Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary
I return to blogging after a long break, to praise Oregon authors and publishers, many from Portland, such as the poet Carolyn Martin and the late Brian Doyle. Brian’s essays and Carolyn’s poems, full of lovely and lively words, elevate the ordinary to extraordinary through their piercing vision and acute observations of people and nature.
Carolyn’s book is “The Catalog of Small Contentments,” published this year by The Poetry Box publisher. Brian’s essay collection is “One Long River of Song,” compiled by his friend David James Duncan and others, approved by Brian shortly before his death in 2017. The essays are among Brian’s best.
I am adding a short list of books from Oregon authors and a publisher this year, but it’s only a sip off the top foam. There were many good reads published this year. Here is a taste:
Other 2021 books by Portland poets:
“Poems and Po-Yums” by Catherin Violante of Portland and Iain Yuill of Scotland. A collaboration by two writing friends that spans distances and themes from sublime to ridiculous, joy to grief.
“The Color of Goodbye” by Pattie Palmer-Baker. In poetic imagery this book tells the story of three characters in a family plus Jim Beam, finding memories and witnessing life.
2021 novels by Portland authors:
“The Point of Vanishing” by Maryka Biaggio is historical fiction based on the life of prodigious writer Barbara Follett and her mysterious, unexplained disappearance at age 25 in 1939.
“The Night Always Comes” by Willy Vlautin tells of the impact of corporatism and gentrification on ordinary Portland citizens, as a young woman struggles to save her family.
“Ghost Cat of Ocean Cove” by Mollie Hunt. First in the author’s newest cat mystery series, ‘A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery #1.’ A ghost cat and cold case murder complicate a peaceful beach venue.
From Independence, Oregon publisher Not a Pipe Publishing:
“See You at the End of the World” by cyber-punk author Simon Paul Wilson (from England) is a novella with romance, comedy, weird dreams, and a supernatural threat.
“Brief Black Candles” by Lydia K. Valentine, poet laureate of Tacoma, Washington, gives poetic shape to questions of family, loss, justice, and survival in not-yet-post-racist America.
“Incandescent” by Ayodele Nzinga, poet laureate of Oakland, California, brilliantly fires questions at the reader about justice, freedom, and existence.
“Denial Kills” is Not a Pipe’s anthology by 23 authors, revealing how forms of denial can be toxic to humans.
Happy reading! And stay tuned to next year’s news that will hopefully include the release of my novel, “Promise Full of Thorns” by Sunbury Press.
Meanwhile, I’ll blog again in a few months.
Carolyn’s book is “The Catalog of Small Contentments,” published this year by The Poetry Box publisher. Brian’s essay collection is “One Long River of Song,” compiled by his friend David James Duncan and others, approved by Brian shortly before his death in 2017. The essays are among Brian’s best.
I am adding a short list of books from Oregon authors and a publisher this year, but it’s only a sip off the top foam. There were many good reads published this year. Here is a taste:
Other 2021 books by Portland poets:
“Poems and Po-Yums” by Catherin Violante of Portland and Iain Yuill of Scotland. A collaboration by two writing friends that spans distances and themes from sublime to ridiculous, joy to grief.
“The Color of Goodbye” by Pattie Palmer-Baker. In poetic imagery this book tells the story of three characters in a family plus Jim Beam, finding memories and witnessing life.
2021 novels by Portland authors:
“The Point of Vanishing” by Maryka Biaggio is historical fiction based on the life of prodigious writer Barbara Follett and her mysterious, unexplained disappearance at age 25 in 1939.
“The Night Always Comes” by Willy Vlautin tells of the impact of corporatism and gentrification on ordinary Portland citizens, as a young woman struggles to save her family.
“Ghost Cat of Ocean Cove” by Mollie Hunt. First in the author’s newest cat mystery series, ‘A Tenth Life Cozy Mystery #1.’ A ghost cat and cold case murder complicate a peaceful beach venue.
From Independence, Oregon publisher Not a Pipe Publishing:
“See You at the End of the World” by cyber-punk author Simon Paul Wilson (from England) is a novella with romance, comedy, weird dreams, and a supernatural threat.
“Brief Black Candles” by Lydia K. Valentine, poet laureate of Tacoma, Washington, gives poetic shape to questions of family, loss, justice, and survival in not-yet-post-racist America.
“Incandescent” by Ayodele Nzinga, poet laureate of Oakland, California, brilliantly fires questions at the reader about justice, freedom, and existence.
“Denial Kills” is Not a Pipe’s anthology by 23 authors, revealing how forms of denial can be toxic to humans.
Happy reading! And stay tuned to next year’s news that will hopefully include the release of my novel, “Promise Full of Thorns” by Sunbury Press.
Meanwhile, I’ll blog again in a few months.
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Thank for this list and a special grateful an honored thank you or mentioning my book, The Color of Goodbye!
So now I have more books to add to my reading list. Thank you Jean.
Thanks so much for including my new book in your list of recent Oregon publications. I love setting my books in the Pacific Northwest.
I had the pleasure of meeting Brian Doyle, and also to be a participant in one of Carolyn's workshops--both extremely rewarding experiences.
I look forward to the release of "Promise Full of Thorns"!