I promise to not let this blog descend into a series of irregular announcements, but it’s been a busy couple months. More meaningful posts to follow, including a revival of the poem-of-the-week posts, informal reviews of books I’ve been reading, and general poetry-filled rambling.

But for now, two announcements:

1) Congratulations to Lynn Shapiro — her poem “Sloan-Kettering” from this winter’s issue has won a 2007 Pushcart Prize, and will appear in the anthology this November. As I mentioned before, this was the first poem she ever published, which I just find amazing — what a talent. It also serves as further proof that Bill Henderson and the rest of the editors really do read what we nominate, looking for good poems and not just good names. It’s no wonder the anthology is always such a pleasure to read.

In the last couple months we’ve had poems chosen for BAP, the Pushcart, and Poetry Daily. Pretty nice little run.

2) May 28th, Memorial Day – Small Press Fair at The Church In Ocean Park

RATTLE will join a dozen other local presses in presenting a day of literature. We’ll have a table with flyers, postcards, and copies of the new summer issue. Stop by at any time in the day to meet the editors. At 5pm we’ll be hosting a short reading of RATTLE contributors. The lineup so far (plus possible surprise guests):

Michelle Bitting
Dale Griffiths Stamos
Gabrielle Mittelbach
Michelle Margolis
Manuel Paul Lopez

Details from the organizer: The Church In Ocean Park Second Annual Small Press Festival & Convention, a day of readings, talks, seminars, displays and sales; last year’s participants included Cahuenga Press, Sybaritic Press, Solo Press, and Lummox Press, along with many other local and regional small presses, several of whom are already committed to this year’s bash; following the keynote opening address, each publisher is encouraged to give a short talk, introductory to their reading segment, on their history, philosophy, and vision. The Church In Ocean Park, corner of Hill Street and 2nd Street, Santa Monica, donation, wheelchair accessible, refreshments, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 (contact: Fred Whitlock, 310/828-3951, fredheart@juno.com; small parking lot on the north side of the street between 2nd & 3rd Streets; parking in the beach lots, quarter-block west of Main Street, $1.00/hour to ten hours, free parking from 4th Street east)

The Church In Ocean Park
235 Hill Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
10:30am-6:00pm