I recently reviewed David Tomaloff's new chapbook, "Exit Strategies", for Prick of the Spindle. I'd highly suggest reading the chapbook, which is available online for free!
CLICK HERE to read "Exit Strategies".
In this short collection of six conceptually and stylistically linked prose poems, David Tomaloff asks us to set aside our notions of reality in favor of his reimagined world of melting knives, neglectful wolves, revenge-seeking seas, and murderous punctuation marks. It turns out setting aside preconceived reality is easy when guided by the right hand.CLICK HERE to read the full review.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Rumi Prize for Poetry Finalist
I'm honored that my work was a Finalist in Arts & Letter's Rumi Prize for Poetry. My sincere thanks to the editors and judges of this year's contest...
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Spring Edition of Poetry Quarterly is here...and it's FREE
Spring 2011 Edition of Poetry Quarterly is now available both in print and FREE on their website. I'm honored that includes one of my poems.
CLICK HERE to give it a read!
CLICK HERE to give it a read!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Interview
The Knives Forks and Spoons Press interviewed me about process, tropes, and all assorted goodies pertaining to my new chapbook they just released, The Art of Raining.
Just posted it to their blog. Click HERE to give it a read!
Just posted it to their blog. Click HERE to give it a read!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Art of Raining is out now!
My newest chapbook, The Art of Raining, is now available for purchase through The Knives Forks and Spoons Press. Click on the link to order. It's on their home page.
The book is going to print within the week, so hopefully the hard copies will be in my hands soon. It's 5 pounds (it's a UK press) or around $8.
I'd be honored if you'll give it a read!
The book is going to print within the week, so hopefully the hard copies will be in my hands soon. It's 5 pounds (it's a UK press) or around $8.
I'd be honored if you'll give it a read!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Art/Words Reading
Object Stories
Portland Art Museum- 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Friday, May 27
6:00 P - 7:00 P
Throughout the Portland Museum galleries, listen to local wordsmiths from the community as they share their stories, poetry, and short fiction in front of art objects that inspired these writings. Participants may include members of Write Around Portland, Literary Arts’ Writers in the Schools, and the Portland State University writing program.
I'll be reading my poem "Sleepless Harbor".
More info: CLICK HERE.
Portland Art Museum- 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Friday, May 27
6:00 P - 7:00 P
Throughout the Portland Museum galleries, listen to local wordsmiths from the community as they share their stories, poetry, and short fiction in front of art objects that inspired these writings. Participants may include members of Write Around Portland, Literary Arts’ Writers in the Schools, and the Portland State University writing program.
I'll be reading my poem "Sleepless Harbor".
More info: CLICK HERE.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Autobiography of Fever to be published in summer 2011
My experiment with longer poems, Autobiography of Fever, has been accepted for late summer 2011 publication by Bedouin Books as part of their annual poetry series.
I'm particularly honored as Bedouin only releases one chapbook each year.
Bedouin is putting together a launch party, perhaps in September. Details to follow...
Friday, April 29, 2011
Barnwood International
I'm honored to find one of my new poems in this issue of Barnwood International, a journal I've enjoyed for years. The poem is part of my nearly-completed book, Controlled Hallucinations.
Click HERE to give it a read!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
First review of my chapbook: The Longest Compass
By Paul Merchant- poet, translator, professor, William Stafford archivist
Donald Rumsfeld was frustrated by the "old Europe," where history is made gradually rather than in haste. By contrast, John Sibley Williams has gathered in The Longest Compass a sequence of poems celebrating those mature cultures. Moving from Vienna and Prague to Turkey and Greece, these subtle, perceptive poems enact a journey into a hard-won appreciation. They move from the bewilderment of "flowers without names" and "the wilderness below the surface" to gracious acceptance in the final poem, "Foreigner": "Comfort me, ignorance. / All these tongues / detach, reunite, / roll me in their mouth."
The early poems in this collection are illuminated by love for the poet's companion, and by the end we see the same love expressed in particulars: "Imagine mastering a landscape, even a single stairway." This poet has a tender heart, and can turn a memorable phrase. "Why fret the vastness of the world?" he says in the prefatory poem, in which "the world / fits snugly an eye socket, / is the size of the last dime / in your pocket / you've been saving / to quench your thirst." These poems have traveled a long way, and come to us loaded with experience. The Longest Compass is full of fresh and novel poems that unpack old secrets.
