We love Katherine Riegel's LETTERS TO COLIN FIRTH. It won the 2015 Sundress Publications Chapbook Competition! I'm currently taking a writing course from Katie Riegel online, and it is fabulous; you can find more information here.
💜📚✏️🐾🐾
Showing posts with label paws & books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paws & books. Show all posts
Friday, March 29, 2019
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Dog Beach, San Vincenzo, Italy
Yes, it's actually called Dog Beach! It's our happy place. We've visited this beach near San Vincenzo, Italy twice, and I really hope we'll visit again.
Cousin Itt came with us to Dog Beach. Cousin Itt is a great traveler and loves to cuddle Tootsie.
Here's a photograph of me (Renée) wearing my gorgeous handspun, handknit Fair Isle tam made by Susan Blackwell Ramsey--a fabulous poet & artist. Ramsey's poetry collection is A Mind Like This (University of Nebraska Press, 2012).
If you're on Instagram, you can follow us here.
Cousin Itt came with us to Dog Beach. Cousin Itt is a great traveler and loves to cuddle Tootsie.
Here's a photograph of me (Renée) wearing my gorgeous handspun, handknit Fair Isle tam made by Susan Blackwell Ramsey--a fabulous poet & artist. Ramsey's poetry collection is A Mind Like This (University of Nebraska Press, 2012).
If you're on Instagram, you can follow us here.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
BAD HARVEST by Dzvinia Orlowsky
BAD HARVEST by Dzvinia Orlowsky is a gorgeous poetry book (Carnegie Mellon University Press). Total paws of approval. We love it.
"Hope was a thing with pink feathers / circling Olympic ice."--Dzvinia Orlowsky
"Hope was a thing with pink feathers / circling Olympic ice."--Dzvinia Orlowsky
Thursday, April 19, 2018
New Writing Online!
I'm thrilled to share several new pieces of writing online. One is a book review of Sophfronia Scott's beautiful essay collection "Love's Long Line" (Ohio State University Press). Read the review at "Brevity," here.
The other piece is a special post, "My Mother's Forestland," for Agricultural Climate Network. Read that, here.
In other news, I have a book review and personal essay of doggie literature that will come out in the journal "Fourth Genre" August 2018.
As ever, Tootsie helped with the writing and editing! She's a very good dog.
The other piece is a special post, "My Mother's Forestland," for Agricultural Climate Network. Read that, here.
In other news, I have a book review and personal essay of doggie literature that will come out in the journal "Fourth Genre" August 2018.
As ever, Tootsie helped with the writing and editing! She's a very good dog.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Darwin! Or Beagles?
One of my many writing activities is as the Managing Editor of Assay: A Journal of Nonfiction Studies where I help run the journal and curate a series called "In the Classroom." We are so grateful to our friend Gail Riekie -- you know her from Bouncing Bertie's blog -- for contributing a fantastic piece on Darwin.
Thank you for popping over to read it, here.
Thank you, Gail!
-Renée (& Tootsie, of course)
Thank you for popping over to read it, here.
Thank you, Gail!
-Renée (& Tootsie, of course)
Did Darwin feel like this when he set off on the voyage of the Beagle?
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Thank You
Dear KulturMama, the Library in Thalwil, and all the kids & parents:
We had such a wonderful time at English Storytime. The library was so sweet to welcome us and to give Tootsie treats. Danke!
We're amazed Tootsie fell asleep during Jeff Crosby's Wiener Wolf--it's her favorite book of all time!--but it was so relaxing being surrounded by amazing kidlets. A special thanks, too, to Grandpa for his Tootsie limericks. Read one, here.
An extra special thank you to KulturMama for all her work. Please sign up for her newsletter--and könig beatty projects--right, here. Marisa König Beatty (aka KulturMama) covers wonderful events in Switzerland, and there's lots of great information. (Swiss Cats -- take a look!)
Love,
We had such a wonderful time at English Storytime. The library was so sweet to welcome us and to give Tootsie treats. Danke!
We're amazed Tootsie fell asleep during Jeff Crosby's Wiener Wolf--it's her favorite book of all time!--but it was so relaxing being surrounded by amazing kidlets. A special thanks, too, to Grandpa for his Tootsie limericks. Read one, here.
