Abramson, Steve Fellner, MFA programs...

Step right up, kids, because there's another dust up in po'biz land. No, this isn't another "death of poetry" proclamation (that's next week), but a blog kurfluffle with threats of lawsuits and claims of corruption, evil and tainted ethics. It's practically dark-sided.

In one corner you have poet/attorney Seth Abramson, who has started a consulting firm to help MFA candidates polish their submissions to the glut of writing programs, and received his MFA at Iowa, which, if you believe everything you read on the blogosphere, is the Death Star. In the opposite corner is poet Steve Fellner, who critiques other poets on his blog and has enough axes to grind to keep whetstones turning night and day in every barn across the nation. Fellner called Abramson's consulting firm "evil" then took the post down for fear of a lawsuit. Abramson said his feelings were hurt. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...blah.

As usual, the voice of reason in this current teapot tempest is poet Barbara Jane Reyes. Every writer should have this statement posted over their desk:

No one needs a MFA in order to become a writer. If you do not believe you are a writer, a MFA will not make you into one. If you are an average writer, perhaps a MFA program can help you become a sound, competent writer. There is no reason to foment hysteria and anxiety about the MFA — it’s just a degree — unless you got a panacea to peddle to the frothing masses.

Now I must return to my "aggressive self-promotion" of Conquering Venus. Kisses, Eduardo.

Conquering Venus blog is live

Conquering Venus has its own blog, and you can read the prologue and first chapter right now. I'l be posting additional content on a regular basis, including photos, links, videos and other stuff to help set the mood for the release. The novel went to the printer yesterday!

In other related news, I'll be reading at Savannah College of Art and Design on Feb. 5, 2010. Still waiting to hear from the other bookstores about signings/readings for the fall.