- - - - - - -
The Longest Compass is due out later in 2011 by Finishing Line Press.
Donald Rumsfeld was frustrated by the "old Europe," where history is made gradually rather than in haste. By contrast, John Sibley Williams has gathered in The Longest Compass a sequence of poems celebrating those mature cultures. Moving from Vienna and Prague to Turkey and Greece, these subtle, perceptive poems enact a journey into a hard-won appreciation. They move from the bewilderment of "flowers without names" and "the wilderness below the surface" to gracious acceptance in the final poem, "Foreigner": "Comfort me, ignorance. / All these tongues / detach, reunite, / roll me in their mouth."
The early poems in this collection are illuminated by love for the poet's companion, and by the end we see the same love expressed in particulars: "Imagine mastering a landscape, even a single stairway." This poet has a tender heart, and can turn a memorable phrase. "Why fret the vastness of the world?" he says in the prefatory poem, in which "the world / fits snugly an eye socket, / is the size of the last dime / in your pocket / you've been saving / to quench your thirst." These poems have traveled a long way, and come to us loaded with experience. The Longest Compass is full of fresh and novel poems that unpack old secrets.
- - - - - - -
The Longest Compass is due out later in 2011 by Finishing Line Press.
Monday, April 25, 2011
John Sibley Williams: Agent & Publicist
Dear fellor writers and friends,
To help support emerging and established poets and writers, especially those in our shared local community, I have set up a marketing and publicity agency geared toward those who want to ensure that their work reaches the largest possible audience, that their manuscript find publication, and that they have time to simply write without the burden of everything else involved in the publishing process.
More information can be found at www.johnsibleywilliams.wordpress.com.
Warmly,
John Sibley Williams
Bio:
John Sibley Williams is a poet and agent/publicist residing in Portland, OR. He has two Master’s Degrees (Creative Writing and Book Publishing) and has served as Acquisitions Manager of Ooligan Press and freelance agent/publicist for Three Muses Press, Carpe Articulum Literary Review, HoboEye, and individual authors. John has also worked with organizations, such as the Regional Arts and Culture Council.
His poetry was nominated for the 2009 Pushcart Prize and won the 2011 Heart Poetry Award. His chapbooks include A Pure River (The Last Automat Press, 2010), Door, Door (Red Ochre Press, 2011), From Colder Climates (Folded Word, forthcoming), The Longest Compass (Finishing Line Press, forthcoming), and The Art of Raining (The Knives Forks and Spoons Press, forthcoming). Some of his over 200 previous or upcoming publications include: The Evansville Review, RHINO, Rosebud, Ellipsis, Flint Hills Review, and Poetry Quarterly. John cofounded the Inflectionist poetry movement and works with the Moonlit Poetry Caravan critique group. He frequently performs his poetry and hosts discussions and workshops. His schedule is listed on his site, The Art of Raining.com.
To help support emerging and established poets and writers, especially those in our shared local community, I have set up a marketing and publicity agency geared toward those who want to ensure that their work reaches the largest possible audience, that their manuscript find publication, and that they have time to simply write without the burden of everything else involved in the publishing process.
More information can be found at www.johnsibleywilliams.wordpress.com.
Warmly,
John Sibley Williams
Bio:
John Sibley Williams is a poet and agent/publicist residing in Portland, OR. He has two Master’s Degrees (Creative Writing and Book Publishing) and has served as Acquisitions Manager of Ooligan Press and freelance agent/publicist for Three Muses Press, Carpe Articulum Literary Review, HoboEye, and individual authors. John has also worked with organizations, such as the Regional Arts and Culture Council.
His poetry was nominated for the 2009 Pushcart Prize and won the 2011 Heart Poetry Award. His chapbooks include A Pure River (The Last Automat Press, 2010), Door, Door (Red Ochre Press, 2011), From Colder Climates (Folded Word, forthcoming), The Longest Compass (Finishing Line Press, forthcoming), and The Art of Raining (The Knives Forks and Spoons Press, forthcoming). Some of his over 200 previous or upcoming publications include: The Evansville Review, RHINO, Rosebud, Ellipsis, Flint Hills Review, and Poetry Quarterly. John cofounded the Inflectionist poetry movement and works with the Moonlit Poetry Caravan critique group. He frequently performs his poetry and hosts discussions and workshops. His schedule is listed on his site, The Art of Raining.com.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Poets and Artists!
