What? Another Zoom launch? But you just had one
Posted by Jeff on Jun 7th, 2022 in News | 0 commentsJune is a busy month. Busy, busy, busy, as the Bokononists say.
It’s been so busy that I didn’t even get a chance to update this website blog until almost a week into the month. Still recovering from a ten-day jaunt in Nashville and other places in mid-May, performing poetry and seeing all the sights I could handle.
First up, this Friday:
I’ll be hosting a live Zoom chat with my friend Skylar J. Wynter and her artist, Neshka Turner, about their new collaborative book SHINE.
The only catch is: it starts at 6:00 p.m. Western Australia time. This means that those of us in North America have to get up at a silly time to catch it (6:00 a.m. EST / 3:00 a.m. PST). If you’re in the U.K., you can watch if you’re not at work Friday morning (11:00 a.m.). Such is the complexity of globalization.
Register for a free ticket at this link.
But it’s not the only Zoom event for which I have to get up at that time this month.
On July 1, Dragonfly Publishing is hosting a launch for both SHINE and my own novel, Hate Story. Hosted by Lisa Wolstenholme, with special guest performers Special K (from Richmond, Virginia) and Paul R. Kohn (from Perth).
I know – I already had a Zoom launch for Hate Story in March.
But while that was at a reasonable time for North America and Europe folks, it was at a silly time for Australians, and Dragonfly is an Australian press. So this will be at a more sensible Australian time.
But wait… there’s more!
This weekend, I’ll have a table at the famous Word On The Street outdoor book festival, which is back in Queen’s Park after a long pandemic absence.
Look for me in Indie Alley, at Booth E21A. I’ll be selling copies not only of Hate Story, but also of my 2015 CD This Album Is NIT FENNY!. Hopefully, for the love of Bob, it won’t rain. Here’s a map if you need it.
I think that’s all for now. More fun events coming in August. Stay tuned.
Here’s some Kate Bush for the kids:
Happy spring.
April news brings May shoes
Posted by Jeff on Apr 2nd, 2022 in News | 0 commentsIt’s here!
Hate Story is now officially available for purchase. Look for my debut novel on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booktopia (Australia) and other online booksellers. If you can’t be bothered to search on your own, please refer to my last blog entry for some links.
If you missed the big Zoom launch party on March 19, you missed a damn good time.
But you can still watch it! I’ve uploaded the recording to YouTube:
I forgot to mention last month that I was recently interviewed on the podcast Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing, hosted by Mark Leslie Lefebvre. We discussed Hate Story, spoken word, and the dangers of bad writing workshops. Listen here (the actual interview begins at about 14:45):
And The South Shore Review just posted a review of my book… by Paul Shoreditch!
Yes, the fictional dead guy from the novel wrote the review. Read it here.
And… I also have publication news.
An excerpt from my poem “Vanilla Ice Cream People” is going to appear in this year’s Brownstone Poets anthology (based in Brooklyn), due for publication in June.
And I also have some work in The Five Words XV, put out by the Ó Bhéal poetry series in Cork, Ireland. This is an annual anthology of entries from the series’ Five Words competition… in which you write a poem on the spot containing five words suggested by the audience. (Sort of like poetry improv.)
The official launch for this anthology is on April 11, in a hybrid event (i.e. both live and on Zoom). I’m not entirely sure I can make the launch, as it’s at 3:30 p.m. EST, when I’m supposed to be in the office at my day job… but we’ll see.
Anything else?
Oh, at least one book fair in June. Maybe two. More on that later.
I’ll leave you with a brief audio flashback to the days when Saturday Night Live was still somewhat funny.
Have a happy.
Something’s coming. Something good.
Posted by Jeff on Mar 5th, 2022 in News | 0 commentsIt’s almost here!
Hate Story is coming!
Actually, in a way, it already is here.
My debut novel is currently available for pre-order, at the following links:
You may be sick of hearing about the big Zoom launch party, but it’s coming soon – two weeks from today.