An extra special thank you to KulturMama for all her work. Please sign up for her newsletter--and könig beatty projects--right, here. Marisa König Beatty (aka KulturMama) covers wonderful events in Switzerland, and there's lots of great information. (Swiss Cats -- take a look!)
Love,
Tootsie and
Renée
Monday, March 20, 2017
English Storytime with KulturMama!
We are reading at English Storytime with Kulturmama in Thalwil, Switzerland! It's a short program for kidlets. We're going to sing "Itsy bitsy spider" with changed lyrics... "itsy bitsy dachshund." And we might sing "the wheels on the bus go round and round" set to dachshund lyrics... "my dachshund paws go round and round." We'll see.
We're going to read Grandpa's limericks, which he wrote for me. We're going to read Jeff Crosby's Wiener Wolf, my favorite book of all time. And we'll read How Dogs Really Work! by Alan Snow. It's a good manual.
Wish us luck!
P.s. Mom just spent forty-five minutes looking for her special Swiss train day pass. (She had put it in a special place.)
We're going to read Grandpa's limericks, which he wrote for me. We're going to read Jeff Crosby's Wiener Wolf, my favorite book of all time. And we'll read How Dogs Really Work! by Alan Snow. It's a good manual.
Wish us luck!
P.s. Mom just spent forty-five minutes looking for her special Swiss train day pass. (She had put it in a special place.)
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Dog Songs: Poems by Mary Oliver -- Paws & Books
Many people love Mary Oliver for her beautiful poetry and wisdom. If you know her work, did you know she loves dogs? Not a surprise, right? This book of dog poems was a gift from our dear friends The Schnoodles, Cookie & Zippie. In some of these poems, Oliver speaks directly to her dog(s). They have a conversation. It's great to read these reflections, because sometimes it can feel like a dog's mind is beyond the scope of human perception.
A few years ago, at a poetry reading, several poets made fun of Oliver's work--and the audience laughed. Perhaps Oliver's sincerity is suspect to some. It shouldn't be. (Or maybe there is some poetic issue about her work that I don't understand.) Oliver knows the natural world and records it beautifully. I'm not sure that Dog Songs is up to the level of her most beloved work, but it is a special read, especially for dog lovers (like me).
If you are a writer, her poetry handbooks are incredibly useful. I love Rules for the Dance: A Handbook for Writing and Reading Metrical Verse, but A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry is useful for craft suggestions and prompts.
You can listen to Mary Oliver read a poem from Dog Songs here.
There is also a marvelous interview with Krista Tippett over at one of my favorite radio shows, On Being. (& a picture of Oliver with one of her doggies!)
A few years ago, at a poetry reading, several poets made fun of Oliver's work--and the audience laughed. Perhaps Oliver's sincerity is suspect to some. It shouldn't be. (Or maybe there is some poetic issue about her work that I don't understand.) Oliver knows the natural world and records it beautifully. I'm not sure that Dog Songs is up to the level of her most beloved work, but it is a special read, especially for dog lovers (like me).
If you are a writer, her poetry handbooks are incredibly useful. I love Rules for the Dance: A Handbook for Writing and Reading Metrical Verse, but A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry is useful for craft suggestions and prompts.
You can listen to Mary Oliver read a poem from Dog Songs here.
There is also a marvelous interview with Krista Tippett over at one of my favorite radio shows, On Being. (& a picture of Oliver with one of her doggies!)
Monday, January 9, 2017
Paws & Books
Hi! Tootsie's Mom, Renée, here.
In 2017, I'm going to run a series called "Paws & Books." I'll post about works of dog literature -- poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and maybe a few doggy-user manuals, too, because we all need help being properly trained by our dogs. My longtime dream is to write a work of dog literature, so I'm collecting an annotated bibliography of my research, and these posts will be part of that process.
If you have ideas about what you would like to read or learn about these books, please let me know in the comments! If you have dog-book suggestions -- even if you think I know them -- please let me know.
To start, I'll share with you one of the first books I ever read about a dog: Harry the Dirty Dog.
Harry the Dirty Dog is essentially about how you can be seen as two dogs, and how because of how you're seen, you can be lost (and found), unknown (or known), but that inside you're essentially the same dog. After a bath, Harry runs away, and gets all sorts of dirty, so when he comes home his family doesn't recognize him. What is Harry to do? The book asks an essential question: if your appearance changes, are you still the same dog?
