Giveaway ends July 10, 2012.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Thanks to Scott Gast for the great interview about The Mountains and the Fathers. Here’s a short excerpt:
In the book’s prologue, you write, “In story we learn to live like human beings in the dark houses of our bodies.” I love that line—it’s the kind of sentence I’m tempted to write down, tear from my notebook, and pin on the wall. Can you say a bit about the power of story in your life?
My grandfather was a wonderful teller of tales. After Sunday dinner we’d all sit in the front room and read and talk until late. And no matter the topic at hand, my grandfather had a story for it, a story that deepened or turned or somehow complicated the conversation. There were seldom any morals, seldom any clear arguments or ideas. Yet the stories mattered; they were full of things to think on, to wonder at and hold close. And I did. I carried and still carry my grandfather’s stories.
My essay “All Apologies” is featured in the Spring 2012 issue of The Southern Review, which is, for my money, one of the best literary magazines in the country. Poetry Editor Jessica Faust had this to say about my essay:
Joe Wilkins, who sometimes contributes poetry to our pages, but this time has provided us with an honest and touching essay, “All Apologies,” writes about his relationship in high school with a friend named Justin, whose troubled family life eventually pushed him out town. The essay brilliantly captures the complexity of this moment in adolescence while also seamlessly weaving in the contemporary details of the era, grounded in Kurt Cobain’s lyrics, the words of another troubled soul whose genius would come to a tragic, too-soon close.
More good news! Killing the Murnion Dogs has been named a finalist for the 2012 High Plains Book Award in Poetry. The book festival and banquet, where they’ll announce the winner, will take place this coming October in Billings, Montana.
Very pleased to see that Killing the Murnion Dogs was named a finalist for the 2012 Paterson Poetry Prize. Next spring I’ll read with winner Dorianne Laux and fellow finalists Wanda Coleman, Martin Espada, Rachel Richardson, and Jason Schossler at the Poetry Center at Passaic Community College in Paterson, New Jersey
I’m a little late getting this posted, but review David Breithaupt has some lovely things to say about Killing the Murnion Dogs over at Newpages. From the review:
At his best, Wilkins recalls the rural flavor of Wendell Berry, but in a world all his own. Read him. This is your life; wrap your cracked hands around this book.
My poem “Anyone who has eyes for seeing should see” is up in the latest issue of the wonderful Mid-American Review, along with great new work by Claire McQuerry and Michael Robins.
Some good words on The Mountain and the Fathers from The Scapper Poet!
My poem Rain Ghazal is up at the Black Lawrence Press blog for National Poetry Month. And check out the great book sale they’re running this month, too!
Thanks to largehearted boy, you can download the official The Mountain and the Fathers playlist here for your listening and reading pleasure!
joewilkins.org 