Not only will this event promote Hate Story; it will also showcase a talented lineup of guest readers (and one musician). Canada, the U.K., Australia, the U.S. – we’ve got the world covered. Or at least, the English-speaking world. And there’ll be a movie quiz! You can win a free copy of the book.
And the Hate Story Blog Tour continues. I’ve made five stops so far:
“Jeff Cottrill on the inspiration for Hate Story” (Life with More Cowbell)
“Who’s That Girl? Meet Jackie Roberts” (LisaWolstenholme.com)
“Frank Capra: A Master of Comedy and Social Awareness” (Meet Me at the Soda Fountain)
“Exclusive! An Author Gets Interviewed… by His Character” (LizzieViolet.com)
“Hate Story: What’s Not to Love?”, blog review by Skylar J. Wynter (SkylarJWynter.com)
WHAT DID PAUL SHOREDITCH DO?
* * * * *
And if you can’t hold out until the 19th to see me read from my book…
The night before, I’m one of the performers in the Ad Lib Talent Show – Hybrid Edition. It’s both live, at the Arts and Letters Club in downtown Toronto, and on Zoom, and it’ll be my first in-person gig in more than two years. (This was supposed to take place in December, but got moved to Zoom-only because of the stupid Omicron variant.) More details to come.
I’ll leave you with this cool footage of the campus where I got my Master’s – but as it looked nearly a century ago:
Farewell.
Gestalt? I hardly even know Walt.
Posted by Jeff on Feb 5th, 2022 in News | 0 commentsGot another big Zoom feature later this month.
More on that below… but first:
WHAT DID PAUL SHOREDITCH DO?
My debut novel, Hate Story, is coming soon from Dragonfly Publishing.
As I mentioned in the last post, the official Zoom launch party is set for the afternoon (EST) of Saturday, March 19.
Remember a few years ago, when people were saying that Avengers: Infinity War was going to be the biggest crossover event in history?
Not anymore. We’ve got a bigger one here. How’s this for a lineup of guest performers?
SPOKEN WORD BY:
HEATHER BABCOCK (Toronto, Canada)
SKYLAR J. WYNTER (Perth, Australia)
SPECIAL K (Richmond, U.S.A.)
CATHY CARSON (Northern Ireland)
TIMOTHY CARTER (Toronto, Canada)
CLIVE OSEMAN (Swindon, England)
KELLY VAN NELSON (Sydney, Australia)
MUSIC BY:
JAMIE MCCORMICK (Scotland)
KRAKEN NOT STIRRED (Toronto, Canada)
That’s right. An international smorgasbord of art. (And Heather is going to be the official launcher too.)
If you can’t wait for the official launch: I’m currently on a “Blog Tour” to promote the book.
Here are the three stops I’ve already made:
“Jeff Cottrill on the inspiration for Hate Story” (Life with More Cowbell)
“Who’s That Girl? Meet Jackie Roberts” (LisaWolstenholme.com)
“Frank Capra: A Master of Comedy and Social Awareness” (Meet Me at the Soda Fountain)
*****
And now: I’m featuring at Gestalt Poetry (based in Nashville) in a few weeks.
Hosted by Amy Hoskins. It’s an open mic, so bring your own stuff too. More specific info on the right sidebar.
And since John Williams is celebrating his ninetieth birthday on Tuesday, here’s one of his many masterpieces.
Be nice and stuff, Mac. Bye.
Mark March 19 on your calendar. Now.
Posted by Jeff on Jan 17th, 2022 in News | 0 commentsHere’s why:
The official Zoom launch party.
Hosted by Lisa Wolstenholme of Dragonfly Publishing, with special guest readings/performances by Heather Babcock, Skylar J. Wynter, Timothy Carter, Kraken Not Stirred… and more TBA!
In the meantime, here’s another reminder that I’m going to be one of six readers in the next Paper Teller Diorama anthology reading on January 22.