Did you know that you can listen to and watch Betty White reading Harry the Dirty Dog online? Here's the link.
In 2017, I'm going to run a series called "Paws & Books." I'll post about works of dog literature -- poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and maybe a few doggy-user manuals, too, because we all need help being properly trained by our dogs. My longtime dream is to write a work of dog literature, so I'm collecting an annotated bibliography of my research, and these posts will be part of that process.
If you have ideas about what you would like to read or learn about these books, please let me know in the comments! If you have dog-book suggestions -- even if you think I know them -- please let me know.
To start, I'll share with you one of the first books I ever read about a dog: Harry the Dirty Dog.
Harry the Dirty Dog is essentially about how you can be seen as two dogs, and how because of how you're seen, you can be lost (and found), unknown (or known), but that inside you're essentially the same dog. After a bath, Harry runs away, and gets all sorts of dirty, so when he comes home his family doesn't recognize him. What is Harry to do? The book asks an essential question: if your appearance changes, are you still the same dog?
Did you know that you can listen to and watch Betty White reading Harry the Dirty Dog online? Here's the link.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Thanksgiving Abroad
We're sending love and gratitude to all this Thanksgiving. Since we're abroad in Switzerland, we're reaching for this book.
And check-out my lovely Snap-a-Danna from Dachshund Delights. Remember to shop indie for all your pawful needs -- "Canine high fashion is a SNAP with the Snap-a-Danna"!
And check-out my lovely Snap-a-Danna from Dachshund Delights. Remember to shop indie for all your pawful needs -- "Canine high fashion is a SNAP with the Snap-a-Danna"!
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Paws & Books: "Neighbors" by George Held and Joung Un Kim
Book One
Poems by George Held
Pictures by Joung Un Kim
Published by Filsinger & Co Ltd
The first in a series, this is such a smart, fun, beautiful, and engaging book of poetry and pictures!
It's a perfect gift for young and old alike. We've given the whole series to our nephew Aghi.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Paws & Books: "Dog Songs" by Mary Oliver
Dog Songs
(The Penguin Press)
Mary Oliver
Listen to Mary Oliver read "Little Dogs Rhapsody in the Night" here.
Extra special thanks to our friends Zippie & Cookie, Jenn & Mallory for giving us Oliver's Dog Songs. Tootsie is dreaming about all the dog songs she will sing.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Paws & Books: "Wander" by Sara Blackthorne
Wander
Sara Blackthorne's Wander engages the moments of our lives to explore how we fully inhabit the center of our hearts. A series of photographs and prose, this gorgeous chapbook is published by Paper Lion Press. You can purchase a copy here.
Sara Blackthorne runs a fantastic podcast -- IN HER ROOM. You can listen to Renée (Tootsie's mom) & Sara's conversation here.
Sara Blackthorne is a compassionate, smart editor and provides editing services here.
Sara Blackthorne is a compassionate, smart editor and provides editing services here.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Paws & Books: "Needle Makes Tracks" by Danna Ephland
Needle Makes Tracks
by Danna Ephland
Published by Dancing Girl Press
Quotes from Danna Ephland's poem "The Resemblance is Remarkable":
"Needle's dog wears progressive lenses /
& a pink collar."
....
"It's not complicated she barks, every day /
on the way out the door, on the way in."
Congratulations, Danna, on your beautiful chapbook. We love it!
xo Tootsie & Renée
xo Tootsie & Renée
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Paws & Books: "Dear Mister Essay Writer Guy" by Dinty W. Moore
Paw of approval!
You'll find lots of great writing advice in these pages
and learn about polar bears, too.
You'll find lots of great writing advice in these pages
and learn about polar bears, too.
(Ten Speed Press)
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Paws & Books: "Alphabetique" by Molly Peacock
by Molly Peacock
(McClelland & Stewart)
Special thanks to Moira for giving us this book!
Special thanks to Moira for giving us this book!
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Paws & Books: "Sublime Physick" by Patrick Madden
(University of Nebraska Press)
I'd be so grateful if you read my book review of Patrick Madden's gorgeous essay collection over at Inside Higher Ed. Huge thanks to John Griswold for fantastic editing of my review--and for publishing it. Your clicks through to read the review make a huge difference! Thank you.
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