Month: December 2012

The Scottish Review of Books has a brief diary entry up on hurricanes, published after the end of the season. There’s just something about Edinburgh and storms that I still can’t put my finger on.

A new essay is up at the Los Angeles Review of Books, looking at the prospect of an independent Scotland. With news of the referendum only just now making its way to this side of the pond, it”ll be fascinating to hear how American audiences respond to the idea. There’s much still to be decided, but honestly, two years from now — the date of the referendum — is no time at all. Even more fascinating, then, will be watching the developments between now and then. At this point, it’s anybody’s guess what will happen.

The Dark Mountain collective is continuing its series of book launches for the third Dark Mountain journal, in which a poem from Ecotone appears, tonight in Edinburgh at the Forest Cafe. According to the Dark Mountain website, the evening will be “Featuring readings from Dark Mountain writers, including Em Strang, Paul Kingsnorth and Thomas Keyes. Music from Mairi Campbell and Hailey Beavis. Food and drink on sale. Good vibes, good conversations and a chance to buy the new book. Entry free.” Starts at 8pm.

As most folks in New Orleans by now will know, Natasha Trethewey will be reading tonight at the New Orleans Public Library Main Branch on Loyola Avenue. The reading starts at 7, with a signing to follow. As noted before, it’s been a good year for poetry in Mississippi. No matter how many days are left on the calendar, long may it continue.

After a race-to-the-finish final week in Edinburgh, culminating in a wonderful farewell evening at the Abbotsford Pub on Rose Street (home watering hole, it’s important to note, of the late poets Hugh MacDiarmid, Norman MacCaig, and Sorley MacLean), it’s back to New Orleans for, as the Scots would say, the next wee while. The return couldn’t be kinder: I’m honored to be the featured reader at this week’s 1718 Reading Series, sponsored by the Walker Percy Center for Writing and Publishing at Loyola University. With such distinguished writers as Kevin Rabelais and Kate Bernheimer in the series, it’s humbling to be in their company.

I’ll be reading a selection of new and recently-published work, mostly poetry. The evening starts at 7pm on Tuesday night at the Columns Hotel (3811 St Charles), with student readings to follow. More details are available on the Maple Street Bookshop website. Hope to see you there.