My experimental poem “How to Make Money in Poetry” appeared in this book, put out last August by Great Weather for Media in New York City. The press has been holding monthly Zoom events, including this one, featuring readings from contributors. I’ll be joined by fellow poets SaraEve Fermin, Erica Hoffmeister, Myles Taylor, Andres Vaamonde and Carl Watson.
You can join the Zoom for this event… or you can watch it on Facebook Live. Either works.
And you can buy Paper Teller Diorama at this link.
And now, just because I feel like it:
Happy snow month.
I’m gonna be a real novelist! (finally)
Posted by Jeff on Jan 9th, 2022 in News | 0 commentsHappy new year and stuff.
The big news:
My novel Hate Story has been accepted by Dragonfly Publishing (a small press in Perth, Australia).
If things go as planned, my book should be available in paperback and e-book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones and other international online booksellers by the end of February.
Finally, the realization of a childhood dream. I’ve wanted to be a published novelist since I was about eight years old – it’s been a journey of forty years.
In a fair and just world, of course, I’d have accomplished this much sooner – say, fifteen or twenty years ago. I’m not supposed to be starting my novelist career now; I’m supposed to be a veteran with an impressive backlog of credibility behind me. But never mind about that now.
Mark March 19 on your calendar. Fun times will be had. More info to come.
In the meantime – I’m going to be one of six readers in the next Paper Teller Diorama anthology reading on January 22.
My experimental poem “How to Make Money in Poetry” appeared in this book, put out last August by Great Weather for Media in New York City. The press has been holding monthly Zoom events, including this one, featuring readings from contributors. I’ll be joined by fellow poets SaraEve Fermin, Erica Hoffmeister, Myles Taylor, Andres Vaamonde and Carl Watson.
You can join the Zoom for this event… or you can watch it on Facebook Live. Either works.
And you can buy Paper Teller Diorama at this link.
Since everybody’s sad about the (premature by three weeks) death of Betty White, here’s a great video of her in three live TV commercials from 1959 – preserved beautifully on colour videotape. I swear this looks as if it could have been taped in the ’90s, or even now:
Farewell, hello, farewell, hello.
Fire, dust, features, and a time for arriving
Posted by Jeff on Dec 4th, 2021 in News | 0 commentsHappy holidays and stuff.
With December comes not only Xmas and Hanukkah and the rest, but also three (3) (III) upcoming Zoom poetry gigs. When features come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.
1) Fire and Dust Digital (this Thursday)
Run by U.K. literary publication Here Comes Everyone, this is a monthly Zoom reading based in Coventry, England. There’s an open mic too, with the order determined by a random draw. To attend, register via the Eventbrite page.
2) The Word Is Write: Feature of the Features (December 18)
Marissa Prada’s Saturday night series is putting on a special holiday show that features… many of the features from the past year, including me.
3) Time to Arrive Open Mic (December 21)
Dane Ince runs a weekly Zoom series on Tuesday nights, with feature and open mic.
But that’s not all, folks.
I’m sure you know (assuming optimistically, of course, that anybody reads this website) that I’ve got a novel. Hate Story.
I was expecting to have the thing available on Amazon by now… and something’s come up. Might be a good thing, I don’t know. It might be a mirage in the desert. I have to be vague because I don’t want to jinx anything. Just rest assured that the book will be available sometime, somewhere.
For now, let’s look forward to the holidays. And let’s not exclude the Wookies.
See you in 2022.
First, we take Massachusetts, then we take Scotland. THEN Manhattan.
Posted by Jeff on Sep 26th, 2021 in News | 0 commentsLast month, I mentioned that I had a crazy whackload of online events coming up in October.
That has not changed. And I’ve started going to Zoom events again, but with hair grown on my head and face to cover the silly shingles blisters.
So the next Month of Jeff is going to go something like this:
1) First Friday Open Mic
I’m kicking off the month with a thirty-minute feature set at this series based in Swampscott, Massachusetts.
2) Like a Blot from the Blue
Only two days later, I get to be the headliner in this popular series based in Scotland, which attracts a lot of familiar faces in the international Zoom community.
