Writing Update: Advent & L.L. Barkat

A couple of months ago I was contacted by Christine Sine, who helps run Mustard Seed Associates, about being a contributor to the Advent devotional they were producing, Waiting for the Light. I readily accepted, and my short essay on Advent is Day 1 in the devotional; quite an honor I think. More honorable than that is the company of other authors on the project: Julie Clawson, Kathy Escobar, Kimberlee Conway Ireton, Ed Cyzweski, JR Woodward, Tim Morey, Jamie Arpin-Ricci, and Tom & Christine Sine. So many of these people are authors I respect, and to be in their company is a really big deal for me.

About the devotional:

Christians of all traditions are discovering the value of taking time in the days that lead up to Christmas to break away from the consumer frenzy of our culture and prepare their hearts and minds for the coming of Christ. This resource responds to this desire. It is more than a devotional, it is a complete guide to the Advent and Christmas season, providing liturgies, weekly activities and daily reflections to equip and nourish us all through the season.

Pre-order before November 15th at the special price of $13 (includes S&H)!

Also published today is my interview with L.L. Barkat on The Other Journal‘s Mediation blog. We discuss her publishing venture, T.S. Poetry Press, and how the world of publishing is changing. An excerpt:

Digital publishing, in the hands of experienced authors who have connections, in the hands of experienced editors who know how to bring a book to print, is changing the game. It can still be Createspace, but when the book arrives to the buyer, she will absolutely know the difference. The quality of the writing, the art, the endorsements will all say this is not vanity; it is something to be regarded.

And because this can be done at a fraction of the cost (without funding warehouses, inventory and royalties systems, fulfillment and distribution), well, the “small” press has much bigger opportunities than ever before.

You can read the rest of the interview here.

And a side note: speaking of L.L. Barkat, her press has an awesome service called Every Day Poems. For $1 a year you get a poem every week day sent to your inbox, curated around rotating themes throughout the year. Today my poem, “October Forth, in Manhattan,” is published in Every Day Poems. To see it and other poems throughout the year for the amazingly low price of $1 just click here to subscribe.