I’m delighted to be appearing this week at the premiere of “Riding the Wind,” a new play about Hattiesburg history written and produced by Dean Meador Smith, a descendant of one of the first settlers to the Hattiesburg area. The performance runs from Thursday to Sunday, October 6-9, at the Arnold Meador homestead in Hattiesburg, and I’ll be partnering with Main Street Books to sell and sign copies of Hattiesburg, Mississippi on-site at the play. For more information about the play, or to book tickets, visit the Riding the Wind page.

Pelican Bomb has an interview with zoe | juniper, the dance ensemble responsible for bringing a new production of sacred harp music to New Orleans.

Dates for the 2017 New Orleans Poetry Festival have just been announced: April 20-23, 2017. Proposals are open now; more information is available at the festival website.

This month, I’m delighted to join the Mississippi Children’s Museum as part of their 2016 visiting artist program. If you’ve ever been, you know that the MCM is one of Jackson’s — and the state’s — finest museums, and an incredible place to learn and play for kids of all ages. If you’re in the greater Jackson area, and have kids who love reading, writing, or poetry, stop by this Sunday afternoon (the 4th) for free workshops exploring the fun of language in poetry. Workshops will also return in two weeks, on Sunday the 18th. Call the MCM or visit their website for more details.

Pelican Bomb has an exploration of Palestine Gardens, a scale-model replica of the Holy Land tucked away down in Lucedale, Mississippi. If you’re in the area, stop and check it out.