Poets and Artists has just published two of my poems with accompanying audio recordings on their online journal.
Click HERE to give them a read and listen! They're listed on the right sidebar.
Click HERE to give them a read and listen! They're listed on the right sidebar.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Delinquent- Issue 14
Issue 14 of The Delinquent, a UK-based publisher of short stories and poetry, is now available for purchase as a $1.50 download or $5 print edition! It's an attractive, 118 page book, containing two of my poems.
CLICK HERE to give it a read!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The Trouble With Resonance XIX
I recently rediscovered a chapbook manuscript I was working on a year or two ago, tweaked and edited it, and began submitting portions of it this morning to various journals. The book is titled "The Trouble With Resonance" and is a very experimental work based on human attempts to approach the mathematically-impossible concept of squaring a circle and realizing in architecture and art nature's Golden Ratio. Definitions of these are below.
Good news? Within a few hours, Calliope Nerve accepted and published the last poem in the collection, Section XIX. CLICK HERE to give it a read!
Squaring a circle: Ancient geometers have proved impossible the task of precisely converting the area of a circle into a square in a finite number of steps with a compass and straightedge. As pi is a transcendental number, squaring is doomed to non-perfect accuracy, though man will never cease his attempts.
Golden Ratio: Two quantities are in the golden ratio if the ratio between the sum of those quantities and the larger one is the same as the ratio between the larger one and the smaller. In mathematics, it is the best known irrational constant. In the arts, this proportion is historically considered harmonious and aesthetically pleasing, spurring entire artistic and scientific movements.
Good news? Within a few hours, Calliope Nerve accepted and published the last poem in the collection, Section XIX. CLICK HERE to give it a read!
Squaring a circle: Ancient geometers have proved impossible the task of precisely converting the area of a circle into a square in a finite number of steps with a compass and straightedge. As pi is a transcendental number, squaring is doomed to non-perfect accuracy, though man will never cease his attempts.
Golden Ratio: Two quantities are in the golden ratio if the ratio between the sum of those quantities and the larger one is the same as the ratio between the larger one and the smaller. In mathematics, it is the best known irrational constant. In the arts, this proportion is historically considered harmonious and aesthetically pleasing, spurring entire artistic and scientific movements.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Psychic Meatloaf Issue 3 out now!
Issue 3 of Psychic Meatloaf is now available! I'm honored that it contains two of my poems. Similarly, I had work published in Issue 2, and the poetry in this journal is often quite striking and the voices unique. I'd suggest picking one up, and certainly not just for my work!
CLICK HERE to order a copy!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
BluePrint
When BluePrintReview editor, Dorothee Lang, discovered that two pairs of Issue 27 collaborators (Farfel Lombard with Rosemary Lombard and Staci Cole and I) lived in the Portland, Oregon, area and that Rosemary and I were friends, she suggested we blog about it. In fact, I was recently honored to present a discussion on my poetry process to Last Monday Poetry, which Rosemary co-directs.
Both Rosemary and I got the idea to submit from a mutual friend, Anatoly Molotkov (fine poet, novelist, musician, artist), when he posted the journal information on Facebook. If, back at submittal time we had mentioned sending our work to BluePrintReview, we wouldn't have been so surprised when it converged in a journal on the other side of the far ocean.
----------
Process:
The artwork for “Overtures” had already been completed by Staci Cole. When I saw the piece, I felt an immediate emotional resonance and also believed there was a story hidden within it— the ambiguity of poetry and concreteness of fiction. I set out to compose a poem wholly within my own style, using my own tropes, that both matched the mood of the piece and provided it with a literary context.
We have used this process on another work together and hope to eventually build a hybrid chapbook series of art/poem conversations similar to “Overtures”. Staci is also working on the cover art for my upcoming chapbook, The Longest Compass, due out late 2011/early 2012 by Finishing Line Press.
Both Rosemary and I got the idea to submit from a mutual friend, Anatoly Molotkov (fine poet, novelist, musician, artist), when he posted the journal information on Facebook. If, back at submittal time we had mentioned sending our work to BluePrintReview, we wouldn't have been so surprised when it converged in a journal on the other side of the far ocean.
