Western North Carolina Woman Magazine

I have a poem in the November issue of Western North Carolina Woman Magazine. It was just posted...http://wnc-woman.com/Nov08/page48.html

The Sister Series

My chap book, The Sister Series, is doing well. I have sold about fifty copies. I just spent about an hour updating my tracker, submitting to magazines, and sending congrats to my fellow poets on their successes. Homelife is quite busy...football continues and basketball is gearing up to start. I'm still not writing like I should be, but am not worried(yet)....may your days be filled with metaphors and similes.

Colleges and Chapbooks

September and October have flown by the Krauss family. We have looked at so many colleges-Flagler, University of Tampa, SFU, FGCU, and Eckerd. We have traveled to away football games and life seems to be zipping by at break-neck speed. Today, when I arrived home, a box was waiting for me!! I had given literary birth--my chapbook, The Sister Series, was sitting on my door step. I finally have an ISBN number!! Life is good, crazy busy....but good. And I hope life is treating all of you kindly as well.

Jacksonville Trip

As I write this I can hear the pounding of the surf and smell the salt air. I traveled with a friend to Jax Beach to watch Heritage play(and our daughters cheer). Unfortunately, the Patriots lost 21-13. However, the view from the balcony is amazing. Nothing but sand and the Atlantic ocean....HobbleCreek Review is up and I am honored that Justin Evans, the editor, was gracious enough to include my poem "Day Laborers". Well, off to walk the shore line and play in the surf. Life is very good.....

School, Storms, and LiteraryMary

School is back in session and my students are a delight!! Tonight is Open House. I have my eye on the Tropics as Hanna, Ike, and Josephine are lined up in a row. I received word that my poem "Noble Memories" will be published in the inaugural edition of LiteraryMary Magazine(out in January 2009). The website is www.LiteraryMary.com. All is well.

Tropical Storm Fay and Hobble Creek Review

Tropical Storm Fay appears to be approaching some part of Florida. I am ready and following the news at www.wunderground.com. I do tend to get fixated on tropical weather. While watching the storm satellite on-line, a ping alerted me to a delightful email from Justin Evans. My poem "Day Laborers" has been accepted for publication in the next Hobble Creek Review(http://www.hobblecreekreview.net).

Just Around the River Bend

Teacher work week begins on Tuesday. Where has the summer gone? I must confess that lately I have been reading more than writing. I just finished the last book in the Twilight Series. I have Justin Evans' new chapbook lined up next to read. Then before I know it, I will be reading fifty summer reports on The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Secret Life of Bees. No acceptances and no rejections lately....I have submitted some work and updated my tracker. The wait for the arrival of my chapbook, The Sister Series, continues...

Slipping Away

The summer is slowly slipping away from me. In two weeks my school has its book sale and in three weeks, teachers report back to work. Kelly and I just returned from the Parris Family vacation in Bonita Springs. The resort had a lazy river where we just drifted along in the sun. Now that we have returned home, I need to submit some poetry and update my tracker. My book should be ready soon. Today the sky is overcast and I will stay inside and work. I hope all is well in your world of poetry.

Chap Book

The chap book process is moving along smoothly. Jennifer at PuddingHouse is a treat. The proof should be in my hands in the next few days. I can't wait to see the cover. I'm teaching a three week session of summer school. It's a four hour block in the afternoon, so I still have time to write. Kelly continues to travel all over the place. And we both head to Bonita Springs in two weeks for the Parris Family vacation.

Road Trips

So we packed our bags and headed to North Carolina. Along the way, we had a two day stay in quaint Saint Augustine. Kelly toured Flagler College, which she really liked. It was cool and breezy in NC. We spent nights on the porch looking at the lake and reading.Now I'm back home updating my tracker and polishing poetry while Kelly spends a few days at Atlantis. No acceptances lately--just rejections, so I need to get busy.

Summer Time

The response to the Kansas poem has been nice. Working with Corey and Robin from KU was a pleasure. I've been polishing some poems, but have not submitted any work in a few weeks. I have a ton of poems out there--just waiting to hear their status. The Father's Day WNCW mag was released-two of my students, Gordon and Mitch, had poetry in the edition. Hats off to the editor, Julie, and the boys. I've been reading a great deal, making up for lost time. Take care and keep writing...

Kansas University Poem

My Kansas University poem has posted at the KU site. You can use it as a background and you have two choices. Go to http://www.funstuff.ku.edu/backgrounds.shtml

and check it out!!!!

Slow, but Busy Week

The kids at school are preparing for exams. In poetry class, they all finished their Shakespeare Monkey submissions on conflict. Now they are revising their aquarium themed poems for Fuselit. I also submitted to both magazines-no word yet on either submission. I've been polishing my poem "Almost Saved by Gutsmuth's Bell". The whole burying a person while he or she is still alive rather creeps me out a bit. I ordered John Amen's new book and just received Thirst(by Mary Oliver) in the mail today. One rejection,Southern Humanities, came this week. Have you written poetry today?

Teaching Poetry

Teaching poetry to high school students, including my daughter, can be quite the challenge. Everyone wants to capitalize the first letter of the first word of each sentence. I always have a few ee. cummings and the rhyming can be atrocious. However, when the children's work is accepted for publication--all is well. Six kiddies will have poetry in Western North Carolina Woman magazine. The editors, Julie and Sandi, are absolute saints. The day after the letters of acceptance were sent--all the kiddies were hammering away on their key boards like woodpeckers on an oak tree. The school has agreed to a Poetry II class next year--I just pray that enough children sign up for the class... Any teachers out there with ideas for the students????If so, let me know