Find Us On Facebook
Here Knox Gardner, our January featured poet at adozennothing.com/, gives us a quick tour of an incredible scene:
What other Seattle poets are you loving right now?
Oh, lord. We have an abundance, right? I want to meet regional poets outside of Seattle. I gotta say that for me, as a publisher, that is what is exciting and also necessary. Ian Boyden’s first book, A Forest of Names, should have been on every list of best 2020 books. We are doing a project with Tacoma/Bellingham writer Robert Lashley. He’ll have a new book with Blue Cactus press later this year that I am really looking forward to. I am super intrigued by Cedar Sigo, who publishes with Wave. Let me see. Out in Port Townsend, Matthew Nienow. Nothing like what I would write, but I love his work. It is so aurally sensuous and of our place. Spokane has an incredible literary scene for a city of the size. Kathryn Smith and Laura Read are out there. We have a few Spokane authors we’ve worked with, Maya Jewell Zeller and Kate Lebo. Jesus, to get on Kate Lebo’s jam mailings. I love our events in Spokane, as it feels like being held by the community. I really would like us to have more Oregon and BC writers. Dao Strom in Portland is doing incredible work, and we are subscribers to the Fonograph project, who just put out a new book/recording by her. I don’t know enough Oregon writers. Ed Skoog whom I know from here, but now lives in Portland. John Beer! His Robert Lax work is necessary stuff. We have been a few times to the Airstream Poetry Festival put on by Mother Foucault’s book store, but I can often be shy when not behind my computer. At least with poets.
Ok, but what about Seattle?
Ha! Right. Well, Don Mee Choi. I was so excited for her to win the National book award. She is making books like I have never experienced, brave intense work. Work I would aspire toward. I honestly think our own author, Melinda Mueller is one of Seattle’s best writers and entirely under the radar. Truly a poet that reorganizes how one can be in the world.
EJ Koh had lovely moments in her first book. Jane Wong, Anastasia Renee, oh Sarah Galvin is fantastic to see live. Bill Carty’s first book, Huge Cloudy— and here is a funny, tragic thing. We are sharing an office, and I was so looking forward to learning more from Bill, but he started subletting right before the pandemic, and I have barely seen him.
The Poet Salon by Gabrielle Bates, Luther Hughes, and Dujie Tahat. That’s always a good listen.