3) Ad Lib’s Got Talent
Another one of these – a special Halloween edition.
4) Brownstone Poets
One of three featured readers at this long-running series in Brooklyn. This one requires pre-registration with a US$5 cover paid online.
(Fun fact – I’ve attended this series in real life… way back in 2011, I believe. I doubt they remember me.)
All of these events are also open mics, so bring something to share of your own. If you ain’t coming for me, come for your own exposure.
More, slightly bigger news coming later.
And now… ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty!
Happy Thanksoween.
What if Sean Connery were talking about a singles bar?
Posted by Jeff on Sep 5th, 2021 in News | 0 commentsThe shingles isn’t healing as quickly as I’d hoped, so I’m still holed up at home and even limiting the Zoom events I’m attending these days. When I do attend, I keep the camera off. It still looks as if I have bad acne. It’s not worse than it was before, but it’s hard to tell if it’s getting better. The areas that were in extreme pain three weeks ago now get near-painfully itchy at times.
The worst part is that I’ve had to bow out of several IRL events with friends to which I’d been looking forward – just as life is slowly returning back to normal in Ontario.
I’m giving the shingles another two weeks to clear up, because I have three performance events scheduled by the end of September… and one of them is a live one:
1) Spoken Word in the Park
My first IRL gig in more than a year and a half, on the 21st. Apparently it’s in a park, way way out in the west end of Toronto. And there’s an open mic. Really, that’s all I know. Assuming it doesn’t rain, I’ll read and/or perform a set of all-new material, most of which has barely been heard by Canadian audiences, if at all.
2) Ad Lib’s Got Talent
Damon Lum’s informal monthly series is back on Zoom on the 24th.
3) Bill’s Back at the Globe
An international group of poets, including some I know via Zoom, will be reading from Act I of William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus on the 25th. You can watch it on Facebook Live.
But wait, there’s more!
October is going to be another big month, because I have no less than three (3) international Zoom poetry gigs lined up. (Four, if you count another Ad Lib night.) When features come, they come not single spies, but in trios.
Details for all of the above on the right sidebar, with relevant links to be updated when available.
Here’s a song I hadn’t heard in well over thirty years and have become inexplicably obsessed with lately:
Happy Labour Day, Charlie Brown.
Anthology 2. Or, two anthologies
Posted by Jeff on Aug 22nd, 2021 in News | 0 commentsHi. Remember a few months ago, when I said that I was being published in a handful of literary anthologies this year?
Well, I wasn’t lying. I wouldn’t lie to you, you know. (Assuming anybody reads this and there’s a “you” there.)
And now, two more of these anthologies are out and available for sale.
This Tuesday night is the online launch party for Sinew: 10 Years of Poetry in the Brew. It even has a poster and everything.
(The theme of the anthology is “bodies”. Hence all the… bodies in the poster.)
This new book includes my silly prose poem “Kirschner’s Groovy Style”, along with works from many writers from around the world… including some whom I’ve met and gotten to know, virtually, through Zoom poetry events.
Click here to order a copy of Sinew.
You can also get it at Barnes & Noble and other sources. Yes, something I wrote is going to be sold in Barnes & Noble. Isn’t that sweet?
Details about the online launch, including a link, on the right sidebar.
I’ll be reading my piece… but with the camera off, unfortunately, due to illness. (Shingles.)
If you happen to be in the Nashville area, there’s also a live launch party on Saturday, at Portland Brew East. I won’t be there, not just because of the shingles, but because the commute looks a bit tough.
(Though I do have a feature in Nashville next February – and I’m really hoping it’ll be a live gig and everything. If travel is back to relative normal by then.)
Also out this month: Paper Teller Diorama – the annual anthology by Great Weather for Media in New York, which features my experimental poem “How to Make Money in Poetry”.
The press is planning a series of online readings from the anthology over the next several months, and I assume I’m going to be performing in one of them… but have no idea when yet.
Click here to order a copy of Paper Teller Diorama.
Have a good one. Don’t take any wooden igloos.