----------
Process:
The artwork for “Overtures” had already been completed by Staci Cole. When I saw the piece, I felt an immediate emotional resonance and also believed there was a story hidden within it— the ambiguity of poetry and concreteness of fiction. I set out to compose a poem wholly within my own style, using my own tropes, that both matched the mood of the piece and provided it with a literary context.
We have used this process on another work together and hope to eventually build a hybrid chapbook series of art/poem conversations similar to “Overtures”. Staci is also working on the cover art for my upcoming chapbook, The Longest Compass, due out late 2011/early 2012 by Finishing Line Press.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
My Chapbook Door, Door is now out!
I'm honored to announce my e-chapbook, Door, Door, is now available for FREE pdf viewing via Red Ochre Lit.
Click HERE to give it a read!
Door, Door is a 5-poem chapbook with a specific structure and theme and investigation (or so it seems to me).
I truly hope you enjoy it.
And do contact me (jswilliams1307@gmail.com) if you'd like a limited edition, signed and numbered, hand-made version of Door, Door. I only made 30 of them to provide at my readings, but I'd love for them to fly both near and far. Only $3 to cover the cost of materials.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
From Colder Climates- my new chapbook
I’m honored that Folded Word Press has just accepted my chapbook, From Colder Climates, for late 2011 publication!
It will be published as a ‘Green’ print edition, which is a cost-effective and earth-friendly hand-made edition, as well in e-chapbook format. I’d like to thank the editors for their incredibly kind words and support.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Psychic Meatloaf Isse 3
Psychic Meatloaf has just accepted two of my newer poems for publication in Issue 3, due out online and in print April 2011. They were kind enough to publish my work in Issue 2 also, so I'm particularly excited to create a lasting relationship with the press. I'll let you know when the issue is out.
Friday, March 25, 2011
The 100th Monkey Studio art opening and reading
To kick off the opening of The 100th Monkey Studio's new art exhibition, Recycle Reuse, A. Molotkov, David Cooke, Bruce Greene, and I will be presenting our poetry, likely with musical accompanyment. Come by to check out the new exhibition, stay for the poetry...
When: Friday, April 1, 7-9pm
Where: The 100th Monkey Studio
110 Southeast 16th Avenue, Portland, OR
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Accents Publishing
Accents Publishing has just accepted two of my short poems for inclusion in their new anthology! It will be both in print and online beginning later in 2011.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Henniker Review
The Henniker Review, a journal of art and literature from New England College, has just accepted my poem "Traveling Through the Rust Belt" for publication in their 2010-2011 annual print edition! Details to follow when it's released.
Door, Door- My new chapbook!
I'm honored to announce the upcoming publication of my new e-chapbook! Door, Door is a 5 poem chapbook to be published in April 2011 by Red Ochre Press.
It will be available in a free online pdf format from the Press (click HERE).
I will also be hand-making a limited edition version of Door, Door, available soon. It will only be $3, simply to cover the cost of materials. Please let me know if you'd like one!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Symmetry Pebbles
Symmetry Pebbles, an online poetry journal for edgy, risk-taking poetry, has just published three of my poems in their latest issue, just out today.
Click HERE to read the poems!
Click HERE to read the poems!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Calliope Nerve
Calliope Nerve, an online venue for exciting, edgy poetry and chapbooks, has just published 5 of my poems. They're part of my ongoing, book-length series titled Controlled Hallucinations.
Click HERE to read them!
Monday, March 14, 2011
BluePrint Review
BluePrint Review, a online poetry and art journal in Germany, has accepted my poem "Overtures" for publication in Issue 27: Synergetic Transformations.
This piece was composed to be in conversation with an artistic piece created by Staci M. Cole, and both the artwork and poem will be published in this issue.
Last Monday Reading and Discussion
Here's the flyer for my upcoming reading/discussion in Hillsboro. Hope to see some of you there! Alongside the poetry reading, there will be a discussion about the process and perspective behind the process, a Q&A about publishing poetry, and an open mic!
Five Poetry Journal
Five Poetry Journal has just accepted three new poems for an upcoming online publication. The poems are part of my book length series titled Controlled Hallucinations, which use numbers instead of titles. However, the journal prefers titles, so time for some brainstorming...
I'll post when they're available for view...
I'll post when they're available for view...
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