The Book Launch

Interstices: An Anthology was launched in style last night at a standing room only event that included six featured poets, open mic, musicians, and even a belly dancer! Emcee for the evening Barbara Potter kept things moving as John Gardiner read "Enniskillen" in an appropriate Irish brogue before four other poems that included "Crossing the Street in Laguna Beach." Gardiner has read his poetry in Russia, Prague, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He teaches Shakespeare and poetry for the Gifted Students Academy at UCI.

Rod Vickery, author of Osama Among Us: Sightings and an avid mountain biker, followed with a number of poems that included "Letter from the Front: Orange County, 2010" and "Snapshot." Martha Stothard writes of love, sex, abuse, and WalMart, and read samples of her work that included "Words" and "Capricious Thoughts." John Perry read selections from his current work-in-progress as well as "Directions" and "Nightly News." Jim McCrillis, a retired science teacher and wrestling coach, read "Breathless" and "Les Paul and Mary Ford Tunes." Shayla Rosofsky, the final featured poet, read "Prayer of an Overly Ambitious Poet" as well "Saturday Night at the Stop-n-Rob" and "Etymology." The feature poets were followed by an open mic time and celebrants were entertained with more poetry, fiction, music, and even a belly dancer.

Over one hundred people crammed into Irvine's popular Paradise Perks to celebrate the launch of this new anthology that features poetry, stories, memoirs, and essays. The cross generational event brought many local Irvine residents as well as students from Irvine Valley College.

Artist Robin Wethe Altman brought the original art work that appears on the anthology cover. Jann Harmon, book designer, was introduced. Contributors who pre-ordered books received their copies at the launch.

A CD sampler is available for $2.00 that commemorates the occasion and includes a number of poets reading their contributions to the anthology. The book as well as the CD is now available to the general public. SPECIAL DOWNLOAD SAMPLER (see sidebar) now available.

Contributor's Ordering Information

In the event you would like to pre-order more than five (5) copies of Interstices: An Anthology, you can do so and SAVE through the publisher at Windflower Press, P.O. Box 7089, Laguna Niguel, CA 92607. Personal checks only. No tax or shipping charges, if you pick up your books at the launch on May 12th.

The anthology, featuring 43 contributors, is going to press next week. The volume includes stories, essays, memoirs, and poems. We're right on schedule with submissions, selections, proof corrections, book design, and editing. Special thanks go to the editors for their detail work and to the book designer who has spent countless hours on the project.

A CD sampler will be available at cost to contributors during the evening. Joining MaryAnn Easley will be featured poets John Gardiner, Martha Stothard, Rod Vickery, John Perry, Jim McCrillis, and Shayla Rosofsky.

If you want to use your credit card or PayPal account and order five (5) copies of the anthology at once, you can do so below. To order single copies, see the buy button in the sidebar on the left.

Anthology Updates

The Orange County Anthology is no longer accepting submissions. If you forgot the deadline, we regret you missed the opportunity to be in the book. Windflower Press would like to thank the writers participating in our endeavor. We are honored and privileged to publish your work. Mark your calendars. On May 12th, we will be launching the book at Paradise Perks in Irvine. We'll celebrate from 7-9 with book signing, introductions, readings by featured poets, and open mic. Special discount prices for contributors only. A sampler CD will be available at publisher's cost. You are invited to bring your family and friends. Come meet your co-authors, network with others, and celebrate a milestone in your literary life.

About the Cover Artist

ROBIN WETHE ALTMAN exhibits her work at The Watercolor Gallery and the Art-A-Fair Festival in Laguna Beach. For over a decade, her art was displayed at the Festival of Arts and Sawdust festival and the State Capitol exhibited her paintings. Hasbro is making a puzzle of her painting The Good Life, and IBM and the Irvine Company have commissioned her work. A student of the noted California Regionalist James Green who, in turn, studied with renowned watercolorists Rex Brandt, Millard Sheets and Milford Zomes, Robin has traveled to France, Italy, Switzerland and England to paint on location. Growing up on High Drive in Laguna Beach, she often stopped at David’s Candy Shop, studied at Rock Pile Cove, and toured the art galleries. Her painting "Laguna Gazebo" graces the cover of this book. http://www.rwethealtman.com

"Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.”
– Gloria Steinem

TIPS FROM THE EDITORS
In preparing your manuscript, remember to include a short two line bio and contact information. Submissions coming in are varied with poetry, memoir excerpts, short stories, essays, and scenes from novels and other work in progress. Space is limited, so be brief. Remember that less is more. As submissions arrive, they are quickly screened and sent to one or several of our readers. This panel consists of professionals who live outside of Orange County and have no connection with any class, meetup, club, or critique group in Orange County.

“You only learn to be a better writer by actually writing.” – Doris Lessing

Here are some tips to help you polish that manuscript:

Eliminate adverbs! Use strong verbs instead.
Easy on the adjectives. Use one, not three.
Avoid the "to be" verb, i.e. was or were since it indicates passive voice.

Thin out any excess words.
Delete duplicate words or check your thesaurus.
Avoid having too many characters.
Consider the point of your story and make sure you stick to the point.

“Write what should not be forgotten.” – Isabel Allende

Avoid cliches.
Eliminate the mundane.
Consider author's voice.
Make every word count.
Proofread.

“You must write for yourself, above all. That is your only hope of creating something beautiful.”
– Gustave Flaubert


Interstices


Behind, beyond, within each flower

Lurks anything but light?

Between the alder saplings for an hour

I watched the humming-bird press down his wings

And marveled at his flight.


Behind the pale acacia flower,

Beyond the budding leaf,

Between the alder saplings of an hour

I watched the space fill in with light

And argued new belief.


– Gilbert Moore